Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for creating and administering an investment instrument. More specifically, the present invention provides a system and method for creating and administering an investment instrument that may be cleared through a depository company, that has relatively short terms and/or that enables investors to participate in financial market activity while protecting their principal investments. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an investment instrument preserves an investor's principal and offers a choice of several models for generating return. Return-generating models may allow an investor to participate fully in market movement, participate partially in market movement with a guaranteed minimum return, or receive a fixed return without participating in market movement.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for creating and administering an investment instrument. More specifically, the present invention provides a system and method for creating and administering an investment instrument that may be cleared through a depository company, that has relatively short terms and/or that enables investors to participate in financial market activity while protecting their principal investments. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an investment instrument preserves an investor's principal and offers a choice of several models for generating return. Return-generating models may allow an investor to participate fully in market movement, participate partially in market movement with a guaranteed minimum return, or receive a fixed return without participating in market movement.

Abstract: A user inputting his access code (e.g., PIN or password) into an computing environment to access a transaction is at risk of losing the access code to an attacker who has physical or electronic access to the computing environment. To minimize this risk, the access code can be entered via a plurality of user-selectable fields, each of which takes on a series of values, the initially displayed values of which are established in a random or otherwise unpredictable manner. The user then uses a mouse, keyboard, or other input device to increment each of the selectable fields until the access code is correctly entered. Because of the randomization of the initial state, an attacker tracking the locations or number of mouse clicks or other navigation actions can not determine the finally entered access code by, e.g., computing an offset from a known initial state.