JMO...SIPC and FDIC insurance was designed to protect investors and depositors from loss if a bank or broker, or perhaps even a small number of banks or brokerage firms went under, or faced some other sort of unexpected loss. I don't think either of these insurance corporations were ever designed to protect investors or depositors if the entire system collapsed. So, even though you are theoretically insured, assuming you are holding equities, you still may not be able to recoup your losses; or, if you can recover, it will take many, many years as the line will be out the door.
