Approved List

If you're on the approved list at a club, you can probably sweep into the VIP lounge without having to wait in line. If your company is on an approved list at a money manager's office, your shares could end up in an investment portfolio.

Active money managers have an "approved list" written out (or at least in mind) to purposely choose and limit the securities they can put in a fund. For example, a money manager might have a fund that's advertised as an ethical fund. That might mean no "sin stocks" get put on the list: no tobacco, no adult entertainment stocks, you get the point. For these guys, SmokeBombNightGuzzle Corp. would likely not be on the approved list.