Q: I would like to buy some stocks anonymously. How can I do this?

A: Most foreign securities are issued in bearer form so you could buy stocks anonymously through a Swiss bank or other foreign brokerage firm. The foreign broker would have your name and address, but you could close out your account after you purchase the stock and take delivery of the certificate. In the U.S., the SEC requires all securities to be registered in some name. But you can obtain registered stock in your company name, a trust or even in "street name." Street name stock is registered in the name of a major brokerage firm, and all major brokerage firms own street name stock for their own account.

From a tax point of view, purchase only securities with no dividends so no 1099 form is reported to the government.