Do you tell people you're a trader?

Here's a funny one.....when I tell people that I'm an Equities Trader, they are totally impressed, but if I tell people that I'm a Day Trader, they think that I'm about 3 levels below a User Car Salesmen.

Personally, I do not care, but funny how the presentation description can make that huge a difference.

 

The media really trashed the title DAY TRADER.... so just stay away from it so that you won't be associated as "the lucky bastard that made his fast money during the bubble".

Specify what you trade usually keeps you away from all further questions.

Equity Trader / Bond Trader / Futures Trader / Commodities Trader / Forex Trader - - - Pick one, and you won't go wrong

 

LMAO

 

I was on a cruise ship once sitting at a BlackJack table when occupations starting making the rounds of conversation.

My turn came after the dentist next to me finished. When I said that I was a bond trader the dentist guy started singing the James Bond Theme and said what I did sounded really "neat".

From that point on my usual response is I work at Taco Bell.

 

My response to "Isn't that risky? I tell them that with a few clicks of my mouse, I can have all of my investment capital converted to cash. I then ask them if they know of a business that can boast that kind of liquidity. They proceed to get a weird look on their faces and rarely answer. My personal favorite is to ask them if they took $250k in investment capital and opened a restaurant if they think they could sell their restaurant if business turned bad? They always answer no! I then tell them when a trade goes poorly for me that I can take my capital and invest in another kind of business in a matter of seconds. This usually blows them away.

 

I love trading (that's why I'm here), but my (day-job) boss tells me trading does not produce anything.

 

If humility is a product, therefore, trading is a large part of the GNP.

 

This does not always come out in their first comment, but, over the years I got the feeling that people admire my independence as a trader.

 

When I tell people what I do, I invariably have to explain the difference between a broker and a trader. Does anyone else encounter this?
"Are you one of those guys in the coats doing the hand signals?"
No, I sit in front of 3 computers for 10 hours slugging coffee and trying to keeping my eyes from getting dry and my butt from falling asleep.

 

That happens to me ALL of the time.