September 25, 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?
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?
Less often than once a 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 had a pre-existing account and downloaded an app or visited a website to access my account
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.)
The ease of access is and has been a much needed change. It has opened up investing for more regular people like myself and will make more active members of this previously shut off portion of the American financial sector.
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 more regularly contributed to investing for my future and it is an active part of my financial plans and goals.
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 : None
Options : None
Mutual Funds : None
ETFs : 5+ Years
Futures :
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?
Limited to none
11. What else would you like us to know positive or negative - about your experience with online trading and investing?
It is an overwhelmingly good thing for society. Its bringing more investors to the table, causing individual investors to become more educated about investing and has been instrumental in realizing the criminality that exists on Wall Street as a whole. I do not feel like I am playing a fair game. With the sheer volume of my trades going through dark pools due to being re-routed by a shady market maker, I cant help but feel cheated and that my investment choices are being routed and overseen buy a crime syndicate. Price discovery will never be found with this current system. Ever order needs to hit the lit market. Routing certain buys or sells of large size that might affect price should be allowed to hit lit markets. Doesnt matter if itll cause a run up or a decrease. It would be fair.
My experience has been excellent however. The whole system in which my trading happens needs to be revolutionized. No more naked shorting. No more T+(Insert number) days for trades to clear. There are solutions that exist to make the markets efficient and instantaneous with security. But this market system is stuck back in the 80s.
This may feel like a tinfoil hat thought, but I believe if the SEC doesnt act soon for this to change, the fate of American markets will be destroyed and other markets will take its place due to integrity in every other market.