Back story: I am Joe Retail. Day job full time, mid 40's. Spouse can retire within 6 months, assets and income sources are likely sufficient for both of us to quit working in 2015. I've long had an interest in the markets and have considered working for an entity. No formal related education. 2012 +39% 2013 +757% 2014 YTD about 8% I expect to continue to do well as a highly focused stock picker holding for years. I think it would be fun to be a professional, perhaps working from home with some travel. Get reimbursed for the travel, healthcare, go to meetings, help plan where to invest assets. Enjoy a couple years of this and see if I want to do it longer. I expect this would be an analyst position. I do not want the headache of running a hedge fund, nor do I want to record keeping. I do not need the income. Modest/good income would be nice. I always figured someone would come knocking on my door. I have not done much self promotion. I'm not sure where to go looking. An interesting opportunity now presents itself to me. A national finance related publication is searching for subjects to interview regarding Roth IRAs, the vehicles I have principally owned stocks in. Two Roths with mid to high six figure value. If I did the story and our data was shared or published, any thoughts on how well this publicity would open doors? I generally avoid the spotlight but it sure would be fun to have a next adventure! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
You seem to be doing very well. I'd say with the interview you could actually also ask for any interesting offer out there. Out of curiosity, what was your job ? I wonder if your job activities did influence in anyway your performance.
To be honest, your story is pretty common. I know several people that have done the same and actually in your boat. This business is very very structured, for better or for worse. Outside of starting your own company, if you want to play, you have to follow the proper orthodoxy. The last 5 years has created enormous wealth for anyone long risk assets in this zero vol environment. There is one metric in this business that holds above all others. It's not percent returns. It's not even risk. It's time. Time is the grand daddy of them all. And 3 years time does not make.
Indeed long term trader performance over 3 years on stocks in a low vol. I did not think of it, from this perspective : time + low vol.