August 30, 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?
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 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 short-term goals (in the next year or two)
Save and grow my money for medium- to long-term goals
Other
If Other, Explain:
As a recent university grad, it's impossible for me to retire within my lifetime, so I'm essentially forced to invest if I want any chance of not dying in poverty and/or debt. So that's one of my 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 believe that adding things like games or leaderboards to investment software is a terrible idea, nor have I ever seen software that does so. With the current platform that I use, I enjoy its sleek visuals, easy data readability, and accessibility to educational materials for new investors to make smart decisions so that they, too, may have a chance to actually survive in this country.
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.)
N/A
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 : Less Than 12 Months
Bonds : Less Than 12 Months
Options : Less Than 12 Months
Mutual Funds : None
ETFs : Less Than 12 Months
Futures : None
Cryptocurrencies : Less Than 12 Months
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?
It will likely be suspended/restricted if I engaged in illegal activity using my portfolio, but I have never looked into the specific terms and/or regulations that manage account suspension/restriction. It would make sense that any and all portfolios which are discovered to be facilitating illegal trading (whether that be retail or market maker) should be suspended from being able to use the markets.
11. What else would you like us to know positive or negative - about your experience with online trading and investing?
When retail traders are genuinely educated about every facet of financials, there is a better chance that they will create industry and businesses which propel the country's revenue as a whole, increase money circulation, and create jobs. Currently, retail is actively losing faith in the US Markets due to the actions of a handful of human beings who possess more wealth than 99% of us will ever see in our lifetime. We should not have to gamble on markets whose movements and terminology are intentionally obfuscated just so that we can buy a house before we're 70 years old. The wealth disparity is a disgrace to this nation's youth.