When selecting a trading system, first try to paper trade it. You need to paper trade your trading system to get the bugs out. Paper trading is not a substitute for live trading but still you can assume that 75% of the results that you achieve in demo trading can be replicated in live trading. Try Netpicks forex signal service. Understand forex charts. Develop your own forex trading system.
Use the results of these paper trades to calculate your win ratio and payoff ratio. These two figures are highly important to know for any trading system. Determine what your personal win ratio and payoff ratio are in using that trading system over time.
Now in the case of a successful trader, it takes three to tango here. The trading system, your money management system and you yourself, all three of you have to gel together. The more profitable you will be over time, the stronger and more developed the relationship is between the three of you.
These numbers are required in developing a sound money management plan that will work hand in hand with that trading system. What can be the best parameters to selecting your trading system? When selecting your trading system, use these five parameters:
1) The trading system is analytical. Trade entries in the trading system are defined by market price activity, key support and resistance levels, volume and volatility dynamics and not on random and spontaneous decisions.
2) The initial stop loss exit is determined before entering your trade.
3) Just like the trade entries, the trading system determines the trade exits by market price activity, key support and resistance levels, volume and volatility dynamics and fundamental rules, not on any arbitrary dollar loss that you feel comfortable with.
4) Your trading system has been adequately paper traded or live traded and you have determined your personal statistical performance. You need to know your win ratio and the payoff ratio.
Do not rely on the results that the other got with that trading system. Use the actual results that you attained while using that trading system in calculating your win ratio and the payoff ratio.
Again do not delude yourself by thinking that computer back testing can give you your win ratio or payoff ratio. Do not try to rely on computer back tested results. Your personal performance results are the real results that matter. You cannot depend on computer results and other trader’s results.
5) This is very important. Your trading rules should be written out step by step in sequence so that the entries and exits are consistent, clear and above all quantifiable. This makes your trading mechanical and emotions free.
One perfect example of a rule based trading system is the Turtle Trading System. This system was developed for the commodities futures market.
The story of Turtle trading rules is very interesting. The creators of that trading system had a discussion one day. One was of the opinion that great traders are born. The other said great traders can be made.
Both had a bet. Advertisements were placed in the Wall Street Journal and the Barrons. A number of completely new traders were selected to teach them those rules and see if they could become successful traders. Many succeeded with this trading system and became highly successful traders.
I start with a warning that is issued by the National Futures Association, and is actually very sound advice.
Never trade with money that if lost would adversely affect your life
One of the great dangers of this business is that over the years some rather unscrupulous people have portrayed foreign currency trading as a very lucrative way to turn a modest sum of money into a fortune with ease….If only you had their training or their system. “It’s like having your own personal ATM machine”, and other such outlandish claims of riches with ease
In fact I originally entered the Forex arena with just such beliefs.
The reality is that trading foreign currencies is far from easy and is not best suited to everyone. Whilst it is possible to make a lot of money relatively quickly, it is also possible to lose part or all of your investment with the same speed.
Most people who are highly successful in any endeavour start off with a desire to do the work. As their knowledge of the subject grows, and their passion for the subject intensifies, they find that their level of success also increases.
It is rare indeed for anyone to achieve success in any field if all they entered that enterprise for was easy money.
The only way to attempt to turn a modest sum of money into a large amount very quickly is to take some very big risks – not at all what forex trading is really about. If you want to take some hefty risks, then it might be far better to go to the roulette wheel and place all of your money on Red or Black and then cross your fingers.
I am not trying to persuade anyone to not trade the forex market, but I do want you to be aware that there is considerable risk regardless of what forex trading system you may decide to use.
On the upside, you can practice trading with a demo account which is funded with “virtual money” and practice the craft in simulated real conditions. The charts will be live and real time and you can win or lose your “virtual money” in exactly the same way as if you were forex trading for real, except that at the end of each forex trading session you have actual not put any of your real money at risk.
By practicing in this way, every “would be” forex trader has the opportunity to see first-hand whether forex trading would be suitable for them using a forex system, and bear in mind that one’s own personality, emotional control and level of self discipline will have a major impact on the way that one trades.
The secret to success in this business is to have a solid and reliable system that you have learned to trust. Then you must follow it to the letter through both wins and losses, using strict money management principles, knowing that the system, over time, generally produces more and bigger wins than losses.
Forget much of the nonsense that you may hear in the forums about setting goals of “just10 pips a day” etc., forex trading does not necessarily work in that way. The market moves with no respect whatsoever for your goal.
You have to learn to take what is on the table, and at exactly what point in the move. Some days there will be lots of profit to be made. Some days there will not be much profit. Some days the market will take YOUR money. Some days will be NO TRADE days and you will need to have the discipline and emotional control to sit and wait and smile through them all. For all of these types of days are what go to make up a traders working life.
Forex trading can be one of the most rewarding business activities on the planet. It has all the elements of high success and high failure. It is demanding and has an above average level of risk which all adds to the appeal. But it is not a business to jump into with your life savings clutched in your hand and a burning desire to be rich.
If you have a couple of thousand dollars in cash and a family to feed and the car needs fixing and the rent or mortgage is due – Then it is highly likely that the forex markets will just part you from your money.
In fact one of the biggest reasons for failure in this business is an under-funded trading account coupled with an urgent need to make some fast cash.
If you have a few thousand dollars or more put aside that if lost would not adversely affect you or your family, and if you have the time and inclination to learn how to trade first, then you may be able to turn that money into a worthwhile sum……..OVER TIME. In that case, forex trading might be the line of investment business for you. Remember though!!! There are no guarantees of success in this business.
RSS FEED