A specific example of corporate finance is the sale of stock by a company to institutional investors like investment banks, who in deviation generally sell it to the public. The stock gives whoever owns it part dominion in that company.

Finance is used by individuals (personal finance), by governments (public finance), by businesses (corporate finance), as well as by a wide diversity of organizations including schools and non-profit organizations. In general, the goals of each of the above activities are achieved through the account of appropriate financial instruments, with consideration to Financial Planning their institutional setting.