August 28, 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?
Once to a few times a week
4. On average, how often are trades made in your online account, whether by you or someone else?
Once to a few times a week.
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 downloaded an app or visited a website first, and then opened up an account with the company
6. My goals for trading or investing in my online account are (check all that apply):
Save and grow my money for medium- to long-term goals
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.)
I have an account with TD Ameritrade that offers the option to route orders directly through the IEX exchange, but TDA actually routes those orders through Citadel. This is false advertising at best and market manipulation at worst.
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 bought more variety of stocks and ETFs, invested more and learned a lot more about the markets and the economy in general.
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 : None
Options : Less Than 12 Months
Mutual Funds : 5+ Years
ETFs : 2-5 Years
Futures : None
Cryptocurrencies : 2-5 Years
Commodities : None
ClosedEnd Funds : None
Money Market Funds : 5+ Years
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?
I have cash accounts and the only restrictions I've experienced are Good Faith Funding Violations, which wouldn't be an issue if we had a T+0 settlement system instead of T+3. I've also experienced buying restrictions on certain stocks in January 2021, which was blatant market manipulation and if I experience this again I will discontinue investing in US equity markets altogether.
11. What else would you like us to know positive or negative - about your experience with online trading and investing?
I am very upset that Citadel LLC is allowed to be a Hedge Fund AND a Market Maker handling almost half of all US equity trades every day, this is a clear conflict of interest. And why is Citadel Connect not required to be a registered ATS?
I am also extremely upset that PFOF is allowed to continue when it is also a clear conflict of interest.
Why aren't there rules and regs forbidding routing of retail trades through Dark Pools so that actual price discovery can occur?
When will the SEC address and TAKE ACTION against the blatant naked short selling that is obviously running rampant across US markets?