Isn't it rather misleading to imply that a customer's funds are safe because they are "segregated"? To me, the word "segregated" implies that my funds are held in a separate account from anyone else and can't be used except by me! Shouldn't futures brokers be required to tell customers right up front in bold type: Excess funds in what we call your "segregated" account not needed to back your current positions may be borrowed by us from your segregated account and used for our own purposes without notifying you. We may not be able to pay back to you the funds we borrow.