Parental controls

A device, comprising:

• one or more input structures;
• a storage structure encoding routines for a financial account management application, wherein the encoded routines comprise:
• a routine for receiving a first set of one or more inputs via the input structures, wherein the first set of received inputs define one or more rules for establishing restrictions on transactions initiated by a subsidiary financial account associated with an account holder other than a user of the device;
• and
• a routine for storing the one or more defined rules;
• a routine for receiving a second set of one or more inputs via the input structures, wherein the second set of received inputs define a first authorization response time and a second authorization response time for authorization of transactions, wherein the device is allotted the first authorization response time for responding to an in-person transaction authorization request and allotted the second authorization response time for responding to an online transaction authorization request;
• and
• a processor configured to execute the encoded routines.

A method, comprising:

• defining a multiple-tier transaction rule having a plurality of transaction limits using a handheld electronic device;
• associating each of a plurality of control actions with a respective one of the plurality of limits, wherein defining the multiple-tier transaction rule and associating each of the plurality of control actions with a respective one of the plurality of transaction limits comprises defining a first transaction limit and associating the first transaction limit with a first control action, defining a second transaction limit and associating the second transaction limit with a second control action, defining a third transaction limit and associating the third transaction limit with a third control action, and defining a fourth transaction limit and associating the fourth transaction limit with a fourth control action, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth transaction limits are different from one another;
• and
• applying the multiple-tier transaction rule to a subsidiary financial account associated with an account holder other than the user of the handheld electronic device;
• wherein the first control action comprises receiving a notification message on the handheld electronic device if the first transaction limit of the multiple-tier transaction rule is violated by a transaction initiated using the subsidiary account;
• wherein the second control action comprises receiving a first type of authorization request message on the handheld electronic device for authorization of the transaction initiated using the subsidiary account if the second transaction limit of the multiple-tier transaction rule is violated by the transaction, wherein the transaction is approved if the handheld electronic device does not respond to the first type of authorization request message within a defined period of time, wherein the defined period of time for responding to either the first or second type of authorization request message is selected from a first period of time and a second period of time, wherein the first period of time is selected if the transaction is an in-person transaction, and wherein the second period of time is selected if the transaction is an online transaction;
• wherein the third control action comprises receiving an second type of authorization request message on the handheld electronic device for authorization of the transaction initiated using the subsidiary account if the third transaction limit of the multiple-tier transaction rule is violated by the transaction, wherein the transaction is declined if the handheld device does not respond to the second type of authorization request message within the defined period of time;
• and
• wherein the fourth control action comprises declining the transaction initiated using the subsidiary account without an authorization request message being received by the handheld electronic device if the fourth transaction limit of the multiple-tier transaction rule is violated by the transaction.