Equity typically represents one's claims to the resources (assets) of an entity. As an investor in a corporation, different types of equity investments are available. How do common and preferred stock differ? Within each of these classification of equity--common stock and preferred stock--there are different types of each stock. As an investor and a consultant to your clients investing in such securities, what factors would you consider in making the best investing decision for you or your client's needs? Include in your discussion the characteristics of each of the two classes of stock as well as a discussion of the different types of each class of stock.