5 Ways to Improve your Trading - WORTH THE READYou’re going to need a cup of coffee or two for this one.
It is my longest trading article I’ve ever written.
I’ve written it because I care about you and I want you to succeed.
So, please take the time to read this and save it for the future.
Or if you don't have the time then at least go to the bottom to see the highlights of the article...
Enjoy and trade well!
Part 1 – EXPERTISE
Choose your markets wisely.
There are so many different markets to choose from, that you need to upper your knowledge.
Whether it’s understanding market, assets, securities and instruments – you need to have basic knowledge.
Here are some to consider…
#1: New ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds)
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are a popular way to invest in a diverse range of assets.
If you want to improve your expertise in ETF trading, stay informed about new trends and opportunities in the market.
Keep up to date with the latest developments in the ETF industry, such as new ETFs being introduced, and be aware of market trends and movements that may affect your trades.
#2: New AI Tech Companies and Technology
Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is revolutionizing many industries, including finance.
To stay ahead of the game in financial trading, be sure to keep up to date with new AI tech companies and technologies.
See what Google, Open AI (ChatGPT, Dallee), Apple and Meta are doing.
Even some crypto AI companies.
Familiarize yourself with the latest innovations in the field, and consider investing in companies that are developing or utilizing AI technology.
#3: Electric Vehicles
Electric vehicles are an emerging trend in the automotive industry.
Even in Greece and Europe, we are seeing more Teslas on the road and electric garage stations.
And they are expected to have a significant impact on the global economy, environment and with the automotive sectors.
Stay up to date with the latest news and developments in the electric vehicle market, and be aware of how it may affect your trading strategies.
#4: Space Tourism
Space tourism is a new and exciting industry that is attracting significant interest from investors.
Keep an eye on the latest developments in the space tourism market, including new companies (SpaceX, Virgin Galactic and even Amazon technologies.
#5: Metaverse
The metaverse is a virtual world that is becoming increasingly popular, and it is expected to have a significant impact on the way we live and work.
They are here to stay, improve and evolve. From virtual reality, augmented reality and a mixture of both.
Get yourself a Quest headset (or wait for the Quest 3) and see the new opportunities in the space. Don’t get left behind.There are many other areas of expertise of industries that you should be aware of.
Just do a bit more research and incorporate them into your trading and investing lives.
Part 2 – TIME
Time is all we have.
It’s also something you can’t get back but it’s something you can utilise and take advantage of.
With trading, you need to use your time wisely,
In this part we will talk about how you can improve on this aspect.
#1: Be Punctual
One of the most important aspects of successful financial trading is being punctual.
Be sure to arrive at your trading desk or platform on time.
Be ready to take action when the markets open.
Be prepared for when trading opportunities align and when they are ready to execute.
Don’t miss these opportunities, because it just takes ONE big one to take your portfolio out of your drawdown and in the green.
#2: Don’t Miss a Day
Missing a day of trading could lead to missed opportunities and lost profits.
Be sure to stick to your trading schedule and avoid missing any trading days.
And if you miss a day, make up for it the next day. Spend extra time on analyses, execution and even during your evaluations and tracking of your portfolio.
#3: Set a Reminder
To help you stay on track with your trading schedule, set a reminder on your phone or computer.
Even better. Set an alarm for when you know you need to trade.
Time slips by so quickly and we can get distracted in the day.
How many times have you forgotten to have lunch, drink water and miss your favourite TV show?
Use your timer and set reminders with trading. This will help you to stay focused and ensure that you don’t miss any important trading opportunities.
#4: Sticky Notes
Sticky notes can be a helpful tool for staying organized and focused when trading.
Use sticky notes to remind yourself of important dates, deadlines, trading setups, ideas and trading strategies.
Also use sticky notes to maybe have a plan on what you need to do as a trader that day.
They help and are great to bring to your notice with the actions you got to take.
Part 3 – ACTION
Without action, it stays a dream.
Without action, it stays an idea.
Without action, it stays a what if…
You need to DO instead of SAY.
You need to ACT.
That’s what this is all about with improving another area with your trading.
#1: Place Your Trading Levels
Don’t just look at what is lining up.
Write them down on sticky notes.
Have them all drawn up on your charting platform.
And make sure EVERY detail, trading level and reason is somewhere you can see.
Then you have no other choice but to set your trading levels carefully.
Or if you need to adjust them as necessary to reflect changing market conditions and lock in gains where you can.
#2: Prepare Your Trading Setups
You need to prepare your trading setups carefully.
This will help you to stay organized and focused when trading.
Set up your trading platform, charts, and other tools before you start trading to ensure that you are ready to take action when the markets open and eventually hit your desired levels to action.
#3: JUST TAKE THE TRADE
High probability setup – tick.
Trading levels in place – tick
Risk analyses and volume analyses all according to plan – tick
As I like to say JTTT – Just Take the Trade!
Taking action is the most important part of successful financial trading.
Don’t be afraid to take a trade when the opportunity arises, but be sure to do so with caution and careful consideration of the risks involved.
Part 4 – VISION AND GOALS
We all have our desired goals and vision in place.
Or else why would we do it? Right?
With trading, we have a game plan.
And when we have a solid plan with a proven track record, we can almost see into the future of the outcome.
But you need to write them down.
You need to have realistic targets and goals.
You need to incorporate the downside and drawdowns as well.
And you need to remember, to achieve these – you have to take additional steps such as…
#1: Deposit more money
One way to improve your financial trading results is by depositing more money into your trading account
However, this does not mean that you should invest all your savings.
It is essential to balance your investments and diversify your portfolio to minimize risk.
Maybe you want to deposit 5% per month. Or maybe you want to just deposit one fixed lump sum, to start growing your account.
Be sure to evaluate your financial situation and set realistic investment goals that align with your financial capabilities.
#2:Be responsible
Being responsible is crucial in financial trading.
You need to be disciplined in your trading activities and avoid making impulsive decisions.
Stick to your strategy and stay true to your long-term goals.
You should also ensure that you have a clear understanding of the risks involved in financial trading.
#3: Eye on the sexy prize
Short-term gains can be tempting – I get it.
We are seeing the future before we are dealing with the present.
And this is dangerous in the short term.
It might feel slow, unprogressively and not as amazing as you thought after a year.
But with compounding, eventually you will feel the success, triumph and true potential of trading power.
But it is essential to focus on long-term growth and wealth potential.
Be prepared to hold onto your investments for an extended period, even if there are temporary fluctuations in the market.
#4: Focus on growth and wealth potential
It is crucial to have a clear understanding of your long-term goals and make informed decisions based on them.
If you want to grow your wealth, you need to be patient and take calculated risks.
Diversify your portfolio and invest in assets that have long-term growth potential can help you achieve your financial goals.
Part 5 – ATTITUDE
Now it’s up to you.
You have to face the elements of trading.
The winners.
The losers.
The drawdowns.
The insane winning streaks.
The slowdowns.
The sideways going nowhere.
This all can mess with your emotions. Hence they say don’t ride the emotional rollercoaster.
So let’s fix your attitude shall we?
#1: Biggest mental enemy is – YOU
Your mindset plays a significant role in your trading success.
The biggest mental enemy in financial trading is you.
It is easy to get caught up in emotions such as fear and greed.
This can lead you to taking impulsive and revengeful trades.
This can lead to you giving up during the bad or slow times.
To overcome this, you need to have a clear understanding of your emotions and how they can affect your trading decisions.
#2: Stop celebrating winners
Avoid celebrating them excessively.
Great you won some money! But what about the next trade? What about next month. What about next year.
You are only as good as your last trade. And when you banked a winner, you need to focus on the next trade and let by-gones be by-gones.
Celebrating your wins can lead to overconfidence, which can be detrimental to your trading success.
Keep level headed at all times. Especially during successful trades.
#3: Stop crying over losers
Similarly, you should not dwell on your losses.
Losses are part of the learning process.
They can help you identify areas of improvement in your trading strategy.
Instead of crying over losses, focus on learning from them and making informed decisions based on your trading plan.
Also, go back to your track record. Go look at the biggest drawdowns you had and how you overcame them when the market went into a better environment.
That will stop you crying over losing a bit of money.
Besides, losing money is not a loss. It’s simply a cost of trading.
Think of it like that and you will never feel another loser again.
#4: Be long term oriented
Financial trading is a long-term game.
To be successful, you need to have a long-term mindset and a strategy that aligns with your long-term goals.
I’ve told you many times. It’s not about the one trade but the hundreds of trades later.
Just keep to your discipline, follow the plan and strategy and you’ll see it pay off in the long run.
#4: Stop thinking of instant successes
Financial trading is not a get-rich-quick scheme.
You cannot expect instant success or overnight riches.
Instead, you need to be long-term oriented and take a strategic approach to your investments.
It would help if you were patient and persistent, even when faced with setbacks or losses.
5 Areas to Improve!
We’ve come to the end of the 5 part – Areas you need to improve with trading.
What a pleasure it’s been.
I’ll sup up everything below so you can have a quick reminder what you need to work on.
EXPERTISE
#1: New ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds)
#2: New AI Tech Companies and Technology
#3: Electric Vehicles
#4: Space Tourism
#5: Metaverse
TIME
#1: Be Punctual
#2: Don’t Miss a Day
#3: Set a Reminder
#4: Sticky Notes
ACTION
#1: Place Your Trading Levels
#2: Prepare Your Trading Setups
#3: JUST TAKE THE TRADE
VISION AND GOALS
#1: Deposit more money
#2: Be responsible
#3: Eye on the sexy prize
#4: Focus on growth and wealth potential
ATTITUDE
#1: Biggest mental enemy is – YOU
#2: Stop celebrating winners
#3: Stop crying over losers
#4: Be long term oriented
#5: Stop thinking of instant successes
If you found this helpful let me know in the comments.
Remember to stay disciplined, be patient, and keep your eyes on the long-term prize.
J.T.T.T
Fundamental Analysis
Reading multi timeframe Secrethello everyone, this is my first video tutorial on this website. I hope I explained everything properly if I didn't let me know so I can make improvements...
I did have some people who contacted me how to trade, they liked my analysis so I made this video for them and also for people new to trading.. Or people who are already pro this will give a nice upgrade on there skills
for this tutorial I used DXY which is the most important index in trading and I think it's a good start for new traders so they can use DXY to trade major currencies..
please let me know how the video was?
thank you
Simple Investing Strategy, Affordable for all!Hey! Everybody wants to get rich. But not many from us know what it takes. In this article let's discuss Investing income from annual percentage yield (APY) . Key point is the percentage of income can be different from your location, but lets make our calculations from 8.0% APY.
Why this strategy is Affordable for ALL? Well, for calculation I've used only $161 of monthly investing.
I understand for some person this is nothing, and for another it is a lot. But you can calculate your own affordable investing amount per month and use it. Consistency is the key!
Another point why its affordable, its because you don't need to have a lot of money at the beginning. You can start from minimal deposit allowed by service/fund/bank (APY provider) where you allocating your funds.
Please, note, this is simple and affordable investing strategy. But still THIS IS NOT 100% SAFE STRATEGY... There are several risks of losing your money after all. Mostly this risks depends on APY provider, so I recommend to change your APY provider over a time, and to secure your funds use multiple providers.
Let's see how we get this numbers and first of all it is important to keep consistency during all your investment journey. Remember, this way can make you millionaire and can create a fortune for your kids.
To understand how this works, let's see what is Compound Interest:
Compound interest is the concept of adding accumulated interest back to the principal sum, so that interest is earned on top of interest from that moment on. The act of declaring interest to be principal is called compounding. Financials institutions vary in terms of their compounding rate frequency - daily, monthly, yearly, etc.
Your savings account may vary on this, so you may wish to check with your bank or financial institution to find out which frequency they compound your interest at. I used monthly compounding to calculate final value.
With savings accounts, interest can be compounded at either the start or the end of the compounding period (month or year).
Compound interest formula
Compound interest, or 'interest on interest', is calculated with the compound interest formula. Multiply the principal amount by one plus the annual interest rate to the power of the number of compound periods to get a combined figure for principal and compound interest.
This formula is base of all interest calculations. To get easier process of calculation, I have used online Compound Interest Calculator.
Best numbers we can get if we start investing early, but it happens we see right information too late, and we ask ourselves "Is it good time to start?" — I can say for sure, YES! Always good idea to start investing in your savings account. Trading is trading, but investing is a little different. You can invest in markets, or in savings accounts.
Now let's see "worst case" — you starting your investing journey at 40 years old.
How much you can earn on savings account until 60?
I have calculated it with calculator, and used only $161 investments/savings per month with APY of 8%.
You can see after 20 years of savings this amount of money (pretty much affordable for many people out there) you will get about $95,464 Final Value. Very impressive. Imagine if you can save more from your income each month... For example if you can save $1000 monthly, you will get $592,947 Final value after 20 years on your Savings Account.
Middle scenario — investing for 30 years on your savings account. Until 60 you can earn solid $241,547 Final value, investing only $161 per month!
Now if you can invest about $500 per month from your income you will get amazing $750,147 Final value.
And of course best scenario — start investing on savings account early from 20y.o. This way you can get $565,799 Final value by 60 y.o.
And if its possible to save more, let's say $250 monthly, you can get $878,570.30 Final value by 60 y.o.
So in order to get rich, you don't need to invest a lot of money. Just make you investments consistent, and improve your financial education.
Hope this article can inspire you to create your savings account and plan your future.
Best regards,
Artem Crypto
Part 1: Equity Derivatives - A Beginner's GuideWhat are derivatives?
Basic interpretation : something which is based on another source.
A derivative is a contract or product whose value derives from the value of the base asset. The base asset is called the underlying asset.
i.e., Sugar prices will rise if sugarcane prices increase due to low production. It means sugarcane is the underlying asset of sugar because the value of sugar is associated with sugarcane.
There is a broad range of underlying assets:
Metals: lead, gold, silver, copper, zinc, nickel, tin, etc.
Energy: coal, natural gas, etc.
Agri commodities: corn, cotton, pulses, wheat, sugar, etc.
Financial assets: Stocks, bonds, forex, etc.
There are two types of derivatives:
1. Exchange-traded: A standardized derivative contract, listed and traded on an organized exchange.
2. Over-the-counter/off-exchange trading/pink sheet trading:
A derivative product in which counterparties buy or sell a contract or product at a negotiated price without exchange
Instruments of derivatives market:
There are four instruments in the derivatives market:
1. Forward:
Forward is a non-standard agreement or agreement between two parties that allows you to buy/sell the asset at the agreed price for a pre-decided date of the contract.
Forwards are negotiated between two pirates, so the terms and conditions of the contract are customized.
These are called over-the-counter(OTC).
2. Future:
Future contracts are similar to forwarding contracts, but the deal is made through an organized and regulated exchange rather than negotiated between two counterparties.
A futures contract is an exchange-traded forward contract.
3. Options:
A derivative contract that gives the right but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset at a stated strike price on or before a specified date.
Buyers of options- Pays the premium and buys the right
Sellers of options - Receives the premium with the obligation to buy/sell underlying assets.
4. Swap:
A swap is a derivative contract between two counterparties to exchange for the cash flows or liabilities from two different financial instruments.
It is an introduction article. I will cover all these topics in detail.
Swap helps participants manage risk associated with volatility risk interest rate, currency exchange rates, & commodity prices.
Index:
Index = Portfolio of securities
An Index shows how investors experience the economy. Is it progressing or not?
A Stock market index gathers data from a variety of companies of industries. The data forms an overall picture and helps investors compare market performance through past and current prices.
Financial indices represent the price movement of bonds, shares, Treasury Bills, etc.
Importance of Index:
1. An index is an indication of a specific sector or gross market.
2. It helps investors to pick the right stock
3. An index is a statistical indicator. It represents an overall change or part of a change in the economy.
4. In OTC & exchange-traded markets, It used as an underlying asset for derivatives trading
5. An index helps to measure for evaluation of portfolio performance.
6. Portfolio managers use indices as investment benchmarks.
7. Index illustrates investor sentiments.
Types of index:
There are four classifications for indices:
Equal Weighted Index:
Each company is given the same weightage in the composition of this index. Equal-weighted indexes are more diversified than market capitalization-weighted indexes. This index focuses on value investing.
Free-float index:
In finance, equity divides into different among various stakeholders like promoters, institutions, corporates, individuals, etc.
A tradable stake for trading is called a free-float share.
i.g, If XYZ company has issued 5 lakh shares with the face value of Rs 10, but of these, 2 lakh shares are owned by the promoter, then the free-float market capitalization is Rs 30 lakh.
Free-float market capitalization: Free-floating shares * Price of shares
Index: BSE SENSEX
Market capitalization-weighted index:
In this index, each stock is given weightage according to its market capitalization.
High market cap = High weightage
Low market cap = low weightage
Market Cap= Current market price * total number of outstanding shares
i. e, if XYZ company has 1,000,000 outstanding shares and a market price of 55 rs per share will have a market capitalization of 55,000,000.
Index: Nifty 50
Price Weighted Index:
High price = More weightage
Low price = Low weightage
Popular price-weighted index: Dow Jones industrial average & Nikkei 225
I will upload the second part soon.
Show your love with likes and comments.
Thank you :)
Money_Dictators
Financial Planning: An IdeaHello Trader
Today we have to talk about financial knowledge, how important is it to have financial knowledge and whether can it make us financially free.
Let's begin,
Everyone needs money to survive. Financial planning is the process of managing your money wisely to achieve your financial goals. It involves planning your future finances keeping in mind your current situation.
In simple terms, financial planning helps you answer questions like:
How can I save more money?
When can I comfortably retire?
How can I pay my debts?
All these questions are very important if you want to be financially free
* Financial planning helps you identify your long-term and short-term goals, whether it's buying a house, children's education, or retirement so that you don't have to worry about anything.
* An important aspect of financial planning is insurance. It helps protect you and your loved ones from unexpected events like accidents, illnesses, or the loss of a loved one. By getting the right insurance coverage, you can minimize the financial disaster of such situations.
* Investments are also a part of financial planning. It involves putting your money into different types of assets, such as stocks, bonds, or real estate, to grow your wealth over time. Financial planning also involves knowing where to allocate your investments accurately.
Finally, financial planning includes preparing for retirement. It involves estimating how much money you will need in retirement and determining how much you should save each month to reach that goal. Retirement planning ensures that you can enjoy a comfortable and financially secure life after you stop working.
Types of financial planning
1) Tax Planning
Tax planning is the process of arranging your finances in a smart way to pay the least amount of taxes while staying within the rules set by the government. It involves making decisions about when to receive income, how to spend money, and which deductions or credits to take advantage of. The goal is to legally reduce the amount of taxes you have to pay, so you can keep more of your hard-earned money.
Types of Tax planning
Tax planning is a way to reduce the amount of tax you have to pay. But it's not just about that - it also tells you how to make smart decisions with your money to reach your financial goals. By investing in the right things at the right time, you can increase not only the tax but also your wealth. So tax planning is not just about minimizing taxes, it's about making your money work for you.
Following are the various methods of tax planning
(A) Short-term tax planning
In short-term tax planning, individuals or businesses focus on finding legal ways to reduce their tax liability as the end of the fiscal year approaches. It does not require long-term commitments but can still result in significant tax savings.
(B) Long-term tax planning
With long-term tax planning, individuals or businesses create a tax plan at the beginning of the fiscal year and follow it throughout the year. While immediate tax benefits may not be available, this approach can be beneficial in the long run.
(C) Permissive tax planning
Permissive tax planning involves utilizing various provisions within the tax laws of a country, such as deductions, exemptions, contributions, and incentives. For example, in India, there are provisions like Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961, which offer deductions on specific tax-saving investments.
(D) Purposive tax planning
Purposive tax planning involves using tax-saving instruments with a specific purpose in mind. This strategy ensures that you maximize the benefits of your investments. It includes carefully selecting suitable investments, having a plan for replacing assets if necessary, and diversifying business and income assets based on your residency status.
2) insurance planning
If you don't plan properly for insurance, unexpected events in life can leave you financially vulnerable. By insurance planning, you can identify the risks that may affect your life and choose the right insurance policy to protect against those risks. So that you can protect yourself and your family financially in the future.
Let's talk about the benefits of insurance planning
(A) Protection from Unexpected Events
Having a good insurance policy helps you reduce the financial risks associated with things like illness, accidents, or even death. It ensures that you and your family are prepared to face these unexpected challenges without having to give up your quality of life.
(B) Different Types of Insurance Coverage
* There are different types of insurance policies that cover various risks. For example, health insurance plans cover medical emergencies, hospital expenses, medications, and doctor visits.
* Life insurance or personal accident insurance provides coverage in case of premature death.
* Motor insurance protects your vehicles against theft, accidents, and liabilities to third parties.
* Travel insurance policies offer coverage for unexpected events during your trips. By choosing the right combination of policies, you can create a complete financial protection plan for yourself and your family.
(C) Financial Protection
Insurance planning provides financial security by compensating for losses incurred during covered emergencies. It helps you recover financially from unexpected situations and protects your savings.
(D) Tax Benefits
Certain insurance plans also provide tax savings. For example, the premiums you pay for health insurance are eligible for tax deductions under the Income Tax Act. This means you can lower your taxable income by purchasing specific insurance policies.
(E) Peace of Mind
Having a well-planned insurance portfolio gives you peace of mind. You don't have to worry about losing your savings due to unforeseen events. You can also plan for the financial well-being of your family even after your death by using term and life insurance plans.
Insurance planning can be easier if these points are kept in mind
3) Investment planning
* Investment planning is a process that helps you make smart decisions about your money.
* It involves thinking about your goals and figuring out the best ways to use your money to achieve those goals.
* There are various options for investment, such as putting your money in stocks, bonds, or property and earning good profits.
* This planning helps you build a strong financial foundation and make adjustments as needed.
Here I will tell about 7 benefits of investment planning
(A) Building Wealth
Investment plans with life insurance are a reliable way to grow your wealth over time. As an investor, you can choose the plan that best suits your needs based on risk, returns, and the amount you can invest. These plans can provide financial assistance for future expenses like your child's education, their wedding, your retirement, or a pension.
(B) Financial Security
Life insurance policies offer both life coverage and investment options. They take care of your family financially by providing both survival benefits and death benefits. When the policy matures, you receive returns with profits. This ensures long-term financial security for your family. In the unfortunate event of your demise before the maturity period, the insurance company pays the sum assured to your nominee, providing financial protection to your family.
(C) Coverage for Death Risk
Not all investment options offer coverage for the risk of death, but investment plans with life insurance do. These plans include death risk coverage, ensuring that your family's financial needs are taken care of even in your absence. The sum assured is paid to the nominee in the event of your death.
(D)Retirement Savings
You can purchase these investment plans at any stage of life, allowing you to create a retirement corpus. By investing in these plans, you can become financially independent even after retirement.
(E) Flexibility
These investment plans offer flexibility in terms of the amount you can invest and the duration. You can choose what suits your needs and financial planning.
(E) Tax Savings
Investment plans not only provide risk cover and help accumulate wealth, but they also offer tax savings. The premiums and payouts are exempted from tax under sections 80C and 10(10D) of the Indian Tax Act. These plans offer a perfect combination of savings, wealth creation, financial protection, and tax benefits.
(F) Loan Facility
Life insurance investment plans can also act as loan facilitators, depending on the coverage you have, the premiums paid, and your eligibility for the loan amount.
4) Retirement planning
* Retirement planning is the process of preparing for life after you stop working.
* It involves thinking about how much money you will need to live comfortably when you are not earning a regular income.
* Retirement planning tells you how to save and invest your money wisely to have enough funds to support yourself during your retirement years.
* Retirement planning is essential so that you can enjoy a comfortable and worry-free life when you decide to stop working.
Understanding retirement planning
* Retirement planning is the act of preparing for life after employment, which includes not only financial aspects but all areas of one's life.
* Beyond financial considerations, retirement planning includes lifestyle choices, such as how to spend time, where to live, and when to stop working altogether.
* Retirement planning focuses on different stages of life.
* In the early stages of a career, the emphasis is on setting aside sufficient funds for retirement.
* As one approaches mid-career, it may also include establishing specific income or wealth goals and taking the necessary steps to achieve them.
* Thus, retirement planning is necessary for you to lead a comfortable life at the time of retirement.
5) Estate planning
* Estate planning is when you make important decisions about what happens to your money, assets, and liabilities after you pass away or if you become unable to make decisions for yourself.
* This includes things like choosing who will receive your assets, making sure debts and taxes are taken care of, and even deciding who will take care of your children or pets.
* People usually work with an attorney who knows estate law to help them plan.
* Some common steps in estate planning include making an inventory of what you own and owe and checking your bank account.
Process of Estate Planning
* Estate planning is the process of deciding what will happen to a person's assets after they pass away and how their financial affairs will be managed if they become unable to do so themselves. It's important to know that estate planning is not only for wealthy individuals; anyone can and should consider it.
* An estate includes things like houses, cars, investments, artwork, life insurance, pensions, and debts. People have different reasons for estate planning, such as preserving family wealth, providing for their spouse and children, funding education for future generations, or leaving a charitable legacy.
* The first step in estate planning is usually creating a will.
Other important tasks include
* Setting up trust accounts to reduce estate taxes and benefit specific beneficiaries.
* Designating a guardian for dependents who are still alive.
* Choosing an executor to oversee the will's instructions.
* Updating beneficiaries on life insurance policies, IRAs, and 401(k) accounts.
* Making funeral arrangements in advance.
* Making annual gifts to charities or nonprofits to lower the taxable estate.
* Creating a durable power of attorney to handle other assets and investments.
By taking these steps, individuals can ensure that their wishes are followed, their loved ones are provided for, and their assets are distributed as intended.
6) Cash flow planning
* Cash flow planning is all about managing and predicting how money comes into and goes out of someone's or a business's finances. It means keeping track of how much money is earned (income) and how much is spent (expenses) during a specific time, usually every month or year.
* The main goal of cash flow planning is to make sure there's enough money to cover important expenses, meet financial commitments, and achieve money-related objectives. It helps individuals and businesses make smart choices when it comes to spending, saving, and investing their money.
* Basically, cash flow planning involves creating a budget or financial plan that outlines the expected sources of income and estimates of expenses. By analyzing and keeping an eye on cash flow, it becomes possible to spot potential shortages or surpluses and adjust accordingly. This way, people can manage their money better and make informed decisions on how to use their resources effectively.
* When there's a clear understanding of cash flow, individuals and businesses can take proactive steps to ensure they have enough money to cover their needs, save for the future, and handle any unexpected financial challenges that might come up.
* Thus by doing financial planning in this way and by doing this 6-step planning you can become financially free.
Note: The next article is on the life cycle and wealth cycle in which I will tell you what percentage should be invested according to age and income.
I apologize for the grammatical errors.
Thank You!
Money_Dictators
By @Money_Dictators on @TradingView Platform
Top 10 AI Stocks to Trade and add to Trading View WatchlistAI is definitely one of the key words for the century.
And yes, I believe these are great companies to add to our watchlist to trade. ANd Trading View has all of the companies to analyse their movements. .
We could even see AI companies being some of the safe-haven stocks to invest in 2024…
Here are my top 10 companies that are incorporating AI into their businesses and ones I'm trading lately.
1. Microsoft (MSFT):
Develops, licenses, and supports software, services, devices, and solutions.
2. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD):
Designs and sells computer processors and related technologies.
3. NVIDIA (NVDA):
It designs graphics processing units (GPUs) for gaming and professional markets.
4. Palo Alto Networks (PANW):
Offers cybersecurity solutions and firewall technology.
5. Customer Relationship Management (CRM):
This is a strategy that companies use to manage interactions with customers and potential customers.
6. Meta Platforms - formerly Facebook – (META):
Operates social media and virtual reality platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Oculus)
Note: Oculus 3 Headset is coming out next year and it’s going to include and introduce Augmented Reality to the world.
7. Palantir Technologies (PLTR):
Develops data analysis software and provides data integration and analytics platforms.
8. Adobe Inc. (ADBE):
Creates software products for content creation, multimedia, and marketing.
9. Apple Inc. (AAPL):
Designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, Virtual Reality and online services.
10. Micron Technology (MU):
Micron Tech. inc. designs, develops, manufactures, and sells memory and storage products worldwide
I have an entire watchlist just saying AI STOCKS...
There isn't an Index yet, so I'm watching them and trading accordingly.
3 Risk Actions to take in a Sideways Market
“Do you have any risk or money management rules you take, during a Sideways Market or Twilight phase? I want to be more cautious with my trading.”
These actions, no doubt, will help us protect and preserve our trading accounts.
Action #1: Drop your risk even more
If you’re feeling uneasy with the markets, as many have – drop your risk.
You can even drop your risk to a range of 0.5% to 1% per trade, as opposed to the usual 2%.
This will keep you in the game, so you don’t miss out on any moves.
Action #2: Hegde your portfolios
I consistently employ hedging strategies, both Longs and Shorts.
For example, you can go long stocks and short gold as a hedge.
Or you can go long Bitcoin and short Ethereum as a hedge.
As long as your losses are smaller than your winners, then your winners will outweigh.
And this will help keep your portfolio in check.
Action #3: Diversify
The JSE ALSI 40 isn’t the be all and end all of trading.
You need to learn to diversify into other markets.
I’m talking about Forex like EUR/USD, Indices, and even intraday trades.
Bitcoin Dominance Cheat SheetHi Traders, Investors and Speculators of Charts📈📉
Bitcoin dominance and the rotations between BTC and altcoins can be confusing. Enjoy this easy-to-understand guide to BTC.D , and why it is important to watch alongside with the bitcoin chart.
👇👇👇
BTC dominance is calculated by dividing the market cap of BTC by the total market cap of all cryptocurrencies. If the TOTAL market cap is 1.5 trillion and the market cap of alts increases, then BTC dominance will go down unless the market cap of BTC also increases.
But to really understand the rotation of money between BTC and alts, you'll need a clear understanding of how how market caps all fit together.
Imagine a pie where each slice represents a different cryptocurrency. The pie here indicates the total cryptocurrency market cap of both Bitcoin and altcoins, which can increase or decrease at any given time. In other words the TOTAL chart.
- If BTC market cap increases but altcoin market cap shrinks (relative), the pie stays the same size.
- If BTC market cap increase and altcoin market cap increases, the pie size increase and so forth.
If BTC dominance is at 40%, it means that the BTC slice of the pie chart is 40% of the total size of the pie. The remaining 60% of the pie is made up of all other cryptocurrencies (altcoins).
A pie chart from March 2023:
Now, imagine a new bullish cycle starts across the crypto markets. This causes the market capitalization of both altcoins and Bitcoin to increase. If the market capitalization of BTC also increases, but at a slower rate than the market capitalization of altcoins, then BTC dominance will remain stable even though BTC Price increases AND altcoins prices increase. This is because the BTC slice of the pie is still 40% of the total size of the pie, even though the pie has grown larger.
In other words, the pie has gotten bigger, but the size of the BTC slice has remained the same relative to the rest of the pie.
Here is another way to think about it:
Total market cap: $1.5 trillion
BTC market cap: $900 billion
Alt market cap: $600 billion
BTC dominance: 60%
Now, let's say that the alt market cap increases by $200 billion and the BTC market cap increases by $100 billion. The total market cap would now be $1.8 trillion and the BTC market cap would be $1 trillion. BTC dominance would still be 60%, even though the price of BTC increased because the overall pie has gotten bigger.
Here is an example of how the BTC dominance falls, but BTC price increases:
Total market cap: $1.5 trillion
BTC market cap: $900 billion
Alt market cap: $600 billion
BTC dominance: 60%
Now, let's say that the alt market cap increases by $200 billion, but the BTC market cap only increases by $100 billion. The total market cap would now be $1.8 trillion and the alt market cap would be $800 billion. BTC dominance would now be 50%, even though the price of BTC has increased.
As a summary:
UP: BTC d ominance is increasing, meaning that BTC is outperforming altcoins.
STABLE: BTC d ominance is remaining relatively unchanged. This could indicate price movement on either Bitcoin or Alts .
DOWN: BTC d ominance is decreasing, meaning that altcoins are outperforming BTC .
We see an increase of market capitalization on the TOTAL chart:
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CryptoCheck
CRYPTOCAP:BTC.D CRYPTOCAP:TOTAL
Learn the 3 TYPES of MARKET ANALYSIS
In the today's post, we will discuss 3 types of analysis of a financial market.
🛠1 - Technical Analysis
Technical analysis focuses on price action, key levels, technical indicators and technical tools for the assessment of a market sentiment.
Pure technician thoroughly believes that the price chart reflects all the news, all the actions of big and small players. With a proper application of technical strategies, technical analysts make predictions and identify trading opportunities.
In the example above, the trader applies price action patterns, candlestick analysis, key levels and 2 technical indicators to make a prediction that the market will drop to a key horizontal support from a solid horizontal resistance.
📰2 - Fundamental Analysis
Fundamental analysts assess the key factors and related data that drive the value of an asset.
These factors are diverse: it can be geopolitical events, macro and micro economic news, financial statements, etc.
Fundamental traders usually make trading decision and forecasts, relying on fundamental data alone and completely neglecting a chart analysis.
Price action on Gold on a daily time frame could be easily predicted, applying a fundamental analysis.
A bearish trend was driven by FED Interest Rates tightening program,
while a strong bullish rally initiated after escalation of Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
📊🔬 3 - Combination of Technical and Fundamental Analysis
Such traders combine the principles of both Technical and Fundamental approaches.
When they are looking for trading opportunities, they analyze the price chart and make predictions accordingly.
Then, they analyze the current related fundamentals and compare the technical and fundamental biases.
If the outlooks match, one opens a trading position.
In the example above, Gold reached a solid horizontal daily support.
Testing the underlined structure, the price formed a falling wedge pattern and a double bottom, breaking both a horizontal neckline and a resistance of the wedge.
These were 2 significant bullish technical confirmation.
At the same time, the escalation of Israeli-Palestinian conflict left a very bullish fundamental confirmation.
It is an endless debate which method is better.
Each has its own pros and cons.
I strongly believe that one can make money mastering any of those.
Just choose the method that you prefer, study it, practice and one day you will make it.
❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
SIGNAL PROVIDERS: EXPERT ADVISORSAs the world of trading evolves and expands, new signal providers are popping up every day, promising to help traders identify potential market opportunities. However, there are many problems among legitimate providers from one of them: signal providers offer fraudulent Expert Advisors (EAs). These unscrupulous providers promise extraordinary returns and flawless trading systems, but in reality, they disappoint and lead to financial losses for unsuspecting rookie traders. In this post, we will examine the reality of EA fraud and give important tips on how to protect yourself in the trading industry.
EA scams primarily target traders looking for automated trading solutions using EAs. 99% of the time these are traders who have been in the industry for no more than a year. Signal providers often use deceptive tactics to lure people into their schemes. The main signs of fraud can include:
1. Unrealistic promises:
This is the biggest red flag. Signal providers make big claims of guaranteed profits or excessively high returns in a short period of time. Things get to the point of nonsense like 100% capital growth every week. But in reality, no trading system can do such results in a short period of time completely eliminating risk or ensuring error-free success.
2. Fabricated results:
To attract inexperienced clients, scammers show fabricated evidence of high EA returns using fake data or false reviews. It is crucial to independently verify track records and performance data as our team has done.
3. Lack of transparency:
Signal providers often lack transparency in their operations. They may withhold important information such as the strategy or methodology behind their EAs, making it impossible for traders to evaluate their performance. An EA may be behind a sliding line crossover. As a consequence, the EA gives signals when the market is in sideways movement, which is likely to lead to losses.
Protecting against expert advisor scams:
1. Do your due diligence:
Before signing up with any signal provider or purchasing an EA, conduct thorough research. Read reputable sources of user reviews and independent analysis to assess the reliability and performance of the provider. Since the reputation of the provider itself comes first. If the provider has a good reputation, they will not offer anything that is not of any use.
2. Check the track record:
Request supporting documents from the signal provider or developer, such as statements from real trading accounts or third-party verification results like we do. Reliable providers should be transparent about their historical performance.
3. Be skeptical of unusual claims:
Be cautious when encountering providers promising guaranteed profits or unusually high returns, this is always a red flag. Remember that trading always involves risk, and no system can completely eliminate it.
4. Test periods and money back guarantees:
Choose signal or EA providers that offer trial periods or money back guarantees. Legitimate providers are confident in their services and allow traders to test them with minimal financial commitment.
5. Get professional advice:
We have reviewed hundreds of signal providers and if you are unsure or inexperienced in evaluating signal providers or advisors, get advice from professional traders who will help and show you the right way.
Conclusion:
Although there are both genuine signal providers and effective advisors in the trading industry, traders must remain vigilant to protect themselves from EA scams. By conducting thorough research, checking history, using regulated platforms, being skeptical of unusual claims, using trial periods and money-back guarantees, and seeking professional advice, traders can reduce the risk of falling victim to scammers.
WORLD VOLATILE SITUATION Economy VS War🔴Be Aware Of Today...
🔹The Violent Movements Will Begins With These News
🔹(ADP) Nonfarm Employment Change
🔹Ism Manufacturing PMI
🔹Ism Manufacturing Prices
🔹Jolts Job Openings
🔹Most Importantly Fed Interest Rate Decision Also And U.S. Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) Press Conference
🔴Federal Reserve Meeting Investors Will Turn Their Attention To The Federal Reserve's Policy Meeting Tomorrow, Eager To Hear Policymakers' Views On The State Of The Economy And The Future Outlook For Interest Rates.
🔴 Most Investors Are Betting That The Federal Reserve Has Finished Tightening Monetary Policy After Chairman Jerome Powell Said That Rising Long-term Yields Reduce The Need For Further Increases In Interest Rates.
On the Other Hand, The War situation:
🟥Israel-Hamas war live updates: Foreign passport holders seen entering Rafah crossing; Gaza communications cut again
🟥Bolivia cuts diplomatic ties with Israel; Chile and Colombia recall ambassadors
🟥Still, the situation of War is so bad
Good Luck Everyone 👋
Cathie Wood's Trading MethodologyUnderstanding Cathie Wood's Trading Methodology
1. Introduction
In the dynamic world of finance, few have garnered as much attention in recent years as Cathie Wood, the visionary founder and CEO of ARK Investment Management. Underpinning her meteoric rise is a trading methodology that champions disruptive innovation and a futuristic outlook. Let's dive deep into what makes Wood's strategies stand out.
2. Historical Context
Investment, for decades, thrived on the mantra of 'safety first.' Blue-chip stocks, steady dividends, and bonds defined portfolios. However, the digital revolution brought with it companies that didn’t fit the traditional mold. Here, Wood saw an opportunity, challenging traditional norms and adopting an approach anchored in tomorrow rather than yesterday.
3. Disruptive Innovation as the Core
At the heart of ARK's investment strategy lies disruptive innovation. These are technologies or business models that transform industries and often render old methods obsolete. Think about how streaming altered entertainment or how electric vehicles (EVs) are reshaping mobility. In these disruptions, Wood sees not just change but investment opportunities.
4. Research-Driven Approach
While many firms tout the depth of their research, ARK goes a step further. It actively bridges the gap between sectors, combining insights from tech, healthcare, energy, and finance. The firm even collaborates with academia, startups, and online communities, believing that understanding disruption requires diverse perspectives.
5. Active Management and Portfolio Construction
Passive investing, tracking indices, has its merits, but Wood's vision is anything but passive. ARK's active management is about agility. As new research insights emerge or market dynamics shift, ARK's portfolios evolve, ensuring they reflect the most promising opportunities in disruptive sectors.
6. Contrarian Views and High Conviction Bets
Wood has never shied away from making bold claims, be it her bullish price target for Tesla or her belief in Bitcoin's potential. These high conviction bets might seem risky, but for Wood and ARK, they're informed decisions, grounded in research and a genuine belief in a company's or technology's transformative potential.
7. Exit Strategies and Risk Management
Every investment strategy, no matter how bullish, requires an exit plan. ARK's exit strategies, while not always publicized, are undoubtedly rooted in their rigorous research. Changes in a company's fundamentals, regulatory landscapes, or unexpected industry shifts can all trigger an exit. Additionally, risk is actively managed, with diversification strategies and hedging to cushion potential downturns.
8. Transparency and Engagement with the Public
A distinctive hallmark of ARK is its commitment to transparency. Unlike many peers, ARK frequently publishes its research, trades, and theses. This openness invites both praise and scrutiny, fostering a two-way dialogue between ARK and the investor community.
9. Criticisms and Challenges
No strategy is beyond critique. Wood's high conviction bets, while often profitable, expose portfolios to potential volatility. Detractors also argue that her strategies are too growth-focused, potentially overlooking stable, value-driven opportunities. Furthermore, ARK's rapid ascent means it now manages a sizable asset pool, which brings with it challenges of scale and agility.
10. Key Takeaways
Cathie Wood's vision extends beyond current market trends, anchoring firmly in future possibilities.
ARK's interdisciplinary research approach offers a holistic perspective on disruption.
Active portfolio management ensures adaptability in a fluid market landscape.
Transparency, while a double-edged sword, sets ARK apart, fostering trust and facilitating informed discourse.
11. Conclusion
In an era defined by rapid technological evolution, Cathie Wood's forward-looking trading methodology offers a refreshing perspective on investment. While not without its challenges, her approach underscores the importance of adaptability, conviction, and a keen understanding of the interplay between technology and industry. As the line between tech and traditional sectors blurs, methodologies like Wood's are not just relevant but imperative.
How to Adapt to the Ever-Evolving Financial Markets – 4 WaysThe only constant with the financial markets is…
Change
The market is constantly changing in a way that it’s bringing:
New demand
New supply
New volume
and fresh changes in the complex algorithms.
If you want to thrive you need to learn to learn to adapt, evolve and grow with the markets.
I want to cover four elements to today’s topic.
The Inevitability of Market Change
Change is not only constant but inevitable in financial markets.
There will always be new elements streaming into the markets from:
Global and political events
Micro and macro aspects
Economic indicators
Regulatory shifts, and
Investor sentiment
These elements are perpetually at work, shaping and reshaping the market.
These catalysts can shift the trajectory of entire sectors, leading to volatile market movements.
Influx of New Volume on Market Dynamics
Every day, the market sees a deluge of new volume.
There are new traders and investors constantly joining the financial markets world.
And we are seeing an inflow of capital from retail traders, institutional investors, and high-frequency trading firms.
The big institutions like Smart Money (banks, hedge funds, brokers etc…) are causing the big volatile moves in the market.
The smaller guys – dumb money and retail traders – are also helping with liquidity in the markets.
Every transaction is causing a shift in the market. No matter how small it’s the “Butterfly Effect of the financial market”.
The Role of Algorithms in Market Evolution
In the era of digital transformation, algorithms have become a pivotal part of the financial markets.
Algorithmic trading or ‘algo-trading’ employs complex mathematical models to execute trades at lightning speed and frequency.
I’m talking about Copy Trader, Robinhood, AI trading bots, EA Expert Advisors and pre-determined automatic mechanical trading methods.
This practice is now an integral part of the trading landscape.
And they will continue to have an influence in price action, and market patterns.
Haven’t you noticed?
In the 50s through to the early 2000’s. The markets trended on a more consistent basis.
Any monkey could choose a list of good stocks and hold them until they were up 200% – 1000%.
But nowadays with derivatives, algorithms, shorts and automatic execution – markets have never been more volatile and more difficult to ride the trends.
Always Adapt to Thrive in Changing Markets
It’s our job to learn to be more flexible and to adapt to these market conditions.
As markets evolve, so must we evolve with them.
We need to always:
Apply new markets to our watchlists
Look for better trading instruments
Change the trading strategy to make it more conducive with the environments
Always look for the next best broker, trading and charting platform
Look for ways to reduce costs and maximise profits.
I’ll end off with this.
The market is constantly changing, adapting and evolving.
We need to embrace the change and not see it as a threat.
Have this mentality and you’ll always have the opportunities to improve, anticipate and grow as a trader.
The Art of Trading: Parallel Between Master Artists and Traders The world of trading, much like the realm of art, is filled with uncertainty, complexity, and the need for creativity. Both traders and artists embark on journeys of discovery, seeking to master their crafts and find a unique approach in their respective fields. Without further due, let’s delve into the fascinating parallels between the practices of famous artists and the strategies employed by successful traders, uncovering lessons that can be applied to excel in the volatile world of trading.
1. The Picasso Perspective: Pablo Picasso, a pioneer of modern art, was never afraid to take risks and break away from conventional artistic norms. His innovative spirit led to the creation of Cubism, a radical departure from traditional art forms.
Trading Lesson: Just as Picasso embraced risk to innovate in art, traders should cultivate a willingness to take calculated risks and explore unconventional strategies. The key is to manage risk effectively, ensuring that potential rewards justify the risks taken (we would strongly encourage 1% risk with risk/reward ratio of 1:3.5+).
2. The Van Gogh Paradox: Patience in the Midst of Turbulence Vincent van Gogh’s life and work exemplify the importance of patience and perseverance. Despite facing rejection and lack of recognition during his lifetime, Van Gogh continued to paint, ultimately leaving behind a legacy of masterpieces.
Trading Lesson: We can learn from Van Gogh’s unwavering commitment to his art, understanding that success in trading often requires patience and resilience. Even in turbulent markets, maintaining a long-term perspective and sticking to one’s trading plan can lead to eventual success. Although it is pretty common to see backlash from family and friends, if you stick to your goals and passion, there is no doubt you can be the next Van Gogh of trading.
3. The Da Vinci Code: Leonardo da Vinci, a true Renaissance man, was known for his disciplined approach to art and his insatiable curiosity. He meticulously studied various subjects, from anatomy to aerodynamics, to enhance his artistic abilities.
Trading Lesson: Traders can draw inspiration from Da Vinci’s disciplined nature and commitment to continuous learning. Staying informed about market trends, refining trading strategies, and maintaining discipline in executing trades are crucial for trading success. As cliché as it sounds, consistency is the key. Creating the trading plan is not that hard, sticking to it is what makes the real difference.
4. The Monet Method - The Beauty in Patterns and Trends: Claude Monet, a founding father of Impressionism, was renowned for his ability to capture the subtle nuances of light and color, often painting the same scene multiple times to depict different lighting conditions.
Trading Lesson: Just as Monet focused on patterns and trends in his artwork, traders should develop a keen eye for recognizing market patterns and trends. Technical analysis can be a powerful tool in a trader’s arsenal, helping to predict future price movements based on historical patterns.
5. The Matisse Approach - Simplicity and Clarity: Henri Matisse was known for his use of bold colors and simple shapes, stripping away unnecessary details to focus on the essential elements of his compositions.
Trading Lesson: In trading, simplicity can be a virtue. Traders can learn from Matisse’s approach by simplifying their trading strategies, focusing on key indicators, and avoiding unnecessary complexity. A clear and straightforward trading plan can lead to more consistent results.
6. The Michelangelo Mindset - Mastery Through Practice: Michelangelo, one of the greatest artists of all time, spent countless hours perfecting his craft, from sculpting masterpieces like David to painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling.
Trading Lesson: Trading mastery, much like artistic mastery, requires extensive practice and dedication. Traders should commit to honing their skills, practicing their strategies, and learning from both successes and failures. The journey to trading excellence is a marathon, not a sprint. Try having small positive months in a row, instead of 1 month with +100% return and account blown right after.
7. The Pollock Principle - Embracing Uncertainty: Jackson Pollock, famous for his abstract expressionist drip paintings, embraced randomness and uncertainty in his creative process, allowing the paint to fall where it may.
Trading Lesson: The financial markets are inherently uncertain, and traders must learn to embrace and navigate this uncertainty. Developing a robust risk management strategy and maintaining a balanced portfolio can help traders manage uncertainty and protect their capital. As you have probably heard from many other specialists: “Trading is the game of probability”.
8. The O’Keeffe Outlook - A Unique Perspective: Georgia O’Keeffe is celebrated for her distinctive style and her ability to see beauty in the simplest of forms, often magnifying flowers and other natural elements in her artwork.
Trading Lesson: Developing a unique trading perspective can give traders an edge in the markets. Traders should strive to think independently, conduct their own analysis, and avoid getting swayed by the crowd. A unique and well-informed perspective can lead to more profitable trading decisions. There is nothing wrong with being inspired by a post made by a well-known TradingView author, but that shouldn’t prevail over your own common sense and judgement.
9. The Warhol Way: Capitalizing on Trends: Andy Warhol was a master of identifying and capitalizing on cultural trends, turning everyday objects like Campbell’s soup cans into iconic works of art.
Trading Lesson: Identifying and capitalizing on market trends is a key skill for traders. By staying attuned to economic indicators, news events, and market sentiment, traders can position themselves to profit from prevailing trends. Just as Warhol transformed ordinary objects into valuable art, traders can turn market movements into trading opportunities. Don’t fight the trends, it’s a losing battle you don’t want to be a part of. In the fast-paced world of trading, the ability to adapt to changing market conditions is vital. Put the ego aside, if the trade is going against your initial plan, close it, reevaluate, and make proper adjustments.
If you made it all the way here, we would like to thank you for taking the time and reading our write-up all the way and we hope you have a wonderful trading week ahead!
CHOCH vs BOS ‼️WHAT IS BOS ?
BOS - break of strucuture. I will use market structure bullish or bearish to understand if the institutions are buying or selling a financial asset.
To spot a bullish / bearish market structure we should see a higher highs and higher lows and viceversa, to spot the continuation of the bullish market structure we should see bullish price action above the last old high in the structure this is the BOS.
BOS for me is a confirmation that price will go higher after the retracement and we are still in a bullish move
WHAT IS CHOCH?
CHOCH - change of character. Also known as reversal, when the price fails to make a new higher high or lower low, then the price broke the structure and continue in other direction.
How to succeed in trading ✅From the experience I have in trading I have identified 3 pillars on which my success is based. I can't say that one is less important than another, so I try to combine all of them:
1) Psychology - is one of the most difficult aspects to master, which requires a lot of theoretical and practical knowledge, so I recommend first of all to study yourself, after you have managed to identify what kind of person you are, you will gain knowledge from books, videos, trainings that will help you control your emotions when trading. At the same time, this aspect can help you in your daily life.
2) Risk management - due to proper risk management, I managed to become funded. I also understood that in trading it is more important to tend to have a small risk, than a high profit, because greed for money can bring you into a less pleasant situation. I managed to take the account with a risk of 1% per trade and with an RR of at least 1: 2, which therefore showed me that even if I take 6 sls for 10 trades, I still remain profitable.
3) Trading plan - this is the aspect that motivates me to progress, once I have made a trading plan with well-defined goals, I tend to fulfill them. In addition to the purposes, a trading plan should contain the strategy applied, as well as the rules for entering / managing / exiting the transaction.
NEAR Q3 OverviewExecutive Summary
NEAR Protocol stands as a Layer-1 (L1) smart contract blockchain that couples a state-of-the-art sharded architecture with an emphasis on offering a user experience reminiscent of Web 2 platforms. While maintaining the security and decentralization integral to blockchains, NEAR aims to surpass the capabilities of prior chains, such as Ethereum, in terms of usability, efficiency, and scalability. Recognizing and aiming to overcome Ethereum's limitations, NEAR incorporates sharding. This key distinction allows the blockchain to significantly enhance its throughput, accommodating a more substantial transaction volume by dividing the blockchain into smaller, concurrent shards.
A pivotal differentiator for the NEAR Protocol, sharding was introduced in November 2021 as Nightshade. This technique allows validators to process only transactions specific to their assigned shards, enabling potentially infinite scalability. For end users and investors, Nightshade ensures quicker transaction speeds at reduced fees. Diverging from traditional sharding methods that split the blockchain into multiple states, NEAR's design maintains the blockchain as a singularly sharded entity. Additionally, a synchronized state mechanism ensures that a change in one block's state prompts adjustments in other shards correspondingly.
In March 2023, NEAR unveiled the Blockchain Operating System (BOS), a groundbreaking open-source platform that allows developers to craft applications across various blockchain environments using well-known programming languages. Moreover, it provides crypto users with an experience reminiscent of Web 2. Designed to be inclusive, BOS appeals to Web3 veterans and those new to the decentralized web. By ensuring easy onboarding, robust security, and seamless cross-chain interactions, BOS is setting a new paradigm for Web 3 application development.
The NEAR Foundation, with the inception of the NEAR Digital Collective (NDC) and a pivot to community DAOs, is pioneering a transition to a more democratized and decentralized framework compared to the conventional Board-based system. Launched in Q3 2022, the NDC represents a concerted effort to decentralize decision-making within the NEAR network, emphasizing transparency through defined treasury management and embracing decentralized governance with on-chain voting. Furthermore, the NDC aspires to advance validator decentralization and stimulate the development of the core protocol and infrastructure.
Looking forward into 2024, the Near protocol will introduce several pivotal milestones, including the next step in Nightshade sharding, meta transactions, zero-balance accounts, a Global Storage proposal, and more.
Introduction to Near
NEAR Protocol is a Layer-1 (L1) smart contract blockchain with a bleeding-edge sharded design and an emphasis on an intuitive Web 2-like customer experience, all while preserving the security and decentralization users expect with a blockchain. Established in 2018, it sets out to achieve improved usability, efficiency, and scalability over preceding chains like Ethereum. Founded by Illia Polosukhin and Alexander Skidanov and spearheaded by the Near Collective, the NEAR Protocol was envisioned to serve as a community-driven cloud computing PoS blockchain and a decentralized hub tailored explicitly for hosting innovative decentralized applications.
The central motivation behind NEAR's technology is to prevent network congestion and furnish a conducive environment for developers, thereby promoting on-chain protocol development. Early on, NEAR identified certain operational challenges in Ethereum, particularly related to network congestion and high/volatile gas fees, that it looked to solve. To do so, Near turned towards sharding.
A key differentiator for NEAR, sharding, in essence, provides the ability for a blockchain to increase its throughput and handle a larger number of transactions by partitioning the blockchain into smaller parallel shards. In its pursuits, Near introduced an original approach to sharding in November 2021 known as Nightshade, initially unveiled as Simple Nightshade. The underlying principle of Nightshade is that validators are not burdened with the task of processing every incoming transaction. Instead, they only handle transactions that are within specific shards. By doing so, Nightshade paves the way for theoretically limitless scalability. But what does this mean for the end user or investor? Primarily, this approach, which is entirely abstracted from the end-user experience, allows for reduced transaction fees while ensuring rapid transaction speeds.
Additionally, Near recently launched a new initiative in early 2023 known as the Blockchain Operating System (BOS). This development represents a significant shift in how we perceive blockchain platforms. The BOS is designed to integrate seamlessly with various blockchain systems while facilitating decentralization and discoverability, which have historically been impossible to achieve together.
Essentially, the BOS is grounded in blockchain technology but broadens its application by acting as a universal layer, making it adaptable to different blockchain frameworks. One of its primary features is the provision of a decentralized platform for front-end development. This platform aims to simplify the creation of blockchain applications by emphasizing clarity and flexibility.
One of the core advantages of BOS is its potential to decentralize user interactions, improve security protocols, and enhance the modularity of components. Additionally, it prioritizes compatibility across diverse blockchains, presenting developers with a more intuitive and straightforward development environment.
NEAR Technologies
Blockchain Operating System (BOS)
In March 2023, the NEAR protocol introduced the Blockchain Operating System (BOS), an open-source platform empowering developers with the flexibility to build across diverse blockchain environments using familiar programming languages and equipping crypto users with a familiar Web 2 UX. The BOS is designed to be inclusive and democratize the open, catering not only to seasoned web3 enthusiasts but also to the broader audience who might be newer to the decentralized web. A significant breakthrough in the system is eliminating the immediate need for a new user to own any cryptocurrency, substantially reducing the friction of user onboarding.
Additionally, the BOS interface streamlines access and navigation, making it more user-friendly for both developers and the general populace. Moreover, it enables users to search through a portal to diverse communities and applications, all the while prioritizing data privacy. Further, the BOS's user-centric design, coupled with its focus on accessibility, does not just simplify the onboarding experience but also bolsters the discovery of new applications.
Remarkably, the BOS functions both as a development platform and a social network. It’s an environment where users can both deploy and unearth new applications. In delivering straightforward onboarding procedures, unmatched security, and fluid interactions across all chains, the BOS is reshaping the framework for constructing Web 3 applications.
Source
BOS Under the Hood
The Blockchain Operating System (BOS) by NEAR seeks to redefine the landscape of Web3 applications through its unique architecture based on three pivotal elements: components, blockchains, and gateways. Here, we will delve into the significance of each element and examine how they collectively shape the BOS framework.
Components: The Building Blocks of BOS
Components exist at the decentralized application (dApp) layer and can be equated with notable platforms such as Lido, Uniswap, Compound, and others. They stand out for their on-chain storage, high degree of transparency, and their ability for developers to fork these applications, harnessing their functionalities and composability to craft comprehensive web applications. Storing the entirety of a component's code on-chain not only ensures auditability but also bolsters security. With the code readily available for scrutiny in blockchain explorers, users can operate these applications locally, enjoying resilience against potential censorship and a streamlined user experience. This ability to natively audit and locally run the applications represents a paradigm shift in the user-app relationship.
Blockchains: The Underlying Infrastructure
The versatility of components and the BOS becomes apparent in their ability to interact with numerous blockchains and smart contracts instead of just one chain. Currently, BOS offers compatibility with all EVM chains, such as Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, and Optimism, as well as, the native NEAR platform. As EVM chains dominate the TVL in the DeFi space, the BOS’ ability to work across nearly all enables users to tap into nearly all the liquidity and top dApps in the crypto economy. NEAR's capability to efficiently and cost-effectively store HTML/CSS/JS makes it the preferred choice for hosting app source codes.
Gateways: Bridging the Gap to Decentralization
Gateways, the third pillar of the BOS, facilitate the delivery of decentralized front-ends to a broader audience. Each gateway is underpinned by a bespoke virtual machine (VM) equipped to load and run frontends for protocols, be they Ethereum-based, Layer 2 solutions, or alt-L1 platforms like NEAR. All code pertaining to these frontends finds its home on the NEAR blockchain. The gateways are diverse, ranging from wallets and portfolio tools to distinct applications like SWEAT. They cater to tasks as rudimentary as adding swap functionality or as intricate as erecting decentralized app stores. Integrating this expansive functionality requires just the addition of a JavaScript library, followed by a selection of desired app front-ends. Prominent gateway exemplars include near.org, bos.gg, near.social, Cantopia, and nearpad.dev.
The decentralization of composable front ends enabled by the BOS is unique to Near, filling a conspicuous and much-needed void in the crypto arena. Instead of relying on centralized data servers, these front ends are blockchain-stored, promoting both composability and resistance to potential censorship. Historical instances, such as Uniswap's token delisting and the sanctions imposed on Tornado Cash, underscore the vulnerabilities of front ends. BOS’s decentralized approach allows developers the flexibility to fork these front ends and build in the truly OSINT environment that the cryptocurrency movement was built upon.
BOS Advantages
The BOS aims to integrate decentralization with discoverability and developer flexibility. Central to the BOS framework is its array of Web3 development tools that are crafted with the intent of pushing Web3 mainstream. From the onset, the system is designed to enhance user onboarding, improve cross-chain development and app discoverability, and create a seamless UX for Web3 users.
This last point on abstracting away different blockchains for a seamless Web3 experience has benefits beyond simply improving UX. It can potentially also reduce the liquidity fragmentation and tribalism associated with a fragmented crypto economy built around disparate, siloed blockchains. The BOS proposes a solution to this by striving for a consistent user experience across multiple blockchains and allowing developers globally to access and implement various Web3 components. With users and developers now (potentially) unable to discern which blockchain they are using, there is no longer a need to promote one over the other.
None of this is possible without the composability offered by the BOS. The system aims to be chain and language-agnostic, allowing developers to reuse and adjust different components while utilizing the language of their choice. The BOS supports a variety of languages for smart contract development, including JavaScript, Rust, AssemblyScript, and Solidity. Complementing this are their collaborations with established cloud providers, namely Google, Seracle, and Alibaba Cloud, to make transitioning from Web2 to Web3 as comfortable as possible.
In addition, NEAR has initiated the NEAR Dev Hub, a platform envisioned as a resource hub for developers. Preliminary outputs from this initiative include sponsored hackathons and the establishment of community groups.
Thresholded Proof of Stake
The NEAR Protocol operates on a distinct consensus mechanism known as "Thresholded Proof of Stake" (TPoS). Similar to other PoS implementations, TPoS still uses validators, who must stake NEAR tokens to participate, to validate transactions and ensure the integrity/security of the network. However, within the TPoS environment, validators can assume one of four pivotal roles:
Chunk Producers: Their primary responsibility is to authenticate transactions on individual shards, subsequently crafting a chunk, often referred to as a "shard block", from their designated shard.
Block Producers: These validators gather chunks from their chunk-producing counterparts associated with discrete shards. Their function culminates in the production of a block, which is then added to the primary chain.
Hidden Validators: Operating under a veil of confidentiality, these validators authenticate random shards — shards whose identity remains a secret to them and is undisclosed to the public. This veil serves a dual purpose. Firstly, it considerably complicates the task for any malevolent entities attempting to compromise them. Secondly, it robustly augments the chain's overall security measures.
Fishermen: Actively overseeing certain chain segments, these validators act as the guardians against fraudulent activities. They constantly monitor, ready to flag any nefarious activities. Interestingly, their operational requirements are modest — a minimal stake. However, this role, though critical, doesn't confer any rewards.
Central to TPoS is its innovative auction system employed to select validators. This methodology, in essence, discourages the practice of pooling. When validators amass resources, they not only amplify their individual rewards but also consolidate control over the chain. Such centralization runs counter to the foundational principles of blockchain, which emphasize distributed control. The TPoS design confronts this challenge head-on by placing natural barriers against pooling.
Additionally, TPoS tackles the issue of consensus forking — a scenario in which multiple validators simultaneously contribute blocks to the chain. Such events can elongate the time required for transaction finality. By minimizing the possibility of these forking instances, TPoS ensures swifter transaction finality.
Validator Requirements
Validators bear the critical responsibility of validating and executing transactions across the entirety of NEAR's sharded blockchain. Additionally, they monitor their peers (other validators), ensuring no invalid blocks are produced or alternate chains are formed. Validators found compromising network stability undergo "slashing," where part or all of their staked assets are confiscated. To compensate for their services and inherent risks, NEAR validators receive a inflationary protocol rewards, amounting to 4.5% of the total supply annually.
Given the complexity of the validator role, there are stringent hardware requirements (e.g. costs) for anyone looking to run one. To effectively run a validator, a robust system configuration, consisting of an 8-Core CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 1 TB SSD storage, is necessary. Current estimates indicate that the monthly expenditure for hosting a block-producing validator node stands at $330+.
This excerpt just scratches the surface, for the full report, click here .
10 Proven Tips for TradersIn the fast-paced world of day trading, staying ahead of the curve is essential.
If you appreciate our charts, give us a quick 💜💜
Here are ten time-tested strategies to guide your journey towards trading success:
1. Craft a Concrete Plan:
A meticulously planned strategy is your foundation. Clearly define what, how much, and when you will trade. Rushing into trades without a plan can lead to costly mistakes.
2. Prioritize Risk Management:
Risk management is paramount. Establish a robust strategy, including stop-loss levels and trusted brokers. Safeguarding your capital ensures longevity in the trading game.
3. Leverage Technology:
Embrace cutting-edge tools. Utilize charting platforms for market analysis and backtest your strategies against historical data. Mobile apps offer real-time market access, empowering you to make informed decisions.
4. Embrace Continuous Learning:
Stay nimble by staying informed. Keep up with news, trading literature, and emerging market trends. Adaptability is key in evolving markets like cryptocurrencies.
5. Rely on Facts, Not Emotions:
Base your decisions on cold, hard facts. Emotional impulses can cloud your judgment. Trust your data-backed strategies, preventing impulsive and regrettable actions.
6. Set Entry and Exit Rules:
Discipline is your ally. Stick unwaveringly to your predefined entry and exit points. Deviating from your plan risks unnecessary losses.
7. Strategy Over Money:
Focus on strategy execution, not profits. Concentrating solely on money can lead to hasty, ill-informed decisions. Trust your strategy; profits will naturally follow.
8. Own Your Decisions:
Accept responsibility for both wins and losses. Learn from mistakes constructively. Pinpoint errors, adjust your approach, and fortify your strategy for future trades.
9. Maintain a Detailed Trade Journal:
Record every trade meticulously. Modern software simplifies this process, offering insights into your past trades. A trading journal is your compass, guiding you towards informed decisions.
10. Recognize When to Pause:
Acknowledge when your strategy falters. Avoid chasing losses; instead, recalibrate your approach. Knowing when to step back is a hallmark of a seasoned trader.
Continuously refining your skills with these principles can elevate your day trading prowess. Stay disciplined, adapt to the markets, and success will undoubtedly follow.
Happy trading! 💜
What is a REIT and how do they work?A. Let’s start with the basics:
REITs stands for 'Real Estate Investment Trusts'.
These are essentially property companies that are listed on the stock market which you'll find pretty much most of them on TradingView.
So how do they work?
Step 1: An individual decides to invest in a REIT company.
Step 2: The money is then collected into a large pool (like all trusts).
Step 3: The pooled money is then invested into the property that the company either owns, operates or finances.
Step 4: Over time the company starts to make revenue and profit.
Step 5: The profits are then accounted and collected.
Step 6: The profits are then distributed in parts to the initial investors who
helped finance the company through a REIT.
Sounds great in theory…
But in reality, there is always a catch…
And that catch is timing.
The Big five SA Reits have lost over R100bn in value since 2018.
The BIG five REITs are:
1. Growthpoint
2. Redefine
3. Resilient
4. Vukile and
5. Hyprop.
Of course, this could be seen as an opportunity but there are several other factors we need to consider before deciding the best time to trade this type of asset.
A trick will be to overlay the five companies on a chart. See how they move and operate in conjunction to each other.
And then we can decide which are buys or sells.
Apples with apples.
4 TIPS TO SPECULATE LIKE A SUCCESSFUL TRADER AND GET BACK ON TRA(1) Don’t Let Risk Change Your Behaviour
The biggest psychological obstacle for traders is the perception of losses (and the concept of losing). For traders, the pain of closing a trade and realizing a loss outweighs the excitement of realizing a winning trade of equal magnitude.
(2) Don’t let confidence get the best of you
After putting together a string of successes, it’s human nature to build up confidence around your dealings and this can be a good thing.
But once a trader has gone into the territory of being ‘over-confident’, risky habits may sneak into their approach, none more damaging than the willingness to bend their own trading rules simply because they feel it will be successful.
Therefore, traders should always look to strike that delicate balance between being scared or fearful, and over-confident.
(3) Bring a Positive Mindset to the Charts Every Day
Since you will inevitably be taking losses in this game of forex speculation, it’s important to deny those losses from altering your frame of mind.
Traders will often experience the disappointment of being stopped out and this can be very discouraging. As a result of this they take shortcuts on their analysis or question their own approach. This never ends well.
Well to conclude..
One of the best ways to manage your emotions is to trade with stops and set a positive risk to reward ratio.
Many traders believe that a trading strategy has to be perfect. Most times the best strategy is the simple strategy. Learn how to trade consistently without the perfect strategy.
Tech stock Vs Energy stocks. The Competition for Decades This is an education-style publication where the main graph is a comparison (ratio) between two ETFs (funds) managed by State Street Global Advisors Corporation, the creator of the world’s first ETF (well-known in nowadays as AMEX:SPY ) and an indexing pioneer.
The first one ETF is The Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund, AMEX:XLK .
👉 AMEX:XLK seeks to provide investment results that provide an effective representation of the Technology sector of the S&P 500 Index SP:SPX .
👉 AMEX:XLK seeks to provide precise exposure to companies from Technology hardware, storage, and peripherals; software; communications equipment; semiconductors and semiconductor equipment; IT services; and electronic equipment, instruments and components.
👉 AMEX:XLK is a place where securities of American World-known Technology companies like Apple Inc. NASDAQ:AAPL and Microsoft Corp. NASDAQ:MSFT , like Nvidia Corp. NASDAQ:NVDA and American Micro Devices NASDAQ:AMD , like Cisco Systems Inc. NASDAQ:CSCO and Adobe Inc. NASDAQ:ADBE meet together.
👉 In contrast with other Technology-related ETFs like NASDAQ:QQQ (Invesco Nasdaq 100 Index ETF) or NASDAQ:ONEQ (Fidelity Nasdaq Composite Index ETF), stocks allocation in AMEX:XLK depends not only on their market capitalization, but also hugely on Technology industry allocation (like software, technology hardware, storage & peripherals, semiconductors & semiconductor equipment, IT services, communications equipment, electronic equipment instruments & components).
That is why allocation of Top 3 holdings in AMEX:XLK ( Microsoft Corp. NASDAQ:MSFT , Apple Inc. NASDAQ:AAPL and Broadcom Inc. NASDAQ:AVGO ) prevails 50 percent of Funds assets under management.
👉 Typically AMEX:XLK holdings are Growth investing stocks.
The second one ETF is The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund, AMEX:XLE .
👉 AMEX:XLE seeks to provide investment results that provide an effective representation of the energy sector of the S&P 500 Index SP:SPX .
👉 AMEX:XLE seeks to provide precise exposure to companies in the oil, gas and consumable fuel, energy equipment and services industries.
👉 AMEX:XLE allows investors to take strategic or tactical positions at a more targeted level than traditional style based investing.
👉 AMEX:XLE is a place where stocks of American World-known Oil companies like Exxon Mobil Corp. NYSE:XOM and Chevron Corp. NYSE:CVX , like EOG Resources Corp. NYSE:EOG and ConocoPhillips NYSE:COP , like Valero Energy Corp. NYSE:VLO and Phillips 66 NYSE:PSX meet each other.
👉 Weight of Top 3 holdings in AMEX:XLE (Exxon Mobil Corp. NYSE:XOM , Chevron Corp. NYSE:CVX and EOG Resources Corp. NYSE:EOG ) prevails 45 percent of Funds assets under management.
👉 Typically AMEX:XLE holdings are Value investing stocks.
The main graph represents different stock market stages of work
🔁 Early 2000s, or post Dot-com Bubble stage, that can be characterized as Energy Superiority Era. There were no solid Quantitative Easing and Money printing. U.S. Treasury Bond Interest rates TVC:TNX , TVC:TYX as well as U.S. Federal Funds Rate ECONOMICS:USINTR were huge like nowadays. Crude oil prices TVC:UKOIL , TVC:USOIL jumped as much as $150 per barrel.
The ratio between AMEX:XLK and AMEX:XLE funds collapsed more than in 10 times over this stage.
🔁 Late 2000s to early 2010s, or post Housing Bubble stage, that can be characterized as a Beginning of Quantitative Easing and Money printing. U.S. Treasury Bond Interest rates TVC:TNX , TVC:TYX as well as U.S. Federal Funds Rate ECONOMICS:USINTR turned lower. Bitcoin born.
The ratio between AMEX:XLK and AMEX:XLE funds hit the bottom.
🔁 Late 2010s to early 2020s, or post Brexit stage, that can be characterized as a Continuation of Quantitative Easing and Money printing. U.S. Treasury Bond Interest rates TVC:TNX , TVC:TYX as well as U.S. Federal Funds Rate ECONOMICS:USINTR turned to Zero or so. Crude oil turned to Negative prices in April 2020 while Bitcoin hit almost $70,000 per coin in 2021.
Ben Bernanke (14th Chairman of the Federal Reserve In office since Feb 1, 2006 until Jan 31, 2014) was awarded the 2022 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, jointly with Douglas Diamond and Philip H. Dybvig, "for research on banks and financial crises", "for bank failure research" and more specifically for his analysis of the Great Depression.
The ratio between AMEX:XLK and AMEX:XLE funds becomes great and respectively with monetary stimulus hit the all time high.
🔁 Early 2020s, or post Covid-19 Bubble stage, that specifically repeats early 2000s Energy Superiority Era. There is no again Quantitative Easing and Money printing. U.S. Treasury Bond Interest rates TVC:TNX , TVC:TYX as well as U.S. Federal Funds Rate ECONOMICS:USINTR are huge nowadays like many years ago. Commodities prices like Wheat CBOT:ZW1! , Cocoa ICEUS:CC1! , Coffee ICEUS:KC1! , Crude oil prices TVC:UKOIL , TVC:USOIL jump again to historical highs.
The ratio between AMEX:XLK and AMEX:XLE funds is fading to moderate levels that can be seen as 200-Month simple moving average.
💡 In a conclusion.. I wonder, how the history repeats itself.
This is all because markets are cyclical, and lessons of history always still remain unlearned.
💡 Author thanks PineCoders TradingView Community, especially to @disster PineCoder for its excellent and simple script Quantitative Easing Dates .
Based on this script, Easing Dates are highlighted at the graph.
Trading &/or GamblingThe difference between trading and gambling.
This article will shine a light on the most frequent mistakes that traders make. These mistakes blur the thin line between trading and gambling.
Many people have spoken on this topic, but we truly believe that it is still not sufficient, and traders should be better educated on how to avoid gambling behaviour and emotional outbursts. When we speak about trading versus gambling, we define gambling as the act of making irrational, emotional and quick decisions.
Most of the time, these decisions are based on greed, and sometimes fear of the trader. Let’s dive into the exact problems we have personally experienced thousands of times, and want to help others avoid.
1 ♠ Bad Money Management
This is something that everyone has heard at least once, but seems to naively ignore in the hopes that it is not that important .
It is the most important . When a trader enters trades, it is exceptionally alluring to enter with all of their money, or close to all of it. In gambling terms, that is going “All in”, or “All or nothing”.
As a rule of thumb, both traders and gamblers should only place or bet money that they can afford to lose.
Thankfully, at least in trading one can limit their loss for that specific trade, by placing a stop loss or exiting before total liquidation. In Poker, you can’t fold when you are “All in” and take a portion of your money back. However, that does not mean entering trades with full capital, even with a stop-loss, is going to give you exponential returns and feed your greed for profits.
Traders should enter positions with a small amount of their full capital, to limit the damage from losses. Yes, you also limit the possibility that you win a few trades in a row with all of your money and… There goes the greed we mentioned.
The “globally perfect” percent of equity you need to enter trades to reach that balance between being too cautious and too greedy does not exist. There are methods, like the Kelly Criterion, as described in our previous Idea (see related ideas below), that help you optimize your money management.
Always ask yourself, “How much can I afford to lose?”. Aim for a balanced approach. This way you can position yourself within the market for a long and a good time, not just for a few lucky wins. Greedy money management, or lack thereof, ends in liquidations and heartbreak.
2 ♣ The Use of Leverage
Anyone who has tried using leverage, knows how easy it is to lose your position (or full) capital in seconds. Using leverage is mainly sold to retail traders as a tool for them to loan money from the exchange or broker and bet with it. It is extremely profitable for institutions, since it multiplies the fees you pay them ten to one hundred-fold.
In our opinion, leverage isn’t something that should be entirely avoided. However, it should be limited as much as possible.
We cannot deny that using 1-5x leverage can be beneficial for people with small accounts and a thirst for growth, however as the leverage grows, the more of a gambler you become.
We often see people share profits made using 20+ times leverage. Some even use ridiculous leverages within the range of 50-125x.
If you are doing that, do you truly trust your entry so much that you believe the market won’t move 1% against your decision and liquidate you immediately?
At this point, the gambling aspect should be evident, and it goes without saying that you should not touch this “125x Golden Apple”, like Eve in the Garden of Eden. Especially when you see a snake-exchange promote it.
If you use a low amount of leverage, and grow your account to the point where you don’t need it for your personal goals in terms of monetary profit. You should consider stopping the use of it, and at least know you’ll be able to sleep at night.
3 ♥ Always Being In A Position
Always being either long or short leads to addiction and becomes gambling. While we don’t have scientific proof of that, we can give you our own experience as an example. To be a profitable trader, you do not need to always be in a position, or chase every single move on the market.
You need to develop the ability just to sit back and watch, analyse and make conscious decisions. Let the bad opportunities trick someone else, while you patiently wait for all your pre-defined conditions to give you a real signal.
When you think of trading, remember that the market has a trend the minority (around 20-30%) of the time. If you are always in a position, this means that 70-80% of the time you are hoping that something will happen in your favour. That, by definition, is gambling.
Another aspect, that we have experienced a lot, is that while you remain in a position, especially if you have used leverage, you are constantly paying your exchange fees. You can be in a short position for a week and pay daily fees which only damage your equity, and therefore margin ratio. So why not just sit back, be patient and define some concrete rules for entering and exiting?
Avoid risky situations, and let the market bring the profits whenever it decides to.
4 ♦ Chasing Huge Profits
Hold your horses, Warren Buffett. Through blood, sweat and tears, we can promise you that you cannot seriously expect to make 100% every month, no matter what magical backtesting or statistics you are calculating your future fortune on.
Moreover, you will realise that consistently making 2-5% a month is an excellent career for a trader.
Yes, the markets can be good friends for a while, you may stumble into a bull-run and start making double-digit profits from a trade from time to time. Double-digit losses will also follow if you lose your sight in a cloud of euphoria and greed.
Many times, you can follow the “profit is profit” principle, and exit at a small win if the risk of loss is increasing.
5 ♠ Being Sentimental Towards Given Assets
You may have a fondness for Bitcoin and Tesla, and we understand that because we too have our favourites. Perhaps you’re deeply attached to the vision, community and purpose of certain projects. On the flip side, there may be projects that you completely despise and hope their prices plummet to zero.
What you personally like and dislike, should not interfere with your work as a trader. Introducing such strong emotions into your trading will lead you into a loop of irrational decisions. You may find yourself asking, “Why isn’t this price going parabolic with how good the project is?”.
This sounds, from personal experience, quite similar to sitting at a Roulette table and asking: “Why does it keep landing on red when I’ve been constantly betting black? It has to change any moment now”.
First and foremost, you may be completely wrong, but most importantly – it could go parabolic, but trying to predict the exact time or expecting it to happen immediately and placing your “bet” on that is again, gambling.
Don’t get attached to projects when trading. If you are an investor who just wants to hold their shares in an awesome company, or cryptocurrency, that is perfectly fine, hold them as much as you want.
The key is to make an important distinction between trading and investing, and to base your strategy on the hand that the market provides you with.
6 ♣ Putting Your Eggs In One Basket
We all have heard of diversification, but how you approach it is crucial. A trader should always have their capital spread between at least a few assets. Furthermore, the trading strategy for each asset must be distinct, or in other words – they should not rely on the same entry and exit conditions for different assets.
The markets behave differently for each asset, and you cannot be profitable with some magical indicator or strategy with a “one-size-fits-all” style. Divide your trades into different pairs and asset classes, and study each market individually to properly diversify. Manage the equity you put into each trade carefully!
Conclusion
The takeaway we want you as a reader to have from this article is that trading without consciously controlling your emotions inevitably leads to great loss and most importantly, a lot of stress.
We hate stress. Trading and life in general is exponentially harder when you are under stress. Control your risk, sleep easy, and let the market bring you profits.
Reaching this level of Zen will not be easy, but it is inevitable. Be happy when you make a profit, no matter how small or big. A lot of small profits and proper money management complete the vision you have of a successful business. Ultimately, trading is just that – work, not gambling or a pastime activity. Treat it as work and always remember to never rely on luck.
The advice we’ve included here is written by a few experienced gamblers… Oops, I meant traders 😉.
We hope that some of the lessons we’ve had to painstakingly learn through trial and error can now be shared with those who are interested. Of course, none of this constitutes investment advice. It’s merely a friendly heads-up.
Why It Pays to be a Patient Trader – 10 PointsPatience, passion and persistence.
The three Ps of what it takes to make it as a trader.
We like to say 5% is action and 95% is waiting.
And that’s why I’ve written a complete guide to being a patient trader.
Let’s start…
No Impulsive Decisions
Impulsive decisions are the bane of any trader.
The market is known to be volatile, jumpy, fickle and are prone to make sudden swings.
These swings can cause panic, fear and can lead to really poor trading choices.
If you have the patience to wait for your setup, the right market environment and for your trade to play out – you’ll stop the impulsive and emotional decisions.
Wait for the right and conducive market conditions
Many trading systems are designed to work optimally under certain market conditions.
For trend, momentum, and breakout traders – we need to let the market move and continue to move in the directions.
Patient traders will need to continue taking their trades, when the system lines up.
And only when the environment is right, will they make money.
That’s why you need to learn to risk little with the losses.
And when the winners kick in, they’ll make up for the dips and will help your portfolio flourish eventually.
Spot only the high and medium probability trades
Don’t be a rash trader.
When you jump with every opportunity you can.
There are low, medium and high probability setups.
Wait for only the high and medium probability trades.
Skip the low probability trades that align or risk very little (0.5%).
Only trade those that align with your system’s strength and exhibit strong, favourable signals.
This will help boost your win rate and drop the chances of loss.
Hold onto winners
To grow your portfolio, you need to let your winners run.
Let the great trades, run their course.
Many traders, especially beginners, often exit winning trades too soon due to fear of a reversal.
They also exit quickly as they don’t want to take the trade to turn into a loss.
And as a result, they bank a measly gain.
A patient trader understands that great profits are made when you ride the big trends.
This will require you to resist the urge to close a winning position prematurely.
Wait it out
A trader must sometimes wait:
Wait for a setup to come to fruition.
Wait for the trade to play out.
Wait for unfavourable trading periods to end.
Emotional stability
While you’re being patient.
Cut out the emotions.
That feeling of ants in your pants. Rather learn to maintain emotional stability, and avoid the emotional highs and lows.
Your trading should not feel like an emotional rollercoaster. Just do your job and treat it as a job.
Not as the lottery. Not as a gamble. Not as a be all and end all situation.
Don’t let anything cloud your judgement that can lead you to trading bad.
Master your trading strategy
Just because you have a trading strategy and gameplan.
Does not mean, you know how it works over the long haul.
A patient trader takes time to master their trading strategy.
Back, forward and real test the strategy carefully.
Trade them on different markets. See how they work taking into account the costs (brokerages, daily interest charges and even spreads).
Know how the game-plan works in all different situations and environments until you are consistent and have a proven and tested methodical execution.
Avoid overtrading
Patience helps traders avoid overtrading.
This is a common pitfall where too many positions are taken.
You have to stop revenge trading (to make up for losses).
You have to stop over trading (to try make more gains in a day).
Stick to high probability trades, a careful selection of markets and the best times to trade.
Learn from mistakes
The main time you’ll actually learn, adapt and grow as a trader – is through your mistakes.
When you make a mistake, do not sweep it under the rug.
Take the time to write them down, screenshot them and jot down a memo to yourself about these mistakes.
When you learn from them, it will prevent you from making them again and you’ll even be able to refine your strategy to avoid them.
Develop discipline into integration
Patience cultivates discipline.
That is trading well every single day or week.
Once you adapt into a routine and you have the discipline to act accordingly.
Then you will enter into a lifestyle integration.
You won’t think twice. You won’t need anything to motivate you to trade.
You will just trade well like you brush your teeth, sleep or eat everyday.
Once you have integration, there’ll be no need for motivation.
Summary
Patience in trading is a trader’s virtue.
It is an essential strategy for you, if you wish to attain long-term success in the financial markets.
Here are the key points we mentioned in this complete patience guide.
No Impulsive Decisions
Wait for the right and conducive market conditions
Spot only the high and medium probability trades
Hold onto winners
Wait it out
Emotional stability
Master your trading strategy
Avoid overtrading
Learn from mistakes
Develop discipline into integration