How many traders are actually making a living?

Discussion in 'Trading' started by orbit23, Aug 11, 2019.

  1. dozu888

    dozu888

    in a zero sum game, 1% is about right.... think out there how many guys play golf/tennis/football/poker/sports betting for a living.... 1% isn't far off for any of them.
     
    #11     Aug 11, 2019
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  2. newwurldmn

    newwurldmn


    No they don’t.

    https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/Business-Survival.pdf
     
    #12     Aug 11, 2019
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  3. ETJ

    ETJ

    There a lot of noise in many of these samples. Why aren't darts and volume lower if the failure rate is so high - new entrants? At some point, the numbers should decline. Look at options where retail has a bigger presence than other asset classes and the numbers are still pretty strong.
     
    #13     Aug 11, 2019
  4. fan27

    fan27

    This is speculation as I do not have data to back it up, but I suspect that of those traders that successfully trade for a living (no other sources of income), less than 1% of those traders do so with capital less than $100,000 (or an equivalent value based on geography, cost of living, etc).
     
    #14     Aug 11, 2019
  5. maxinger

    maxinger

    Your data looks very representative of what is really happening in real world.
     
    #15     Aug 11, 2019
  6. ironchef

    ironchef

    You just layout a surefire roadmap on how to successfully plan for a trading career (second career). However, I doubt the 20 or 30 something will listen or believe you.
     
    #16     Aug 11, 2019
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  7. dozu888

    dozu888

    if 5% are making some money, how can 4% live on it? maybe using some food stamps at the same time lol... and living in parents basement...
     
    #17     Aug 11, 2019
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  8. tiddlywinks

    tiddlywinks

    He's saying it's 4% of the not losing 20%, which has a modicum of logic to it... of the 20% that are not losing, 20% of those are making a living.
     
    #18     Aug 11, 2019
  9. dozu888

    dozu888

    ok makes sense now.... but I just don't see it, no way in any zero sum game you can have 4% making living out of it.

    the CFD data seems to be just a slice view... 80% losing, but during how long a period... per month? that's quite a gap from the question of 'making a living' which requires year round sustainability..
     
    #19     Aug 11, 2019
  10. tiddlywinks

    tiddlywinks

    Agreed. Too many unknown parameters. Too many "authorities" spewing numbers.
    I seldom post to threads in this vein of topic... I usually have a few good chuckles tho. :)
     
    #20     Aug 11, 2019