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Ten Core Ideas of Trading Psychology

  
  Education
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1) We are most likely to behave in inhibited or impulsive ways, violating trading rules and plans, when we perceive events to be threatening;

2) What we perceive to be threatening is a joint function of events themselves and how we think about those events;

3) A key to gaining control over trading and maintaining consistency is to be able to reduce the threat associated with market events and process adverse outcomes in normal, routine ways;

4) We can reduce the threat associated with adverse market events through proper money management (position sizing) and through proper risk management (limits on losses per position);

5) We can reduce the threat associated with adverse market events by training ourselves to respond calmly to adverse outcomes (exposure methods) and by restructuring how we think about those outcomes (cognitive methods);

6) Optimal skill development in trading will occur in non-threatening environments in which learners can sustain concentration, optimism, and motivation;

7) A proper mindset is therefore necessary to the development of trading skills, but does not substitute for such development;

8) The cultivation of trading expertise is a function of the amount of time and effort devoted to learning and the proper structuring of that time and effort;

9) Proper structuring of learning involves the setting of specific, doable, cumulative goals and the provision of rapid feedback and correction regarding the achievement of those goals;

10) Practice does not make perfect in trading or anything else; perfect practice makes perfect. Training must gradually build competencies and correct deficiencies in a manner that sustains a positive mindset and optimal concentration and motivation.

Bernard Baruch:Trading Legend

  
  Education
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Baruch was born in 1870 in South Carolina. He was a great student of finance, reading everything he could find about the subject, always trying to learn more. Baruch found out the education process takes time, especially when it comes to trading the stock market.

Early on, Baruch made many of the same mistakes that most traders make. Ultimately, after much dedication to learning proper trading principles, he amassed a huge fortune in the markets. Because of his intellectual reputation, he even held appointive positions in four presidential administrations, and served as an advisor to six different presidents.

In his book titled “My Own Story”, Baruch gives us some rules or guidelines on how to invest or speculate wisely.

1. Don’t speculate unless you can make it a full-time job.

2. Beware of barbers, beauticians, waiters-of anyone-bringing gifts of “inside” information or “tips”.

3. Before you buy a security, find out everything you can about the company, its management and competitors, its earnings and possibilities for growth.

4. Don’t try to buy at the bottom and sell at the top. This can’t be done-except by liars.

5. Learn how to take your losses quickly and cleanly. Don’t expect to be right all the time. If you have made a mistake, cut your losses as quickly as possible.

6. Don’t buy too many different securities. Better to have only a few investments which can be watched.

7. Make a periodic reappraisal of all your investments to see whether changing developments have altered their prospects.

8. Study your tax position to know when you can sell to greatest advantage.

9. Always keep a good part of your capital in a cash reserve. Never invest all your funds.

10. Don’t try to be a jack of all investments. Stick to the field you know best.

Control

  
  Education
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Control-Stocks rise when they are being bought up. Stocks fall when they are being sold off. I always ask myself “Who is in control. The buyers or sellers.” Control changes often and in different time frames you can argue that one party or the other were merely taking a rest.
I generally buy stocks that are going up and short sell stocks that are falling. But I also play the sharp reversals that happen if there is a huge gain or drop as I know gravity will take effect and profit taking will occur. The smart way to day trade is to be on the winning side be it buyers or sellers.
As a small fish in a big ocean I can only ride on the coattails of the big boys who actually move the market. My job as a trader is to recognize when trend or momentum is starting to kick in and climb aboard. Short term trends or momentum are the only thing that I trade. The old cliche’ “the trend is your friend” is so very true.
I only trade in the direction the chart is telling me to. Maybe you can watch the talking heads on TV blathering on or read about how great some stock is without forming an opinion on it. I can’t, so it’s safer to insulate myself from any and all information. I actually don’t care what, where, why, how or when a company does what it does. Who am I to be able to process all this information? I do know that when a stock is rising, more people are buying it than selling it and vice versa. Seems easier to me to only look at and believe the chart and trade accordingly. If I have preconceived notions about what the stock may do, I will not be able to cut my losses when the chart tells me to. I will hold on to the dream all the way to the poor house. Always trade with the trend.
Cutting your losers is one of the most important aspects of trading.Unless you have an unlimited pile of money to fritter away you must admit you’re wrong and exit the trade. If you don’t you will not have enough to remain in the game. End of story.
Letting the winners run is also important. They are winners after all and that is all that counts. Adding size (buying more shares) can turn little winners into big winners.
If you disregard any or all of these 3 simple rules you won’t be around trading very long.

Risk Management -From ASR TEAM

  
  Education
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  • When markets aren’t trending; risk management is everything.
  • In a volatile market, capital preservation is the most important consideration.
  • Don’t be afraid to take small losses.
  • Not to hang on to my losers hoping they will come back.
  • Put in a stop right away and stick to it.
  • Set stop losses every time I trade.
  • Once again I learned that the first loss is the best loss. I let a few go too long again this year.
  • The importance of waiting for setups and limiting losses
  • Opportunities are easier to make up than losses!
  • Must have a stop on every position no matter how strong an opinion I may have!
  • Risk management. I took some losses because I made some trades based on hope and not on price action.
  • Leverage doesn’t work so well during market corrections and makes risk management difficult.
  • In my short-term trading I learned to place stops against my will and philosophy.
  • Faster exits for less risk.
  • Patience!

Thoughts About Traders and Trading

  
  Education
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* Risk Management – If you lose 10% of your trading account, you need to make 11.1% on the remaining capital to get back to even. If you lose 20% of your account, you need to make 25% on the remaining capital to return to breakeven. At a 30% loss, you have to make 37.5% to become whole; at 40% loss, you have to make 67% to return to even. Once you’ve lost half your trading capital, you need to double the remainder to replenish your account. Much of trading success is limiting losses and avoiding those fat tails of risk.
* What is a Trader? – If you ask a trader what is a good market, he will tell you that it’s a market that has good volatility; a good market is one that moves. If you ask an investor what is a good market, he will tell you that it’s a rising market. Lots of people try to succeed as traders with the mindset of investors. It doesn’t work.
* Refutation – The story goes that Samuel Johnson, upon hearing Bishop Berkeley’s theory that objects existed in mind only, kicked a rock in front of him, announcing, “Thus I refute Berkeley!” The incident came to mind when I met with a trader today who trades very actively every day, has made money on more than 80% of days this year, and has made several million dollars this year. His performance was clearly documented by his firm and the firm’s risk manager. Thus he refutes efficient market theory. 
* Success – When I see traders like the one above (quite a few at his firm are up more than a million dollars this year), it’s an inspiring reminder that success *is* possible to those who work diligently at trading as a career. The support of a superior firm doesn’t hurt, either.

Trading Nuggets

  
  Education
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  • Remember that becoming a profitable trader is a journey, not just a destination. The perfect trader does not yet exist. Try to become a better trader each day and enjoy the progress you make. Concentrate on learning the craft of technical analysis and on improving your trading skills, rather than focusing solely on the amount of profit or losses in your trading.
  • Congratulate yourself and feel good about a trade when you have done what you were supposed to do, according to your trading plan–regardless of the profit or loss on the trade.
  • Don’t get overly excited about the winning trades or too depressed about the losing trades. Try to maintain an even keel and a professional outlook regarding your trading.
  • Do not expect certainty in a trade. You are looking for a preponderance of evidence, not proof beyond the shadow of a doubt.
  • The pain of standing aside and missing a good trade that your method told you to take is much worse than the pain of losing on a trade that you entered and exited properly and according to your trading plan. (more…)

Trading Is War

  
  Education
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  • Are you easy prey? Or, do I have to fight you?
  • Are you trading without a plan? You have given me easy access.
  • Are you pyramiding your losses? You’re now making the payments on my beach house.
  • Are you distracted while you’re trading? Just go ahead and mail me your checkbook.

This business is war with every trade. Are you asleep at the wheel or are you going to fight? I really like taking your money. The choice is yours.

The truth is, I don’t know you from Adam. I’m probably not going to be on the other side of your trade. But, we ARE in battle with every trade. We DO have to prepare to fight or we’re an easy kill. We have to have a PLAN for using our WEAPONS on the field or we’re dead.

This blog entry is an intro to a series on system development. We’re going to walk through the steps to creating a realistic, functional plan for trading the markets. Then, we’re going to look at our weapons and how to use them most effectively when the edge is in our favor.

I will fight and win, will you?

Livermores Seven Trading Lessons

  
  Education
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Lesson Number One: Cut your losses quickly.

As soon as a trade is contemplated, a trader must know at what point in time he’ll be proven wrong and exit a position. If a trader doesn’t know his exit before he takes the entry, he might as well go to the racetrack or casino where at least the odds can be quantified.

Lesson Number Two: Confirm your judgment before going all in.

Livermore was famous for throwing out a small position and waiting for his thesis to be confirmed. Once the stock was traveling in the direction he desired, Livermore would pile on rapidly to maximize the returns.

There are several ways to buy more in a winning position — pyramiding up, buying in thirds at predetermined prices, being 100% in no more than 5% above the initial entry — but the take home is to buy in the direction of your winning trade –  never when it goes against you.

Lesson Number Three: Watch leading stocks for the best action.

Livermore knew that trending issues were where the big money would be made, and to fight this reality was a loser’s game.

Lesson Number Four: Let profits ride until price action dictates otherwise. (more…)

Trading Mantra

  
  Education
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There are some things we can control as traders and some things that we can not. We need to learn the difference to limit our frustration and win in this game.

We can control:
How much we risk per trade.
How big a position size we take.
What time frame we trade.
What market we trade.
Our style of trading.
Whether we stick with our trading plan or go off of it.
If we honor our stop losses and trailing stops.
How we react to a winning or losing trade.

 

 
We can not control:
Whip saws when the trend reverses on us.
Gaps in opening prices both up and down.
Headline risk.
Natural disasters.
Whether a trend continues or reverses the moment we open a position.
Whether any individual trade wins or loses.
How many winning or losing trades we have in a row.
 

 

The battle for your long term trading success is won or loss in your head. The decision to whether keep going after losing money or to quit is made at the point of maximum frustration with the markets. To keep going you have to keep positive, and keep trading. Knowing the difference between you making a mistake or the market simple not matching your style will go a long way in keeping down your stress and negative self talk. 

Trading Loss

  
  Education
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Trading-Loss-1Losses are part of any type trading. Some are bigger and some are smaller. Every loss hurts, it does not matter whether it is big or small. Learn to respect them and try to minimize them.

A Planned ‘Entry’ leads to a Planned ‘Exit.’ Before you enter into a trade, you have plenty of time to think about Entries/Exits. Once you are in a trade, you have limited focus and may not make rational decisions for the exits (loss/profit).

If you have planned your trade ‘Entry’ with multiple entries/lots at multiple levels, then ‘ADDING’ or ‘Scaling Up’ is part of the plan. Adding is part your strategy. You must know ‘ADDING’ levels and size BEFORE you place your first order. You must also know how you plan to EXIT this trade.

If you are adding more shares/contracts because of a losing position and DID NOT PLAN then averaging down becomes gambling. Most traders blow out their capital by Forced-Adding process. This obviously leads to many psychological issues (Poor discipline, Gun-Shy:Afraid to pull-trigger, Overtrading, Premature Entries/Exits etc.) If you see a Loss at your ‘STOP LEVEL’, get out of the trade than ADD. Never HOPE that this trade will turn-around. 7 out of 10 times, it will NOT turn-around and will end up in a bigger loss. If you have planned ‘STOP’ ahead of your trade, you will feel confident during the trade and may come back to trading with cooler head at a later time/day, in case of a loss.

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