SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

• US 20090186689A1
• Filed: 01/21/2008
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Equitrader Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Equitrader Incorporated
• Inventors: Rivard, Douglas, Hughes, John M.
• Application Number:
  US12/017,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20090186689A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0216 Investment accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis

Abstract

In general, in one aspect, a method for motivating participants in a plurality of trading competitions includes conducting a plurality of trading competitions in which contestants each trade a portfolio of securities. In each competition, the contestants'"'"' performance is evaluated. Performance may be evaluated as straight return and/or may include other factors such as volatility, strategy selected, and so on. The performance of a benchmark is evaluated. Points may be assigned to each contestant based on the performance of the contestant in comparison to the benchmark. A contestant'"'"'s assigned points from each of the plurality of competitions may be aggregated, and prizes awarded to contestants receiving the greatest number of aggregated points in a time period.

Claims

1. A method for motivating participants in a plurality of trading competitions, the method comprising:

conducting a plurality of trading competitions in which contestants each trade a portfolio of securities;

for each competition;

(i) evaluating contestants'"'"' performance;

(ii) evaluating performance of a benchmark;

(iii) assigning points to the contestant based on the performance of the contestant in comparison to the benchmark;

aggregating the points assigned to each contestant in each of the plurality of trading competitions; and

assigning prizes to contestants receiving the greatest number of aggregated points.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of competitions take place during a predetermined time period.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the time period is six months.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance of the contestant and the performance of the benchmark is evaluated by calculating a score.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the points are aggregated by taking the sum.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein cash prizes are awarded.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein competitions may be assigned a weight that is used to adjust the score from each competition prior to aggregation.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the aggregation may take into account competitions that have been registered for, but not actively participated in.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the aggregation may include a penalty for failure to participate in one or more of the plurality of competitions thereby encouraging participation.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising awarding prizes to contestants receiving the greatest number of aggregated points.

11. A system for conducting a plurality of trading competitions and motivating participants to achieve longer-term results, the system comprising:

a competition subsystem for conducting a plurality of trading competitions in which contestants each trade a portfolio of securities;

a scoring subsystem, which for each competition evaluate contestants'"'"' performance, evaluates performance of a benchmark, and assigns points to the contestant based on the performance of the contestant in comparison to the benchmark;

an aggregation subsystem for aggregating the points assigned to each contestant in each of the plurality of trading competitions; and

a prize assignment subsystem for assigning prizes to contestants receiving the greatest number of aggregated points.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of competitions take place during a predetermined time period.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the time period is six months.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the performance of the contestant and the performance of the benchmark is evaluated by calculating a score.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the points are aggregated by taking the sum.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein cash prizes are awarded.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein competitions may be assigned a weight that is used to adjust the score from each competition prior to aggregation.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the aggregation may take into account competitions that have been registered for, but not actively participated in.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the aggregation may include a penalty for failure to participate in one or more of the plurality of competitions thereby encouraging participation.

20. A computer software product for motivating participants in a plurality of trading competitions, the product comprising a computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to:

conduct a plurality of trading competitions in which contestants each trade a portfolio of securities;

for each competition

(i) evaluate contestants'"'"' performance;

(ii) evaluate performance of a benchmark;

(iii) assign points to the contestant based on the performance of the contestant in comparison to the benchmark;

aggregate points assigned to each contestant in each of the plurality of trading competitions; and

assign prizes to contestants receiving the greatest number of aggregated points.