If you’re a regular here at our Managed Futures Blog, you’re probably aware that we print quite a few disclaimers. In fact, we are required to say that futures trading involves the risk of substantial losses and that it isn’t suitable for all investors – both of which are certainly true, and we don’t mind repeating it. But what we can’t understand is why the required risk disclaimers seem so much more lax for stock brokers. E-Trade can get away with commercials depicting a baby engaged in online trading (it’s so easy a baby could do it?) in a world where stocks can do this:

The Facebook flop is just the most high-profile recent example, but stocks crush investors all the time. Don’t get us wrong – we’re not opposed to stocks. They’re a healthy part of a balanced portfolio, to be sure. We’re just not sure why equities don’t come equipped with the same warning labels that we’re required to provide.