Markets don’t sleep. But you do. And like all traders on earth, you go to sleep innocently, hoping with every good intention that once your head hits the pillow, the world economy will behave itself until you’re back at your trading screens. It’s not too much to ask, but the markets are rarely so accommodating. […]

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Being a successful trader involves more than just picking entry and exit points. There are emotional challenges (such as fear and greed) and mental hurdles (such as the need for discipline and perseverance). Beyond computer screens, chart analysis, and trading strategies, consider building healthy habits to help you form a solid foundation for trading success. […]

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Sometimes the best starting point for a trading system or even a general approach to the markets is to look within. No matter what your trading style, the way you manage stress could make a difference in your profit and loss. Last week we talked about three lifestyle factors that traders can control. This week, […]

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The number one question I get asked when it comes to the stock market is: “What does it take to be a good trader?” There’s no single right answer to this question, but in my mind, the most important trait of a successful trader is the ability to honestly assess strengths and weaknesses. Then he […]

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Let’s take a look at a psychology mistake many of us fall into in the stock market and in our personal lives—something we should seek to minimize or even eliminate. This nemesis is confirmation bias. Confirmation bias can be complex and nuanced, but for our purposes, we’ll define it as determining whether an action or […]

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It’s said that the human brain has as many as 100 billion neurons, each of which is capable of firing up to 200 times per second. That’s a lot of information flowing through our craniums. It’s no wonder, then, that we sometimes go on autopilot, making decisions and even acting without thinking. When the results […]

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In his 1905 book The Life of Reason, George Santayana, a Spanish philosopher, wrote the famous phrase, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Although Santayana was not a trader, his words should be taken to heart by anyone who attempts to extract profits from the markets. All you have to […]

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Let’s face it. We’re living (surviving) the era of “all about me.” We post pictures of our gourmet scrambled eggs. We tweet urgent thoughts about the perfect dog groomer. Yup. Narcissism on steroids. Except in one area. When veteran traders lose money on a trade, that self-involved bullhorn is nowhere in sight. A trader might […]

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Developing a trading style consistent with your personality may be an important factor in trading success. After all, there are a variety of trading approaches and many ways to potentially make money in the financial markets. Because there is no one “holy grail,” different approaches may work better for different people. I Got “Cheetah,” How […]

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We’ve all heard the old saying: practice makes perfect. Just like athletes who hone their skills on a daily basis, traders can, too. However, many traders don’t practice their strategies and methods at all. Have you fallen prey to the idea that if there isn’t money on the line, it’s not worth doing? Nothing could […]

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