Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for improving clarity of disclosure materials provided to investors, by enabling securities issuers, intermediaries and/or other entities to create and disseminate clear and concise summary-level information on individual securities to investors to enable informed investment decisions. The information may include a summary version of the full statutory prospectus (a “summary prospectus”). A summary prospectus may include a concise, “plain English” synopsis and/or representation of certain information contained in the full statutory prospectus, such as a security's investment objectives and strategies, costs, risks and/or other information.

Abstract: Techniques and systems are disclosed for determining the suitability of one or more investment products for an investor. One embodiment provides a method which includes receiving (e.g., via a graphical user interface, or GUI) information defining one or more characteristics of the investor, receiving (e.g., retrieving from an electronic file storage) information defining, for each of the investment products, at least one policy which pertains to investors in the product in a manner based at least in part on the characteristic(s) of the investor, processing the information to determine whether and/or how one or more policies apply to the investor, and presenting to a user (e.g., via the GUI) an indication of whether and/or how the policy(ies) apply(ies) to the investor, thus enabling the user to evaluate the suitability of the investment product(s) for the investor.

Abstract: A method and related system obtains consent from a user for electronic delivery of sensitive information. The user operating a first computer accesses a web page on a server system to input the consent. The web page prompts for the consent from the user. Once the consent is received at the server system, the consent is stored and sensitive information is delivered electronically to an e-mail address specified by the user. Once consent is indicated, it is communicated from the individual's computer to another computer such as a server over, for example, a modem connection. Having secured the individual's consent, the additional sensitive information may be delivered to the individual's computer as, for example, a URL attachment to an email message.

Abstract: A method and related system obtains consent from a user for electronic delivery of sensitive information. The user operating a first computer accesses a web page on a server system to input the consent. The web page prompts for the consent from the user. Once the consent is received at the server system, the consent is stored and sensitive information is delivered electronically to an e-mail address specified by the user. Once consent is indicated, it is communicated from the individual's computer to another computer such as a server over, for example, a modem connection. Having secured the individual's consent, the additional sensitive information may be delivered to the individual's computer as, for example, a URL attachment to an email message.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and apparatus are provided for recording an indication of a source location at which a data element is stored. One method includes executing a set of programmed instructions to identify the source location comprising a portion of a data structure containing source information, wherein the portion contains the data element; and storing an indication of the source location in electronic file storage. The method may be semi-autimated, such that the programmed instructions preliminarily identify the data element, and a user is prompted to confirm that the identification is accurate. Using the indication of the source location, the data element may be retrieved and/or replicated from the source location to any of multiple output destinations.

Abstract: A method and related system obtains consent from an individual for computer-aided delivery of compliance information. Initially, a computer-readable data storage device is provided to the individual. The device stores the compliance information and computer-executable instructions. By inserting the device into a computer, the instructions are executed and the individual is prompted by the computer to consent to the computer-aided delivery of additional compliance information. Once consent is indicated, it is communicated from the individual's computer to another computer such as a server over, for example, a modem connection. Having secured the individual's consent, the additional compliance information can be delivered to the individual's computer as, for example, a file attachment to an email message.

Abstract: In an on-line financial data system, financial transaction data is provided to a user electronically via a connection such as the Internet. The system stores representations of the financial data for retrieval by an account holder. In order to retrieve or receive the financial information via the Internet, a user must first consent to receiving the financial data in this manner. Consents are stored in the financial data system. When financial data is received by the system, a comparison is made with the pre-stored consents to determine if the data can be provided via the Internet. If so, then a corresponding paper-based version of the data is suppressed, that is, not sent to the account holder. Instead, a message having a pointer, e.g., a URL address, is provided to the account holder in order to allow the account holder access, via the world wide web on the Internet, to the financial data stored in the on-line financial data system.