A sell side firm is a common term used to describe firms in the financial services industry that provide investment services to asset management firms. Sell side firms provide many services such as brokerage, investment advisory, investment banking, and research.

A sell side trader is a trader employed at a sell side firm, such as a retail or institutional brokerage firm and typically trades in stocks and other financial instruments on behalf of its clients.

Sell-side traders also do proprietary trading where they trade to make money for their employer.

For each stock that a sell side trader buys or sells for its buy-side client, the firm earns a commission, or the brokerage fee.

Sell side trader are also commonly known as “high touch” trader and they are high energy, multi-tasking individuals.