I received this email from a new trader disappointed. I chuckled when I read it. Man have I felt like this trader like every year of my career 🙂 I really got my a$$ handed to me the last two days. I think they are my two worst trading days in terms of net PnL. I basically gave back all … Read More
Trading is not that important
I received this email from an old friend and SMB reader. Â It puts every losing trade, underperforming month, and “bad day” in perspective. Suddenly all my trading worries have vanished. It doesnt matter how much money I am up or down or how I’m going to find my next One Good Trade. Funny how having a doctor telling you that … Read More
Is it time to quit trading?
Hey Bella, I’m a longtime reader of the SMB blogs. Trading from a home office, I miss out on all of the trading floor banter that I had when I was starting out. It is good to “connect” with other traders, even if it is only virtual. I read your book One Good Trade, while I was on Christmas vacation … Read More
What is your “move on” trading rule?
I received this review from a mentee after the close: Positives: traded well with the market. basically didn’t get short other than in-play stocks at the Open, didn’t have a short trade after 10:15 when the market established a clear uptrend. would add scalping lots to take advantage of small market leg-ups. good comeback after being down 120 on the … Read More
A Way to Find More A+ Trades
I received an end-of-the-year review from a trainee and his list of goals for 2012. It’s a great exercise for every trader and one that is supervised by our floor manager for our trainees. While reading one this norning I stumbled upon an important trading point that we have discussed some, many misunderstand, and might be able to improve your … Read More
What is your giveback rule?
Yesterday in a daily trading review a trainee wrote with disgust about giving back too much of his early profits. I really hate what I did today… basically gave back 90% of my net on the day by trading like a jackass. It just started with one bad trade and snowballed into a few more, and before I knew it, … Read More
A Conversation With Young Small Cap
This is a conversation I had today with a trainee about doing better in non-small-cap stocks. This mentee had previous success with small cap stocks while in college. During an end of the year review he made some observations and wanted to discuss them with me. Young Small Cap is an example of the very best of the people I … Read More
How do you develop conviction as a trader?
Hey Bella, I’m a relatively new trader as I’ve been trading for a little over a year now. The best plays that have the highest win-ratio for me are scalp plays. My question is, how do you know when you have enough conviction to act to execute, or consider executing, a trade on a specific stock? I understand every trader … Read More