Desk Trader
A trader who is restricted to instituting trades for a firm's clients and who is unable to trade with his/her firm's own accounts.
Investopedia Commentary
If you telephone a brokerage firm to order shares in a company, you'll most likely end up talking to a desk trader who will take the order and send it to the market. Desk traders must be registered with the relevant securities regulators, such as the Securities & Exchange Commission.
Related Links
Brokers and Online Trading
Introduction To Fee-Based Brokerage Accounts
Understanding Order Execution
Basics of Trading Systems
See also: Broker, Brokerage Account, Market Order, Order, Securities & Exchange Commission - SEC, Trading Desk