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 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?
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 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 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 online democratizes investing. I think it is great overall, but the payment for order flow actions put all retail at a disadvantage. If institutions can see al our trades and run out in front to jack up the price, there are major issues with the system. In terms of other features, a good user experience helps make reading accessible.
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 : 2-5 Years
Bonds : 1-2 Years
Options : None
Mutual Funds : 2-5 Years
ETFs : 2-5 Years
Futures : None
Cryptocurrencies : Less Than 12 Months
Commodities : None
ClosedEnd Funds : None
Money Market Funds : 2-5 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?
Citadel colluded with Robinhood to stop the ability for its users to buy a stock that they had shorted. In doing so, many restaurants investors lost a lot of money while the colluders made money through that illegal action. See the recent proof of collusion shown in the robinhood lawsuit. Then both Ken Griffen of Citadel and Vlad Tenev of Robinhood lied to Congress under oath.
11. What else would you like us to know positive or negative - about your experience with online trading and investing?
I feel that the SEC does not do its job to protect retail investors. It does not investigate or curtail naked short selling, it lets market makers trade in dark pools allowing them to bypass the market and manipulate as they will. I would feel better about investing if I felt it was fair and legal. It is the SECs job to make it that way. I do not feel comfortable that anyone is policing Wall Street, I do not feel that anything has changed since the 2008 crash, and although the tech has gotten easier to use, I feel like your lack of action on protecting investors makes online trading a worse place.