Allied Member

Think about the New York Stock Exchange - you know, that place where people buy and sell stocks - as a club. There are full members and there are not-quite full members. An allied member is in the not-quite category.

While not personally a member of the NYSE, an allied member is affiliated with a company that is a full member. He or she must work as an officer of a member company (meaning a high-ranking bigwig there) or have a sufficient stock holding in the firm. He or she must also pass an exam. Once approved, the allied member can conduct business on the NYSE and go onto the trading floor, where the real fun happens.