Abstract: A filter method of routing instant messages to customers and converting return instant messages into orders is disclosed for facilitating electronic trades of stock, stock options and other investment products. The filter method provides a step of generating a relational database of customer data, generating filter rules based on the customer, underlying stock and options data, selecting customers to receive a real-time trading data based on the filter rules, routing personalized instant messages to the selected customers, and converting return instant messages into executable orders. The filter method further serves as a platform from which other services, such as billing, auditing and logging, may extend to provide a complete business solution to its users.