a predictive automated routing system provides efficient and optimized securities trading . a user creates a personalized best execution profile by selecting one or more statistical measures and by assigning respective weighting values to the selected statistical measures . the profile is transmitted to the user &# 39 ; s broker / dealer at the time of or in advance of order placement and the broker / dealer stores the best execution profile . the user - defined execution quality preferences , as indicated by the best execution profile , are matched to the execution quality statistics for a plurality of market centers to determine which market center is most likely to execute the trade consistent with the user &# 39 ; s trade execution quality preferences . once a predictive match has been established , the order is automatically routed to the market center most likely to execute the trade consistent with the user - defined best execution profile .