Why We (at Finology) Don’t Trade

We often get asked why we stay away from trading. The question comes up in workshops, on YouTube comments, and even in casual conversations with students. 

For many, trading feels like the natural entry point into markets. Quick profits, fast action; what’s not to like?

We’re aware of the opportunity we’re walking away from:

• There’s huge money in trading. Even more in teaching trading. Courses sell.
• Add in the promise of “regular income” and you attract larger audiences, more views, and more influence.
• From there, it snowballs; more course sales, brokerage tie-ups, crypto/forex content, brand deals, and whatnot. 

And yet, we step back. 

Because it would clash with his own principles. For instance, adding trading features to Finology Ticker would instantly boost users. But it would also mean encouraging people to check the markets daily, something we actively discourage. Some other reasons on top of our list:

1. We don’t know it well

It’s a simple philosophy we live by; if we don’t know something, we won’t teach it, pretend to, or build a business around it. Everything we share is meant to be practical and reliable. And, thankfully, our users stand by it too. 

2. The zero-sum problem

Trading, especially intraday and F&O, works like this: one person’s win equals another’s loss. Long-term investing, on the other hand, is a positive-sum game. It allows money to grow “across multiple chains” without disturbing anyone’s peace of mind.

This difference is crucial. It means wealth can expand without being someone else’s expense, which aligns with the principles we want to model for our users.

3. Ethical discomfort

Earning money in ways that feel like “taking from someone else” just doesn’t sit right with us.  Pranjal says he’d rather not earn at all than earn in a way that feels wrong. The focus is on keeping our approach clean and straightforward, so it’s easier for you to follow too.

4. No room for contentment 

We like to keep things minimally comfortable. The company is stable, the team is happy, and everybody takes home their share. We run with and after quality instead of status symbols. And, beyond that, there’s no laalach. This mindset allows us to focus on building meaningful products and content,

5. No scope for improvement

We don’t claim to have all the answers. We make mistakes, learn, and adjust. In trading, decisions are often split-second, outcomes are immediate, and losses are real money. So, long-term investing gives us breathing room to look back, see what went wrong, and fix it without panicking.

The Trade We Won’t Make

Now, just because we don’t trade doesn’t mean we look down on those who do. Everyone has different circumstances, priorities, and pressures. For some, trading feels like the best or only way forward, and that’s their call.

As Gandhi Ji said, “Hate the crime, not the criminal.” 

Our takeaway is simple: trading could have made us bigger, richer, maybe even louder. But we’d rather stay consistent with what we believe in and are good at. 💪