Why can’t I request a physical stock certificate?

While physical stock certificates were once commonplace in the financial services industry, new technology and regulatory changes have influenced brokerage firms like ShareBuilder to move away from paper transactions and into issuing securities in "book-entry" form (where client ownership is recorded electronically, without paper certificates). There is an industry initiative to eliminate physical stock certificates.

Beginning November 15, 2009, ShareBuilder will no longer issue physical stock certificates. However, if eligible, a security may be transferred via the Direct Registration System (DRS) to be held and maintained in the customer’s name on the books of the transfer agent. You may be able to obtain a physical stock certificate from the transfer agent for securities that still issue them.

For more information, please see the following:

Transferring Eligible Securities via the Direct Registration System (DRS)
How do I request a physical stock certificate?