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 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?
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 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
Have fun
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.)
Trading insights, indicators, statistics, and other data to make informed decisions
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.)
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 : 5+ Years
Options : 2-5 Years
Mutual Funds : 5+ Years
ETFs : 5+ Years
Futures : 1-2 Years
Cryptocurrencies : 2-5 Years
Commodities : 5+ Years
ClosedEnd Funds : 1-2 Years
Money Market Funds : 2-5 Years
Variable Insurance Products : 1-2 Years
Business Development Companies : 2-5 Years
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?
There are trading strategies that are restricted based on multiple factors, including account balance, trading experience, risk assessment, etc
11. What else would you like us to know positive or negative - about your experience with online trading and investing?
In 2021 I've had multiple times when trading was suspended or unavailable for 'meme' stocks on Charles Schwab (I've had an account and been trading for 10+ years) which was very concerning to me. I am also concerned with the PFOF that Schwab uses. While I'm able to jump through hoops in order to trade directly on the exchanges, it should be very easy for a user to turn PFOF on/off and route their orders as they see fit - even if it's something in the 'advanced' trading section of the site, it should be an option. Right now you have to either call in to have the order routed directly, or use their StreetSmart Central platform which is very overwhelming for your average trader.