Subject: File Number S7-14-19
From: Dana Blanc
Affiliation:

Oct. 10, 2019


Hello,

I am just a common, private investor who is very concerned about your change in treatment of “dark” stocks. In my investing journey, I have frequently bought many shares in these companies, with many comprising my portfolio today. I view them as some of my safest investments, mostly due to the fact that they are not indexed, and have very low market correlation. These companies stand on their own merits. They try to cut costs by posting financials on their websites. They are often led by the founders of the companies. And in many ways they are the best of America, or at least what can be invested in by me, a common, private investor.

As a governmental body, you are trying to protect us, the common, private investor from catastrophic loss. For that I commend you. However, we are OK. We are investors who can take the risk. We can call the CEO and have our questions answered. And we can also, move our mouse to the search bar, type in a company website, and find where the company posted financials. So far, algorithms have not done the work of this extra step. But we can, the common, private investors. Please don’t take this opportunity from us.

Let us keep our freedom to invest in Main Street America. In the community banks. In the small manufacturers. In the low cost operators. In the companies that have no desire to become a FAANG or in the S&P 500. Let us do our due diligence and invest in the companies that made thrift a priority. Thank you,

Dana Blanc