One thing I do is to dip a toe in the water of a company that looks interesting but on the risky side. So buy a couple of thou shares and keep watching. Of course could watch without buying any shares but for me does make it more real.

Also I make a bit of an effort to go to ASMs if they are local (Welly). And if the speakers don't mention risks (a few do, most don't) I will ask during the meeting or afterwards - what keeps them up at night. I find I get OK answers to that question most of the time.

In my view, identifying and managing risk is the #1 job of management and boards. Pity some prefer the rose tinted specs.