Being wrong is OK, but let's not carry it to extremes. That applies to everything, but let's limit our discussion here to the stock market.
I have been trading for several decades and was an exchange memebr and floor trader for 17 years. You learn fast there or you go broke in a hurry. As you can see I managed to hold my own for a few years until I found the secret and started to become a successful trader. Every professional trader I know knows the one great secret and that is to keep your losses small.
We all learned that when we took a position - either long or short - that we better be able to jump out if the trade was not going our way. Many of my friends were scalpers. That means they were trading for just a few ticks and every night went home flat. Flat is no positions at all.
Others, myself included, took a longer look and planned to hold a position for a period of time. That could be several days or weeks. If you were right the longer you held on the more money you would make.
The general public seems think that exchange members know everything and always made money. Tain't so. Many traders were wrong more than 50% of the time. Huh? Yes, fifty percent. My account had losses 40% of the time and 20% were scratch trades (neither winners nor losers).
You ask, "If you are out of the money 60% of your trades how can you make money?" This is what every professional knows: Keep your losses small and let your profits run. How many times have you heard that one? BUT how many times have you ignored that rule?
At the end of the year when you analyze your trades you find that you made $3.00 for each $1.00 you lost you will show a nice big profit.
I don't care what business you are in you don't put your whole wad on a single outcome and stick with it until it either works or go broke. That is what brokers and mutual fund managers want you to do. They want you to buy, but never sell.
It is a tragedy for the small investor today that mutual fund families are putting in selling restrictions to discourage investors from dumping funds that are headed down. Many require long holding periods and if you sell prior to that time they charge an extra fee of 2%. They give lame excuses that I know are not true for doing this. Never buy any fund or trade with any brokerage company that has that kind of rule.
It is cheaper to pay the 2% or whatever fee there is and get out than hang around and lose 20% to 40% of your equity. Look back at 2000 to 2003. This can happen again despite what your broker tells you.
Be wrong and run home with most of your money. You still have enough to invest in a better opportunity. If you are disciplined to get out of any bad situation early you will end up a rich person.
Al Thomas' book, "If It Doesn't Go Up, Don't Buy It!" has helped thousands of people make money and keep their profits with his simple 2-step method. Read the first chapter at http://www.mutualfundmagic.com and discover why he's the man that Wall Street does not want you to know.
Copyright 2005
elite cleaning services Des Plaines ...The bulls and bears of the stock market are both... Read More
Just 30 years ago the stock market was a shadow... Read More
Has your broker been calling you recently with the "great... Read More
Have you seen all those big full page ads for... Read More
I am sure that if you have a brokerage account... Read More
It looks like the market is ready to start up... Read More
We keep hearing about this bear market and that the... Read More
As one of my regular readers you know I have... Read More
If you have been dealing with mutual funds for any... Read More
Now where have I heard that before? I know. It... Read More
If you go to Haiti or other places in the... Read More
Professional stock options traders use the term lean to refer... Read More
Where is the beef? Or maybe it should be where... Read More
I don't know what kind it is, but I saw... Read More
I was recently interviewed for a press release through a... Read More
We are already in it, but you can't see it.... Read More
A PEG ratio cannot be used alone but is a... Read More
Everyone who follows the financial news has heard of mutual... Read More
What is leverage?Here is a definition of leverage from an... Read More
According to Investopedia Inc. the penny stock market has seen... Read More
I mean it when I say that. While plastic silverware... Read More
You have decided to buy some stock or mutual funds,... Read More
A few years back ? it seems like an eternity... Read More
Mutual funds were created with the idea that one person... Read More
Unfortunately, most of you who are reading my column are... Read More
experienced cleaning professionals Lake Forest ...Let's go into the details of why non-indexed mutual funds... Read More
Disclaimer: Please note that I do not necessarily purchase, own,... Read More
Well, not really. What I mean is I don't mind... Read More
Recently I was invited to appear on a live CNNfn... Read More
Every day I see in the financial section of newspapers... Read More
How do you make money without picking tops and bottoms?I... Read More
You probably have been told that options are risky. Even... Read More
On the 40 year journey through the turmoil of a... Read More
Just 30 years ago the stock market was a shadow... Read More
Mutual funds were moderately successful in creating a presence in... Read More
If you are fed up with early redemption charges and... Read More
This is the continuing story of our two imaginary traders,... Read More
The debate rages all over Eastern and Central Europe, in... Read More
When the stock market is going up and all your... Read More
Did you run out to buy that duct tape yet?... Read More
Every broker and financial planner will tell you that you... Read More
Should the market turn against you, it is important that... Read More
If you've ever flipped on the television to CNN Financial... Read More
Mutual funds and brokers are always preaching not to buy... Read More
When most analysts, financial planners, fund specialists and investors try... Read More
It has fallen upon the consumer to make our economy... Read More
Most people think the stock market is a zero sum... Read More
The single most expensive stock market trades are those made... Read More
I don't know what kind it is, but I saw... Read More
In today's volatile and confusing stock markets everyone is searching... Read More
Stocks & Mutual Fund |