On Tuesday, the Arizona Corporation Commission issued a warning to novice investors about the risks of self-directed, smartphone investing apps.
According to the Corporation Commission, “do-it-yourself” investing apps might “provide cost-effective, convenience with instant access to trading at an investor’s fingertips,” they can fool novice investors because “some are presented like a video game.”
The game-like presentation could attract young investors who are not made aware of the risk of financial loss. This “gamification” of investing encourages unsophisticated investors to take risks they don’t understand.
The Commission says that recently “these apps are marketing on college campuses and other locations designed to reach new investors. These apps can be habit-forming, and investors can get in over their heads quickly. These ramifications can be costly.
Investing apps are easy to download and easy to use. The game-like nature of the apps is appealing to young investors. Some investing apps use text messaging and flashy notifications of “hot stocks” that entice inexperienced investors to buy and sell on emotion and not on objective information. Instead of building a portfolio that is aligned with specific investment objectives, time frame and risk tolerance, some newer investors buy on impulse where investors end up with a portfolio that does not match their needs.
Because of the game-like nature of the apps, unsophisticated investors are encouraged to invest in risky investments by trading more frequently and faster than is prudent. Sometimes, holding on to investments for a long time can earn more money than quickly buying and selling. Some apps are structured in a way that make tracking a portfolio difficult, which sometimes leads an inexperienced investor to a very risky portfolio.
Young, unsophisticated investors may be at risk of taking on day trading or investing in meme stocks and cryptocurrencies to their detriment. Nothing is wrong with using these apps if done responsibly from the start. Understand that the apps are not games but a way to save for your financial future. Educate yourself on how the apps work and the trading that the investor is doing. Watch not only what you are earning but also what you are losing. Set limits on what you can afford to lose.
Although investing apps may try to determine an investors’ risk tolerance with a questionnaire and an algorithm, a major concern is that some investing smartphone applications are not providing sufficient information to allow investors to make knowledgeable choices.
Before using an investing app, the Corporation Commission’s Securities Division recommends reflecting on these questions: