Keeping track of your shares?

I made a post earlier (now deleted, as it is obvious that I need to learn a lot before throwing money into the stock market) regarding periodically purchasing shares in one company.

While doing more research, the thought occurred to me that I don't know how these things are tracked, and furthermore how proof of ownership of shares is handles.

Lets say I purchase shares of GOOGL via Robinhood over the course of a few years, and then Robinhood for whatever reason ceases to exist (bankruptcy or something) how do I prove that I still own all of those shares I had purchased?

Also, what sort of tracking software is used to monitor one's portfolio?

Also, off topic slightly: What is the best way to get up to speed on all of this? A class at a local university/college?

Online webinar?

Something else? I have seen book recommendations, but they seem geared toward strategy and less about the technical aspects of the overall process.

Thanks!

Submitted January 04, 2019 at 03:10PM by clever_username_443 http://bit.ly/2CPnL8J