Apparatus and method for providing financial information and/or investment information

1 . An apparatus for providing financial information or investment information, comprising:

a receiver, wherein the receiver receives a request to provide a notification of a change in at least one factor and information regarding a correlation of the at least one factor with at least one of a stock, a bond, a security, securities, a portfolio of securities, a market instrument, an index instrument, a financial market, a market index, a mutual fund, a trust, a currency, currencies, a commodity, commodities, a foreign exchange rate, an interest rate, a real estate investment trust, real estate, real property or real properties, a utility service, a utility product, an energy service, an energy product, a telecommunication service, a telecommunication product, a bandwidth service, a bandwidth product, a debt product, a credit product, a credit derivative product, a derivative, an option, a future, a forward, a contract, and an account;

a processor, wherein the processor automatically detects a change in at least one factor upon an occurrence of a change in the at least one factor, and further wherein the processor processes the request and generates a message containing information regarding the change in the at least one factor along with information regarding a correlation of the at least one factor with at least one of a stock, a bond, a security, securities, a portfolio of securities, a market instrument, an index instrument, a financial market, a market index, a mutual fund, a trust, a currency, currencies, a commodity, commodities, a foreign exchange rate, an interest rate, a real estate investment trust, real estate, real property or real properties, a utility service, a utility product, an energy service, an energy product, a telecommunication service, a telecommunication product, a bandwidth service, a bandwidth product, a debt product, a credit product, a credit derivative product, a derivative, an option, a future, a forward, a contract, and an account; and

a transmitter for transmitting the message over a communication network to a communication device associated with an individual,

wherein the apparatus automatically initiates a communication link with the communication device, and further wherein the transmitter transmits the message over the communication network to the communication device, and further wherein the message is transmitted to the communication device in real-time.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one factor is at least one of a financial factor, a factor model, a factor ratio, a stock, a bond, a security, a portfolio of securities, a financial market, a market index, a currency, a commodity, a foreign exchange rate, an interest rate, a real estate investment trust, real estate, real property or real properties, a utility service, a utility product, an energy service, an energy product, a telecommunication service, a telecommunication product, a bandwidth service, a bandwidth product, a debt product, a credit product, a credit derivative product, a derivative, an option, a future, a forward, a contract, a technical factor, a fundamental factor, an economic factor, a market factor, a utility factor, a commodity factor, an energy factor, a psychological factor, an environmental factor, a time factor, a timing factor, and a news event, and further wherein the message further contains at least one of statistical information, forecasting information, and historical information, a forecast regarding a future behavior, a forecast regarding a price movement, and a forecast regarding a valuation, regarding the at least one of a stock, a bond, a security, securities, a portfolio of securities, a market instrument, an index instrument, a mutual fund, a trust, a currency, currencies, a commodity, commodities, a foreign exchange rate, an interest rate, a real estate investment trust, real estate, real property or real properties, a utility service, a utility product, an energy service, an energy product, a telecommunication service, a telecommunication product, a debt product, a credit product, a credit derivative product, a derivative, an option, a future, a forward, a contract, and a financial instrument.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the communication device is at least one of a personal computer, a network computer, a hand-held computer, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a personal communication device, a personal digital assistant, a telephone, a digital telephone, a display telephone, a video telephone, a videophone, a 3G telephone, a 3.5 G telephone, a 4G telephone, a cellular telephone, a wireless telephone, a television, an interactive television, a beeper, a pager, and a watch, and further wherein the message contains at least one of a text information, graphical information, a chart, a table, video information, an image, and audio information, and further wherein the message is transmitted to the communication device via, on, or over, at least one of the Internet, the World Wide Web, a wireless communication network, a cellular communication network, a digital television network, and a cable television network.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the information stored in the database is automatically updated in real-time by at least one of a financial institution computer, a financial intermediary computer, an external information source computer, and a security issuer computer.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the message contains an advertisement.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a database, wherein the database stores information regarding the at least one factor and the information regarding at least one of a stock, a bond, a security, securities, a portfolio of securities, a market instrument, an index instrument, a financial market, a market index, a mutual fund, a trust, a currency, currencies, a commodity, commodities, a foreign exchange rate, an interest rate, a real estate investment trust, real estate, real property or real properties, a utility service, a utility product, an energy service, an energy product, a telecommunication service, a telecommunication product, a bandwidth service, a bandwidth product, a debt product, a credit product, a credit derivative product, a derivative, an option, a future, a forward, a contract, and an account, which is correlated with the at least one factor, wherein the at least one factor is at least one of a financial factor, a factor model, a factor ratio, a financial factor, a technical factor, a fundamental factor, an economic factor, a market factor, a utility factor, a commodity factor, an energy factor, a psychological factor, an environmental factor, a time factor, a timing factor, a news event, a stock, a bond, a security, a portfolio of securities, a financial market, a market index, a currency, a commodity, a foreign exchange rate, an interest rate, a real estate investment trust, real estate, real property or real properties, a utility service, a utility product, an energy service, an energy product, a telecommunication service, a telecommunication product, a bandwidth service, a bandwidth product, a debt product, a credit product, a credit derivative product, a derivative, an option, a future, a forward, and a contract;

wherein the processor automatically detects a change in the at least one factor upon an occurrence of a change in the at least one factor, and further wherein the processor processes the request using information stored in the database, wherein the processor generates the message containing information regarding the change in the at least one factor and information regarding at least one of a stock, a bond, a security, securities, a portfolio of securities, a market instrument, an index instrument, a financial market, a market index, a mutual find, a trust, a currency, currencies, a commodity, commodities, a foreign exchange rate, an interest rate, a real estate investment trust, real estate, real property or real properties, a utility service, a utility product, an energy service, an energy product, a telecommunication service, a telecommunication product, a bandwidth service, a bandwidth product, a debt product, a credit product, a credit derivative product, a derivative, an option, a future, a forward, a contract, and an account, which is correlated with the at least one factor, wherein the message further contains at least one of historical information, statistical information, and forecasting information, and further wherein the message contains at least one of a text information, graphical information, a chart, a table, video information, an image, and audio information, and further wherein the communication device is at least one of a personal computer, a network computer, a hand-held computer, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a personal communication device, a personal digital assistant, a telephone, a digital telephone, a display telephone, a video telephone, a videophone, a 3G telephone, a 3.5 G telephone, a 4G telephone, a cellular telephone, a wireless telephone, a television, an interactive television, a beeper, a pager, and a watch, and further wherein the message is transmitted to the communication device via, on, or over, at least one of the Internet, the World Wide Web, a wireless communication network, a cellular communication network, a digital television network, and a cable television network.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the information stored in the database is automatically updated in real-time by at least one of a financial institution computer, a financial intermediary computer, an external information source computer, and a security issuer computer.

8 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the message further contains at least one of a forecast regarding a future behavior, a forecast regarding a price movement, and a forecast regarding valuation, regarding the at least one of a stock, a bond, a security, securities, a portfolio of securities, a market instrument, an index instrument, a financial market, a market index, a mutual fund, a trust, a currency, currencies, a commodity, commodities, a foreign exchange rate, an interest rate, a real estate investment trust, real estate, real property or real properties, a utility service, a utility product, an energy service, an energy product, a telecommunication service, a telecommunication product, a bandwidth service, a bandwidth product, a debt product, a credit product, a credit derivative product, a derivative, an option, a future, a forward, a contract, and an account.

9 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the message contains an advertisement.

10 . An apparatus for providing financial information or investment information, comprising:

a receiver, wherein the receiver receives a request to provide a notification of a change in at least one factor and information regarding a correlation of a change in at least one factor with at least one of a financial account, a brokerage account, a trading account, a commodity trading account, an investment account, an investor portfolio account, a stock, a bond, a security, securities, a portfolio of securities, a market instrument, an index instrument, a financial market, a market index, a mutual fund, a trust, a currency, currencies, a commodity, commodities, a foreign exchange rate, an interest rate, a real estate investment trust, real estate, real property or real properties, a utility service, a utility product, an energy service, an energy product, a telecommunication service, a telecommunication product, a bandwidth service, a bandwidth product, a debt product, a credit product, a credit derivative product, a derivative, an option, a future, a forward, a contract, and an account;

a processor, wherein the processor automatically detects a change in at least one factor upon an occurrence of a change in the at least one factor, and further wherein the processor determines a correlation of the change in at least one factor with at least one of a financial account, a brokerage account, a trading account, a commodity trading account, an investment account, an investor portfolio account, a stock, a bond, a security, securities, a portfolio of securities, a market instrument, an index instrument, a financial market, a market index, a mutual fund, a trust, a currency, currencies, a commodity, commodities, a foreign exchange rate, an interest rate, a real estate investment trust, real estate, real property or real properties, a utility service, a utility product, an energy service, an energy product, a telecommunication service, a telecommunication product, a bandwidth service, a bandwidth product, a debt product, a credit product, a credit derivative product, a derivative, an option, a future, a forward, a contract, and an account, and further wherein the processor generates a message containing information regarding at least one of the change in at least one factor and the correlation of the change in at least one factor with the at least one of a financial account, a brokerage account, a trading account, a commodity trading account, an investment account, an investor portfolio account, a stock, a bond, a security, securities, a portfolio of securities, a market instrument, an index instrument, a financial market, a market index, a mutual fund, a trust, a currency, currencies, a commodity, commodities, a foreign exchange rate, an interest rate, a real estate investment trust, real estate, real property or real properties, a utility service, a utility product, an energy service, an energy product, a telecommunication service, a telecommunication product, a bandwidth service, a bandwidth product, a debt product, a credit product, a credit derivative product, a derivative, an option, a future, a forward, a contract, and an account; and

a transmitter for transmitting the message over a communication network to a communication device associated with an individual,

wherein the apparatus automatically initiates a communication with the communication device, and further wherein the transmitter transmits the message over the communication network to the communication device, and further wherein the message is transmitted to the communication device in real-time, and further wherein the message is transmitted to the communication device via, on, or over, at least one of the Internet, the World Wide Web, a wireless communication network, a cellular communication network, a digital television network, and a cable television network.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one factor is at least one of a financial factor, a factor model, a factor ratio, a stock, a bond, a security, a portfolio of securities, a financial market, a market index, a currency, a commodity, a foreign exchange rate, an interest rate, a real estate investment trust, real estate, real property or real properties, a utility service, a utility product, an energy service, an energy product, a telecommunication service, a telecommunication product, a bandwidth service, a bandwidth product, a debt product, a credit product, a credit derivative product, a derivative, an option, a future, a forward, a contract, a technical factor, a fundamental factor, an economic factor, a market factor, a utility factor, a commodity factor, an energy factor, a psychological factor, an environmental factor, a time factor, a timing factor, and a news event.

12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the communication device is at least one of a personal computer, a network computer, a hand-held computer, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a personal communication device, a personal digital assistant, a telephone, a digital telephone, a display telephone, a video telephone, a videophone, a 3G telephone, a 3.5 G telephone, a 4G telephone, a cellular telephone, a wireless telephone, a television, an interactive television, a beeper, a pager, and a watch, and further wherein the message contains at least one of a text information, graphical information, a chart, a table, video information, an image, and audio information.

13 . The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:

a database, wherein the database stores information regarding the at least one factor and information regarding the at least one of a financial account, a brokerage account, a trading account, a commodity trading account, an investment account, an investor portfolio account, a stock, a bond, a security, securities, a portfolio of securities, a market instrument, an index instrument, a financial market, a market index, a mutual fund, a trust, a currency, currencies, a commodity, commodities, a foreign exchange rate, an interest rate, a real estate investment trust, real estate, real property or real properties, a utility service, a utility product, an energy service, an energy product, a telecommunication service, a telecommunication product, a bandwidth service, a bandwidth product, a debt product, a credit product, a credit derivative product, a derivative, an option, a future, a forward, a contract, and an account, which is correlated with the at least one factor.

14 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the information stored in the database is automatically updated in real-time by at least one of a financial institution computer, a financial intermediary computer, an external information source computer, and a security issuer computer.

15 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the message contains an advertisement.

16 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the message contains information regarding at least one of a patent grant and an insider trading activity.

17 . An apparatus for providing financial information or investment information, comprising:

a receiver, wherein the receiver receives a request to provide a notification of a change in at least one factor along with information regarding a correlation of the change in at least one factor with at least one of a financial account, a brokerage account, a trading account, a commodity trading account, an investment account, an investor portfolio account, a stock, a bond, a security, securities, a portfolio of securities, a market instrument, an index instrument, a financial market, a market index, a mutual find, a trust, a currency, currencies, a commodity, commodities, a foreign exchange rate, an interest rate, a real estate investment trust, real estate, real property or real properties, a utility service, a utility product, an energy service, an energy product, a telecommunication service, a telecommunication product, a bandwidth service, a bandwidth product, a debt product, a credit product, a credit derivative product, a derivative, an option, a future, a forward, a contract, and an account, and an instruction to perform a transaction on behalf of an individual;

a processor, wherein the processor automatically detects a change in at least one factor upon an occurrence of a change in the at least one factor, and further wherein the processor determines a correlation of the change in at least one factor with at least one of a financial account, a brokerage account, a trading account, a commodity trading account, an investment account, an investor portfolio account, a stock, a bond, a security, securities, a portfolio of securities, a market instrument, an index instrument, a financial market, a market index, a mutual fund, a trust, a currency, currencies, a commodity, commodities, a foreign exchange rate, an interest rate, a real estate investment trust, real estate, real property or real properties, a utility service, a utility product, an energy service, an energy product, a telecommunication service, a telecommunication product, a bandwidth service, a bandwidth product, a debt product, a credit product, a credit derivative product, a derivative, an option, a future, a forward, a contract, and an account, and further wherein the processor automatically performs a transaction on the at least one of a financial account, a brokerage account, a trading account, a commodity trading account, an investment account, and an investor portfolio account, on behalf of the individual pursuant to the instruction,

wherein the processor generates a message containing information regarding at least one of the change in at least one factor, the correlation of the change in at least one factor with at least one of a financial account, a brokerage account, a trading account, a commodity trading account, an investment account, an investor portfolio account, a stock, a bond, a security, securities, a portfolio of securities, a market instrument, an index instrument, a financial market, a market index, a mutual fund, a trust, a currency, currencies, a commodity, commodities, a foreign exchange rate, an interest rate, a real estate investment trust, real estate, real property or real properties, a utility service, a utility product, an energy service, an energy product, a telecommunication service, a telecommunication product, a bandwidth service, a bandwidth product, a debt product, a credit product, a credit derivative product, a derivative, an option, a future, a forward, a contract, and an account, and information regarding the transaction performed on the at least one of a financial account, a brokerage account, a trading account, a commodity trading account, an investment account, and an investor portfolio account, on behalf of the individual; and

a transmitter for transmitting the message over a communication network to a communication device associated with the individual,

wherein the apparatus automatically initiates a communication link with the communication device, and further wherein the transmitter transmits the message over the communication network to the communication device, and further wherein the message is transmitted to the communication device in real-time.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the communication device is at least one of a personal computer, a network computer, a hand-held computer, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a personal communication device, a personal digital assistant, a telephone, a digital telephone, a display telephone, a video telephone, a videophone, a 3G telephone, a 3.5 G telephone, a 4G telephone, a cellular telephone, a wireless telephone, a television, an interactive television, a beeper, a pager, and a watch, and further wherein the message contains at least one of a text information, graphical information, a chart, a table, video information, an image, and audio information, wherein the message contains and advertisement, and further wherein the message is transmitted to the communication device via, on, or over, at least one of the Internet, the World Wide Web, a wireless communication network, a cellular communication network, a digital television network, and a cable television network.

19 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the instruction includes at least one of a legally binding authorization, an electronic signature, an electronic form submission of a power of attorney, and a written submission of a power of attorney, to perform a transaction on behalf of the individual.

20 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the transaction involves at least one of purchasing, buying, selling, trading, borrowing, exchanging, taking a position in, obtaining a position in, and liquidating a position in, at least one of a stock, a bond, a security, securities, a portfolio of securities, a market instrument, an index instrument, a mutual fund, a trust, a currency, currencies, a commodity, commodities, a foreign exchange rate, an interest rate, a utility service, a utility product, an energy service, an energy product, a telecommunication service, a telecommunication product, a bandwidth service, a bandwidth product, a debt product, a credit product, a credit derivative product, a derivative, an option, a future, a forward, a financial instrument, and a contract associated with at least one of a stock, a bond, a security, securities, a portfolio of securities, a market instrument, an index instrument, a mutual fund, a trust, a currency, currencies, a commodity, commodities, a foreign exchange rate, an interest rate, a real estate investment trust, real estate, real property or real properties, a utility service, a utility product, an energy service, an energy product, a telecommunication service, a telecommunication product, a bandwidth service, a bandwidth product, a debt product, a credit product, a credit derivative product, a derivative, an option, a future, a forward, and a financial instrument.