Abstract: A method and system provides for the use of credit arrangements in simulated environments. A user can participate in credit transactions involving purchases of virtual products, virtual services, and virtual items of value. Feedback is provided to the user regarding results of the credit transactions. In some embodiments multiple users can make simulated purchases or incur simulated credit obligations that are posted to virtual accounts, and the multiple users can also make simulated compensation against balances due or obligations owed for said virtual accounts. The user is also provided with an opportunity of engaging in real-world financial transactions related to the virtual credit arrangement. In some implementations of the system and method, multiple players at different locations can use virtual charge accounts and/or real world financial accounts in connection with arranging or resolving a virtual credit transaction.

Abstract: In various embodiments, real and test trading orders are processed and results are transmitted back to the entities originating the orders.

Abstract: Personal qualified dividend income (QDI) is calculated for one or more investors for mutual fund dividend distributions made to accounts of the investors from one or more mutual funds. Personal QDI information may be automatically generated and provided to investors. A similar process may be performed for brokerage accounts that hold individual stocks.

Abstract: A method and system provides transactions and arrangements in virtual world environments. A user can participate in transactions to acquire virtual property and related virtual rights. In some implementations, real-world and virtual parties can be involved in possible transfers of various types of virtual property and virtual property rights.

Abstract: The described embodiments of the invention include a method for maintaining accounting records for a portfolio of investments, comprising accounting records stored on a computer readable medium and providing a table for each event type affecting an investment for generating an account entry, each line of the table designating which accounting record receives the account entry and at least one key designating a data source for the account entry and an operation on the data source to determine the amount of the account entry.

Abstract: A method of opening option trading in an automated exchange trading system. The system receives orders and quotes and matches the orders and quotes to generate trades. The method includes the step of accepting, during a first time period, quotes and orders associated with an option class. The first time period precedes the opening of trading. An opening value of an underlying security is received and opening prices for a number of option series in the option class are determined. Additional quotes and orders are received during a second time period and the opening prices are responsively updated. The second time period is terminated at a randomly selected time and opening rotations begin.

Abstract: A method and system provides transactions and arrangements in virtual world environments. A user can participate in transactions to acquire virtual property and related virtual rights. In some implementations, real-world and virtual parties can be involved in possible transfers of various types of virtual property and virtual property rights.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for placing and processing test orders and real orders.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for presenting to a user relevant areas of distributed computer network sites. In particular, the invention disclosed infers and cross reference user mind sets with data stores of potential user goals. The user mind sets indicate a navigational goal of a user over the distributed computer network. In addition, the invention cross-references indicated user goals with data stores of service and service providers providing those services. The invention presents targeted service and service providers to the user across the distributed computer network thereby enabling the user to navigate towards the user goal.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for placing and processing test orders and real orders.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, including storing or processing information regarding a benefit provided to an employee pursuant to an employee benefit relationship between the employee and a benefit provider established prior to, pursuant to, or during, a first employment relationship between the employee and a first employer, storing or processing information for providing or maintaining the benefit pursuant to or during a second employment relationship between the employee and a second employer, receiving a request for information regarding the benefit, processing the request for information regarding the benefit with a processing device, generating a message in response to the processing of the request for information regarding the benefit, and transmitting the message to a communication device associated with the employee, a benefit beneficiary, a second employer, or a benefit administrator, via, on, or over, the Internet and/or the World Wide Web.

Abstract: A method and system provides for the use of credit arrangements in simulated environments. A user can participate in credit transactions involving purchases of virtual products, virtual services, and virtual items of value. Feedback is provided to the user regarding results of the credit transactions. In some embodiments multiple users can make simulated purchases or incur simulated credit obligations that are posted to virtual accounts, and the multiple users can also make simulated compensation against balances due or obligations owed for said virtual accounts. The user is also provided with an opportunity of engaging in real-world financial transactions related to the virtual credit arrangement. In some implementations of the system and method, multiple players at different locations can use virtual charge accounts and/or real world financial accounts in connection with arranging or resolving a virtual credit transaction.

Abstract: Insurance policy deductibles are managed by a plurality of interrelated tables each including a plurality of variables. The variables in a first table include a geographical variable, a transaction variable and an effective policy date variable. The variables in another table include additional geographic variables, structural characteristics, amount of insurance and provides controls for managing deductibles. The variables in a further table distinguish deductibles available to the policies. In an additional table, the variables identify movement from an old deductible to a new deductible.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products consistent with the principles of the present invention provide an infrastructure for asset owners to obtain financing arrangements from a multitude of liability providers in near real time and objectively.

Abstract: System, method and computer program product for optimal pricing of financial products. Data related to the financial product is extracted from at least one data source. A structured data file is generated from the data. The structured data file comprises a plurality of attributes and a plurality of price parameters related to the financial product. The plurality of price parameters comprise a price conversion probability measure and a business measure parameter associated with the financial product. Then, the optimal price associated with the financial product is estimated based on the plurality of attributes, the plurality of parameters, the price conversion probability measure and the business measure parameter.

Abstract: Efficiently screening ACH items and providing an indicator of the screening result. Electronic files, which can be in the NACHA file format, comprise ACH items. A gateway operator or an originating financial institution can screen each ACH item using a screening software module. For each ACH item, an indicator associated with the screening can be inserted into the ACH file before the ACH item is forwarded to a receiving financial institution. The indicator can identify whether the screening produced a match against an interdiction list and/or whether the screening produced a false positive. If the screening produced a match, processing of the ACH item can be suspended, and the ACH item can be returned to the originating financial institution. Notification of the match can be transmitted to the originating financial institution, the receiving financial institution, and/or law enforcement authorities.

Abstract: A system for scoring and evaluating financial investments including a server accessible by at least one client, a database including a plurality of financial indicators for a plurality of investments, software executing on the server for generating a score for each of at least a portion of the financial indicators for a target investment relative to a reference set of the investments, software for determining a comparison set including at least one of the plurality investments, software for generating a score for the portion of the financial indicators for the comparison set relative to the reference set, software for generating a display of the scores for the target investment, wherein the display includes a chart including an axis extending radially from a point for each of the portion of the financial indicators, wherein each of the scores is plotted along one of the axes.

Abstract: A posting market center and process are disclosed for maintaining a market center-restricted order on a selected market center. In a market which allows price exemptions, the market center and process disclosed hide a received market center-restricted order which technically crosses or locks the away market, but would be marketable if an acceptable contra-side order was then available in the posting market center's internal order book. The posting market center then maintains this hidden order until it is fully executed, is canceled or can be displayed on the public order book.

Abstract: The funds of a client of a brokerage, are automatically transferred into and retrieved from affiliated banks on an as-needed basis. Funds on deposit at banks are F.D.I.C. insured and earn interest. Multiple banks that are commonly owned and separately chartered and which receive brokerage account funds, enable the brokerage to multiply the F.D.I.C. insurance coverage for client funds. The aggregate amount of funds transferred into affiliated banks is limited to prevent runs on a bank. The funds of a client transferred into each bank is limited to multiply the amount of FDIC insurance that can be provided to each client of a brokerage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to, among other things, systems and methods for generating a metric of an entity's financial status relative to a financial goal. In generating the metric, the value of an entity's total assets is simulated over time based on data comprising historical rates of returns. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a computer system and method for generating a metric of an individual's probable present-day financial status relative to financial independence on a desired future date. In this embodiment, the metric is called a Financial Independence Score. The Financial Independence score is a single number that represents the individual's financial status relative to achieving financial independence by a desired date.