| For many, trading is a passion. Successful traders love | | | | 1. Do you trade options, futures, or commodities for |
| their job and feel a thrill when they complete a winning | | | | your own accounts? |
| trade. But, just as gamblers can become addicted to | | | | 2. Do you purchase securities on margin? |
| the slot machines or poker tables, so can traders | | | | 3. Do you get involved in short term trading (day |
| become addicted to trading. It’s a fine line | | | | trading) for yourself or for clients? |
| – Kimberly Young, a Pittsburgh psychologist and | | | | 4. Do you have unusual work habits and hours? |
| founder of the Center for Online Addiction, says | | | | 5. Are you reluctant to take regular vacations? |
| compulsive online traders are overwhelmingly young | | | | 6. Do you settle your account on a timely and proper |
| and male, are big risk-takers, and trade heavily on | | | | basis? |
| margin (using money borrowed from their brokerage). | | | | 7. Do your clients have a large number of regulation |
| Of course, many traders fit that profile and | | | | "T" violations? |
| aren’t considered trading addicts. Trading is a | | | | 8. Do you have an inordinate amount of personal or |
| legitimate business that can generate a healthy living. It | | | | family related trades? |
| becomes a problem when a trader can’t stop | | | | 9. Do you borrow from the firm or fellow employees? |
| trading when they are on a long losing streak. | | | | 10. Is your portfolio heavily weighted in speculative |
| How can you tell if you, or someone you know, are | | | | investments? |
| addicted to trading? The Council on Compulsive | | | | Certainly, trading is fun – and we all need a bit |
| Gambling of New Jersey put together the | | | | of that! But if you have a problem restricting your |
| questionnaire below. The organization estimates that | | | | trading, even after you have lost considerable amounts |
| approximately 5% of traders exhibit addictive traits. | | | | of money or when you need to borrow money for |
| If you answer “yes” to a majority of the | | | | your next trade, you may consider seeking help. |
| questions, you may be prone to trading addiction. | | | | |