The Market still pays retail traders to provide liquidity and help it move to where other transactions can occur, but obviously not on time frames where nano-computerized algos are operating.
I mis-wrote my first response here: what I meant to convey is that 'the experts' often bring so much to the table in their 1-2 areas of expertise, that they think they can dance around what they lack in the third area, and can make up for it. (And be successful in the end.) I think a well-grounded retail trader, who brings half-as-much firepower of all 3 areas (comp., quant, and [markets/trading]), is in *much* better shape. As well, the comparative small AUM footprint is *so*much* of an advantage, nibbling at bumps and curves in the efficient market that the large funds wouldn't find it worthwhile to lean down and bite. "YAY, us!"
Great interview below ... confirming my belief that computers help to confirm/refine/enhance/monetize one's trading edge, but not an edge in itself. Many good lessons that retailers can easily implement ... "What should have happened vs. What did happen!" End of the interview talks specifically about programming. Highly recommend to listen to the whole thing. P.S. Agree with mushinseeker regarding Python instead of VBA, but anything will be beneficial as the skill is transferable to other technologies. No need to be depressed ... exciting times ahead!
Thank you for trying to cheer me up. I should finish my VBA Excel course about end of March if I pass the quizzes. Then I can look at starting an online course in Python.
I would drop your VBA stuff and go straight to Python. Nothing VBA/Excel can do that Python can't. Also, you have a pretty depressing tone recently. Who cares about being a "trader" retail or not? Just make money.
I normally don't like to leave thing half done and another month or two to finish VBA will not affect things one way or another in the grand scheme of things. But I will definitely get into a Python class in a couple of months. Yes, I have a depressing tone lately because I am fearful when others are greedy. I worry that this gravy train (bull market) will end soon and I have no solution when that happens. Regards,
punt on the VBA ironchef. Time is fungible and limited. If we were in the 90's and you have a bunch of pairs/ opening only orders and need to do mass change in your parameters then VBA is good. ..nowadays. use pandas dataframe for spreadsheet related stuff. I get it about not finishing up. I have a bunch of udemy half assed studied. again.. time is fungible.
Yes, I am using Excel to analyze simple single leg options and it takes a lot of data manipulations to get one leg analyzed. Fortunately this is my "only job" so I have time. VBA should help. When I tried to analyze a butterfly using Excel the last couple of days, my head started spinning. It is still spinning. What is pandas dataframe? How different is Python from VBA? Can I link Python and pandas to my Excel?
I'll say this again: take an intro course to programming at your local community college. From there you can start to ask the right questions.