August 27, 2021
1. Do you have one or more online trading or investment accounts?
Yes, I have one or more accounts that I access online, either using a computer or a mobile app but I also access the account(s) in other ways (e.g., by calling or visiting in person).
2. If your response to Question 1 is Yes, do you think you would trade or invest if you could not do so online using a computer or using a mobile app?
No
3. On average, how often do you access your online account?
Once to a few times per month
4. On average, how often are trades made in your online account, whether by you or someone else?
Once to a few times per month.
5. If you access your account online, did you have the account first, and only began to access it electronically later? Or did you open the account with the idea that you would access it electronically immediately?
I had a pre-existing account and downloaded an app or visited a website to access my account
6. My goals for trading or investing in my online account are (check all that apply):
Keep the amount of money I have, while keeping up with inflation
Save and grow my money for short-term goals (in the next year or two)
Save and grow my money for medium- to long-term goals
Have fun
Other
If Other, Explain:
Exposing critical financial injustice through specific investments
7. What would you like us to know about your experience with the features of your online trading or investment platform? (Examples of features are: social networking tools games, streaks, or contests with prizes points, badges, and leaderboards notifications celebrations for trading visual cues, like changing colors ideas presented at order placement or other curated lists or features subscription and membership tiers or chatbots.)
Payment for order flow is a lie. I don't get price benefit over the old ways of paying commission. And it is increasingly clear it allows significant amoral activities by key companies.
8. If you were trading or investing prior to using an online account, how have your investing and trading behaviors changed since you started using your online account? (For example, the amount of money you have invested, your interest in learning about investing and saving for retirement, the amount of time you have spent trading, your knowledge of financial products, the number of trades you have made, the amount of money you have made in trading, your knowledge of the markets, the number of different types of financial products you have traded, or your use of margin.)
I have far greater knowledge today in part due to the greater accessibility. My basic behavior hasn't significantly changed but I do feel more comfortable with some types of trades than I would have been before.
9. How much experience do you have trading or investing in the following products (None, 12 months, 1-2 years, 2-5 years, 5+ years):
Stocks : 5+ Years
Bonds : 1-2 Years
Options : Less Than 12 Months
Mutual Funds : 5+ Years
ETFs : 5+ Years
Futures : None
Cryptocurrencies : None
Commodities : None
ClosedEnd Funds : None
Money Market Funds : None
Variable Insurance Products : None
Business Development Companies : None
Unit Investment Trusts : None
10. What is your understanding, if any, of the circumstances under which trading or investing in your account can be suspended or restricted?
Pretty good understanding, including that the January meme stock shutoff was not driven by the regulations and should be investigated as a manipulation event.
11. What else would you like us to know positive or negative - about your experience with online trading and investing?
The more I learn the shadier the system gets. Stocks shouldn't be naked shorted even by market makers/prime brokers. Options control the majority of the price through maximum pain theory and invalidate basic stock price action concepts. Derivatives like Total Return Swaps allow companies to lie about true beneficial ownership and allow those true beneficiaries to continue naked shorting even though they were prevented under Reg Sho rules from doing it directly. Swaps being regulated by CFTC instead of SEC makes it impossible for the everyday investor to imagine seeing this all addressed.