Behind the Buy&Sell Strategy: What It Is and How It WorksWhat is a Buy&Sell Strategy?
A Buy&Sell trading strategy involves buying and selling financial instruments with the goal of profiting from short- or medium-term price fluctuations. Traders who adopt this strategy typically take long positions, aiming for upward profit opportunities. This strategy involves opening only one trade at a time, unlike more complex strategies that may use multiple orders, hedging, or simultaneous long and short positions. Its management is simple, making it suitable for less experienced traders or those who prefer a more controlled approach.
Typical Structure of a Buy&Sell Strategy
A Buy&Sell strategy consists of two key elements:
1) Entry Condition
Entry conditions can be single or multiple, involving the use of one or more technical indicators such as RSI, SMA, EMA, Stochastic, Supertrend, etc.
Classic examples include:
Moving average crossover
Resistance breakout
Entry on RSI oversold conditions
Bullish MACD crossover
Retracement to the 50% or 61.8% Fibonacci levels
Candlestick pattern signals
2) Exit Condition
The most common exit management methods for a long trade in a Buy&Sell strategy fall into three categories:
Take Profit & Stop Loss
Exit based on opposite entry conditions
Percentage on equity
Practical Example of a Buy&Sell Strategy
Entry Condition: Bearish RSI crossover below the 30 level (RSI oversold entry).
Exit Conditions: Take profit, stop loss, or percentage-based exit on the opening price.
Trading Plan
Dangers of Giving Up Too Soon on a Trading Strategy GOLD, FOREX
There are hundreds of different strategies to trade. Some of them are losing ones, some provide modest results and some strategies are very profitable.
Novice traders often struggle to find the right strategy that suits their personality, financial goals and risk appetite. Unfortunately, they also tend to make some common mistakes that can undermine their performance and confidence.
❌ One of the biggest mistakes that they make in their search is that they give a strategy a very short trial period. It simply means that they are trying to assess the validity of the strategy, trading that for a very short time span (usually a day to a week).
Please, realize the fact that the performance of the strategy can be measured only with extended backtesting - meaning that the strategy should be tested on multiple financial instruments and for a long period of time and applying multiple evaluation metrics.
Moreover, if the strategy proves its efficiency on backtesting, it should be traded on a demo account at least 2 months before the valid performance can be calculated.
❌ Another common mistake is that many traders drop the strategy once it starts losing. And by losing, I mean just 2–3 trades in a row.
Newbies are searching for the approach that never loses.
They may even abandon a trading strategy once they catch JUST ONE bad trade.
✅ In contrast, a smart trader realizes that one bad trade does not define the performance of the strategy. Moreover, such a trader calmly faces the losing streaks and sticks to the strategy.
Take a look at that picture.
On the top, we have the traits of a newbie trader and his equity curve.
He abandons the strategy after he faces the loss, not giving the strategy a chance to recover.
When he changes the strategy, he starts recovering a little bit and a losing period follows.
He drops a strategy again, and he keeps following this vicious cycle till his entire account is blown.
On the bottom of the picture, we see the equity curve of a smart trader.
Even though he faces losses occasionally, his strategy always gives him a chance to recover and with time his trading account steadily grows.
Please, realize the fact that a perfect strategy does not exist. You will lose the money occasionally anyway. What distinguishes a smart trader from a dumb one is his discipline and trust to his trading system and willingness to face losses.
❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
I am part of Trade Nation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analysis.
Set Up & Data Collection | Day 1 of 21 | Back Test With Me21-Day Backtesting Plan
A Step-by-Step Challenge to Master One Pair and Develop an Unshakable Trading Edge
Backtesting is the foundation of trading mastery. This 21-day plan is designed to help you deeply understand GBPUSD, refine your strategy, and build the confidence needed to trade with precision. Each day introduces a specific focus, challenge, and takeaway, progressively strengthening your ability to read market movements.
Week 1: Laying the Foundation – Market Structure & Patterns
📅 Day 1: Set Up & Data Collection
Task: Gather at least 6 months of historical GBPUSD data on your charting platform.
Challenge: Define your testing parameters (e.g., timeframe, session focus, lot size).
Takeaway: Clarity in what you’re testing prevents randomness in your results.
Are you up for our 21 Day Backtesting Challenge?
Drop Your Thoughts in the Comment Section, boost the post, share with your friends and follow me on Trading View if you had an aha moment.
-TL
How to pick a benchmark for you portfolio and beat the market What is a benchmark?
A benchmark is an index or a basket of assets used to evaluate the performance of an investment portfolio In the context of portfolio analysis the benchmark serves as a point of comparison to determine whether a fund a strategy or an investment is performing better worse or in line with the reference market.
In the current chart, Bitcoin ( BINANCE:BTCUSDT ) is displayed with a solid and larger blue line in relation to other cryptocurrencies for the current period.
Benchmarks are essential tools for institutional and private investors as they allow measuring the effectiveness of asset allocation choices and risk management Additionally they help determine the added value of an active manager compared to a passive market replication strategy.
Benchmark analysis example: NASDAQ:TSLA - NASDAQ:NDX
Benchmark analysis example: NASDAQ:TSLA - NASDAQ:AAPL - NASDAQ:NDX
What is the purpose of a benchmark
The use of a benchmark in portfolio analysis has several objectives
1) Performance Evaluation: Provides a parameter to compare the portfolio's return against the market or other funds
2) Risk Analysis: Allows comparing the volatility of the portfolio against that of the benchmark offering a measure of risk management
3) Performance Attribution: Helps distinguish between returns derived from asset selection and those linked to market factors
4) Expectation Management: Supports investors and managers in assessing whether a portfolio is meeting expected return objectives
5) Strategy Control: If a portfolio deviates excessively from the benchmark it may signal the need to review the investment strategy
How to select an appropriate benchmark?
The choice of the correct benchmark depends on several factors:
1) Consistency with Portfolio Objective: The benchmark should reflect the market or sector in which the portfolio operates
2) Representativeness of Portfolio Assets: The benchmark should have a composition similar to that of the portfolio to ensure a fair comparison
3) Transparency and Data Availability: It must be easily accessible and calculated with clear and public methodologies
4) Stability Over Time: A good benchmark should not be subject to frequent modifications to ensure reliable historical comparison
5) Compatible Risk and Return: The benchmark should have a risk and return profile similar to that of the portfolio
Most used benchmarks
There are different benchmarks based on asset type and reference market Here are some of the most common.
Equity
FRED:SP500 Representative index of the 500 largest US companies.
NYSE:MSCI World Includes companies from various developed countries ideal for global strategies
FTSE:FTSEMIB Benchmark for the Italian stock market
NASDAQ:NDX Represents the largest technology and growth companies
Bonds
Barclays Global Aggregate Bond Index Broad benchmark for the global bond market
JP Morgan Emerging Market Bond Index EMBI Benchmark for emerging market debt
[* ]BofA Merrill Lynch US High Yield Index Representative of the high-yield bond market junk bonds
Mixed or Balanced
6040 Portfolio Benchmark 60 equities SP 500 and 40 bonds Bloomberg US Aggregate used to evaluate balanced portfolios
Morningstar Moderate Allocation Index Suitable for moderate-risk investment strategies
Alternative
HFRI Fund Weighted Composite Index Benchmark for hedge funds
Goldman Sachs Commodity Index GSCI Used for commodity-related strategies
Bitcoin Index CoinDesk BPI Benchmark for cryptocurrencies
A reference benchmark is essential in portfolio analysis to measure performance manage risk and evaluate investment strategies The selection of an appropriate benchmark must be consistent with the strategy and market of the portfolio to ensure meaningful comparison.
Understanding and correctly selecting the benchmark allows investors to optimize their decisions and improve long-term results.
7 Practical Exercises to Build Patience in TradingI often talk about patience, planning, strategy, and money management, yet many of you tell me that you lack patience, can’t resist impulses, and struggle to follow your plan when emotions take over.
So today, we’re skipping the theory and diving straight into practical exercises that will help you train your patience just like you would train a muscle. If you want bigger biceps, you do dumbbell curls. If you want more patience in trading, try these exercises.
________________________________________
1. The “Observer” Exercise – Train Yourself to Resist Impulsive Trading
Goal: Improve discipline and reduce the urge to enter trades impulsively.
How to do it:
• Open your trading platform and set a timer for 2 hours.
• During this time, you are not allowed to take any trades, only observe price action.
• Write down in your journal: What do you feel? Where would you have entered? Would it have been a good decision?
Advanced level: Increase the observation time to a full session.
✅ Benefit: This exercise reduces impulsiveness and helps you better understand market movements before making decisions.
________________________________________
2. The “One Trade Per Day” Rule – Eliminate Overtrading
Goal: Train yourself to select only the best setups.
How to do it:
• Set a rule: “I am allowed to take only one trade per day.”
• If you take a trade, you cannot enter another, no matter what happens in the market.
• At the end of the day, analyze: Did you choose the best opportunity? Were you tempted to overtrade?
✅ Benefit: Helps you filter out bad trades and eliminates overtrading, a common issue for impatient traders.
________________________________________
3. The “Decision Timer” – Avoid Impulsive Entries
Goal: Help you make better-thought-out trading decisions.
How to do it:
• When you feel the urge to enter a trade, set a 30-minute timer and wait.
• During that time, review your strategy: Is this entry aligned with your trading plan? Or is it just an emotional impulse?
• If after 30 minutes you still think the trade is valid, go ahead.
✅ Benefit: This exercise slows down decision-making, helping you think rationally rather than emotionally.
________________________________________
4. The “No-Trade Day” Challenge – Strengthen Your Self-Control
Goal: Prove to yourself that you can stay out of the market without feeling like you're missing out.
How to do it:
• Pick one day per week where you are not allowed to take any trades.
• Instead, use the time to study the market, analyze past trades, and refine your strategy.
• At the end of the day, reflect: Did you experience FOMO? Was it difficult to resist trading?
✅ Benefit: Increases discipline and teaches you that you don’t have to be in the market all the time to succeed.
________________________________________
5. The “Walk Away” Method – Stop Micromanaging Trades
Goal: Reduce stress and prevent over-monitoring after placing a trade.
How to do it:
• After placing a trade, walk away from your screen for 1 to 2 hours.
• Set alerts or use stop-loss/take-profit orders so you’re not tempted to constantly check the price.
✅ Benefit: Reduces emotional reactions and prevents overmanagement of trades.
________________________________________
6. The “Frustration Tolerance” Drill – Train Yourself to Accept Losses and Missed Opportunities
Goal: Build resilience to emotional discomfort in trading.
How to do it:
• Watch the market and deliberately let a good opportunity pass without taking it.
• Observe your frustration, but do not act. Instead, write in your journal: How does missing this opportunity make me feel?
• Remind yourself that there will always be another opportunity and that chasing trades leads to bad decisions.
✅ Benefit: Helps reduce FOMO and makes you a calmer, more disciplined trader.
________________________________________
7. The “Trading Plan Repetition” Exercise – Build a Strong Habit
Goal: Reinforce discipline and reduce deviations from your plan.
How to do it:
• Every morning, before opening your trading platform, write down your trading rules by hand.
• Example:
o “I will not enter a trade unless all my conditions are met.”
o “I will not move my stop-loss further away.”
o “I will close my platform after placing a trade.”
• Handwriting strengthens mental reinforcement, and daily repetition turns it into a habit.
✅ Benefit: Increases self-discipline and keeps you committed to your strategy.
________________________________________
Final Thoughts
If you’ve read this far, you now have a concrete plan to build patience in trading. Remember, trading success isn’t just about technical analysis and strategies—it’s about discipline and emotional control.
Just like a bodybuilder follows a structured routine to develop muscles, you must practice patience and discipline daily to master trading psychology.
Impulsive Trading:Understanding the Risks and Regaining ControlHave you found yourself hastily clicking the “Buy” or “Sell” button only to be engulfed by regret almost immediately afterward? If so, you're in good company 😃.
Impulsive trading is a widespread issue that affects traders of all experience levels, often leading to significant financial losses. Studies reveal that a considerable portion of traders battle with impulsive decision-making, which can drastically influence their overall financial health.
Impulsive trading typically arises from emotions rather than careful market analysis or strategic planning. Factors such as the fear of missing out (FOMO), frustration after a loss, or the temptation of quick profits often cloud judgment, resulting in decisions that deviate from disciplined trading practices. This behavior is especially pronounced during volatile market conditions, where emotions can run high. Acknowledging the signs of impulsive trading is essential for fostering discipline and achieving sustained trading success.
Understanding the Risks of Impulsive Trading
The implications of impulsive trading reach far beyond individual poor trades. Each impulsive action can generate a cascade of errors, diverting traders from their predefined strategies. Engaging in impulsive trading often leads to overtrading, where traders make numerous trades in quick succession while hoping for fast returns, ultimately resulting in mounting losses. This not only increases exposure to market volatility but also raises transaction costs, systematically eroding any potential gains.
Another major risk associated with impulsive trading is flawed decision-making. Actions born out of emotional responses lack the rational foundation necessary for sound trading, pushing traders towards choices that diverge from their overall objectives. For instance, abandoning a Stop Loss order or ramping up position sizes following a loss can lead to dramatic financial damage. Moreover, the psychological impact of impulsive trading can result in burnout, heightened stress, and diminished confidence, all of which threaten a trader's long-term viability. Recognizing and understanding these risks highlights the need for self-regulation and a disciplined approach—critical elements for successful trading.
Psychological Triggers Behind Impulsive Trading
The tendency to trade impulsively often stems from various psychological factors that can be difficult to manage. One of the main culprits is the fear of missing out (FOMO); in fast-paced markets, traders may feel an urgent need to enter positions quickly to seize potential profits. This urgency can lead to ill-timed trades, making them more vulnerable to reversals.
Greed is another significant factor that plays a role in impulsive trading. The relentless pursuit of maximizing profits can quickly overshadow a trader’s original plan. As a result, they may prolong a successful trade or increase leverage in hopes of capturing even greater returns, leading to heightened risks. Loss aversion, the instinct to avoid losing money, also contributes to impulsivity. When faced with setbacks, traders might engage in “revenge trading,” making rash decisions in an attempt to recover losses—often dismissing their foundational analytical methods.
External factors like social media and market news also amplify these emotional triggers. The overload of information—from Twitter updates to various trading forums—can create a sense of urgency and spur impulsive behavior, even among experienced traders. By acknowledging these psychological influences, traders can cultivate a more deliberate and strategic approach to their decision-making processes.
Read also:
Identifying Impulsive Trading Behavior
Recognizing the signs of impulsive trading is crucial for anyone looking to regain control and establish a more strategic trading method. Indicators of such behavior include:
- Ignoring Your Trading Plan: Frequently deviating from established entry and exit criteria in favor of fleeting emotions can indicate a pattern of impulsivity.
- Constantly Monitoring Trades: Habitually checking price movements or refreshing trading platforms often suggests an emotional attachment to positions, prompting unnecessary reactions to minor fluctuations.
- Execution of Unplanned Trades: Making trades without forethought, especially after emotional highs from winning trades or lows from losses, disrupts a carefully crafted trading plan and exposes one to greater risks.
- Neglecting Risk Management Practices: Exceeding leverage limits or disabling Stop Loss orders indicates a tendency to focus on immediate gains rather than sustainable trading strategies.
By becoming aware of these behaviors and taking deliberate steps to reflect on each trade's alignment with the overarching strategy, traders can minimize impulsivity and foster a disciplined mindset grounded in rationality.
Read Also:
Strategies for Overcoming Impulsive Trading
Successfully overcoming impulsive trading requires a blend of discipline, self-awareness, and effective strategies. Here are some actionable steps:
1. Set Clear Entry and Exit Criteria: Define explicit guidelines for entering and exiting trades, based on predetermined market conditions or technical indicators. Adhering to these rules minimizes the likelihood of impulsive actions.
2. Employ Stop Loss Orders: Utilize Stop Loss orders to automatically close trades when certain price levels are met. This helps protect against significant losses and allows traders to step back from their positions.
3. Maintain a Trading Journal: Keeping a detailed record of every trade—including motivations, emotions experienced, and outcomes—encourages self-reflection and helps to identify recurring patterns in behavior.
4. Practice Self-Discipline: Establish realistic trading goals and commit to your trading plan. Taking a pause before executing trades can help you refocus on your long-term objectives, minimizing the urge to act impulsively.
5. Restrict Trading Frequency: Set limits on the number of trades you make each day or week to ensure that you only engage in high-quality opportunities, rather than reacting to every market fluctuation.
By adopting these strategies, traders can cultivate the discipline necessary to move away from impulsive decision-making, emphasizing logical and goal-oriented actions instead.
Cultivating a Rational Trading Mindset
Developing a rational mindset is essential for long-term trading success and evading the pitfalls of emotional decision-making. Consider implementing the following techniques:
- Mindfulness and Relaxation Practices: Engage in mindfulness exercises to enhance awareness of your thoughts and feelings. Awareness allows you to recognize when emotions may be influencing trading decisions. Even short moments of focused breathing can provide clarity.
- Take Breaks Regularly: Long trading sessions can lead to fatigue and impaired judgment. By stepping away from your work periodically, you can recharge and return to your trading activities with fresh insight.
- Avoid Trading During Emotionally Charged Situations: If you find yourself facing personal stress or strong emotions, it may be wise to refrain from trading until you regain an even temperament.
- Focus on Long-Term Objectives: Prioritize sustained success over immediate rewards. Remind yourself that while impulsive decisions might provide short-term satisfaction, they often result in long-term setbacks.
Building a rational trading mindset requires patience and dedicated effort, but it is instrumental in improving trading performance. By incorporating these habits into your routine, you can enhance emotional control and make decisions that reflect logic rather than impulse.
I suggest to read also..:
The Critical Role of a Trading Plan
An effective trading plan is a cornerstone for preventing impulsive decisions that can undermine a trader's performance. The emotional responses associated with impulsive trading—such as fear and greed—can derail even the best-laid strategies. A comprehensive trading plan serves as a guiding framework, providing clarity and structured guidelines to help traders manage emotional impulses.
By defining specific goals, a trading plan equips traders with a clear sense of direction, reducing the temptation to chase fleeting opportunities or react to market noise. Furthermore, by integrating principles of risk management into your trading strategy, you ensure that engagement with risks aligns with your personal threshold, thereby minimizing unnecessary exposure. Establishing entry and exit guidelines allows traders to base their decisions on objective criteria, independent of emotion-driven impulses.
Read also:
Enhancing Trading Discipline with Tools and Techniques
Employing specific tools and strategies can support a disciplined trading approach and reduce impulsive behavior. Trading software with alert functions can help by notifying traders when predefined conditions for trades are met, ensuring decisions are based on strategic analysis rather than reactive impulses.
Regularly reviewing trading performance is equally vital. This practice allows traders to analyze trades, recognize behavior patterns, fine-tune their strategies, and verify their alignment with their trading plan. Drawing insights from these reviews fosters adherence to disciplined trading and helps traders remain focused and make informed decisions.
Read also:
In conclusion..
Achieving lasting success in trading depends on rational thought processes and emotional management. A well-developed trading plan, complemented by the right tools and techniques, empowers traders to avoid impulsivity and concentrate on their goals. Although the temptation for quick gains can be powerful, maintaining a disciplined approach is essential for sustainable success. Remember, trading is a journey rather than a sprint. By remaining consistent and methodical, traders can navigate risks effectively, ultimately crafting a strategy that yields long-term results.
✅ Please share your thoughts about this article in the comments section below and HIT LIKE if you appreciate my post. Don't forget to FOLLOW ME; you will help us a lot with this small contribution.
The Right Questions to Ask Before Entering a TradeEvery day, traders—especially beginners—ask the same recurring question:
❓ What do you think Gold will do today? Will it go up or down?
While this seems like a logical question, it’s actually completely wrong and one that no professional trader would ever ask in this way.
Trading is not about predicting the market like a fortune teller. Instead, it's about analyzing price action, managing risk, and executing trades strategically.
So, instead of asking, "Will Gold go up or down?" , a professional trader asks three critical questions before taking any trade.
Let's break them down.
________________________________________
Step 1: Identifying the Right Entry Point
Let’s say you’ve done your analysis, and you believe Gold will drop. That’s great—but that’s just an opinion. What really matters is execution.
🔹 Where do I enter the trade?
Professional traders don’t jump into the market impulsively. They use pending orders instead of market orders to wait for the right price.
If you believe Gold will fall, you shouldn’t just sell at any price. You need to identify a key resistance level where a reversal is likely to happen.
For example:
• If Gold is trading at $2900, and strong resistance is at $2920, a professional trader will set a sell limit order at that resistance level rather than shorting randomly.
This approach ensures that you enter at a strategic point where the probability of success is higher.
________________________________________
Step 2: Setting the Stop Loss
🔹 Where do I place my stop loss?
A trade without a stop loss is just gambling. Managing risk is far more important than being right about market direction.
The key is to determine:
✅ How much risk am I willing to take?
✅ Where is the invalidation level for my trade idea?
For example:
• If you are shorting Gold at $2920, you might place your stop loss at $2935—above a recent high or key technical level.
• This way, if the price moves against you, you have a predefined maximum loss, avoiding emotional decision-making.
Professional traders never risk more than a small percentage of their account on a single trade. Risk management is everything.
________________________________________
Step 3: Setting the Take Profit Target
🔹 Where do I set my take profit, and does the trade make sense in terms of risk/reward?
Before taking any trade, you must ensure that your reward outweighs your risk.
For example:
• If you risk $15 per ounce (short at $2920, stop loss at $2935), your take profit should be at least $30 away (for a 1:2 risk/reward).
• A good target in this case could be $2890 or lower.
This means that for every dollar you risk, you aim to make two dollars—ensuring long-term profitability even if only 40-50% of your trades succeed.
If the trade doesn’t offer a good risk/reward, it’s simply not worth taking.
________________________________________
Conclusion: The “Set and Forget” Mentality
Once you’ve answered these three key questions and placed your trade, the best approach is to let the market do its thing.
✅ Set your entry, stop loss, and take profit.
✅ Follow your trading plan.
✅ Avoid emotional reactions.
Many traders lose money because they constantly interfere with their trades—moving stop losses, closing positions too early, or hesitating to take profits.
Instead, adopt a professional approach: set your trade and let it run.
📌 Final Thought:
The next time you find yourself asking, “Will Gold go up or down today?” , stop and ask yourself:
📊 Where is my entry?
📉 Where is my stop loss?
💰 Where is my take profit, and does the risk/reward make sense?
This is how professional traders think, plan, and execute—and it’s what separates them from amateurs.
👉 What’s your biggest struggle when it comes to executing trades? Let’s discuss in the comments! 🚀
Disclosure: I am part of Trade Nation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analyses and educational articles.
123 Quick Learn Trading Tips #4: Spot or Futures? Real or Fake?123 Quick Learn Trading Tips #4: Spot or Futures? Real or Fake? 🧐
News : $1.3 Billion has been liquidated 💥 from the FUTURES market within the past 24 hours, as Bitcoin plummeted to $86,000. 📉
Futures leveraged traders were forced to close their positions, realizing a collective loss of $1.3 Billion.
This shows how risky trading with leverage (borrowed money) can be. 💸 ⚠️
Traders who use leverage enter into a gambling game with exchanges, which always win the game. In other words, in the last 24 hours, several crypto exchanges made $1.3 billion in profits.
On the other hand, people who bought Bitcoin directly (spot market) only lost a small amount of profit. This shows that owning the actual asset is more stable. 💎
Traders using leverage lose their money. But for spot investors, this is a good chance to buy more Bitcoin at a low price and make their long-term position stronger. 💰
Like I always tell my students and friends:
Let's go up the spot market stairs, step by step. 🪜 Don't think about the futures elevator. 🏢 It has crashed many times, 📉 and it will crash again. ⚠️
Instead of gambling in the "fake" futures game,
invest your money in the "real" spot market. 💎
Build your investments by owning assets, not by risky leverage. 🚫
Have a nice trading journey!
The Pygmalion Effect in Trading: Expectations Shape Your Resuls!The Pygmalion Effect is a psychological phenomenon where higher expectations lead to improved performance, while low expectations result in poor outcomes.
This concept, often explored in education and leadership, also plays a crucial role in trading psychology.
Your beliefs about your trading abilities, strategies, and the market can directly influence your results.
But how can you use this to your advantage, and when does it work against you? Let’s explore.
________________________________________
How the Pygmalion Effect Applies to Trading
At its core, the Pygmalion Effect suggests that what you expect tends to become reality—not through magic, but through subconscious behavioral shifts. In trading, this can manifest in several ways:
🔹 Confidence in Your Strategy – If you genuinely believe in your trading system, you're more likely to follow it with discipline, leading to consistent results over time.
🔹 Fear and Self-Doubt – If you constantly doubt your trades, hesitate to enter, or close positions too early out of fear, you reinforce negative expectations, leading to underperformance.
🔹 Risk-Taking Behavior – Overconfidence, another side of the Pygmalion Effect, can lead to excessive risk-taking, believing that every trade will be a winner—just as dangerous as self-doubt.
How to Use the Pygmalion Effect to Your Advantage:
✅ Develop a Strong Trading Plan – Confidence comes from preparation. A well-tested strategy gives you a clear roadmap to follow.
✅ Control Your Self-Talk – The way you talk to yourself matters. Replace " I always lose trades" with "I am improving my risk management and discipline."
✅ Focus on Process Over Outcomes – Instead of worrying about individual wins or losses, focus on executing your plan consistently.
✅ Surround Yourself with Positive Influences – Follow traders and mentors who reinforce disciplined trading habits rather than hype and emotional decision-making.
✅ Use Visualization Techniques – Imagine yourself trading successfully, making rational decisions, and following your plan—this can train your mind to align with positive expectations.
________________________________________
Applying the Pygmalion Effect – A Real Market Example:
Let’s take a real-world example to illustrate this concept:
For several days, I have been warning about a potential major correction in Gold. The reason? Looking at the daily chart, even though Gold has made all-time highs in the last 10 days, these highs are very close together, and each time the price hit a new top, it reversed sharply.
This pattern is a classic sign of a reversal.
Yesterday, Gold closed with a strong bearish engulfing candle, another indication that a correction is underway.
Now, if we look at the hourly chart (left side), we can see an aggressive drop followed by a retest of the 2930 level—a typical move before further decline.
Here’s where the Pygmalion Effect comes into play:
✅ We see the setup clearly.
✅ We trust our analysis.
✅ We execute with confidence.
Following this logic, Gold could continue its correction, breaking below 2900, possibly testing 2880 support or even lower. We put the strategy into action with conviction.
Final Thoughts:
The Pygmalion Effect in trading is powerful—your expectations can make or break your performance. By setting high but realistic expectations, reinforcing confidence, and focusing on disciplined execution, you can shape yourself into a profitable, consistent trader.
Trust what you see, believe in your strategy, and trade with conviction.
👉 What are your expectations for your trading? Let’s discuss! 🚀📊
Disclosure: I am part of Trade Nation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analyses and educational articles.
Crypto influencers: The Good, The Bad and The UglyThe crypto space is evolving fast, and with it, the influence of social media figures has grown exponentially.
Crypto influencers have become a major source of information, ideas, and trends for traders and investors alike. But are they really helping, or are they just creating noise?
Let's break it down into three categories: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.
________________________________________
The Good: Learning and Discovery
One undeniable benefit of crypto influencers is access to information. With thousands of projects emerging every months, it's impossible to keep track of everything on your own. Influencers often highlight new projects, provide market insights, and share educational content, making it easier for retail investors to stay informed.
Their content can serve as a starting point for research, helping you discover opportunities you might have missed otherwise. Instead of spending hours searching for new projects, you can get a curated list of potential investments, saving time and effort.
However, the key here is not to blindly follow , but to use their insights as a research tool to dig deeper and verify information before making investment decisions.
________________________________________
The Bad: Copy-Paste Content & One-Sided Narratives
While some influencers provide value, many simply recycle the same information. If you follow multiple influencers, you might notice that most of them talk about the exact same projects, using almost identical arguments.
Why? Because they often copy each other or are paid to promote specific coins. Instead of offering genuine analysis, they just ride the hype wave.
Another major issue is the lack of balance in their narratives. The majority of influencers focus only on bullish scenarios, constantly pushing the idea that prices will rise. Very few discuss the risks, potential corrections, or exit strategies.
This creates a dangerous mindset among beginner investors, making them believe that crypto only goes up, leading to FOMO-driven decisions instead of well-thought-out investments.
________________________________________
The Ugly: Hype-Driven, Clickbait Influencers
And now, we get to the worst of the bunch—the aggressive, loud, and sensationalist influencers who have taken over social media. These are the ones who:
🚨 Shout in every video, promising to make you a millionaire overnight
🚨 Hype up "the next 1000x coin" without any real analysis
🚨 Push FOMO-driven narratives to drive engagement, not to educate
Their goal? Clicks, views, and affiliate commissions.
Many of these influencers don’t even trade or invest themselves—they simply capitalize on the excitement of others. They prey on new and inexperienced investors, convincing them to buy into the hype without considering the risks.
But let’s be honest… How many people have actually gotten rich following their advice?
Most of these so-called “expert picks” end up crashing once the hype fades, leaving followers with losses while the influencers move on to the next pump-and-dump scheme.
________________________________________
Final Thoughts: How to Navigate the Crypto Influencer Space
Not all influencers are bad, but you need to approach them with a critical mindset. Here are a few tips to stay safe:
✅ Use influencers as a research tool, not financial advisors – Always do your own due diligence.
✅ Look for balanced perspectives – Avoid those who only push bullish narratives.
✅ Be skeptical of hype-driven content – If someone is shouting about a guaranteed 100x coin or even 1000x, it's most probably a scam.
✅ Follow influencers who discuss risk management – Real traders know that both gains and losses are part of the game.
At the end of the day, your success in crypto depends on your own research and strategy, not on blindly following influencers. Stay informed, stay cautious, and don’t fall for the hype! 🚀📉
What do you think about crypto influencers? Have you ever made (or lost) money following their advice? Share your thoughts in the comments! 🔥👇
The Two Minds of a Trader: Analysis vs. ExecutionTrading is a game of probabilities, discipline, and emotional control. Yet, most traders unknowingly sabotage themselves by letting their analytical mind interfere with their execution. Understanding the distinction between the Analytical Mind (The Analyst) and the Execution Mind (The Trader) can significantly improve your trading performance. I’m Skeptic , and today, I’ll break down how to master these two mental states.
The Analytical Mind vs. The Execution Mind
The Analyst: The Market Forecaster 🔍📊
This is the part of your mind that loves to analyze, predict, and overthink.
It constantly searches for confirmation and the perfect setup.
It’s responsible for drawing support/resistance levels, using indicators, and finding confluence zones.
Often, it falls into the trap of “analysis paralysis,” hesitating to take trades due to over-analysis.
🛑 Biggest Mistake: Letting the Analytical Mind interfere with execution.
The Trader: The Decision Maker 🎯💰
This is the part of your mind that follows a structured, predefined trading plan.
It focuses on executing rather than predicting.
It respects stop-losses, sticks to the plan, and doesn’t chase the market.
It manages risk effectively and understands that losses are part of the game.
✅ Key to Success: Training the Execution Mind to act without emotional interference from the Analytical Mind.
How to Stop Overthinking and Trade with Confidence
1. Create a Clear Trading Plan 📝
A structured plan removes uncertainty. Before you enter a trade, you should already know:
Your entry triggers (specific price action setups, indicators, or fundamental conditions).
Your risk-to-reward ratio (R/R) and stop-loss placement.
Your profit-taking strategy (scaling out, trailing stops, etc.).
💡 Example:
I personally use setups based on support/resistance, RSI divergences, and volume confirmation.
I’ve backtested these setups with 30+ trades per condition, ensuring their viability.
This confidence in my system allows me to execute trades without second-guessing.
2. Separate Learning from Execution 🚧
One of the biggest mistakes traders make is learning while trading.
Before the trade: This is the time for analysis and preparation.
During the trade: This is execution mode—stick to your plan, no second-guessing.
After the trade: Review and learn. This is when you refine your strategy, not during a live trade.
3. Reduce Information Overload 📉
Too much knowledge can be detrimental in trading.
Many traders believe that knowing more = better trading. This is a myth.
The best traders master one or two strategies and refine them instead of constantly searching for new indicators.
Focus on backtesting and forward-testing instead of endlessly consuming content.
🚨 Reality Check: Traders 100 years ago made consistent profits without advanced indicators, algorithms, or AI models. Why? Because they focused on mastering risk management and execution instead of drowning in endless analysis.
Final Thoughts: Train Your Execution Mind
Trust your plan: If you’ve done your homework, your only job is to execute without hesitation.
Less is more: Reduce unnecessary analysis and stick to core principles.
Be patient: The best traders don’t chase trades—they wait for their setup.
📌 Key Takeaways: ✅ Stop over-analyzing and start executing.✅ Confidence comes from backtesting and having a structured plan.✅ The market rewards discipline, not predictions.
Which mindset dominates your trading—Analyst or Trader? Drop a comment below and let’s discuss!
🔹 I’m Skeptic, and my goal is to help traders gain clarity and consistency in their journey. Let’s grow together!
The Power of a Trading Journal: Key to Consistent SuccessHave you ever pondered what distinguishes successful traders from those who struggle for consistent profits? One key tool, often underestimated, is the trading journal. Both research and practical experience demonstrate that traders who diligently track their performance and critically assess their decisions tend to enhance their trading skills and overall results over time. While financial markets can seem erratic, a well-maintained trading journal can provide clarity regarding your trading behavior and highlight areas ripe for improvement.
Understanding the Trading Journal
At its core, a trading journal serves as a comprehensive record of your trades, detailing every decision and its corresponding outcome. However, it goes beyond a mere tally of wins and losses; it acts as a robust instrument for self-reflection and growth. By keeping an organized log, traders can identify recurring patterns, refine their strategies, and cultivate greater discipline in their trading practices. In essence, a trading journal empowers you to track your performance while offering meaningful insights for informed decision-making.
What Constitutes a Trading Journal?
A trading journal is a personalized record of your trading journey designed to document every aspect of your experiences. Unlike a basic transaction log, it encompasses insights into your decisions, emotional states, and strategies, thereby providing an in-depth perspective on your trading habits and performance over time. This journal functions as a roadmap, enabling you to analyze your actions, learn from missteps, and recognize successful patterns to replicate in future trades.
Essential Components of a Trading Journal
1. Trade Details:
Log fundamental information for each trade, including the date, instrument, entry and exit points, position size, and the outcome.
2. Trade Analysis and Rationale:
Capture the reasons behind each trade, such as market analysis, utilized indicators, or significant news events influencing your decision.
3. Emotional Insights:
Document the emotions felt before, during, and after each trade, which will help you identify emotional triggers impacting your decision-making.
4. Results and Lessons Learned:
Reflect on the trade’s outcome and the insights gained. Did it align with your expectations? What could be improved next time?
By consistently maintaining these entries, your trading journal will allow for systematic performance tracking, enabling you to conduct insightful trade analysis and continuously enhance your trading methodology.
The Key Benefits of a Trading Journal
Maintaining a trading journal provides numerous benefits that can significantly elevate your trading performance over time. From honing decision-making skills to fostering emotional discipline, a trading journal is an invaluable asset for anyone committed to enhancing their trading approach.
1. Enhanced Decision-Making:
Analyzing past trades enables you to discern patterns in your decision-making process, both successful and otherwise. You might uncover that certain strategies work better under specific market conditions or that impulsive trades frequently lead to losses. Understanding these patterns grants you valuable insights for making informed, calculated choices in future trades.
2. Improved Emotional Control:
Trading often involves a rollercoaster of emotions, with factors like fear and greed skewing decision-making. Documenting your feelings during trades can help you identify emotional triggers and develop strategies to manage them, maintaining objectivity and preventing emotions from derailing your trading plan. Over time, this fosters emotional control, which is crucial for sustained trading success.
3. Increased Consistency and Discipline:
A trading journal encourages consistency by promoting adherence to your trading plan and strategies. By recording every trade—regardless of its outcome—you cultivate a disciplined mindset that helps you avoid impulsive decisions and maintain a structured approach aligned with your objectives.
How to Establish Your Trading Journal
Creating a trading journal is quite simple; the key lies in selecting the right format and knowing what to document. Follow this guide to set up a journal that effectively tracks your trading performance and identifies growth opportunities.
Selecting Your Format:
1. Digital Applications:
Tools like Evernote, OneNote, or specialized trading journal software offer accessibility, data backup, and automation. Many apps include analytics features for streamlined performance tracking.
2. Spreadsheets:
Utilizing Excel or Google Sheets affords flexibility and customization. You can craft a spreadsheet tailored to your needs, complete with specified fields, formulas, and visualizations.
3. Paper Journals:
For those who prefer a tactile approach, a traditional notebook can suffice. While writing by hand fosters reflection, it lacks digital conveniences like searchable records.
Crucial Information to Record:
To enhance the effectiveness of your trading journal, make sure to include these key data points:
- Entry and Exit Points:
Log the precise times and prices at which trades are entered and exited.
- Position Size and Trade Details:
Note the trade size, instrument, and any pertinent details.
- Motivation for the Trade:
Document the analysis or strategy that influenced your trade decision, whether rooted in technical analysis, fundamental factors, or broader market trends.
- Emotional State:
Record your feelings throughout the trading process to better understand emotional influences.
- Trade Outcome and Lessons:
Reflect on the trade's success and any insights gained, noting what worked well or what didn’t.
Starting a trading journal requires minimal time but can significantly affect your long-term ability to track performance and improve.
Read Also:
Reviewing Your Trading Journal for Growth
A trading journal can only yield benefits if you regularly review and analyze its contents. Consistent reviews enable you to identify patterns, adjust strategies, and enhance your trading acumen.
Setting Review Periods:
Designate time—weekly, biweekly, or monthly—to review your journal. These sessions reinforce your commitment to your goals and reveal areas needing adjustment, ensuring ongoing learning from your trades.
Spotting Patterns and Mistakes:
Analyze your trades for recurring themes. Determine if you consistently act on particular signals or if emotional responses lead to poor decision-making. Acknowledging frequent mistakes marks the first step toward correcting detrimental behaviors.
Implementing Adjustments:
Leverage insights from your journal to modify your trading strategies. If a specific method isn’t yielding results, revise or replace it accordingly. If certain emotional triggers lead to losses, develop coping mechanisms to mitigate their influence.
By committing to regular reviews, you can transform your trading experiences into invaluable lessons that foster better habits and skills.
Read Also:
Maximizing the Benefits of Your Trading Journal
To fully reap the rewards of a trading journal, it's crucial to engage with it effectively. Here are tips to enhance your journaling experience:
1. Maintain Consistency:
Regularly enter details after every trade or at least daily. This practice captures relevant details while they’re recent, building a robust record for analysis.
2. Practice Honesty:
Accurately document both successes and failures. A truthful account allows for clearer insights into areas needing improvement, as self-awareness plays a vital role in progress.
3. Utilize Visuals:
Incorporate charts, graphs, or screenshots to enrich your journal. Visual aids facilitate pattern recognition and provide a more comprehensive understanding of your trading performance.
Read Also:
Conclusion: The Transformative Role of a Trading Journal
A trading journal is an essential tool for any trader pursuing consistent success. By meticulously recording trades, scrutinizing decisions, and learning from both victories and defeats, you can sharpen your skills, master your emotions, and cultivate a disciplined approach to the markets. Beyond merely documenting past trades, a trading journal offers critical insights that can profoundly influence your long-term performance. By consistently utilizing this resource, you can decipher your unique trading habits, refine strategies, and ultimately boost your confidence in decision-making.
✅ Please share your thoughts about this article in the comments section below and HIT LIKE if you appreciate my post. Don't forget to FOLLOW ME; you will help us a lot with this small contribution.
SOLUSD: How to Draw Quarter's Theory LevelsApplying Quarter’s Theory to SOL/USD helps traders identify key psychological price levels where institutional players might step in. With Solana’s volatility, these quarter levels (25%, 50%, 75%, and full dollar increments) act as crucial areas for potential reversals or breakouts.
Current Market Outlook
SOL/USD is currently trading around a major quarter level, signaling a potential shift in momentum. If buyers push above $150, the next logical upside target is $175, while a breakdown could send prices back to $125—both key quarter points.
How to Trade It
Aggressive traders can enter at quarter levels with tight stops, aiming for quick price movements.
Conservative traders should wait for a breakout confirmation and a retest before executing trades.
Renko charts can help filter noise and confirm trend strength, making it easier to spot clean setups.
Is SOL/USD Gearing Up for a Big Move?
With SOL/USD sitting at a crucial level, the next move could be significant. Will we see a drop toward $125, or is a deeper pullback coming? What’s your take? Drop a comment below!
TradingView Telegram Webhook Alert [TradingFinder] No Extra Code🔷 Introduction
In this tutorial, you will learn how to send TradingView alerts automatically and instantly to Telegram without the need for coding. This system is based on the TradingView webhook, which enables receiving trading signals in Telegram channels.
Using this method, you can receive buy and sell signals for Forex, Crypto, and Stocks without any delay. The Telegram alert bot supports real-time TradingView alerts and is compatible with all technical indicators, price-based signals, and Pine Script alerts.
This method allows you to establish a direct and fast connection between TradingView and Telegram without requiring any programming knowledge. Additionally, this tool is free and does not require registration.
In this tutorial, you will first create a Telegram bot to receive trading alerts, then connect the TradingView webhook to Telegram, and finally, learn how to manage trading signals automatically and without delay.
🔷 HOW TO SET UP TRADINGVIEW ALERT WEBHOOK FOR TELEGRAM WITHOUT CODING?
Now, let’s go through the step-by-step process of setting up TradingView alerts to be sent instantly to Telegram using a webhook, without any coding required.
🔶 Step 1: Find BotFather on Telegram
To create a new bot for receiving TradingView alerts, you first need to access BotFather on Telegram.
Open the Telegram app or go to Telegram Web.
In the search bar, type @ BotFather and select the verified BotFather account (as shown in the image).
Click on BotFather to start creating your bot.
This bot will help you generate an API token that is essential for setting up the webhook connection between TradingView and Telegram.
🔶 Step 2: Create a New Telegram Bot Using BotFather
Once you have opened BotFather on Telegram, follow these steps to create your bot :
Click the START button to activate BotFather.
Type /newbot and press Enter to create a new bot.
BotFather will ask you to choose a name for your bot. Enter a unique name (e.g.,Alert TV to Telegram).
Next, you need to choose a username for your bot. It must end with bot (e.g., Alert_TV_bot).
Once the bot is successfully created, BotFather will provide you with a unique API token. This token is essential for connecting your bot to TradingView Webhook. Keep it secure and do not share it with anyone.
🔶 Step 3: Add the Bot as an Admin to Your Telegram Channel
Now that you have created your bot, you need to add it as an admin to your Telegram channel where you want to receive TradingView alerts.
Follow these steps :
Search for your bot in Telegram by typing its username (e.g., @Alert_TV_bot) in the search bar.
Open your bot's profile and click "Start" to activate it.
Create a Telegram channel (or use an existing one) where you want the alerts to be sent.
Open the channel settings and go to Administrators > Add Admin.
Search for your bot using its username and select it.
Grant the necessary permissions :
Enable "Manage Messages" so the bot can send alerts.
(Optional) Enable "Change Channel Info" if you want the bot to update channel details automatically.
Click Save to confirm the changes.
🔶 Step 4: Generate the Webhook URL for TradingView (Public & Private Channels)
To send TradingView alerts to Telegram, you need to generate a Webhook URL. The format of this URL depends on whether you are sending alerts to a public channel or a private channel. Additionally, the message text must be URL Encoded to ensure it is processed correctly.
🔹 Webhook URL for Public Telegram Channels
If your Telegram channel is public, use the following format for your webhook URL :
api.telegram.org
Replace the placeholders with :
→ The API token from BotFather.
→ The username of your public Telegram channel (without the "@" symbol).
→ The URL Encoded alert message.
📌 Example :
If your bot token is 123456789:ABCDefGHIjklmnopQRSTuvwxYZ and your public channel username is TradingAlertsChannel, the webhook URL will be :
api.telegram.org
🔹 Webhook URL for Private Telegram Channels
If your Telegram channel is private, you cannot use a username (@channel_name). Instead, you must use the chat ID.
Follow these steps :
🔸 Step 1: Get the Chat ID of the Private Channel
There are two ways to get your private channel's chat_id :
Method 1: Using @ userinfobot
Forward any message from the private channel to @ userinfobot in Telegram.
The bot will reply with details, including the chat_id (which is a negative number, e.g., -1001234567890).
Method 2: Using Telegram API (getUpdates)
Open a browser and enter the following URL :
api.telegram.org
Replace with your bot’s API token from BotFather.
Press Enter, and you will see a response containing messages, including the chat_id of your private channel.
The chat_id will look something like -1009876543210.
🔸 Step 2: Use the Webhook URL Format for Private Channels
Once you have the chat_id, use the following webhook format :
api.telegram.org
Replace the placeholders with :
→ The API token from BotFather.
→ The numeric chat ID of your private channel (e.g., -1009876543210).
→ The URL Encoded alert message.
📌 Example :
If your bot token is 123456789:ABCDefGHIjklmnopQRSTuvwxYZ and your private channel ID is -1009876543210, the webhook URL will be :
api.telegram.org
🔶 Step 5: Configure Webhook in TradingView Alerts
Now that we have generated the Webhook URL, the next step is to configure TradingView alerts to send real-time notifications to Telegram.
Follow these steps to set up the webhook :
Open the TradingView Alert Settings
•Go to TradingView and open the chart for the asset you want to track (e.g., BTCUSD).
•Click on the Alert (⏰) button at the top of the screen.
•In the alert settings window, go to the "Notifications" tab.
Enable Webhook URL
•Check the box for "Webhook URL" to enable webhook notifications.
•Paste your Telegram Webhook URL into the box.
Example for a public channel :
api.telegram.org
Example for a private channel (with chat ID -1009876543210) :
api.telegram.org
Customize Your Alert Message
Make sure your alert message is URL Encoded (e.g., spaces should be %20).
Example message :
Hello, This is a test alert!
URL Encoded Format :
Hello%2C%20This%20is%20a%20test%20alert%21
Save the Alert
•Click "Save" to activate the TradingView alert.
•Now, whenever the alert condition is met, TradingView will send a message to Telegram via the webhook.
How I am approching scaling my account to the next level💰 Introduction
I have been actively investing for over seven years. When I started in 2017, I had no idea what I was doing. My first trade was a short/mid-term win on an altcoin skyrocketing in a straight line—it felt unbelievable. But the truth was, I was completely clueless.
Still, I was hooked. I started reading everything I could and expanded my focus to stocks and Forex. Six months later, I had developed some ideas about Forex, though I was still lost when it came to stocks. I funded a Forex account with €8,000 to test my skills, using a simple 1:1 risk-to-reward 0.5% per trade system. A few months later, I was up about 15% - a solid start.
From there, my goal was clear: design a great strategy first, then scale it. But things didn’t go as planned.
I suffered a serious injury, which got progressively worse, making it impossible to hold a regular job. I spent everything I had on rent and medical bills. To make matters worse, I stubbornly clung to a terrible strategy for years - even after developing better ones. I ignored huge unrealized gains, constantly chasing the “holy grail” of investing. Ironically, today, I trade every single strategy (or a modified version to add to winners) I’ve ever designed since 2019 - except the one I stubbornly stuck with for years.
Through all this, I learned a crucial lesson:
💡 A strategy should work from day one. You backtest it to verify, then refine it, but you don’t trade it live until it’s ready.
Now, after years of experience, mistakes, and lessons learned, I have several proven strategies and a fresh perspective. The next step? Scaling up aggressively.
Of course, I can’t cover everything in one article, a full book wouldn’t even be enough. Some aspects of growing an account, like tax implications, aren’t discussed here.
But my goal is simple: to inspire investors to think creatively about scalability and strategy development. The process of building an investment strategy - including a scaling plan - is all about creativity.
💰 The Challenge of Scaling: Why Gains Lag Behind Losses
Your gains will always lag behind your losses - this is a fundamental reality in investing. If you scale too fast, your winners from months ago may not be enough to cover your new losses, even if you're performing well overall.
I am not talking about drawdowns, those makes things even worse. I am talking about how looking for asymmetric returns means the time it takes will be asymmetrical too. For mid-term strategies, traders typically risk 1 unit to gain 5, 10, or even 15. However, the time required for returns grows exponentially as reward targets increase. If you're aiming for 10x or more, your losing trades might last only 2–3 days, but your winners could take six months or longer to materialize.
I experienced this firsthand in 2024. I started the year strong, accelerating my risk after solid returns from trading the Yen. Then I hit the gas again, but things turned bad - primarily because I was experimenting with a new strategy alongside my proven ones. In November, I realized a 15x profit on gold, which could have significantly changed my situation. However, I had entered the position back in February, before I began scaling, so the gains didn’t have the impact I needed at the time.
💰 Scaling Only Works for the Few Who Are Ready
Most traders either stagnate or lose, and even the best often learn the hard way early on. You’ve probably heard the common statistic: only 10% of FX investors win, and only 10% of stock investors beat the market. But even within that elite group, only a third outperform significantly enough to consider trading as a full-time career rather than just a supplement for retirement.
From the data I've seen, only about 3% of investors should even consider aggressive scaling. Attempting to scale without a proven track record is a recipe for disaster. Even the most famous market wizards often had to learn the hard way early on.
A good analogy is chess - not everyone is a young prodigy, and even for those who are, it often takes 7–8 years to reach master level. The same applies to investing: skill and experience take time to develop, and rushing the process can lead to avoidable mistakes.
💰 No shortcut but there are ways to increase scalability
A path one might follow is the investment fund. However these are very restrictive, George Soros once said to make money you had to take risk. No matter how good you are you are still subject to the same laws and I know no one that has 100% win rate. If your max drawdown is 5% how much can you realistically risk per operation? Perhaps 0.25% So your 10X winner will be 2.5%. We know the returns, drawdowns and Sharpe ratios of the biggest (and supposedly best) funds, I never heard of a fund with a tiny max drawdown and huge returns except Medallion fund you got me.
The problem I personally have, or shall I say had, is that I can sometimes go 6-12 months without a winner, or with just 1-2. It is spread very non-homogeneously. In the last 3 months I have (finally!) designed a short term strategy that will smooth the curve, I risk 1 to make 5 and have opportunities in all market conditions. I was not even trying to, I just randomly felt creative and went "Eureka".
I am currently running my proven strategies on my main accounts, and the new one on a smaller account - of course I keep winning on these small amounts. This short term strategy might not be my best one, although it might be the second best, however it was exactly what I needed to help smooth the drawdowns and more boring market conditions.
💰 Balancing Creativity and Risk in Scaling Strategies
I believe designing a successful scaling strategy requires a combination of creativity and pessimism. From my experience, it's essential to explore different ways to scale while always keeping the worst-case scenario in mind.
To illustrate this, let’s consider an example - not necessarily the exact approach I will take, but a concept that reflects my thinking. Suppose I allocate €25,000 to a brokerage account and divide it into 25 "tokens" of €1,000 each. Every time the account grows, I would redistribute the balance into 25 equal parts, each representing 4% of the total.
This setup ensures that I always have capital available for new opportunities. Even if I lose 10 times in a row and have 5 tokens tied up in winning trades (or disappointing breakevens), I would still have 10 tokens left to reinvest. Based on my calculations, 25 is the minimum number required for this method to work efficiently. That said, 4% risk per trade is significantly higher than what I have ever risked, and I may adjust it downward.
💰 Risk Management and Personal Goals
If someone were able to triple a €25,000 account each year, they could theoretically reach €2 million in just four years. However, such exponential growth is rare and unsustainable over the long term. Jesse Livermore achieved extraordinary gains - but ultimately lost everything and took his own life. This is a stark reminder that extreme financial risk can have devastating consequences.
I would never attempt this kind of aggressive scaling with essential funds - certainly not with rent money, without a financial cushion, with large amounts, or without a clear Plan B.
My personal objectives:
If investing my own money: My goal is to build a €2M–€3M account while continuing my regular job - possibly reducing to part-time work.
If managing investor funds: I would aim to start with €10M AUM, with at least €500K of my own capital in the fund. My ultimate target is to grow AUM to €100M.
💰 The Crypto Factor : A Different Beast
The extreme volatility combined with long term aspect of crypto makes for a very different experience. In the past it has shown incredible returns, I know this first hand my brother started mining Ethereum I think in 2019 when the price was below $150 I guess and then he has been buying cryptos on the way up, in euros I might add, with the crypto/euro charts looking much better than the USD ones.
But there is no reason why it cannot all go to zero, or crash 95% and remain here for years. And even if the whole crypto market does not crash, several of them die each year. I am not a perma bear I do not wish my younger brother to lose everything, this is all he has, he got no diploma not interesting career.
For crypto to fit in a structured investment strategy I personally would only put small amounts. So it sort of follows the idea of a separate account with huge risk. An amount that one can afford to lose.
💰 Final words
I believe I have the experience, the rigor and the strategies to increase my risk and invest more aggressively. In a near future - maybe starting 2026 - I want to really grow my account.
My scaling will be gradual, I won't jump from an amount to 3 times that in 3 months, I will manage my risk strategically; And before even starting the battle I will have clearly defined objectives.
Gold- To trade or not to trade? High risk environment!!!!!Gold has been on an incredible run, with seven consecutive green weeks and the last three marking all-time highs.
While this might seem like a strong bullish signal, traders must exercise caution. Markets that extend too far in one direction can become unstable, leading to sharp corrections. Whether you're trading TRADENATION:XAUUSD or any other asset, it's crucial to evaluate whether it's the right time to enter a trade—or if it's wiser to stay on the sidelines.
The Dilemma: To Trade or Not to Trade?
One of the biggest mistakes traders make is feeling compelled to be in the market at all times. Trading is not about always having a position but about making high-probability trades at the right time. As the saying goes, "Cash is also a position."
Before entering a trade, ask yourself:
✅ Is the market offering a clear setup?
✅ Are you trading with the trend or trying to catch tops and bottoms?
✅ Does the risk-reward ratio justify the trade?
✅ Are you trading based on logic or emotion?
If you cannot confidently answer these questions, it might be best to wait for a better opportunity.
Why Trading Gold Requires Extra Caution These Days
1️⃣ Extended Rallies Increase Risk
Gold's extended rally means that the market has already moved significantly higher. While it can still go higher, the risk of a pullback increases with every new high. Jumping in late can result in getting caught in a correction.
2️⃣ Market Sentiment is Overheated
When everyone is overly bullish, smart money (institutions and large traders) often starts taking profits. This can lead to sharp sell-offs that wipe out late buyers.
3️⃣ Volatility Can Be Brutal
Gold is known for its large price swings on highs.
If you’re not careful with position sizing and stop losses, you could see your account take a serious hit.
When Should You Consider Trading?
- Look for pullbacks instead of chasing highs – Buying Gold after a reasonable correction is a better approach than buying at extreme levels.
- Wait for price action confirmation – Pin bars, inside bars, or breakouts from consolidation areas can offer better risk-reward opportunities.
- Ensure a favorable risk-reward ratio – A trade should offer at least a 1:2 risk-reward ratio to be worth the risk.
- Align with strong technical levels – Key support zones (e.g., 50-day moving average, Fibonacci retracements, horizontal levels) can provide safer entry points.
Conclusion: Patience Pays in Trading
There’s no need to rush into trades just because a market is moving. Many traders lose money by trying to force trades when conditions are not favorable . Sometimes, the best trade is no trade at all.
Gold’s extended rally calls for extra caution. If you're looking to trade it, wait for a healthy pullback, strong price action confirmation, and proper risk management before entering. Otherwise, staying on the sidelines and waiting for a better setup might be the smartest move.
Disclosure: I am part of Trade Nation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analyses and educational articles.
123 Quick Learn Trading Tips #3: Better turn up the heat123 Quick Learn Trading Tips #3: Better turn up the heat 🔥
Ever wonder why some traders seem to have all the luck? 🤔 They're not just lucky; they've built an iceberg of hard work, discipline, and even failures beneath the surface of their "success." Don't just chase the tip – build your own solid foundation.
Here's what that iceberg looks like in trading:
Hard work: 📚 Studying markets, developing strategies, and always practicing. No shortcuts here! 🚫
Patience: ⏳ Giving up short-term gains for long-term strategies. Don't rush. Good traders wait for the best opportunities.
Risks: 🎲 Take smart trades, not reckless ones. Be brave, but not foolish.
Discipline: 🎯 Follow your trading plan. Don't let your feelings make you change it. Trust what you learned before. Trust your strategy.
Failures: 🤕 Everyone loses money sometimes. Learn from your losses. It's important to get back up and keep going.
Doubts: 😟 Managing emotions and fear is crucial. It's normal to have doubts.
Changes: 🔄 The market always changes. You need to change your strategies too. Be ready to adapt.
Helpful habits: 📈 Consistent analysis and risk management are your bread and butter. Stick to good routines.
Want to build a success iceberg? 🧊
Better turn up the heat 🔥
– it's going to be a long, cold journey beneath the surface.
👨💼 Navid Jafarian
So, stop scrolling through my TESLA pics 🚗 and get back to analyzing those charts! 📊 Your iceberg isn't going to build itself. 😉
The Main Elements of Profitable Trading Strategy (Forex, Gold)
There are hundreds of different trading strategies based on fundamental and technical analysis.
These strategies combine different tools and trading techniques.
And even though, they are so different, they all have a very similar structure.
In this educational article, we will discuss 4 important elements and components every GOLD, Forex trading strategy should have.
What Do You Trade
1️⃣ The first component of a trading strategy is the list of the instruments that you trade.
You should know in advance what assets should be in your watch list.
For example, if you are a forex trader, your strategy should define the currency pairs that you are trading among the dozens that are available.
How Do You Trade
2️⃣ The second element of any trading strategy is the entry reasons.
Entry reasons define the exact set of market conditions that you look for to execute the trade.
For example, trading key levels with confirmation, you should wait for a test of a key level first and then look for some kind of confirmation like a formation of price action pattern before you open a trade.
Above, is the example how the same Gold XAUUSD chart can be perceived differently with different trading strategies.
3️⃣ The third component of a trading strategy is the position size of your trades.
Your trading strategy should define in advance the rules for calculating the lot of size of your trades.
For example, with my trading strategy, I risk 1% of my trading account per trade. When I am planning the trading position, I calculate a lot size accordingly.
Position Management
4️⃣ The fourth element of any trading strategy is trade management rules.
By trade management, I mean the exact conditions for closing the trade in a loss, taking the profit and trailing stop loss.
Trade management defines your actions when the trading position becomes active.
Make sure that your trading strategy includes these 4 elements.
Of course, your strategy might be more sophisticated and involve more components, but these 4 elements are the core, the foundation of any strategy.
❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
Why you should choose your trading period carefullyFirst, let's look at the four most important trading sessions. The Forex and stock market is divided into different trading sessions, which are based on the opening hours of the main financial centers:
Session Opening Hours (UTC) Major Markets:
-> Sydney session 22:00 – 07:00 Australia, New Zealand
-> Tokyo session 00:00 – 09:00 Japan, China, Singapore
-> London session 08:00 – 17:00 UK, Europe
-> New York session 1:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. USA, Canada
Note: Times vary slightly depending on summer or winter time.
Why are trading sessions important?
-> Volatility & Liquidity
Depending on the session, there are different market movements.
High liquidity → tight spreads and better order execution.
Low liquidity → greater slippage and wider spreads.
-> Active currencies & markets
During the Tokyo session, JPY and AUD pairs are particularly active.
During the London session, EUR and GBP pairs are the most volatile.
During the New York session, USD pairs and stock markets moved the most.
Opportunities & risks during overlapping times:
The overlaps between sessions are the most volatile times because several major markets are active at the same time.
1. London-New York Overlap (13:00 – 17:00 UTC)
→ Highest volatility
Why?
The world's two largest financial centers operate at the same time.
Opportunities:
Big price moves → good for breakout traders and scalping.
High liquidity → tight spreads, fast order execution.
Risks:
Extreme volatility → rapid price changes can trigger stop losses.
News (e.g. US jobs data) can cause sudden movements.
Practical example:
A trader is watching EUR/USD and sees strong resistance at 1.1000.
US inflation data will be released at 13:30 UTC.
If the data is better than expected → USD strengthens, EUR/USD falls.
If the data is worse → USD weakens, EUR/USD rises.
Within a few minutes the price can fluctuate by 50-100 pips.
→ Strategy: News traders rely on quick movements, while conservative traders extend stop losses or pause during this time.
2. Tokyo-London Overlap (08:00 – 09:00 UTC)
→ Medium volatility
Why?
London opens while Tokyo is still active.
Opportunities:
JPY pairs (e.g. GBP/JPY) are moving strongly.
Breakouts through the European opening.
Risks:
Sudden changes in direction as European traders often have a different market opinion than Asian ones.
Practical example:
A scalper is trading GBP/JPY in a narrow range of 185.00 – 185.20 during the Tokyo session.
At 08:00 UTC London opens with GBP/JPY breaking above 185.50.
Within 30 minutes the price rises to 186.00 as European traders buy GBP.
If you recognize the breakout early, you can quickly take 50-100 pips.
→ Strategy: Scalpers rely on quick entries and take profits before volatility subsides.
3. Sydney-Tokyo Overlap (00:00 – 07:00 UTC)
→ Low volatility
Why?
Mainly the Asian market is active.
Opportunities:
Less volatility → good for range trading.
Cheaper spreads for AUD and NZD pairs.
Risks:
Little liquidity → Slippage may occur.
Strong moves are rare, except for major news from Japan or Australia.
Practical example:
A swing trader notes that AUD/USD has been fluctuating between 0.6500 and 0.6550 for days.
During the Sydney-Tokyo session the price mostly stays in this range.
The trader places a sell limit order at 0.6550 and a buy limit order at 0.6500.
Since there is little volatility, it can be profitable with multiple small trades.
→ Strategy: Range trading is ideal because no major breakouts are expected.
Conclusion:
Each trading session has its own characteristics, opportunities and risks.
The crossovers are the most volatile times - good for day traders, but risky for inexperienced traders. Anyone who understands the market mechanisms can take targeted action at the right time. The strategies mentioned above are simply derivations from the advantages and disadvantages of the respective sessions. Of course, a well-founded strategy concept requires much more.
PLR (Path of Least Resistance) Strategy Explanation - $SHOPHi guys this is a follow up to a post I have just published about my trading idea on shorting NYSE:SHOP ,
It really doesn't matter if you want to short the market or long the market as it works either way, but for the sake of the example I'll take a 6 months period from the Shopify chart following earnings to better explain you my strategy...
This right here is the NYSE:SHOP chart from approx. Jan/2024 to end of Aug/2024,
2 Earnings have been announced, both having great positive surprises, but regardless of the positive surprise (typically bullish indicator), the stock fell of 45%+.
Let's add the earnings dates to the chart so that you can better visualize them:
What you care about in this image is the earnings dates lined out, as you can see the surprise was positive yet both fell more than 10% in just a day, that I will take as the upcoming trend for at least the time being, till the next earning is announced (so, if for example the 13/Feb earning ended up being bearish, my overview on the market till at least the next earning on 8/May, will be bearish, so all of the trades I will take will be shorts).
Now I will line out the trend and the BoSs (breaks of structure) just to better visualize the trend:
As you can see the Earning date candles signed the beginning of a down trend twice, pre-announced by the Earning candle itself.
The entry strategy is now simple, the idea behind it is to "follow the path of least resistance".. by that I mean that, if your bias is bullish, who enter on candles that are of the opposite direction to the one you are heading to? - Sure you might say that it is to get better entries as ofc, on a short bias, higher sale points = better profits, but the goal here is not maximizing profits, but raising the odds exponentially so that you can take surer trades.
I've tested this strategy from Feb/2021 and so far the win rate is 95.6% (123 out of 136 trades profited .
The way the entries are spread is this:
Basically every time a bearish candle - that closes lower than the previous bearish candle did - is created, a short position of 1% of total equity is generated.
The period begins from the beginning of the current earnings season, and closes the day before the next earnings season as it works within a 3 months frame.
Each entry HAS to be the lowest bearish candle of the period, example:
Only these candles marked in blue count as entries for short positions as their close is lower of more than 0.5% than the previous one,
The pink ones are higher than the lowest up to that point, so they do not count as entries as they are technically part of a pullback that is moving in the opposite direction where you are heading.
So, going back to the entries, we enter on the close of the lowest bearish candle close up to that point.
For safety, we trail the stop loss to the previous high, this is where well defined trend lines come handy:
The thick black line is the trend line, and as new lows are broken, I mark those as BoS (break of structure) and until a new one is created, the SL will go to the previous high, and so it goes.
(viceversa for buys).
We then proceed to target the FVGs left behind by previous quarters:
As you can see there are massive gaps in the chart that we will target and identify as FVGs (Fair Value Gaps) and set the TP at the close (lowest point) of the fair value gap.
Now comes in your exit strategy...
There really are 3 ways that you can tackle this:
1- You set up TP to the lowest FVG of the series (if there are multiple like in this case)
2- You set up TP to the first FVG still open during the quarter following the Earnings Period
3- You tackle both TPs and take each FVG as a partial close to the position (example: if there are 2 FVGs you take out 50% of the position on the first and 50% on the last).
But what to do if your positions didn't reach TP (FVG close) before the next Earning or there is no FVG to begin with???
- In the case the TP you have marked out at the close of the FVG didn't reach, you'll proceed to close the position 1 day before the next Earnings is coming, unless your conviction that the FVG will fill in is so high, then you can let those run at your own risk:
- In the case in which a FVG is not present then you'll target the previous High (in case of a buy) or Low (in case of a sell) as your TP, utilize the previous low (in case of buy) or previous high (in case of sell) as SL and just let it run:
as you can see the 4 trades were all profitable, made little money but sure money in just 15 days
Unless I forget anything, this right here, is my strategy.
Simple, straight forward, high success rate and doesn't leave anything up to the case.
If you have any questions PLEASE leave a comment below and I'll do my best to reply in time ;)
Different Types of W Patterns and How to Trade ThemHello dear KIU_COIN family 🐺 .
Recently, I decided to provide some educational content for you, my dear audience, and introduce some essential and basic trading terms.
Here’s what you should know: In these lessons, we will cover three different seasons:
🔹 Season 1: Reversal and continuation patterns.
🔹 Season 2: How to use RSI and other indicators to find good entry points.
🔹 Season 3: Definitions of Fibonacci and seasonality in trading.
Stay tuned for valuable insights! 🚀
✅ For the first section of 🔹 Season 1 , I’ll be covering W patterns— a well-known bullish reversal pattern :
As you can see in the chart above, we usually have three types of W recovery patterns , which are the most important ones for us. However, in this section, we just want to get a general understanding of them. In the upcoming section, we will learn how to trade them and explore how they actually appear on the chart and the story behind them !
✅ This is the first and most common type of W pattern:
✅ This is the second type of W pattern:
✅ This is the third type of W pattern:
Ok, guys; I think this is enough for today, and I hope you enjoyed this educational content. However, don't forget to ask your questions below and support me with your likes and follows for more of this content. 🐺🔥
Making money in a downtrend - J is WILDI chose J as my public idea for the day for a lot of reasons
-it’s my best idea of the day (it’s #11 on my composite score list)
-covering a span of over 1800 trades (real and backtested), it has an AVERAGE gain of 2.9%.
-the 1 “losing” trade in all 1800+ was a signal from yesterday which I will boldly predict will become profitable too.
-it has a per day held average gain of over 3x that of the S&P500 over those 1800+ trades
-it’s right at support and has some more support further down both from previous highs and an unbroken uptrend line going back over 18 months
-it has a track record of rebounding nicely after earnings “disappointments”
-it’s trading in the middle of its 6 month range
But I also chose it to illustrate a point about the way I trade, and it’s one that is very relevant and about to become more relevant, I think. When the market starts to show weakness, people get scared of trading long. And I get that - it’s a valid concern. It’s easier to make money in an uptrend - that’s why so many people who have traded NVDA over the last 2 years think they are amazing traders. Rising tides lift ALL boats, even leaky ones. But making money in ANY environment is the difference maker.
J is down a little over 11% in the last 3 months or so. It is in the middle of a legitimate Wall Street definition of a correction. I am not picking the bottom here, or even trying to. That’s the point. I don’t care if this is the bottom. It’d be great if it was, but it doesn’t matter. Now I’m not saying my algo is the greatest thing ever (though it might be for me), but the WAY I use it is significant and it illustrates something ANYONE can do when a stock or markets are trending lower.
During this correction, my algo has signaled 14 LONG trades, including today. 12 have been closed profitably and one was the long signal yesterday (#14 was today). Full disclosure: I didn’t actually trade that signal yesterday, but I am today. The average gain on the 13 prior to today (including yesterday's "loser"), DURING A CORRECTION, is +0.9%.
Not only does it win, but it wins consistently even when stocks are trading lower. The key is as much how/when I exit as it is the algo and its entry signals. As soon as a lot is end of day profitable, it is gone. I don’t care how much I’ve made, it’s gone. And that is a secret to making money long during a downtrend. It helps a lot that my entry signals are good ones, but the key is GET OUT WITH A PROFIT.
Don’t let the market take its money back. It’s the same thing casinos try to do when you win and they have the edge - keep you playing so they can get their money back. I trade the same way in uptrends too. That leaves some money on the table then, but I take it back on the way down when I’m making money instead of losing it - and you can too. The method I use works in almost every situation, on almost any stock. But its shining moment is when things are going downhill. Not just because it makes money, but because I don’t worry about timing and downtrends much any more.
Some slides can get annoying under the right circumstances, but I don’t worry. This technique has worked in every major market downtrend in the last 50 years. Except for stocks that go to zero, it works on stocks in corrections or bear markets, though at a certain point even it will lose money (I’ll be posting an idea involving NVDA in that regard sometime relatively soon).
But relatively small losses are easily regained, especially if the win rate is high (which it obviously is here). The key is avoiding the BIG losses and this technique does that very well.
So I went long at the close at 132.19. Per my usual strategy, I'll add to my position at the close on any day it still rates as a “buy” and I will use FPC (first profitable close) to exit any lot on the day it closes at any profit.
As always - this is intended as "edutainment" and my perspective on what I am or would be doing, not a recommendation for you to buy or sell. Act accordingly and invest at your own risk. DYOR and only make investments that make good financial sense for you in your current situation.
PROFIT & LEARN: NEWS TRADING (MY VIEWS) Introduction:
“Hello, traders! Welcome back to ‘Profit and Learn.’ Today, we’re diving into a fascinating topic: how markets can move contrary to news. It’s a common misconception that positive news always leads to positive market movements. Let’s explore why this isn’t always the case.”
Main Content:
“Markets often price in expected news ahead of time. This means that by the time the news is released, the market has already reacted. Media and PR play a significant role in shaping sentiment, often creating a disconnect between actual news and market reactions. For instance, positive news can sometimes lead to a market drop due to profit-taking or because the news was already expected.”
Case Study:
“Let’s look at a recent example with USD/JPY. Despite all news items coming out positive, USD/JPY made a strong move downward. This can happen when markets have already priced in the positive news, or when traders take profits, causing a reversal.”
Key Takeaways:
“Always understand market psychology. Don’t rely solely on news headlines. Consider the bigger picture and broader market context before making trading decisions.”
Conclusion:
“Thanks for tuning in! Remember, successful trading requires a holistic approach. Stay informed, stay cautious, and happy trading!”