Anyone can become a trader, but becoming a professional trader requires more than just money and a three-piece suit. Keep in mind that there is a sea of people vying to join the ranks of master traders and bring home the kind of money that comes with the title. Few of them make or even come close to making the cut. Consistently profitable traders are as rare as multi-million-dollar lottery-winning tickets.
An adequate education in fundamental economics, financial markets, and technical analysis is one of the prerequisites for becoming a master trader. However, there are many well-educated, well-informed, and extremely intelligent people who will not qualify as master traders. The critical difference between winning and losing traders is more dependent on mastering the six essential skills shared by master traders. Once you’ve mastered these skills, you’ll have a legitimate shot at becoming a trading master.
Quality research and solid market analysis are critical to trading success. Master traders hone their skills by thoroughly researching all relevant information to the securities they trade – and then, more importantly, accurately determining the likely impact of that information on a specific market.
Master traders learn and perfect their trades by using fundamental economic and market information in the form of trading and price action to adapt and approach the market in the most effective ways possible. (By “effective,” we mean having a favorable risk/reward ratio, a high probability of success, and a low level of risk in case something goes wrong.)
As you analyze a market and identify patterns and trends, you must also determine which technical trading approaches are required. We believe that focusing less on the money to be made and more on taking the right action at the right time is a critical attitude to develop your analytical skills. Focusing on the market rather than the money in your trading account allows you to make the best, most objective trading decisions in each situation – and this, in turn, will enable you to make the wisest and most profitable trades.
Experience traders develop strategies and trading techniques that they repeatedly use over time. Every trader builds their toolkit of methods, maneuvers, procedures, and trading tactics. That’s an excellent habit. It’s critical to have your unique trading style and edge, such as specific combinations of technical indicators that signal high-probability trades.
It’s a good thing to have your own tried-and-true trading strategies. A better thing, an expert trader thing, is to make it your habit to constantly monitor the market for signs and indications that the market is changing or forming a new pattern, signaling to you that you need to adapt to those changing conditions by adjusting your trading strategy accordingly.
By keeping track of your daily activities, you’ll be able to see where you’re making winning and losing trades, and you’ll be able to fine-tune your trading strategy as needed. The following types of information should be included in your daily record:
When it comes to successful trading, patience, and discipline go hand in hand. They are both important characteristics for a trader. It is unlikely that you will become a successful trader overnight.
Expect a steep learning curve in the first couple of years. It takes that long to gain experience with different market conditions and make a few mistakes, which will help you improve your trading skills. Trading, at times, necessitates the patience and discipline to do nothing.
Because you are impatient, you may take profits before the move is completed. If your trading strategy is clear, you’ll have the confidence to avoid moves that could hurt your bottom line. And patience implies that if you have suffered losses, you should use them as an opportunity to go back to basics and gain a better understanding of price action.