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?
Yes
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 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
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.)
Easy access to relevant real time data helps retail investors make informed decisions on how they would like to invest their money.
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 had a 401K account for years through employers. I still make the same contributions to my 401K account each month but I now invest amounts into the accounts that I control as well. I have made probably 50 trades over the last 18 months. Many times my portfolio has seen over 100% in unrealized gains. Most realized gains came early on for small dollar figures that were reinvested. I'm currently invested in several stocks with the intent to hold long term. As of today I'm up 30% and believe most of my holdings have potential to grow over the next 12-24 months.
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 : None
Options : None
Mutual Funds : None
ETFs : 1-2 Years
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?
I understand that there are margin requirements for certain types of trades. There are also restrictions on the number of trades I can make for the same stock per day/week (Day trading limitations). I understand that the market has built in circuit breaker suspensions for extremely volatile price fluctuations.
11. What else would you like us to know positive or negative - about your experience with online trading and investing?
Retail investors are typically looked down upon as being simpletons but hopefully the SEC will come to agree that retail investors may not be as cavalier with our investments as what we seem. We may not work for hedge funds, Wallstreet or investment banks but collectively we represent a broad set of skills. Many of us have degrees and backgrounds in accountancy, finance, statistics, data analysis, economics, etc... and we're watching the markets closely.