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Trading Rules

  • The purpose – a good set of trading rules promote growth they do not create limitations.  Not trading during x period of time is not a rule, it is a limitation.  Do not get me wrong there are times when you need to limit yourself but that is not all times.  If you have a plan, you will be able to understand when you are most at risk of trading poorly.  Eventually, you can work through it.  Sometimes all it takes is being aware of it.
  • Simple- They need to be simple.  They need to hang over and direct all of your actions.  The only way you are going to remember and use them to your fullest ability is if you can understand them.  Rules are more simple than limitations.
  • Must apply– Rules or a trading plan are only as good as your ability to apply them.  Once again, you have to believe in them, you have to make them your own.
  • Cohesive- All rules needs to eventually act as one.  Each rule dependent on another.  This will make it easier to follow and understand which one you are breaking.  This also makes the application easier.

40 One Liners For Traders

1. Trading is simple, but it is not easy.40 rules

2.  When you get into a trade watch for the signs that you might be wrong.

3.  Trading should be boring.

4.  Amateur traders turn into professional traders once they stop looking for the “next great indicator.”

5.  You are trading other traders, not stocks or futures contracts.

6.  Be very aware of your own emotions.

7.  Watch yourself for too much excitement.

8.  Don’t overtrade.

9.  If you come into trading with the idea of making big money you are doomed.

10.  Don’t focus on the money.

11.  Do not impose your will on the market.

12.  The best way to minimize risk is to not trade when it is not time to trade. 

13.  There is no need to trade five days a week.  

14.  Refuse to damage your capital.

15.  Stay relaxed. (more…)

The Shortest Economics Textbook Ever

LITTLE-BOOK

5-THINGS

1. 95% of economics is common sense 

 

You don’t need a degree to understand it
 
We’ve got this profession wrong; a lot of professional economists think what they do is too difficult for ordinary people. You’d be surprised how often these people are stupid enough to say things, at least in private, like ‘you wouldn’t understand what I do even if I explained it to you’. If you cannot explain it to other people, you have the problem.
 
People express strong opinions on all sorts of things despite not having the appropriate expertise: climate change, gay marriage, the Iraq War, nuclear power stations. But when it comes to economic issues, many people are not even interested, not to speak of not having a strong opinion about them. When was the last time you had a debate on the future of the Euro, inequality in China or the American manufacturing industry, despite the fact that these issues can have a huge impact on your life, wherever you live?

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The trading curve.

I really like this visual because if you turn your head enough it looks like a face hitting the wall. Not sure if that was intentional but that is how I would best describe what trading is like when you are new and/or struggling.

There are subtle but important difference. Yes there are no clients or employees but that means that you have to rely on your own feedback mechanisms. Money is not as effective as one would think.

Initiation- Every trader comes in thinking they will make money, in fact if they have never traded, they probably have convinced themselves fully. They spend time looking for all the answers in charts but it is in the process. It seems like easy money. It is not easy but it is probably the best way to make money. The best of anything takes more work.

Wearing off of novelty– This is a critical time for any trader. This is where the hole gets deeper or ideally the trader stops and starts to work more efficient. Process and not charts. This is the motivation to understand what trading really is and who they really are.

Trough of sorrow- This is also a critical point. Now you have done some work but it has not paid off yet. Do you keep working? Do you get some help? Can you continue to improve?

Crash of ineptitude- You are starting to gain some experience and confidence. But you have a bad day and lose too much. Back to the drawing table.

Wiggles of false hope- This is where you understand what not to do so you are floating along again. The problem is you are only starting to understand what to do. You have corrected the big mistakes and now start down the path of correcting the small ones.

The promise land- Now you understand what not to do and what to do. Now it is up to you to actually do it. You are in the best position of your trading career.

Acquisition of liquidity- Now you are a self sustaining trader. You have the ability to make x amount of dollars to survive. This is what you have to lean on now. This is when trading begins to get real. You are methodically improving.

Upside of buyer- Not only do you understand what not to do and what to do, you always do it. Now the sky is the limit. You control your destiny.

The difference between trading and a start up is you are not looking to be acquired. You have to do this day in and day out, make a career. This does not stop but the process and progressions become second nature and you are seeing positive results. This is not the time to relax but the time to put the foot on the gas pedal. This is true about all of the stages except the first one.

Trading is also different in that any day you can put yourself back into one of the stages. That is why it is important to never forget that the purpose is to make money. As you gain experience you will spend less time in the early stages. The early stages will start to feel like touching a hot stove. You will recognized the situations more quickly and have the strength to make a change immediately.

Doom and gloomers fight amongst themselves

bear-fight1Roubini says we have asset bubble everywhere and everything is going to end badly.

Jim Rogers says Roubini knows nothing and that he doesn’t see any bubble. Jim Rogers sees commodities going higher.

Peter Schiff takes a stab at Roubini and says Roubini doesn’t understand gold. Schiff says gold is going higher.

Harvard University financial historian Niall Ferguson claims he’s a better doom and gloomer than Roubini in terms of timing and accuracy.

Disarray in the bear camp is probably good for bulls.

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