Do trading edges for retail traders rely on intellect or do they rely on knack ?

I think you've been listening to Jack Ma too much. But does the end of a career mean? Does forced retirement end a career? Only, if the career is dependent on working for a specific company. Can a medical condition end a career? Sometimes. I'm sure there can be plenty more examples out there.

 

Imagine a fifty something says he wants to play like Lebron James and play in the NBA?

 

I agree with experience (if it ultimately leads to a useful set of skills). But many sound methods are out there for you to easily find, and I'm not talking chart setups. One of the richest men in the world has been very open about what to do, and there are others like him in the books Market Wizards. Couple their fundamental recipes with very basic chart patterns and you have an "edge" that any retailer can use, but not because they're beating the dealer, rather they are providing capital to productive businesses at the right time, and thus becoming partners in useful ventures that make all of our lives better. Being a capitalist is so much more fun (and rewarding) than being a trader!

 

I think that in trading one cannot do without knowledge and experience anyway. Since it is with their help that a person achieves understanding of the market and can navigate in the current situation. Despite the fact that the market is moving in it you can often see regularities, understanding of which comes only with experience. I do not deny the importance of the fact that in order to achieve great results here you need to be able to act quickly, especially if there is some unforeseen situation. But luck and other factors on the part of me would not take more than 1% of all components of a trader's success.

 

Yes just like I said in my post:
I'm sure there can be plenty more examples out there.

 

You're a dick. I spent all year getting my vertical leap up to 6 inches, and to where I can now almost touch the bottom of the net, and you just shit all over my dreams.

 

If it were only intellect - then every PhD would trade and be a zillionaire; and that’s clearly not the case.

Long Term Capital Management made it a point to hire intellects - including Nobel laureates; and they blew up in spectacular fashion.

The best pit trader I personally ever saw didn’t graduate High School / but he could get into and out of the market like a Formula One mechanic

 

Yes, and all year I dreamed to be able to trade like you.

 

True. I was just a little depressed after re-read Hall and McMillan but still couldn't find a good way to trade butterfly.