Probably some form of FDIC insurance but I don't know what it would take to make that happen. I don't hold out much hope of being made whole - the liquidator will probably soak up most of everything that is left at this point. It gutted me totally, still trying to catch up all these years later. It is the lost opportunity cost that really hurts.
RoscoeInTexas, That is too bad as I read Madoff's investors got the majority of their capitals back mostly because they are getting their money from the deep pocket middlemen? Anyway, don't give up and best wishes to you.
I usually try to change the topic but if pressed I say something like "I run a small private fund". It's weird: I am happy that I am a trader but the questions that statement elicits range from polite interest all the way to disbelief and the strangest of questions and comments. Because I really can't be bothered getting into a debate about what I do for a living I will often just say that I "do computer stuff at home" or something like that.
Taught me to cut losses, not marry single projects ("trades") etc. Stuff that's common for trading makes your balls made of titanium so that you rock in the "real" world.
Negatively. I wasted years of my life and got disgusted with humanity because there is a whole industry that revolves around defrauding retail traders. Mostly in the "trading education" "sector". It's disgusting.