I've worked in finance. Even if you're a ground-level shmuck without the means to insider trade you're still heavily regulated. Most firms require you to report

I've worked in finance. Even if you're a ground-level shmuck without the means to insider trade you're still heavily regulated. Most firms require you to report investments and any trades you make as soon as you make them. Often the regulations extend to your immediate family as well. The only people I can imagine getting away with insider trading are those who don't have a direct connection to the business and trade amounts small enough that it's hard to prove. If you want hard data, in 2016 the SEC handed out $4B in fines: https://www.sec.gov/news/pressrelease/2016-212.html https://www.sec.gov/news/pressrelease/2016-212.html