Almost every second ad today urges you to trade. Equities, Debt, Money Market, Forex, Commodities, why even Real Estate  flipping!

Fairly obvious to these invites there are risks involved – and obviously only jokers like me look at risk! Here are a few things that your broker forgot to tell you:

1. Leverage is inherent to an Options deal: when you buy a put option or a call option YOU are leveraging. And leveraging hurts.

2. You start small -say 30 shares of Bharti was your first transaction (Rs. 9000 apporx) ….then 300…then 3000 shares with leverage.

3. Trading like alcohol, is addicting. Initially you trade shares, then after a while you are waiting by the computer from 9am onwards

4. Trading requires tremendous ability to take losses, and a heart of steel, nay, diamond.

5. There are traders in the market far more skillful and with deeper pockets who can withstand market fluctuations better.

6. There are many theories, and algorithms which work – but whether YOU have the discipline ONLY you know

7. If I am short on margin, I will ruthlessly sell your stocks. If one of us has to die, it better be YOU, not my business.

8. The regulators and politicians all over the world can make the market go in the opposite direction to your play.

9. The big stocks like Reliance and Bharti are also liquidity seekers and liquidity providers, so a 2% movement is par for the game.

10. I hate to tell you, that I make money on velocity, you make money on wealth creation. There is a conflict.

11. If I do not discipline you with margins, SEBI or the exchange will discipline me – and I will pass on that hurt to YOU.

12. If you lose in 5 trades continuously, take a break. If you take 5 breaks in a day, please find a new broker.

13. If you do not maintain a learning diary, you will lose tons of money and the lessons too

—is a baker’s dozen not enough?