Abstract: Smaller investors can create and manage on a cost-effective basis a complex portfolio of securities using a mechanism that enables the investor to provide to the system the investor's preferences regarding his portfolio, to generate a portfolio, including fractional shares, that reflects the investor's preferences. The system then permits aggregation of the orders, and netting of orders, generated by multiple investors at various times during the day for execution. In addition, the structure of the computer-based system of the present invention allows its cost to be based on access to or usage of the system (such as a monthly fee) as opposed to by securities orders entered into the system as per common brokerage. The result is that the investor can create a portfolio of directly owned securities with attributes, such as diversification, similar to a mutual fund.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for aggregating, netting, and executing securities trades on behalf of customers expressing orders in both share and dollar amounts without assuming unwanted risk. Where a brokerage receives orders from customers in both dollar and share amounts, the brokerage can aggregate and net the orders, executing the outstanding orders through a market maker. The number of shares to order through the market maker depends on the price at which the market maker can execute. Rather than present the market maker with a conventional order, the brokerage presents the market maker with a schedule of orders for different possible execution prices.

Abstract: A computer implemented method using aggregation for enabling a user to create and trade a plurality of market tradable assets or liabilities as a single, customizable investment portfolio. An embodiment of the invention includes determining, based on an order to trade a portfolio from a user, a plurality of distinct market tradable assets or liabilities to be transacted in a market for each of the distinct assets or liabilities in a plurality of transactions for the user, aggregating the plurality of transactions for the user with a plurality of transactions for one or more other users over an applicable characteristic of the plurality of assets or liabilities, wherein the aggregating includes aggregating single shares, odd lots and/or fractional shares using a computer, and executing one or more trades based on the aggregating to implement the order to trade the portfolio.

Abstract: A simple graphical user interface enables a user to understand how the user's level of risk affects both the amount of money the user can earn over a selected period and the likelihood that the user will make that amount. A graph plots return (in dollars) versus time, which may be user selectable. The user may select his preferred level of risk on a risk control panel, such as a digital risk thermometer. As the user selects various risk tolerances, the user may see the differences in how the investment may potentially grow (or potentially shrink) over the time period. When the user is comfortable with the results being displayed on the risk graph, the user may indicate to the system that the user is satisfied with the current level of the risk. This selected value of risk may be used by a portfolio manager in creating and managing the user's portfolio.

Abstract: An automated portfolio manager system enables an investor or portfolio manager to quickly adjust the underlying risk of the entire portfolio without modifying the underlying investments in the portfolio. A user interface enables the user to adjust the risk (e.g., beta) of a portfolio of investments without adding or deleting investments from the portfolio by purchasing more or less of the entire portfolio on margin, thereby increasing or decreasing the riskiness of the portfolio. A predetermined portfolio of investments is provided to all investors. Each investor's desired risk/reward characteristic for his or her portfolio is accommodated by determining an appropriate amount of the predetermined portfolio to purchase on margin or an appropriate amount of the user's funds to place in cash reserves (or other less risky investment) to modify an actual risk/reward characteristic of the portfolio so that it matches the investor's desired risk/reward characteristic without changing the underlying investments.

Abstract: Smaller investors can create and manage on a cost-effective basis a complex portfolio of securities using a mechanism that enables the investor to provide to the system the investor's preferences regarding his portfolio, to generate a portfolio, including fractional shares, that reflects the investor's preferences. The system then permits aggregation of the orders, and netting of orders, generated by multiple investors at various times during the day for execution. In addition, the structure of the computer-based system of the present invention allows its cost to be based on access to or usage of the system (such as a monthly fee) as opposed to by securities orders entered into the system as per common brokerage. The result is that the investor can create a portfolio of directly owned securities with attributes, such as diversification, similar to a mutual fund.

Abstract: Smaller investors can create and manage on a cost-effective basis a complex portfolio of securities using a mechanism that enables the investor to provide to the system the investor's preferences regarding his portfolio, to generate a portfolio, including fractional shares, that reflects the investor's preferences. The system then permits aggregation of the orders, and netting of orders, generated by multiple investors at various times during the day for execution. In addition, the structure of the computer-based system of the present invention allows its cost to be based on access to or usage of the system (such as a monthly fee) as opposed to by securities orders entered into the system as per common brokerage. The result is that the investor can create a portfolio of directly owned securities with attributes, such as diversification, similar to a mutual fund.

Abstract: Smaller investors can create and manage on a cost-effective basis a complex portfolio of securities using a mechanism that enables the investor to provide to the system the investor's preferences regarding his portfolio, to generate a portfolio, including fractional shares, that reflects the investor's preferences. The system then permits aggregation of the orders, and netting of orders, generated by multiple investors at various times during the day for execution. In addition, the structure of the computer-based system of the present invention allows its cost to be based on access to or usage of the system (such as a monthly fee) as opposed to by securities orders entered into the system as per common brokerage. The result is that the investor can create a portfolio of directly owned securities with attributes, such as diversification, similar to a mutual find.

Abstract: Smaller investors can create and manage on a cost-effective basis a complex portfolio of securities using a mechanism that enables the investor to provide to the system the investor's preferences regarding his portfolio, to generate a portfolio, including fractional shares, that reflects the investor's preferences. The system then permits aggregation of the orders, and netting of orders, generated by multiple investors at various times during the day for execution. In addition, the structure of the computer-based system of the present invention allows its cost to be based on access to or usage of the system (such as a monthly fee) as opposed to by securities orders entered into the system as per common brokerage. The result is that the investor can create a portfolio of directly owned securities with attributes, such as diversification, similar to a mutual fund.

Abstract: Using an interface to a portfolio manager system, an existing collectively owned investment account can specify its existing assets and a percentage ownership in accounts of each of the individual owners of the collective account. The invention then distributes some or all of the collectively owned assets to some or all of the individual owners in proportion to their ownership interest in the collective account, thereby converting some or all of the collective account into individual accounts. Even if all of the collective account's assets are distributed to the individual owners, the collective account retains a residual-master account, which holds information about the assets, rights or liabilities that were in the collective account. The former managers of the collective account can then continue to manage the residual account and the former owners of the collective account can link the constituents of their individual accounts to the residual account.

Abstract: Smaller investors can create and manage on a cost-effective basis a complex portfolio of securities using a mechanism that enables the investor to provide to the system the investor's preferences regarding his portfolio, to generate a portfolio, including fractional shares, that reflects the investor's preferences. The system then permits aggregation of the orders, and netting of orders, generated by multiple investors at various times during the day for execution. In addition, the structure of the computer-based system of the present invention allows its cost to be based on access to or usage of the system (such as a monthly fee) as opposed to by securities orders entered into the system as per common brokerage. The result is that the investor can create a portfolio of directly owned securities with attributes, such as diversification, similar to a mutual fund.

Abstract: Smaller investors can create and manage on a cost-effective basis a complex portfolio of securities using a mechanism that enables the investor to provide to the system the investor's preferences regarding his portfolio, to generate a portfolio, including fractional shares, that reflects the investor's preferences. The system then permits aggregation of the orders, and netting of orders, generated by multiple investors at various times during the day for execution. In addition, the structure of the computer-based system of the present invention allows its cost to be based on access to or usage of the system (such as a monthly fee) as opposed to by securities orders entered into the system as per common brokerage. The result is that the investor can create a portfolio of directly owned securities with attributes, such as diversification, similar to a mutual fund.

Abstract: A computer-based system is disclosed for creating a portfolio of assets and executing trades in the assets to modify the portfolio. An embodiment of the disclosed system includes a first processor interfaced with an investor's PC to select a plurality of assets to be in the investor's portfolio based on the investor's indicated preferences, to manage the portfolio in accordance with market changes and changes in the investor's indicated preferences, and to electronically place at least one asset trading order in accordance with the investor's indicated preferences. An embodiment of the system also includes a communication interface coupled to the processor and coupled to a plurality of other investors by which the processor electronically places the at least one order.

Abstract: A computer based portfolio manager system enables a user to create and manage a portfolio of investments. Users can create multiple sub-portfolios, termed folios, within their overall investment portfolio. Each of these folios can be created by the user or selected from multiple preset folios. One of the possible preset folios includes a manager's recommended folio. This folio is regularly updated, thereby indicating buy and sell recommendations of the manager. A user can balance his or her folio in accordance with the manager's revisions by investing additional capital in some securities and selling others.

Abstract: A method for creating an electronic marketplace of investment advice for consumers, each of which are engaged in electronic portfolio trading of market tradable assets/liabilities enables advisors to each create a model portfolio of market tradable assets/liabilities and then disseminate the model portfolios to potential consumers. These model portfolios created by the advisors are disseminated as preset portfolios that can be purchased singly or in combination with each other by one or more consumers, a result of which can then be electronically traded as an entire portfolio of market tradable assets/liabilities by the one or more consumers. Along with each model portfolios a fee associated with each of the model portfolios is displayed. This fee is that which must be paid to the advisor that created the model portfolio upon selecting to purchase the model portfolio singly or in combination with one or more other model portfolios.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing management of taxable events. The disclosed method includes determining a proceeds and tax consequence that would result from trading each of various combinations of a plurality of assets/liabilities. The disclosed method further includes displaying the proceeds and tax consequence from each potential trade in a computer-generated graph of at least two dimensions.

Abstract: A computer-based system is disclosed for reducing risk, including market risk, for a given portfolio, by examining the expected risk, pricing it, and transferring some or all of it in exchange for consideration, which can be either cash, other property or part of the opportunity cost forgone in connection with or an assignment of part of the portfolio.

Abstract: A system and method for allowing a plurality of investors to manage investments in a mutual fund or a directly-owned portfolio of investments. The assets and liabilities of the mutual fund are adjusted in response to an action (buy, sell, trade) by one of the fund's members or participating investors in the system. A determination is then made of that member's and the other fund members' pro rata ownership interest, based on the economic result of that action. This process is iterated, as necessary, in response to actions taken by any members of the mutual fund. In this way, the mutual fund is dynamically managed. For a portfolio directly-owned by an investor participating in the system, the portfolio would be dynamically managed by having it reflect the dynamically changing individual, and aggregated, actions of other participating members, or others.

Abstract: A method and apparatus enables an investor with a portfolio of securities to manage taxable events created by trading securities in the portfolio. A database stores information regarding securities purchased by the investor. A presentation and graphical display format directly linked to the system managing the portfolio of securities enables the investor easily to make a selection as to the shares to be sold for the desired cash and tax results. A graphical display interface provides the investor with a graph having at least two axes showing cash to be received on one axis, and the tax result on another axis, with the investor permitted to click on points that are available. In generating the graph, each point available for selection represents an intersection of a cash and tax result based on the investor's purchases and the current expected sales price for the securities.