⚠️ Risk Disclosure Statement
Last Updated: 2026-02-09
🚨 IMPORTANT: READ CAREFULLY BEFORE TRADING
Trading securities involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. You should carefully consider whether trading is appropriate for you in light of your financial condition. You may lose some or all of your invested capital.
1. General Trading Risks
Market Risk
The value of securities can fluctuate significantly due to various factors including economic conditions, political events, company performance, and market sentiment. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
- Volatility Risk: Securities prices can change rapidly and unpredictably, especially during market openings, closings, and major news events.
- Liquidity Risk: Some securities may be difficult to buy or sell at desired prices, especially during market stress or for thinly traded securities.
- Gap Risk: Prices may "gap" significantly between trading sessions, potentially resulting in losses greater than stop-loss orders.
- Systemic Risk: Market-wide events can affect all securities simultaneously, limiting diversification benefits.
2. Automated Trading Risks
Automation-Specific Hazards
Automated trading systems carry unique risks beyond traditional trading. Systems may malfunction, execute unexpected trades, or fail to execute when expected.
- Software Bugs: Trading algorithms may contain errors that result in unintended trades or losses.
- Execution Errors: Orders may be executed at different prices than expected due to latency, slippage, or market conditions.
- Connectivity Failures: Internet outages, server issues, or API failures may prevent trade execution or monitoring.
- Over-Optimization: Strategies optimized on historical data may fail in live markets ("curve fitting").
- Flash Crashes: Automated systems may react poorly to sudden market movements, potentially amplifying losses.
- Runaway Algorithms: Malfunctioning systems may execute rapid trades depleting your account.
3. Simulation vs. Live Trading
🔬 Understanding Simulation Data
The "Compendium" displays simulated trading results based on 2 years of historical market data (February 2024 – February 2026). These are NOT real trading results.
How Simulations Work
- All strategies are backtested on 2 years of minute-level market data
- Each strategy starts with a hypothetical $10,000 capital allocation
- Trades are "executed" using historical price data from Polygon.io
- When capital falls below $100, an additional $10,000 is added ("refund") to continue data collection
- Each refund creates a new "era" - performance metrics reset to measure current era performance
- Strategies with multiple refunds indicate higher risk profiles
- Total invested capital = $10,000 × (1 + number of refunds)
Simulation Limitations
- Simulations assume trades execute at the next daily close price
- No slippage, spread, or market impact is modeled
- No commission or fee deductions are applied
- Liquidity constraints are not considered
- After-hours and pre-market movements may not be reflected
⚠️ Paper Trading Strongly Recommended
Before connecting live trading credentials, we strongly recommend testing strategies with paper trading for at least 30 days. Paper trading uses real market conditions but simulated money.
4. Strategy-Specific Risks
Important: For complete details on all trading strategies, their mathematical formulas, and known limitations,
please review our 📊 Strategy Disclosure document.
Backtesting Limitations
PAST PERFORMANCE DOES NOT GUARANTEE FUTURE RESULTS. Backtest results are hypothetical and subject to significant limitations:
- Backtests do not account for slippage, commissions, or market impact
- Historical data may contain errors or survivorship bias
- Market conditions change; strategies that worked before may fail
- Backtests assume perfect execution which is unrealistic
- Over-optimization can produce strategies that fail in live trading
Specific Strategy Risks
- Mean Reversion: Markets can trend for extended periods, causing significant drawdowns.
- Momentum: Sudden reversals can cause rapid losses; requires disciplined exit rules.
- Pairs Trading: Correlations can break down unexpectedly; both positions may move against you.
- Day Trading: Requires constant attention; pattern day trader rules may apply.
4. Regulatory Risks
Pattern Day Trader (PDT) Rule
- If your margin account balance falls below $25,000, you are limited to 3 day trades per 5 business days.
- Violating this rule may result in account restrictions or forced liquidations.
- This platform attempts to track PDT but cannot guarantee compliance.
Other Regulatory Considerations
- Tax obligations vary by jurisdiction; consult a tax professional.
- Some securities or strategies may be restricted in your jurisdiction.
- Regulations may change, affecting trading capabilities.
5. Third-Party Risks
- Brokerage Risk: Your brokerage may experience outages, errors, or financial difficulties.
- Data Provider Risk: Market data may be delayed, inaccurate, or unavailable.
- API Risk: Brokerage APIs may change, be deprecated, or malfunction.
5a. Data Source Disclosure
📊 Market Data Sources
This platform uses the following data sources. Understanding their limitations is critical:
Historical Backtest Data
- Source: Licensed third-party market data providers
- Coverage: 2 years of minute-level OHLCV data (February 2024 – February 2026)
- Symbols: 114+ actively traded stocks and cryptocurrencies
- Reliability: Commercial-grade data with high availability
- Limitation: Historical data may be adjusted or corrected after initial publication
Real-Time Stock Data
- Source: Third-party market data APIs
- Delay: Approximately 1-15 minutes from real-time
- Reliability: Not guaranteed; may experience outages without notice
- Limitation: If data sources become unavailable, signals will be affected
Real-Time Cryptocurrency Data
- Source: Alpaca Markets (Official API)
- Delay: Less than 1 minute from real-time
- Reliability: Official API with service level agreement
- Legal Status: Fully licensed for trading use
⚠️ Data Accuracy Warning
While we strive for accuracy, market data may be delayed, incomplete, or incorrect. Never rely solely on this platform's data for critical trading decisions. Always verify with your brokerage's official data before executing trades.
6. Financial Suitability
Only Trade What You Can Afford to Lose
Never trade with money you cannot afford to lose. Trading should not be done with funds needed for essential expenses, retirement savings, or emergency funds.
Before trading, ensure you:
- Have adequate emergency savings (3-6 months expenses)
- Are not using borrowed money to trade
- Can afford to lose your entire trading capital
- Understand the strategies you are using
- Have realistic expectations about returns
7. No Guarantee of Profit
This platform and its operators:
- Make NO guarantees or promises of profit
- Do NOT provide investment advice
- Are NOT responsible for trading losses
- Cannot predict future market movements
Acknowledgment
By using this platform, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Risk Disclosure Statement. You understand that:
- Trading involves substantial risk of loss
- Past performance does not guarantee future results
- Automated trading carries unique risks
- You are solely responsible for your trading decisions
- You should only trade with capital you can afford to lose
If you do not understand these risks or are not willing to accept them, do not use this platform.