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?
Daily/more than once a day
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):
Keep the amount of money I have, while keeping up with inflation
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.)
Nothing
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 would say increased in the amount invested, the amount of time following markets, my knowledge/interest in markets. It has been very discouraging learning about the lack of enforcement from the SEC and other SROs in regards to blatant market manipulation and financial crimes perpetrated by Wall Street. It has made me think that I will soon completely exit the US stock market unless positive investor protections are brought in. IE elimination of PFOF and the removal of the market maker exception for Naked Short Selling
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 : None
Mutual Funds : 5+ Years
ETFs : None
Futures : None
Cryptocurrencies : None
Commodities : None
ClosedEnd Funds : None
Money Market Funds : 5+ Years
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 would seem from my experience that Brokerage houses such as Robinhood can decide to restrict trading at any time, for any reason they please and suffer no repercussions
11. What else would you like us to know positive or negative - about your experience with online trading and investing?
I think that the SEC should enforce the laws that are on the books, as well as passing regulation banning Payment for Order Flow and close any loopholes allowing for Naked Short Selling. Specifically the market maker exemption. Also, all trades should be forced to go to lit markets. Use of ATS, order Internalizing, and dark pools should be eliminated. They do not work in favor of fair markets for retail investors, they only benefit the market makers and Wall Street hedge funds.