As an independent forex trader, when I evaluate any broker for trading indices like the US100, my first concern is transparency and regulatory reliability. With Pocket Trade, I noticed immediately that they do not hold a valid regulatory license and are flagged for high potential risk. This lack of oversight makes it difficult for me to trust any stated costs or classic pricing structures they might advertise. In my experience, unregulated brokers often do not publicly disclose the full breakdown of trading costs like spreads, commissions, and potential overnight fees. This uncertainty alone is a significant cost because it introduces risk you cannot hedge. On reputable, regulated platforms, I can usually review a clear fee schedule—fixed or variable spreads for indices, any per-lot commission, swap rates for positions held overnight, etc. With Pocket Trade, such detailed transparency wasn’t available, which increases the chance of encountering hidden or unfavorable charges. Even if initial spreads appear low, I’ve learned the hard way that actual trading costs can quickly mount when terms are not clearly published or independently verified. For me, that’s a deal-breaker, especially with sensitive instruments like the US100 where price movement can already be volatile. Ultimately, I’m very hesitant to commit funds to any trading environment lacking regulatory clarity, especially when cost details for major indices are not straightforward. In my trading career, protecting capital always outweighs chasing seemingly attractive but unverifiable terms.