Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I login to my account?
A: Please call us when first activating your account. Once activated, you can click on the "Login to My Account" button on our home page, located in the upper right corner. You will need three pieces of information to log in to your account:
• First, you need your Financial Information Number, which is always 'APF'.
• Second, you need your ID, which is your full account number, both numbers and letters, with no dash.
• Finally, you will need your password, which will initially be set as "fi", plus your 6-digit date of birth (MMDDYY), i.e. "fi010165".
You will be prompted to change your password the first time you log in. We also have strong security controls in place for your protection during the login process. You will be prompted to select and answer four security questions, one of which will be asked anytime the website does not recognize the computer you are logging in from. To further confirm that you are logging in to our site, a personalized security phrase and image will also be displayed each time you log in. If either feature is different from what you initially selected, you should not attempt to log in.
If you have any questions or problems logging into your account, contact John Garcia at (813) 872-1301.
Q. How do I enter trades if I have fractional shares in my account?
A. Enter the trade for the amount of whole shares in your account. The system will redeem your fractional share on the settlement date. For example, if you have 103.564 shares of GE stock and wish to sell all of your shares, you would place a trade to sell 103 shares.
Q. What's the difference between a Full Service Brokerage and Internet Brokerage?
A. Our Full Service Brokerage is for clients who desire advice to help them decide what to buy or sell and when to trade. Our Internet Brokerage is for clients who require no advice, prefer lower commission costs, and want the freedom to place buy and sell orders themselves online at their convenience. Full Service Brokerage clients can log in to view their account positions, balances and history; however, they cannot place trades online.
Q. I tried logging in and it told me that I am temporarily restricted from further use. What should I do?
A. You received this message because you or someone other than yourself tried to log in to your account and entered the incorrect password three times in a row. Please call John Garcia at (813) 872-1301 to reset your password.
Q. Can I receive my statements and/or trade confirmations electronically?
A. Yes. After you have logged in to your account, click on "Account Profile" on the left side of the screen. Select the "Document Delivery" link at the top of the screen. If you have not added an email address to your account, you will need to click on the "Change" button to add one. You will then be able to change your settings for receiving electronic statements and/or confirmations for all of your linked accounts. Note: Even if you elect to receive paper notifications, you can still log in to view electronic statements and confirmations.
Q. Why do you charge different commission fees for Internet Brokerage accounts?
A. The difference in the fees incurred depends upon the type of order placed. If you place a market order, the fee is $19.95 per trade. However, if you place a limit order to specify the price to buy/sell, there is an extra $5 charge incurred for doing this through the Internet. In these instances, you will incur a $24.95 commission fee. Standard commission rates apply if you call us to place an order. If you buy 1000 shares or more of a single stock, you will be charged the normal $19.95 or $24.95 rate, plus an additional $0.02 per share. For example, if you place an order online to buy 1500 shares of XYZ Company at a limit of $0.85, the commission would be $64.95 ($24.95 for the limit order, $10 for the stock price being under $1, and $30 for being over 1000 shares).
Q: How do I change my password?
A. Log in to your account and click on "Account Profile" on the left side of the screen. This will put you into the Account Details screen. Click on the "Password" button at the bottom of the screen. Enter your current password, along with a new 8 – 12 digit alphanumeric password. Do not forget to confirm your new password.
Q: Is it possible to set my account up to reinvest stock dividends?
A. Yes. Please call us and we can arrange things so that only selected securities in your account are designated for reinvesting, or set it so that all eligible securities are set up for automatic reinvestment of your dividends.
