September 23, 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 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 short-term goals (in the next year or two)
Have fun
Other
If Other, Explain:
Maximize growth in high risk trades and options activity. I don't invest anything I can't stand to lose, and always understand the risk involved. I don't blame my broker for my losses so long as they keep the buy/sell button active and routing my orders to a LIT exchange PFOF to a dark pool needs to be illegal.
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.)
Social features are great, but not why I originally chose the broker and app that I did. It's because they actually innovated to simplify investing, and made a great overall and SIMPLE experience to transact in the market. If they want to add additional thrills and features, they should be able to do so.
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.)
My knowledge base has increased significantly, as measured by the results and gains in my portfolio. This would not have been possible with more traditional brokers as their tools are archaic, clunky, and not easy to use.
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 : 2-5 Years
Cryptocurrencies : 5+ Years
Commodities : None
ClosedEnd Funds : None
Money Market Funds : 5+ Years
Variable Insurance Products : 5+ Years
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?
My understanding is if you are the \"little guy\", such as the average retail investor - there are no rules designed to help me. Trading/investing can be suspended or restricted at anytime. Especially when retail traders start to have the advantage in making real money, that ability to actually profit is quickly taken away (e.g. Gamestop/AMC Jan 2021)
11. What else would you like us to know positive or negative - about your experience with online trading and investing?
Online trading and investing has been life changing for the better. Some companies clearly understand and know what the average retail investor needs in order to comfortably participate in the market. Innovative and simple features, with access to lower level and real time market data. A few key negatives however, are that the market is rigged against the retail trade. There is no free access to realtime market information, and we have no guarantee or clarity on how our order is routed to the market. The entire point of a free market is to be a free market - not have free \"shadow\" or dark pool markets where my support of a particular company is rendered null. It is disgusting that we allow companies to use vast amounts of money and resources to systematically control a supposed free market.