Learn from your mistakes

“The single most important advice I can give anybody is: Learn from your mistakes. That is the only way to become a successful trader.”

David Ryan

Make it a habit to review all your trades once a month. Notice where you entered and ask yourself why did you initiated such a position. What was the underlying reason behind your move. Was it pure emotional reaction or strictly following a plan. What were your exit rules and how well did they help you to preserve capital and maximize profits. No other exersize will teach you more about your weaknesses and strengths.

Bottom fishing

I never try to buy a bottom or sell a top. Even if you manage to pick the bottom, the market can end up sitting there for years and tying up your capital. You don’t want to have a position before a move has started.”

Randy McKay


Cut your losses short, no questions asked

The majority of unskilled investors stubbornly hold onto their losses when the losses are small and reasonable. They could get out cheaply, but being emotionally involved and human, they keep waiting and hoping until their loss gets much bigger and costs them dearly.”

William O’Neil

The key to trading success is emotional discipline. If intelligence were the key, there would be a lot more people making money trading… I know this will sound like a cliche, but the single most important reason that people lose money in the financial markets is that they don’t cut their losses short.”

Victor Sperandeo

Some people say, “I can’t sell that stock because I’d be taking a loss.” If the stock is below the price you paid for it, selling doesn’t give you a loss; you already have it.

William O’Neil

When I became a winner I went from ‘I figured it out, therefore it can’t be wrong’ to ‘I figured it out, but if I’m wrong, I’m getting the hell out, because I want to save my money and go on to the next trade.'”

Marty Schwartz