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 per month
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.)
I haven't paid attention to any features like that. I always log into my account with a specific purpose in mind (buy X shares of stock ABC,) then I log off afterward. I don't get my ideas from the app, I simply use the app/website to execute my ideas.
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.)
Not applicable. I only started investing in the digital age and probably wouldn't if it required face-to-face/paper/telephone communication.
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 : 5+ Years
ETFs : None
Futures : None
Cryptocurrencies : None
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?
It depends on the broker. If I had a Robinhood account, it could be suspended anytime Citadel decided it was time to collude to restrict it. Because they have a recent history of doing this, I have another broker.
11. What else would you like us to know positive or negative - about your experience with online trading and investing?
Online trading is simply trading. Trading can be corrupt whether it's done the way it was 30 years ago or by a modern method. Every generation has been sure that the next leap forward in communication technology would be the doom of mankind. Ancient Greek philosophers thought books would corrupt the purity of learning via oral tradition. Typewriters would spell the doom of all penmanship. Radio would be the end of high-minded journalism. Television would rot our brains. The telephone would destroy home life. Computers were a fad. The latest moral panic about investing via apps is just that - much ado about nothing, a worry by those who are the entrenched status quo.