It is common knowledge that markets are manipulated by large funds and privileged wealthy investors. Leveraged and inverse funds are the small investors way to level the playing field. People should have the right to make their own financial decisions. Information regarding risks is adequate to inform an investor who should take responsibility for their own actions. Passing a knowledge test does not insure that people will not lose money if they make bad decisions. I have used inverse funds to protect my portfolio rather than sell out when I see a down trend.

An investor for 40 years, and a retired CPA, I trade inverse and leveraged securities daily. They are a key part of my investment strategy. It's not government's job to prevent people from using well-designed and regulated products. However, each broker of such instruments must be required to explain, person to person live, the benefits and possible losses that can accrue to investors, especially inexperienced ones.

I have been investing in leveraged funds for over 10 years and I am aware of the risks. Leveraged funds help my portfolio perform better with higher returns. I do not need any classes or tests or certificates to trade these funds. If you do then you should make every single investor in the market do the same.

My option to use inverse funds should never be altered or removed. I should always have the right to participate in making those decisions about market participation on my own

So you want me to lose all of my money! How am I supposed to retire!!!!

I have been investing in leveraged funds over past 15 years. Any change in rule is going to affect my ability to come ahead from my losses. In the event any change should happen, FINRA should cover all my losses. I do have advanced education in science and math, fully capable of understanding the mathematical risk involved. If these tools are available only privileged ones, FINRA would be making decision for me how to invest while the privileged one get free pass. At this point in time leveraged investment is the only way I can recover my losses!

This kind of leverage is vital for investors to protect ourselves and enable us to hold stocks which we might need to sell otherwise and lose out on the capital gains tax. When stocks are down or we see them going down we can leverage with inverse tickers such as VIX and maintain our holdings which in turn creates a more stable stock market which is better for the investor and the companies and the country. You should not remove the ability for people to buy these stocks and hedge our portfolio.

Dear FINRA, It has been brought to my attention by my brokerage firm that your regulatory agency is considering stripping me of my right to invest my money as I see fit. I do not believe you should choose what equities or funds in which I can invest or whether or not I take a long or short position in those equities or funds. Furthermore, do not require me to take some course that you develop to be able to invest in the above mentioned avenues. I am fully capable of educating myself on investments and the inherent risks involved. Please stay out of my way and let me invest as I see fit.

Investors assume the risk of their investments and are responsible for knowing the risks. It is not the duty of government to regulate their investment options

So you won't do your jobs and limit what MMs and hedge funds can do, but you want to regulate what retail investors can and cannot invest in?? The leveraged funds give everyday retail investors a vehicle to make a little bit more than picking individual stocks. For those of us that don't trade options, especially on individual stocks, the leveraged funds are a way to invest in whatever direction we think a sector or market will go. Over the past two years, it has become incredibly apparent that there are already different rules for different classes of investors.