And what better piece to showcase than the company whose rise to fame has seemed paved in gold? Google, the company that catapulted into stardom just one decade ago, when it set out to “organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful”, is one of the newest companies to grace our offerings. Famous for its environmental and philanthropic leanings, Google has changed the way we navigate the web. Founded by Stanford students Sergey Brin and Larry Page, the company was named Fortune Magazine’s #1 Best Place to Work many times running.

What took us so long to add Google, you might ask? Well, our unique licensing agreement with the SEC mandates that each sale equals twice the current cost of the share. So as long as a share is worth less than the $39 transfer fee, there’s no problem. For a company like FedEx, currently trading at just over $80 a share, the cost of a wooden frame is enough to make up the difference (though our free-of-cost paper frame is not). Google, however, is currently trading at nearly $570 a share. With this kind of price tag, we had to have a luxurious frame to match. And luxurious this golden masterpiece certainly is. It’s enough to make King Midas’ fingers itch.

Psssst! Expert tip — our Twitter  is currently advertising a sleek 20% off on all frames. With that markdown, the Gold Brocade Frame is an amazing $120 off! Now that’s sleek indeed.

Ryan first became a Pixar shareholder in 2004, two years before the Disney aquisition.

15-year-old Ryan Morgan is pursuing a dream. Ryan wants to become a computer animator for Pixar, the Emeryville, CA based computer animation studio famous for box office rock stars like Finding Nemo and The Incredibles. Ryan first got the bug when he saw Toy Story at just three-years-old. His mother Marilyn reports he’s been saying he’ll work for Pixar ever since.

In 2004, Ryan’s connection to Pixar grew a little bit more formalized. Marilyn saw an offer at MouseSavers.com, a site devoted to discounts on all things Disney, that she just couldn’t pass up. That Christmas, Ryan became an official Pixar shareholder with a framed stock certificate from OneShare.com.

As a shareholder, Ryan was invited to attend the stockholder meeting in which shareholders voted on the proposed Disney acquisition, and where Ryan’s one share of stock entitled him to one vote. At first wary of the acquisition, Ryan says the stockholder meeting quelled most of his concerns. “Ed Catmull explained what would happen with the creative talents and Pixar and that John Lasseter would take over at Disney’s Animation Department,” he said. “If there’s any change, it’s positive.” The highlight of the experience was an opportunity to personally talk with Ed Catmull about his career aspirations after the event.

For Ryan, the perks to being a shareholder don’t end there. Ryan reports “I like looking through the annual report and finding out what films and projects Disney/Pixar are working on. I usually know what’s happening next, before my friends do.” The fact that his single Pixar share has turned into 4 Disney shares isn’t too shabby either.

Marilyn wasn’t new to stock ownership when she first stumbled upon OneShare. As a child, she says that her parents owned stock in several companies. Now, in addition to mutual funds, Marilyn actually issues stock for the corporations she works with. “I’m a CPA/Controller for a real estate investor and property management company,” she relays. She encourages parents to choose a stock certificate in a company their child is interested in. “It’s a neat concept for children to understand that they actually own a small part of a company.”

Now, Ryan takes every opportunity he can to draw. He takes art classes in school, spends his summers at the local junior college, and he’s received numerous awards. This year, he upped his game, enrolling in animation, 3D modeling, and video gaming classes through a program at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Next year, he plans to continue to more advanced animation classes.

His advice to younger children who want to pursue animation? The same advice given to him by Ed Catmull at his first shareholder meeting: “Draw, draw, draw!”

Today we received word from Wells Fargo Shareholder Services (Visa’s transfer agent), that Visa has stopped issuing stock certificates.

We’re going to miss them. Visa’s familiar to all of us: the company runs the world’s largest retail electronic payments network, and is one of the best-known global financial services brands. They’re also a big sponsor of the Olympics, and for those of you into real football, a crucial FIFA World Cup partner.

McDonald’s has been catering to our taste buds for over 50 years and helping us create long-lasting memories with our families. Check out the McFlurry of activity that McDonald’s has experienced over the years:

• Star Trek: The Motion Picture was the first movie to be promoted by Happy Meal in December 1979
• There are more than 31,000 McDonald’s restaurants around the world in 118 countries
• 47 million customers are served at McDonald’s each day
• 9 million pounds of delicious French fries are sold per day
• McDonald’s was ranked number one in Fortune Magazine’s 2008 list of most admired food service companies
• 2009 marks the 30th Anniversary of the Happy Meal

Why not start the school year off with the gift of stock in a child’s favorite fast-food restaurant, McDonald’s? This will be one tradition that leaves a great taste in their mouth and an appetite for more. Soon, they could have their own bite of the Big Mac.

I’m lovin’ it. Are you?

It’s one more way to broadcast the message: stock certificates are going away. We don’t know how, we don’t know when, but we mark the progress wave by wave.

Miguel, our graphic designing guru, launched the new graphic last year. When asked about the concept, he said he was inspired by the idea that “OneShare” represents “unity” and “connection” – bringing people together through their favorite brands. The convergent circles are reminiscent of stock certificate seals. And Erik, our courageous creative director, chose colors that reflect the vibrant and easy-going culture at OneShare.

We’re thinking family road-trips. Pay homage to yours with ownership inVolkswagon or Ford. Maybe the pit-stops made a bigger impact? Capture the moment with McDonald’s or Exxon Mobile.

We’re thinking summer blockbusters. How about owning stock in Dreamworks? Or Disney, before its too late? You’ll always remember you got your certificate the same year Disney-Pixar’s Up made its rise to fame.

We’re talking ice cold refreshments on a sweltering summer day. Coca-Cola’s always a classic. Or capture a more spirited side with a share in Samuel Adam’s or Coors.

We’re thinking Callaway Golf, Heinz, and La-Z-Boy. Let’s face it. A lot of special moments happen in summer. Capture the nostalgia before stock certificates are only a memory. And summer brings plenty of occasions to celebrate with friends: Father’s Day, graduations, summer birthdays, and more anniversaries than any other season. This summer, give the gift of stock. 

And if Fido’s feeling unloved, maybe Sirius Satellite will give him something to bark about (registered in your name, of course).

In the recent Zagat Fast-Food Survey, Starbucks took top honors in the coffee department. And what do you know? Starbucks is our June stock of the month! For as little as $44, you can own a piece of the world’s most pervasive coffee franchise. And you can take the $10 you just saved and enjoy some lattes on us.

From its beginnings at the Pike Place Market in Seattle in 1971, Starbucks has catapulted into an international coffee sensation. During their peak growth period in the 90’s, Starbucks averaged a new franchise every weekday! Holy frappuccinos, that’s a lot of coffee. Here are some other interesting tidbits to drop-in next time you’re sippin’ a few with friends:

• The name comes both from “Starbo”, in honor of an old mining camp that was outside Seattle, and “Starbuck”, in honor of the Moby-Dick character of the same name
• Last year, Starbucks was ranked #15 on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s list of Top 25 Green Power Partners
• Starbucks is the largest purchaser, roaster, and distributor of Fair Trade Certified™ coffee in North America
• To date, they have committed $10.5 million in affordable credit to approximately 74,000 small-scale farmers and suppliers
• They volunteered 383,000 hours in 2008 through their volunteer program Make Your Mark

Want to make your mark on the company? With their “My Starbucks Idea”, you’re encouraged to do just that. The Starbucks team of Idea Partners review suggestions submitted by users and choose popular or especially innovative ideas to put into action. In their own words, “It’s not just what you’re buying. It’s what you’re buying into.”