A Trading Post Blog
Commentary on Trading Post and the Online Trading Industry

Apr 14 2008

My Belief in the Individual Trader

I had a great conversation with Claude a trader who I have had longtime contact with.

He had come to the conclusion that individuals are doomed to fail in trading, and he's convinced that 90% of those that begin will fail. I obviously took quite a different stance, albeit one that has evolved over the past couple of years.

We both agreed that there is no singular solution that will deliver success to ALL traders. Yet we are barraged with one offer after another - especially in the wacky wild world of Forex trading (or so it seems) - of a solution that can cure your trading ills.

The problem is not these supposed solutions that are out there, but how potential traders might view them as the ONE for them.

In truth each individual trader is different. Unique. One might be a day trader, another a position trader. Then there are position traders who only like to trade the majors, then there are those position traders who are in love with strictly the yen. There are those who are single, with healthy risk captial, then there are those who want to walk away from their jobs at 45 and want to start trading full-time.

A traders profile is not one that should be dictated by anyone other than oneself. So why do so many wannabe traders settle for having someone's "system" shoved down their throat? No wonder there is a sense of disenfranchisement when it doesn't succeed for them. The outlook was wrong to begin with and expectations weren't managed properly.

To make a long story short, the evolution of Trading Post is that we have a foundational trading course that is nominally priced, but packs tremendous value. From there it is up to each trader to see what other advanced trading solutions (courses, analytics, analysis) fits their needs, as they create their own trading profile. 

A trader is not a robot and shouldn't be forced to walk the same path everyone else has walked. OK, so for the first little bit maybe - but after that it's like choosing your major at university then filling it with the 300 and 400 level classes you want to take.

I remember that process - and took some rather interesting courses due to my interest. So treat your trading with a similar type of commitment - and it is a commitment. Not meant for everyone - but meant for those who are willing to see success through.

And to get back to the original conversation where this all started. I do believe that individuals can succeed. I do believe that more than 10% of the population can be consistent traders.

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Jack Walsh

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04/23/2008 01:31AM

You're right on with what you're saying. A trader has to own his system and by that I mean to know it and believe in it as if he developed it. Maybe he did, maybe he learned it from someone else. Either way he has to believe in it 100% so that he has no hesitation in pulling the trigger. Sure, he may lose a trade from time to time, but 95% of the time he follows his rules and his system wins the probability battle. Trading is about discipline, patience and humility in the face of the market. It's all too easy to think any trade you throw out there will be a winner when you're streaking with 20+ wins. You have to be selective in your trading. Be on guard for over trading tendencies. When you think about it, most people don't have the fortitude to control themselves enough to be successful traders. Do most people who begin trading realize this is a profession worthy of a four year degree at any university? It doesn't surprise me in the least that most beginning traders wash out after a few losses. They're typically uneducated and inexperienced in the way the market works. Unfortunately, I don't believe more than 10% of the population can be consistently profitable traders. I do believe an individual can be a successful trader if they want it bad enough.
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Samuel Araki

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04/23/2008 05:43PM

Jack:

Very well stated. Your comments are indicative of some experiences that you have probably gone through. You've had time to learn and reflect which is what all traders need to do.

- sam

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