Customer asset automatic management apparatus, customer asset automatic management method, and program

Abstract

To prevent the disadvantage of a customer due to a payment time lag which may occur when an MMF is an object of automatic operation.SOLUTION: A customer asset automatic management device according to the present invention is a customer asset automatic management device that is connected to a database storing respective balances of a deposit and an MMF in a customer account and a specified balance that is a balance of the deposit specified by a customer, and that cancels the MMF in the customer account when the deposit is less than the specified balance.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic customer asset management device, an automatic customer asset management method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] An MRF (Money Reserve Fund) is a public bond investment trust used to automatically manage cash deposited in a securities company account. From the customer's perspective, it is similar to a bank deposit, but since it is ultimately an investment trust, the principal is not guaranteed. When a customer attempts to withdraw cash from an MRF account, the MRF equivalent to the withdrawal amount is automatically canceled, converted into cash, and then withdrawn. However, during times when the MRF cannot be automatically canceled in real time, the withdrawal will be treated as a temporary cash advance (loan). Normally, no interest is charged on this cash advance, so it is no different from a regular withdrawal for the customer.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a system that, when a purchase order is placed by a winner in a bookbuilding for securities related to an initial public offering / sale, compares the winner's deposit amount (cash) with the purchase price, and automatically cancels the MRF if the deposit amount is less than the purchase price. This system makes it possible to secure the purchase price even if the winner's deposit amount is insufficient. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-273400 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Meanwhile, MMFs (Money Market Funds) are known as public bond investment trusts similar to MRFs. The term "MMF" is sometimes used to mean "Money Market Fund" as well as "Money Management Fund," but in this application, the term "MMF" is used to mean "Money Market Fund." At least in the background art, MMFs are not subject to automated management like MRFs, but are purchased on an individual basis at the discretion of the customer. However, the inventors of this application are considering making MMFs subject to automated management.

[0006] However, in the course of considering the automated operation of MMFs, it was discovered that MMFs have a problem not present in MRFs. Specifically, because MMFs do not permit the temporary cash advance withdrawals described above, there is a possibility of a time lag occurring between the time a customer issues a withdrawal instruction and the time the withdrawal is actually possible, or between the time a customer places a purchase order and the time the purchase is actually possible, as in Patent Document 1. This could cause disadvantages to customers, and so it was difficult to make MMFs the target of automated operation without resolving this problem.

[0007] Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide an automatic customer asset management device, an automatic customer asset management method, and a program that can prevent customer disadvantages due to withdrawal time lags that can occur when an MMF is the subject of automatic management. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The automatic customer asset management device according to the present invention is connected to a database that stores the balance of each deposit and MMF in a customer account, as well as a designated balance, which is the balance of the deposit designated by the customer, and cancels the MMF in the customer account when the deposit falls below the designated balance.

[0009] The method for automatically managing customer assets according to the present invention is a method for automatically managing customer assets that is executed by a computer connected to a database that stores the balance of each deposit and MMF in a customer account, as well as a designated balance, which is the balance of the deposit designated by the customer, and includes the steps of: the computer comparing the deposit with the designated balance in response to a change in the deposit; and the computer canceling the MMF in the customer account if the deposit is below the designated balance.

[0010] The program according to the present invention is a program for causing a computer connected to a database that stores the balance of the deposit and MMF in a customer account, as well as a designated balance, which is the balance of the deposit designated by the customer, to execute the following steps: comparing the deposit with the designated balance in response to a change in the deposit; and canceling the MMF in the customer account if the deposit is below the designated balance. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to always secure a specified balance of deposits in a customer's account, thereby preventing customer disadvantages due to withdrawal time lags that may occur when an MMF is subject to automatic management. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an automated customer asset management system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a server computer 2, a database 3, and a user terminal 4. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of customer account information stored in the storage device 102 of the database 3. [Figure 4] 10(a) and 10(b) are diagrams showing examples of customer interface screens displayed on the display of the user terminal 4 by the server computer 2. FIG. [Figure 5] 10 is a flow chart showing the automatic customer asset management process performed by the server computer 2. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an automated customer asset management system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the automated customer asset management system 1 includes a server computer 2, a database 3, and a user terminal 4. The server computer 2 and the user terminal 4 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via a network 5, such as the Internet.

[0014] Server computer 2 is a computer that functions as the automated customer asset management device according to the present invention and is typically installed within a securities company. Database 3 is a database that stores the customer information of the securities company (including information for accessing server computer 2 and securities account information) and, like server computer 2, is typically installed within the securities company. Server computer 2 serves to provide various services to user terminal 4 using the customer information stored in database 3. One of these services is the automatic purchase and automatic cancellation of MMFs using deposits in customer accounts, and server computer 2 executes the automated customer asset management process described below to realize this service.

[0015] User terminal 4 is a computer used by a client of the securities company, and is typically configured as the client's personal computer or smartphone. Server computer 2 provides user terminal 4 with an interface (hereinafter referred to as the "client interface") in the form of the securities company's website or app, allowing the client to use various services provided by the securities company (including depositing funds into an account, withdrawing funds from an account, and purchasing or selling investment products including MMFs). Clients use the various services provided by the securities company by accessing the client interface via user terminal 4.

[0016] 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the server computer 2, database 3, and user terminal 4. The server computer 2, database 3, and user terminal 4 may each be configured as a computer 100 having the configuration shown in the figure. Note that the computer 100 that configures the server computer 2 and database 3 may be a computer configured by combining multiple computers. Furthermore, the server computer 2 and database 3 may be software implemented in a single computer 100.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the computer 100 has a configuration in which a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a storage device 102, an input device 103, an output device 104, and a communication device 105 are interconnected via a bus 106.

[0018] The CPU 101 controls each component of the computer 100 and reads and executes various programs stored in the storage device 102. The storage device 102 includes a main storage device such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk, and serves to store various programs for executing the operating system and various applications of the computer 100, as well as data used by these programs. The processes described below, which are executed by the server computer 2, are realized by the CPU 101 of the server computer 2 executing programs stored in the storage device 102 of the server computer 2. The storage device 102 of the database 3 stores the above-mentioned customer information, and the CPU 101 of the database 3 serves to read the customer information from the storage device 102 in response to a query issued by the CPU 101 of the server computer 2 and return the information to the server computer 2.

[0019] 3 is a diagram showing an example of customer account information stored in storage device 102 of database 3. The customer account shown in the figure is a securities account denominated in US dollars, and as shown in the figure, for each customer, it is configured to include the following information: deposit (US dollars), purchasing capacity (US dollars), MMF balance (US dollars), designated balance, pending dividends, accumulated dividends, net account value (Japanese yen), and transaction history.

[0020] Deposits are the amount of cash held in a customer's account. The balance of deposits fluctuates depending on deposits and withdrawals, as well as the purchase or sale (cancellation) of investment products, including MMFs.

[0021] Available funds are the amount of money available in a client's account to purchase new investments. If a client has a margin line, the available funds balance can be greater than the deposit balance. However, available funds may be less than the deposit balance between the time a client places an order to buy an investment and the time it is executed, or if the margin requirements for an open margin position increase.

[0022] The MMF balance is the balance of U.S. dollar-denominated MMF held by a customer. The designated balance is the balance of deposits designated by the customer to be left in the account for emergencies. The customer inputs the designated balance (designates the amount) through the customer interface described above. As will be described in more detail below, server computer 2 is configured to automatically (i.e., without obtaining the customer's confirmation each time) purchase MMF in an amount calculated by subtracting the designated balance from the customer's deposit when the customer's deposit exceeds the designated balance. The MMF balance includes the balance of MMFs thus automatically purchased and the balance of MMFs intentionally purchased by the customer. The server computer 2 is also configured to automatically (i.e., without obtaining the customer's confirmation each time) cancel MMF in an amount calculated by subtracting the customer's deposit from the designated balance when the customer's deposit falls below the designated balance.

[0023] Pending dividends are the amount of dividends from MMFs held by a customer that have been paid within the period from the vesting date to the payment date. Accumulated dividends are the total amount of MMF dividends that a customer has received to date. When new dividends are paid, server computer 2 is configured to automatically purchase that amount of MMF (i.e., without obtaining confirmation from the customer each time).

[0024] The net account value is the net value of assets held by a customer. In a typical example, the server computer 2 is configured to calculate the net account value based on the total of the deposit balance and the MMF balance in the customer's account and write the calculated value to the database 3. More specifically, the server computer 2 calculates the net account value by converting the total amount into Japanese yen at the latest exchange rate. The server computer 2 may calculate and write the net account value periodically (e.g., every second, every minute, every hour, or every day), or may calculate and write the net account value in response to changes in the deposit balance, MMF balance, or exchange rate. In calculating the net account value, the server computer 2 may also include the appraised value of other assets held by the customer (e.g., investment products other than MMFs) in the total amount.

[0025] The transaction history is information showing the transaction history of a customer account. Transactions here include deposits to the account, withdrawals from the account, and purchases or sales (cancellations) of investment products, including MMFs.

[0026] Returning to Figure 2, the input device 103 is a device that receives input from the outside and supplies it to the CPU 101, and is configured to include, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel. The output device 104 is a device that outputs the processing results of the CPU 101 to the outside, and is configured to include, for example, a display and a speaker.

[0027] The communication device 105 is a device for communicating with external devices, and transmits and receives data according to instructions from the CPU 101. The server computer 2, the database 3, and the user terminal 4 are each configured to use this communication device 105 to communicate with other devices, including the network 5.

[0028] 4(a) and 4(b) are diagrams showing example customer interface screens displayed on the display of the user terminal 4 by the server computer 2. The figures show an example in which the user terminal 4 is a smartphone.

[0029] The example screen shown in Figure 4(a) is an example of an assets display screen for a US dollar-denominated account. As shown in the figure, the assets display screen displays the deposit (US dollars), available purchasing power (US dollars), net account value (Japanese yen), and a transition button 10 to a MMF details confirmation screen. The transition button 10 displays the MMF balance (Amount) and accumulated dividends. The server computer 2 reads this information from the database 3 and displays it on the assets display screen.

[0030] The example screen shown in Figure 4(b) is an example of an MMF details confirmation screen that server computer 2 displays in response to a user tapping transition button 10. As shown in the figure, the MMF details confirmation screen displays not only the MMF balance (Amount) and accumulated dividends (Accumulated Dividends), but also pending dividends, the yield over the most recent seven days (7-day Yield), the product name of the MMF to be purchased (Product), a redemption button 11, a designated balance (Amount Retained) and a link 12 to its input screen, a link 13 to a screen displaying the MMF transaction history (Transaction History), and a link 14 to a screen displaying the MMF prospectus (Prospectus). Server computer 2 reads the MMF balance, accumulated dividends, pending dividends, designated balance, and transaction history from database 3, and also reads the MMF product name and its yield over the most recent seven days from a database (not shown), and displays this information on the MMF details confirmation screen.

[0031] The redemption button 11 is a button for displaying a cancellation screen (not shown) that accepts instructions to cancel all or part of the MMF. When the user taps the redemption button 11, the server computer 2 displays the cancellation screen and waits for an operation by the customer. When the customer inputs an instruction to cancel the MMF and the cancellation amount on the cancellation screen, the server computer 2 executes the cancellation process of the MMF for the instructed cancellation amount.

[0032] Link 12 is a link to a designated balance input screen (not shown) that accepts input of a designated balance. When a user taps link 12, server computer 2 displays the designated balance input screen and waits for an operation by the customer. When a customer inputs a designated balance on the designated balance input screen, server computer 2 accesses database 3 and updates the designated balance of the corresponding customer account with the input designated balance.

[0033] Link 13 is a link to a transaction history display screen (not shown) for displaying the transaction history of the MMF. When the user taps link 13, server computer 2 displays the transaction history display screen, and retrieves only the MMF-related portion of the transaction history of the corresponding customer account from database 3 and places it on the displayed transaction history display screen.

[0034] Link 14 is a link to a prospectus display screen (not shown) for displaying the MMF's prospectus. When the user taps link 13, server computer 2 displays the prospectus display screen, retrieves the prospectus of the MMF to be purchased from a database (not shown), and places it on the displayed prospectus display screen.

[0035] Figure 5 is a flow diagram showing the automated customer asset management process performed by the server computer 2. The process shown in the figure is executed by the server computer 2 for each customer account, and is initiated in response to a change in the deposit or available purchasing power of a customer account. The content of the automated customer asset management process will be described in detail below with reference to Figure 5.

[0036] When the automated customer asset management process is started, the server computer 2 first compares the available purchasing power of the corresponding customer account with the deposit amount (step S1). If the available purchasing power is less than the deposit amount, the process proceeds to step S5, and if the available purchasing power is equal to or greater than the deposit amount, the process proceeds to step S2.

[0037] After proceeding to step S2, the server computer 2 compares the deposit amount with the designated balance of the corresponding customer account (step S2). If the deposit amount is equal to the designated balance, the process ends. If the deposit amount is greater than the designated balance, the server computer 2 automatically purchases MMF in an amount equal to the deposit amount minus the designated balance (step S3). If the deposit amount is less than the designated balance, the server computer 2 automatically cancels MMF in an amount equal to the designated balance minus the deposit (step S4). In this case, if the customer does not hold MMF in an amount equal to the designated balance minus the deposit amount, the server computer 2 may cancel the entire amount of MMF held by the customer. Note that "automatically" here means that the process proceeds without receiving confirmation from the customer each time (or, in other words, without waiting for the customer to confirm). This also applies to the following explanations.

[0038] Meanwhile, after proceeding to step S5, the server computer 2 compares the available purchasing capacity with the designated balance of the corresponding customer account (step S5). If the available purchasing capacity and the designated balance are equal, the process ends. However, if the available purchasing capacity is greater than the designated balance, the server computer 2 automatically purchases MMF in an amount equal to the available purchasing capacity minus the designated balance (step S6). If the available purchasing capacity is less than the designated balance, the server computer 2 automatically cancels MMF in an amount equal to the designated balance minus the available purchasing capacity (step S7). In this case, too, if the customer does not hold MMF in an amount equal to the designated balance minus the available purchasing capacity, the server computer 2 may cancel the entire amount of MMF held by the customer.

[0039] After completing any of steps S3, S4, S6, or S7, the server computer 2 updates the deposit amount, available purchasing capacity, and MMF balance in database 3 with the latest information (step S8), and calculates the net account value using the latest information and updates the net account value in database 3 (step S9). This enables the server computer 2 to perform automatic management using the MMF while securing the deposit amount equal to the specified balance (or the available purchasing capacity if the available purchasing capacity is lower than the deposit amount).

[0040] As explained above, according to the automated customer asset management system 1 of this embodiment, it is possible to always secure the designated balance of deposits in the customer account, although this is only possible when the total amount of deposits and MMFs held by the customer exceeds the designated balance, thereby preventing customer disadvantages due to withdrawal time lags that may occur when MMFs are subject to automatic management.

[0041] Furthermore, according to the automated customer asset management system 1 of this embodiment, when the available purchasing power is less than the deposit amount (in other words, when the deposit amount obtained by subtracting the available purchasing power from the deposit amount is tied up), it is possible to secure the untied deposit amount equivalent to the specified balance. Therefore, even when a portion of the deposit amount is tied up, the customer can secure freely movable cash equivalent to the specified balance. However, the server computer 2 may automatically cancel the MMF after the deposit amount is actually reduced. In this case, steps S1 and S5 to S7 of FIG. 5 can be omitted, and the automated customer asset management process can start from step S2.

[0042] Furthermore, according to the automated customer asset management system 1 of this embodiment, the net account value is calculated based on the balance of deposits in the customer's account and the balance of the MMF, and is presented to the customer in the customer's home currency (Japanese yen if the customer is Japanese), so that the customer can easily know the approximate value of the assets they hold simply by accessing the securities company's website or by launching the securities company's app.

[0043] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0044] For example, in the above embodiment, an example was explained in which the customer account was a securities account denominated in U.S. dollars, but it goes without saying that the account may be denominated in other foreign currencies such as euros, British pounds, etc. In this case, it is preferable that the MMF that is subject to automatic purchase and automatic cancellation is also denominated in the same currency as the securities account. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1. Automated Customer Asset Management System 2. Server Computer 3 Database 4. User terminal 5. Network 10 Transition Buttons 11 Redemption Button 12 Link to designated balance entry screen 13 Link to transaction history display screen 14. Link to prospectus display page 100 computers 101 CPU 102 Storage device 103 Input Device 104 Output Device 105 Communication equipment Bus 106

Claims

1. connected to a database that stores the balance of each of the deposits and the MMF in the customer's account, and a designated balance, which is the balance of the deposit designated by the customer; canceling the MMF in the customer account in response to the deposit amount falling below the designated balance; Automated customer asset management device.

2. In response to the deposit falling below the designated balance, cancel the MMF equivalent to the amount obtained by subtracting the deposit from the designated balance.

2. The automated customer asset management system according to claim 1.

3. When the purchase margin of the customer account is equal to or greater than the deposit amount and the deposit amount falls below the designated balance, cancel the MMF equivalent to the amount obtained by subtracting the deposit amount from the designated balance.

3. The automated customer asset management system according to claim 2.

4. When the purchase capacity is equal to or greater than the deposit amount and the deposit amount exceeds the designated balance, the fund purchases MMFs equivalent to the amount obtained by subtracting the designated balance from the deposit amount.

4. The automatic customer asset management device according to claim 3.

5. canceling the MMF equivalent to the amount obtained by subtracting the available purchasing capacity from the designated balance in response to the fact that the available purchasing capacity is less than the deposit and has fallen below the designated balance; 4. The automatic customer asset management device according to claim 3.

6. When the available purchasing capacity is less than the deposit and exceeds the designated balance, purchase MMFs equivalent to the amount obtained by subtracting the designated balance from the available purchasing capacity.

6. The automatic customer asset management system according to claim 5.

7. Accepting input of the designated balance by a user and writing the accepted designated balance to the database; The automatic customer asset management device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The customer account is a securities account denominated in a foreign currency, The MMF is a foreign currency-denominated MMF.

7. The automatic customer asset management system according to claim 1.

9. Calculating a net account value, which is the net value of assets held in the customer account, based on the total of the deposit balance and the MMF balance, and presenting the net account value to the user; 7. The automatic customer asset management system according to claim 1.

10. 1. A method for automatically managing customer assets, executed by a computer connected to a database that stores the balances of deposits and MMFs in customer accounts, and designated balances that are the balances of the deposits designated by the customer, comprising: the computer comparing the deposit amount with the designated balance in response to a change in the deposit amount; The computer cancels the MMF of the customer account if the deposit is less than the specified balance; A method for automatically managing customer assets, including:

11. a computer connected to a database that stores the balance of each of the deposits and MMFs in the customer's account, and a designated balance, which is the balance of the deposit designated by the customer; In response to a change in the deposit, comparing the deposit with the designated balance; canceling the MMF in the customer account if the deposit is less than the specified balance; A program to execute.

Images