Patent ID: 6484151
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
The method for allowing a user to select strategies and stocks for an inexpensive trade, including: providing a host computer connected to a global computer network; providing said host computer with a portfolio management program; providing said host computer with storage where user account information may be stored; providing at least one user the opportunity to open an account with the portfolio management program owner; providing the user the opportunity to evaluate, select, and modify different methods to choose a recommended portfolio of stocks; providing the use the opportunity to evaluate a strategy's performance over various periods of time; providing the user the opportunity to model the performance of a selected strategy with simulated data; providing the user the opportunity to model the performance of a selected strategy with historical data when said historical data is available; providing the user the opportunity to view the sample holdings of a selected strategy; providing the user a means for inputting the amount of money said user wishes to invest; providing means for calculating the number of shares of each holding that can be purchased through use of quote data; providing a performance option sheet, wherein the user has the opportunity to reject any or all stocks selected in accordance with a particular strategy; providing the user an opportunity to perform the purchase of the selected portfolio through an existing online broker account; providing the user an opportunity to acquire an account at an online broker; receiving from the broker a first referral fee if the user already has an account at that broker; receiving from the broker a second referral fee if the user does not already have an account at that broker; providing for the purchasing user a customized performance page; providing the purchasing user the opportunity to create alerts in the event that any or all stocks drop by certain percentages; providing the purchasing user the opportunity to elect to have the owner of the portfolio management program vote the proxies of any or all issues; providing the purchasing user the opportunity to receive an email reminding the purchasing user of any rebalance dates; providing the purchasing user a custom benchmark; providing the user the opportunity to customize the custom benchmark through the addition or elimination of certain indices and measures; providing the user the opportunity to accept the default version of the custom benchmark; providing means for storing the user's custom benchmark on the local machine; providing means for storing the user's account information on the portfolio management program host machine; providing the user means for adding user enhancements to the custom benchmark page; said enhancements including news, fyi, and alerts on each issue.