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 both online using a computer and using a mobile app.
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?
Daily/more than once a day
4. On average, how often are trades made in your online account, whether by you or someone else?
Daily/more than once a day.
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):
Save and grow my money for short-term goals (in the next year or two)
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.)
Both of my brokerages have fantastic charts, tools and resources to learn giving me the ability to understand how things come together to make a trade. Unfortunately its also helped me identify blatant market manipulation by hedge funds and market makers makers. Also learned that the SEC does nothing to stop this manipulation even though me and people far more experienced and knowledgeable than me I have the same hypotheses.
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 started a year ago and have learned a lot. As I have gained knowledge I increased my capital investments initially only to scale back once I saw the cheating and manipulation that is allowed to occur in the stock market.
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 : 1-2 Years
Bonds : 5+ Years
Options : Less Than 12 Months
Mutual Funds : 5+ Years
ETFs : 1-2 Years
Futures : Less Than 12 Months
Cryptocurrencies : 1-2 Years
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?
Not following rules for day trades with accounts under $25k and not using unsettled money.
11. What else would you like us to know positive or negative - about your experience with online trading and investing?
My experience has certainly been eye opening. When I first started I kept hearing how risky and rigged the stock market was and Ill have to say after learning as much as I have about day trading I would have to say its far worse than I ever thought it was. Though I am responding to this poll I have little to no faith in the SEC to govern or monitor anything. For a year Ive watched thousands of people plee, beg and reach out to the SEC in various forums of social media and web sites only to be completely ignored. During that time Ive watched hedge funds, market makers and banks coordinate to manipulate the stock market using various means and methods to cheat retail investors out of billions. To include mountains of dark pool abuses, illegal naked shorting of stock and etfs (resulting in millions and sometimes billions of synthetic shares above and beyond the actual share count.) and high speed algorithmic trading in coordinated efforts to again, illegally manipulate the stock market. Its clear that hedge funds, market makers, banks, everybody involved either dont fear ramifications by the SEC and Mr. Gensler or the SEC and Mr Gensler are complicit and actually helping this cheating continue. In his limited communications with the public Gensler has CLEARLY put politics above duty spending g more time and effort talking about subjects outside the purview of the SEC like the climate the Olympics and womens rights. Its no wonder a majority of the population has little to no faith in the SEC, a reputation that is well deserved. Retail investors are routinely discounted as dub money and openly ignored by the SEC. Third world countries have more integrity than the SEC and this current administration (I dont know enough about the previous chairman to comment but cant imagine this level of corruption, lack of integrity and incompetence happened over night. As it stands now Gary Genslers SEC is on its way to going down in history as the most corrupt SEC in US history given its obvious catering to the corrupt forces in the stock market. I have no doubt there are good people among the SEC and am hopefully they will be able to step forward and fix all of the wrongs that are currently in the market. I hope the person reading this is one of those people, if so, I apologize if this letter upsets you, but Im sure doesnt surprise you. All eyes are on the SEC now. Millions of voters are holding stocks long praying that the SEC will step in sooner than later and start holding the corrupt forces accountable. There is still a chance to be on the right side of history but as it stands now, Genslers SEC is by far the most corrupt. We (retail investors) will continue writing and contacting the SEC hopefully forcing action and resolution to the many issues facing the stock market. We will also continue reaching out to the media hoping to reach the right people to start giving these stories the attention they deserve. Thank you for your time, I hope and beg that you step in and address these issues before more people lose their entire bank accounts, pensions, homes ect..