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20 Lessons From Stock Market Wizards

3994-1Most of you have probably heard of this book and some may have read it. For the benefit of those who have not read it or heard of it, Stock Market Wizards is basically a book that consists of interviews with 15 top stock traders in America. These top traders come from a myriad of backgrounds and have varied interests- from mathematician, historian, scientist, to those with an interest in photography and even farming. But they have quite a few things in common when it comes to trading:
DISCIPLINE
LOSS CONTROL
HARD WORK

Most of the traders interviewed were quite forthcoming, but a few were reluctant to talk about their strategies (even past strategies that worked but is now no longer used) for fear that disclosure would render its effectiveness. Of the 15 traders, only Mark Cook and John Bender are options trader. By the way, Mark Cook’s story is one of my favourite and he is also the guy that likes to farm.
I am interested to read about these traders, not simply because they are top traders, but also because many of them encountered major failures and lost tons of money before they become successful in trading. The path to success is never easy and this book really keeps me inspired. I think in future if I meet with setbacks in my trading journey, This is 4th time ,I had completed reading this book.

Here’s my 20 lessons from Stock Market Wizards (more…)

Winning Qualities of Successful Traders

Discipline is the key factor towards the success of trading/investing. Lack of discipline will result a bigger loses when you hesitate in cutting lost or when you enter a trade too early. Discipline no doubt is the bigger key deciding factor in any kind of field.

You need passion to drive you towards the success that you are hunger. You need the passion to do the boring job yet very rewardable at the end of the trading journey.

Tough time come you need to press it on. Never say quit attitude!!! Most of the Good Trader or Investor will experience a major downfall before they succeed in this business. If they did not fight back again then they will never succeed. Once again tell yourself press it on till you succeed.

Many people including me lack the virtue of patience. Trading and investing require plenty of patience as most of the time we are waiting at the sideline and let the newbies to kill each other. Once the market decide to go in the trend then we as a professional trader and investor will act upon it very fast. Being Patience alone will save you plenty and tons of money.

The more sweat you put in the greater reward you will get. Then again if you are doing the wrong thing every time again and again, this mostly likely tell you that your system of trading is not working and thus you need to change. There are a big different between hardworking and just stubbornly sticking to the failed plan. If the system of yours is CLearly not working after you put in months of efforts then you should just change your strategy.

Last but not least you need to strongly believe that you will be able to take money out of the market consistently. Believe that your Tested system will be able to last as long as the market condition do not change much.

Day Trading Mistakes

There are some major day trading mistakes that just about every new trader will make early on in their career.  The ones who survive are those who can recognize these mistakes and take corrective action.

The first mistake many day traders make is to skip the planning phase of the day or a trade.  Every day you sit down in front of your monitors you should have a general plan for the day.  You should understand the major trends and support/resistance of the major indices, and the stocks you plan on trading.  In addition to that, once you see your stock setting up for a trade you should have a plan that includes an entry, a target and a stop-loss before you even pull the trigger on the trade.

Another mistake that we often see in day trading is the inability to exit on a losing trade.  If you have issues with getting out of the market when your pre-planned loss has been hit on your own, try using stop-loss orders.  Never. Never ever ever move a stop loss order once it’s been placed.  This requires some discipline but it will save you tons of money in the long run.  You should never be hoping that your stock will turn around, and go where you expected.  You should be executing your plan to the letter.

On a similar note, you also never want to move your targets.  If you keep moving your target away from the stock’s current price, you’re never going to take your profits.  A typical day trading exit strategy is to take profits at predetermined levels as you proceed into green territory.  This means that before you’ve entered the trade you’ve chosen two or more targets.  You exit a portion of your trade at each target.  Now, if you think your stock is going to trend for the day, you can plan for that too.  This is called a trade-to-hold.  It doesn’t mean you move your target, but rather you try to stay in the trend by setting a trailing stop.  A trailing stop can either be automatically set at a certain percentage or point value behind the stock price, or you can mechanically keep moving your stop loss up to obvious points of resistance or support behind your trending stock. (more…)

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