A comprehensive, convenient, cost-effective, and intuitive mechanism for individuals to create, manage, and modify customized portfolios of assets and liabilities based on the individual's investment preferences, weighting schemes, risk tolerance, and timeframe. The mechanism includes a server (64) that has data storage (66) for the individual's data. The individual input (60) is used in asset and liability selections (62). There are investment tools (62) to educate individuals on investing concepts, terms, definitions, and strategies. Individuals, through an on-line discussion group, can discuss their investing questions with knowledgeable investors and access other individuals' investment related issues and comments. Investing can include fractional shares and odd lots. The system associated with the mechanism aggregates and nets the trading orders to reduce transactional costs.