[header] How to open a trading account [title] Make sure you have enough risk capital to invest. [step] Risk capital is money you are free to invest. This money isn't used in paying your living expenses, repaying your debts, or held in your retirement account. 
In other words, this is money you could stand to lose (but obviously don't want to). In addition to your retirement account, most financial professionals advise that you keep about six month's worth of wages in savings.