Patent ID: 7860778

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory device electronically coupled to the at least one processor, in which the memory device stores instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, direct the at least one processor to at least: present to a user, via a mobile device, a financial environment: wherein the financial environment comprises financial information from at least one financial market; present to the user, via the mobile device, at least a first query and a second query: wherein the first query is for the user to execute broker-assisted trades, and wherein the second query is for the user to execute electronic trades without broker assistance; responsive to a selection by the user of a button on the mobile device, the button being associated with the user wanting to execute broker-assisted trades: provide a connection between a live broker and the user, via the mobile device, wherein the connection comprises a direct connection that does not require dialing by the user and/or automated dialing to be established; and responsive to the user wanting to execute electronic trades without broker-assistance: receive from the user, via the mobile device, a selection of one of a plurality of options, the selected option including a trading order for a financial instrument; and post the trading order on an electronic exchange without broker assistance; wherein the user is authorized to execute trades via the mobile device when the mobile device is used by the user within at least a first zone; wherein the user is not authorized to execute trades via the mobile device when the mobile device is used by the user within at least a second zone; and wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to at least: before allowing the user to execute trades: determine that a location of the mobile device is within the first zone, wherein to determine that the location of the mobile device is within the first zone comprises a use of at least one of: geo-fencing, global positioning satellite technology, triangulation, a geographic map, and an RFID sensor; and based at least in part on determining that the location of the mobile device is within the first zone, allow the user to execute trades; and wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to at least: determine that a location of the mobile device has changed from within the first zone to within the second zone; and based at least in part on determining that the location of the mobile device has changed from within the first zone to within the second zone, not allow the user to execute trades.