Comparing Full Time Trading and Full Time Job
Hey traders,
In this educational article, we will compare full-time trading and full-time job .
THE MONEY
And I guess, the essential thing to start with is the money aspect.
Full-time job guarantees you a stable month-to-month income with the pre-arranged bonuses.
In contrast, trading does not give any guarantees. You never know whether a current trading month will be profitable or not.
Of course, the average annual earnings of a full-time trader are substantially higher than of an employee. However, you should realize the fact that some trading periods will be negative, some will be around breakeven and only some will be highly profitable.
Sick-leave & Vacations
In addition to a stable salary, a full time job usually offers a paid sick-leave and vacation , while being a full-time trader, no one will compensate you your leaves making the position of an employee much more sustainable.
Office
Being an employee, you usually work in an office with the fixed working hours . Taking into consideration that people often spend a quite substantial time to get to work and then to get home, a full-time job typically consumes at least 10 hours, not leaving a free-time.
In contrast, full-time traders are very flexible with their schedule .
Even though they often stick to a fixed working plan, they spend around 3-4 hours a day on trading. All the rest is their free time, that they can spend on whatever they want.
Moreover, traders are not tied to their working place. They can work from everywhere, the only thing that they need is their computer and internet connection.
No Boss
Traders normally work alone. The main advantage of that is the absence of a subordination . You are your own boss and you follow your own rules.
However, such a high level of freedom breeds a high level of personal responsibility . We should admit the fact that not every person can organize himself.
In addition to that, working alone implies that you are not building social connections and you don't have colleagues.
Being an employee, you are the part of a hierarchy . You usually have some subordinates, but you have a supervisor as well.
You are constantly among people, you build relationships, and you are never alone.
There is a common bias among people, that full time trading beats full time job in all the aspects. In these article, I was trying to show you that it is not the fact.
Both have important advantages and disadvantages . It is very important for you to completely realize them before you decide whether you want to trade full time or have a full time job.
Fulltimetrading
Full Time Trading. Everything You Need to Know
Once you mature in trading and become a consistently profitable trader, the question arises: are you ready to trade full time?
Becoming a full time trade is a very significant step and my things must be taken into consideration before you make it.
✨ Becoming a full time trader implies that you quit your current job, that you give up a stable income - your salary.
In contrast to classic job, trading does not give guarantees . Please, realize that such a thing as stable income does not exist in trading.
Trading is a series of winning and losing trades, positive and negative periods. For that reasons, remember that in order to become a full time trader, your average monthly trading income must be at least twice as your monthly expenses.
✨ Moreover, even if your trading income is sufficient to cover two months of your life, that is still not enough. You must have savings.
Trading for more than 9 years, I faced with quite prolonged negative periods. One time I was below zero for the entire quarter.
For that reason, supporting a family and living a decent life will require savings that will help you not to sink during the losing periods.
✨ Another very important sign is your correct and objective view on your trading. Please, realize that if you bought Bitcoin one time and made a couple of thousands of dollars, it does not make you a consistently profitable trader.
Please, do not confuse luck with the skill. Your trading must be proven by many years of trading.
✨ You must be emotionally prepared for the living conditions that full time trading will bring you.
Being a full time trader implies that you are constantly at home,
you work from home from Monday to Friday.
You do not see your colleagues, your social life will change dramatically.
I know a lot of people who started to trade full time and then realized that they can not work from home for different reasons.
⭐️ So what are the necessary conditions for becoming a full time traders:
you should have savings that will cover the negative trading periods,
your average monthly trading income should be at least twice as your monthly expenses,
your trading efficiency must be proven by objective, consistent results,
and you must be psychologically prepared for working from home.
When these conditions are met, you can make a significant step and become a full-time trader.
Are you ready?
❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
Full-Time Job vs. Full-Time Trading
Deciding between a full-time job and full-time trading is a crucial career choice that many individuals grapple with. Both options offer potential financial benefits, but it is essential to thoroughly evaluate the income comparison and stability provided by each path. This article aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the income potential and stability associated with full-time jobs and full-time trading, helping readers make an informed decision based on their individual circumstances and preferences.
1. Full-Time Job: Income and Stability
1.1. Salary Structure:
Full-time jobs typically offer a stable income stream, with salaries negotiated between the employer and employee. It provides a fixed amount earned on a regular basis, such as monthly or bi-weekly.
1.2. Growth Potential:
Most full-time jobs present incremental growth opportunities through salary hikes, promotions, and bonuses.
1.3. Benefits and Perks:
Besides a steady income, full-time jobs often provide additional benefits, such as health insurance, retirement plans, paid leaves, and various employee perks. These benefits contribute to overall financial security.
2. Full-Time Trading: Income and Stability
2.1. Income Potential: Full-time trading offers a potentially higher income ceiling compared to a regular job. Successful traders can earn substantial sums of money, sometimes exponentially higher than what a typical full-time job might offer. However, it is important to recognize that trading income can vary significantly based on market conditions, individual skill, and experience.
2.2. Volatility and Risk: Trading, particularly in financial markets, involves inherent risks. The income generated from full-time trading can be highly volatile and subject to market fluctuations.
2.3. Continuous Learning and Adaptability: Full-time trading requires continuous education and staying up-to-date with market trends. Adapting to market changes and acquiring necessary skills is crucial to maintain a sustainable income level. Traders must be prepared for ongoing learning and to adjust their strategies accordingly.
3. Comparing Income and Stability
3.1. Income Comparison: Full-time trading has the potential to yield higher income compared to traditional full-time employment. However, the profitability of trading is dependent on various factors such as market conditions, trading strategy, experience, and discipline.
3.2. Stability Comparison: Full-time jobs offer a more stable income and financial security, with regular paychecks and additional benefits. In contrast, full-time trading is inherently more volatile and subject to market risks, making it less predictable and potentially less stable.
Choosing between a full-time job and full-time trading necessitates a thorough understanding of income potential and stability associated with each option. Full-time jobs provide a stable income stream, incremental growth prospects, and additional benefits, whereas full-time trading offers the potential for higher income but entails greater volatility and market risks. The decision ultimately depends on an individual's risk tolerance, financial goals, trading skills, and willingness to continuously learn and adapt to market conditions. It is crucial to weigh these factors carefully to make an informed choice that aligns with personal circumstances and aspirations.
Hey traders, let me know what subject do you want to dive in in the next post?
Full Time Trading VS Full Time Job | Everything You Need to Know
Hey traders,
In this educational article, we will compare full-time trading and full-time job.
And I guess, the essential thing to start with is the money aspect.
Full-time job guarantees you a stable month-to-month income with the pre-arranged bonuses.
In contrast, trading does not give any guarantees. You never know whether a current trading month will be profitable or not.
Of course, the average annual earnings of a full-time trader are substantially higher than of an employee. However, you should realize the fact that some trading periods will be negative, some will be around breakeven and only some will be highly profitable.
In addition to a stable salary, a full time job usually offers a paid sick-leave and vacation, while being a full-time trader, no one will compensate you your leaves making the position of an employee much more sustainable.
Being an employee, you usually work in an office with the fixed working hours. Taking into consideration that people often spend a quite substantial time to get to work and then to get home, a full-time job usually consumes at least 10 hours, not leaving a free-time.
In contrast, full-time traders are very flexible with their schedule.
Even though they usually stick to a fixed working plan, they spend around 3-4 hours a day on trading. All the rest is their free time, that they can spend on whatever they want.
Moreover, traders are not tied to their working place. They can work from everywhere, the only thing that they need is their computer and internet connection.
Traders normally work alone. The main advantage of that is the absence of a subordination. You are your own boss and you follow your own rules. However, such a high level of freedom breeds a high level of personal responsibility. We should admit the fact that not every person can organize himself.
In addition to that, working alone implies that you are not building social connections and you don't have colleagues.
Being an employee, you are the part of a hierarchy. You usually have some subordinates, but you have a supervisor as well.
You are constantly among people, you build relationships, and you are never alone.
There is a common bias among people, that full time trading beats full time job in all the aspects. In these article, I was trying to show you that it is not the fact. Both have important advantages and disadvantages. It is very important for you to completely realize them before you decide whether you want to trade full time or have a full time job.
❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
When Can I Become a Full Time Trader?One question that constantly comes up, and understandably so is, When Can I Become a Full Time Trader? Being a trader is like running a business. You are the manager / owner / operator of "You, Inc." How much capital does it take to run your business? What's your monthly P&L? How much money do you need to have in "float" in case of emergencies (like, oh, I don't know, a global pandemic that sends the price of everyday items skyrocketing?)
If your goal is to become a full time trader, where trading is your primary source of income and provides you with all of your material needs for now AND the foreseeable future, do you have a PLAN on how to get there? Do you know how much capital you need and / or what rate of return you need from your trading system and / or how many trades on average you need to generate your income target?
Let's figure out how much Monthly income you need. First, take your monthly expenses. Include things like rent or a mortgage, a car payment, utilities, gas expenses for your car, etc. and total them up. Second, take all expenses that might be annual or irregular and put an amortized amount each month into a separate checking account for when they come up.
For instance, HOA fees may be billed semi-annually. You may plan on a vacation every year. You may have to replace a major appliance every 3 years. Factor all those expenses and what it may cost as a monthly savings plan and put them into that account. These expenses would come out of that account without touching your monthly income. For example, it's easier to pay $69/month in expectation you will have to replace your fridge, stove, or set of tires every 3 years than to have to come up with an unexpected $2,500 when the fridge dies on you.
With these initial stats, you know how much you need to make a living trading... just to break even. So, what does the responsible business owner (trader) need to do? DOUBLE that number so you are putting an equal amount in savings (for a rainy day / a down month / or the "nest egg") and factor in taxes, say an additional $35% in the United States - the top tax bracket. This final number is what you should comfortably want to make to consider yourself financially free – not dependent on ANY source of income except for your efforts in trading.
Now, given how much money you want / need to live on, what type of trading performance against what amount of capital do you need to achieve this monthly desired income? How much capital do you have in your trading account? What is the Win Rate of your current trading system? How much money do you earn on each winning trade and how much do you give back to the market on every losing trade? Finally, how many trades on average does your trading system find for you each day given the hours you work your trading business?
Let's assume you have a $20K trading account, and you trade using the 1% Rule of Risk Management and the 3R rule of expectation – your Reward-to-Risk Ratio. Let's also say that your trading system is able to locate two trades per day during the timeframe that you are "working" the markets and your Win Rate is 50%. So, if you you win one trade and lose one trade each day, winning $600 and losing $200, you are netting $400 for the day. Multiply this by 20 (the average number of trading days in a month) and you will have an estimate of what monthly income you can generate from your trading account.
An important question is then, "How many trades might you take per day?" For example, during one backtesting period I found that my trading system, Sabre, generates an average of 11.7 trades per day in the Futures Market on the 1-hour timeframe. If you decided that you would be trading Sabre for four hours per day, say from 5-7 in the morning and 8-10 at night, it would pull up an average of 2 trades per day.
Once you are armed with all this information: Your trading account size, your trading system win rate, your trading hours and trade frequency, you can calculate how much income you may be able to generate from your trading system given that all things go according to plan. And as Hannibal Smith liked to say, "I love it when a plan comes together!"
Once you run the calculations, if you run short of what you would like to earn, you can now determine what action(s) you might want to take to get you closer to your goal in a quicker timeframe. For example, if your win rate is 30% with your current trading system what would it take to get it up to 60%? Do you need to check your psychology? Are you constantly leaving money on the table? Are you fearful of entering trades that you should have logically had no problem getting into? Should you join a trading group that is experiencing a level of success you want to achieve to help you overcome any technical or psychological hurdles?
Mechanically, if your trading system is not giving you the number of trades necessary to reach your income goals, what can you do? Perhaps you can go down a timeframe. Theoretically, if you are finding 2 opportunities per day on the 60 minute timeframe, you may be able to find as many as 8 opportunities per day by going down to the 15 minute timeframe. Maybe it's about capital: If you have a $5,000 account you might find a way to put another $10,000 in there and instead of having a $50/$150 Risk:Reward ratio with a $5,000 account you could have a $150/$450 Risk:Reward ratio with a $15,000 account. One way to grow your account is to never 'withdraw' by keeping all profits until your account reaches the 'critical mass' necessary to generate the required income. That's the beauty of exponential growth!
Additionally, perhaps you can add a second trade strategy to your mix. If you are a Supply-and-Demand trader maybe you can find a breakout strategy to take advantage of additional opportunities. After developing Sabre, my trend-trading strategy, I developed what we call the Clubhaul: a counter-trend strategy. Now I had 2 different strategies, increasing my daily number of opportunities to find successful trades. Having access to multiple trading strategies is like the handyman with three different hammers or multiple sets of screwdrivers: They each do a specific job under specific conditions, and it's not always the case that "one size fits all." What goes for the handyman's toolbox, is also applicable for your trading toolbox.
To get to where you want to go you need to know where you are starting from. As G.I. Joe says, "Knowing is half the battle." So hopefully you can create yourself a spreadsheet and crunch the numbers and you can see (1) where you currently are in your trading journey (how viable is my trading plan, how much capital do I have, what hours will I be working the markets) (2) where you want to be ultimately (how much income do I want to generate on a monthly basis, how much capital do I need to consistently generate that income, and which strategy(ies) will get me there? and (3) what I need to DO to get from where I am to where I want to be.
Trade Well!
The way we day trade!In this video we go over the way we approach day trading via our trading strategy which is based purely on technical analysis.
Its a short video and we specifically go over WTI, even tough we have many tradings, but fixed range volume profile is explained and the way we use it.
We hope you enjoy the video and that it helps you with your trading!
Good luck!