(Why) do most traders lose?

Discussion in 'Psychology' started by kiwi_trader, Jul 25, 2006.

Why do traders lose?

  1. Undercapitalized

    23 vote(s)
    8.5%
  2. Trading Strategy: Entry

    20 vote(s)
    7.4%
  3. Trading Strategy: Exit

    26 vote(s)
    9.6%
  4. Psychology/Discipline

    137 vote(s)
    50.6%
  5. Money Management

    65 vote(s)
    24.0%
  1. Interesting answers.

    Clarifications:
    - By lose I mean lose it all. Taking losses in a series of trades is as pointed out just part of the business and should lead to profit.
    - I meant to put bad strategy/lack of strategy up but split it into failure to have a good entry strategy and failure to have a good exit strategy which in retrospect was probably a poor choice.
     
    #31     Jul 25, 2006
  2. Cheese

    Cheese

    Ah but ..
    "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."
    John 8.7
    :)
     
    #32     Jul 25, 2006
  3. Something nobody mentioned:

    ** Working harder than everyone else **

    I have all the talents and background...
    To be a successful trader...

    But it would be wasted...
    If I had not been willing to work a 70 hour week for 5-10 years minimum.

    This goes for any small business... no exceptions... none.

    When I read about some "trader"...
    Just doing the opening or some kind of cherry picking thang...
    I know it's some rich kid playing with Daddy's trust fund...
    That's gonna get skinned by the sharks... eventually.
     
    #33     Jul 25, 2006
  4. I agree the day should start at 5:00am and end at 11:30pm for the first five years for a new trader. Long term persistence pays off. Total immersion in the market for 6 months of just paper trading will pick up alot of simple mistakes before actual money is involved.
     
    #34     Jul 25, 2006
  5. Sure, why not, I'll throw my 2 cents in...

    Most traders lose because they have no edge and so they're paying commission to trade randomness. This would normally lead to a slow bleed, but some hasten their losses because of poor money management.
     
    #35     Jul 25, 2006
  6. That's a fairly wide range for someone who's speaking specifically about his own actual experience rather than hypotheticals in the abstract. So which was it, 5 or 10? And if it was somewhere in between for you, then surely you could narrow it down somewhat.
     
    #36     Jul 25, 2006
  7. I think there is a distinction between persistence and obsessive compulsive disorder.
     
    #37     Jul 25, 2006
  8. I think you are on crack my friend. Some people just "get it", some don't. If you are still putting in that much time after 1 years worth of hard work - this may not be the buisness for you. Time to move on.
     
    #38     Jul 25, 2006
  9. pv150

    pv150

    Trying to keep regular job hours and 'earn' your pay thru 60-70+ hours a week, you'll just end up filling the day with 'research' and reading distractions that lead to forming strong opinions. Trading isn't 'effort responsive' like training for a sport. You don't necessarily get out what you put into it, and the overtrading tends to bleed away the winnings imo.

    http://tequity.blogspot.com
     
    #39     Jul 26, 2006
  10. fttrader

    fttrader


    Everyone has their limitations. Every strategy has its limitations. Every series of bets has its limitations. It is knowing the limitations that will help you. Thinking that there is unlimited upside potential, with a small downside is a dangerous mindset.
    How many go ino trading, only to go bust, holding on to that mindset.
    I like what you said however about surrounding yourself with successful people. Now there's an edge.
     
    #40     Jul 26, 2006