There are a number of ways to trader can go about gaining self-knowledge. I want to describe four important sources in this article: assessment instruments, reflective journals, traders mastermind and a trading coach. Each of these can offer important insights into your trading practice, and I recommend that traders use each of these for their […]
Tag: retirement
Profitable ETF Trading Strategies: can I make a living as a mechanical trader?
The short answer is: no, you cannot make a living as a mechanical trader. In fact, you cannot make a living as any kind of trader, mechanical or otherwise. This doesn’t mean that you are a bad person or stupid or somehow lack the qualities needed to be a success in life. It is simply […]
Profitable ETF Trading Strategies: is mechanical trading right for me?
Clearly, when you are considering whether or not a particular trading strategy is appropriate for you it comes down to bottom line performance. Can you, in fact, execute the trading strategy according to the rule sets as defined? In this sense it doesn’t matter whether your system is purely mechanical or discretionary or combination of […]
Profitable ETF Trading Strategies: living with normal fears
In other articles I have considered the usefulness of selecting metaphors to help you place your trading plan in context. Metaphors are powerful devices for focusing your mind in helping provide context for complex behavior in situations where consistency and forceful action are often the critical components of success. In this article I want to […]
Profitable ETF Trading Strategies: understanding the evolutionary brain
Sociobiologists describe the formative years in the development of the human brain as the era of evolutionary adaptation. This was a period of hundreds of thousands and even millions of years in which the law of natural selection shaped and molded our brains into the marvelous workings of the adaptation that we now enjoy. Unfortunately […]
Profitable ETF Trading Strategies: the power of “no lose” trading
The ability to manage your emotions at a comfortable level is a decided advantage for any trader to have in the market. It takes a live focused attention and energy and commitment to offset the hardwiring of the millions of years of evolution that shaped our evolutionary brain. A very powerful technique in the battle […]
Profitable ETF Trading Strategies:trading through the metaphorical lens of combat
In other articles I have considered the usefulness of selecting metaphors to help you place your trading plan in context. Metaphors are powerful devices for focusing your mind in helping provide context for complex behavior in situations where consistency and forceful action are often the critical components of success. In this article I want […]
Profitable ETF Trading Strategies: mastering the execution phase
Successful military operations are characterized by high performance execution of a detailed plan that has been well-prepared and thoroughly rehearsed. The principles that govern military success on a complex, uncertain Battlefield can be successfully applied to improve your trading practice. In other articles I have examined the phases of planning and preparation in greater […]
Profitable ETF Trading Strategies: the preparation phase of trading
Successful military planners for years have employed a three phase approach to battlefield success. By organizing their battle space and time into the phases of: Plan, Prepare and Execute, military planners have established a history of success. This mental model can be applied directly to improve your trading practice. Each of these phases deserves attention […]
Profitable ETF Trading Strategies: the operations order format of structured trading
The military’s five paragraph field order is a template for trading success. By adapting this powerful template, you will have an outline of required information to ensure that your plan is complete. The five sections are: situation, mission, execution, support, command and control. Let’s take a quick look at the contents of each of these […]