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Showing posts with label investment training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label investment training. Show all posts

Monday, August 10, 2009

You MUST Manage Your Risks To Win

If you want to stay alive long term as an investor, trader, or even in business, you MUST learn to manage your risk!

In business that might be your expenses, or knowing how much you will spend on advertising (especially with untested sources). You keep track of things so that you don't keep throwing good money after bad. In other words, if you track your advertising results (which you MUST do), and a certain campaign is not working - you scrap it and try something else. For those ad ideas that are working, you keep doing them, and stop when they quit being effective.

For those of us involved in index trading (or any type of market trading for that matter), it is even more simple. We MUST know before we go into a trade, how much we are willing to risk or lose on it to see if it works. Even if we are going to average, we still need to calculate it out. How many times will we average, what is my max loss. Once you know that figure, it may determine how many times you can average (place additional orders to improve your entry point).

The market may change and dictate that we get out early, but it MUST never dictate how big our loss will be. In other words, we NEVER let a small loss turn into a big one. It would be like throwing money away on advertising that does not work.

Most folks (especially those who have been ingrained with the buy and hold mentality) keep holding losing trades until they become catastrophic losses. A huge losing trade that wipes out their account (or 50% or more of it - which is exactly what happened to most stock investors with the mortgage meltdown fiasco).

Learn to keep your losses small and be ready to trade another day. Some traders shut down if they have two losing trades in a row (some days, you are just not in the zone!).


Risk To Reward Ratios

Most "experts" will tell you to calculate the risk-to-reward ratio before you get into a trade or investment. In my opinion, they are almost impossible to calculate. My first rule of trading is that in the market "Anything Can Happen at Any Time". So how will you know what a trade could do or what the potential reward is? Whose formula will you use to calculate it?

I've heard "experts" claim you need at least a 2 to 1, others say a 3 to 1, or even a 5 to 1 or better reward ratio, or you should NEVER even open the trade! That simply means that you should not enter a trade unless you can make double the money you may ultimately lose on it (for a 2 to 1 ratio). While it is a good idea in theory, it would keep me out of a lot of really good trades (for one thing, I know that nobody can be sure what the market will do - anything can and does happen).

While you should be looking for highly probable moves that have the potential to turn into NICE runs, the truth is, you NEVER know what is going to happen. I've seen traders take losses on trades that were once in profit simply because they were holding out until some arbitrary reward ratio was met.

We teach our traders to get into a highly probably move and then lock in some profit and see what happens! Once you have nothing to lose (by locking in some profit), and a HUGE potential upside, you can't really go wrong. As traders we should WANT to be in that position as often as possible. Sometimes we even get our targets out of the way and let the winning trade RUN! Forget about holding onto a trade until some calculated ratio is reached.

On any chart you look at there are floors and ceilings that are easy to see. You must take note of them and trade according to what "might" happen. However, if you lock in profit as soon as you can, you will be way ahead of the guy that is looking for some magical reward ratio.

Calculate How Much You Will Earn

Just as important as calculating your max loss on any one trade, is knowing when to shut down for the day. A daily profit goal can help. It can also help you to formulate your plan for trading.

It would be good if your max loss was less than your daily goal, then one loss would not ruin your day.

Sure, there will be days when you don't reach your goal, but there will be days when you surpass it, because you stuck to your plan, and locked in profit when you had a chance. Many days I have several little trades, and then one nice run and I'm done.

An Advanced Move

This is not for beginners. New traders should get in and take whatever the market is offering by locking in profit as mentioned above. However, once you account size has grown, it opens up more options for you, like the move I'm about to describe.

Let's say your goal is $1,000 a day in your trading. For this example, let's say you are trading the mini-DOW (my favorite index). The mini-Dow is worth $5 per tick. So, if you start with 10 contracts, you would need 20 ticks to get to your goal of a grand for the day (we will ignore the broker commissions since they are really small anyway).

First, you look for the highly probable set up you want. When it appears, you open the trade with 10 contracts. If it moves 20 ticks in your favor, you are done. However, if it moves against you (a back tick), you average up to 20 contracts (by adding 10 more contracts to your trade at a new entry point). Now with 20 open you will need just 10 ticks to get to $1,000. If you average up to 40 you will need just 5 ticks. If you go up to 80 you will need 2.5 ticks.

Again, to pull this move off, you would have to have the DEEP pockets required. You could do the same thing with a $100 daily goal and starting out with 1 contract. In either case you MUST have the risk calculated. At some point you could use averaging to get to your acceptable loss level.

Risk-to-reward traders would probably never do this move. However, if you have the experience, and account size it is fairly easy to do. Some days you could be through in a few seconds.

Whatever style of trading or business is right for you, learn to calculate your max loss on any one deal, and you will be MILES ahead of most folks who never think in these terms. Remember, you MUST manage risk to win at anything!

**********************************************

Doug West has taught hundreds of folks to pull from $100 to $1,000 or more daily from the markets, and you can too. Learn to make short-term trades and you will never have to second-guess the bulls and bears. Just learn to take what it gives you with his simple and easy to understand course on Index Trading

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Is the Recession Over?

Newsweek announced yesterday that the Recession is Over! Are they right? Find out in our latest edition of OIO & how to cash in either way. And don't miss our OI Radio show today where you will hear:

The 7 Things You Must Do to Thrive in This Economy

as we interview Mark Monchek of PerformXcellence. To tune in go to:

http://opportunityinvestigator.com

and click on the Radio Show link at the top of the page to listen in Live at Noon EST today - Tuesday the 28th - or to listen to past shows.

Make sure you get a PDF copy of our latest issue of OIO. In it you will find:

* How To Invest in Washington's Biggest Federal Landlord –
and add income to your retirement or portfolio with a HUGE
Upside Potential

* Why Al Gore's Prediction of Climate Change May Happen
Within the Next 24 Months & What you can do to Protect Your
Family Now

* Could The Recession Be Over? Penny Stocks that Could Earn
500% in a few months or less!

* MLP's – Add Income To Your Portfolio with these High-
Paying Stock Alternatives

* Biz Opps that Could Be HUGE in the Months Ahead

* Simple Technique To Cash In No Matter What the Market or Economy Does
($ave $500 IF You Act NOW)

http://opportunityinvestigator.com/recession.html


Don't miss it. Download your copy now at:


http://www.nosecretincome.com/July09.html

That link will redirect you to the pdf file. If you
need help with downloading see:

http://www.kosoma.com/howtodownload.html

Watch a video on signs the recession may be ending HERE

There could be GREAT times ahead for index traders! If you have been considering enrolling in my index course there has never been a better time. For a limited time you can SAVE $500. Visit:

http://opportunityinvestigator.com/recession.html

For details. Have a great day!

Friday, July 10, 2009

Iraqi Dinar

If you have not yet heard about the uncommon opportunity to invest in the currency of Iraq (the Iraqi dinar or IQD), then it would be worth your time to check into it.

You won't hear much about it in the mainstream media. The politicians won't let you in on it (even though many of them are heavily invested in the Iraqi dinar), and your banker probably knows nothing about it.

However, for a few hundred dollars (still within the reach of most folks - even in these hard times), you might well get into the investment of a lifetime.

Currently the Iraqi dinar does not have a value on the world stage. Basically, the value is whatever the street will give you for it. You can find it on eBay and other auction sites, but don't buy it there. You want to make sure that you get yours from a reputable, registered currency dealer. These dealers have to be registered with the US Treasury (if they are located here in the states).

Why do we say that the Iraqi dinar is an investment of a lifetime? Currently you can get a million dinar for around one thousand US. In times past the IQD was worth over $3 USD.

Is it a sure bet? There is no such thing. However, the upside on this is so HUGE that you might feel like a dunce if you didn't at least get a quarter million dinar (about $300 US) or so.

There are a few ways a person could invest in the Iraqi dinar. Most folks prefer to simply buy the currency from a reputable dealer and just hold onto it (you might want to put it in your safety deposit box and the bank - if you have a stable bank you can trust to be there - actually - you should be able to get your dinar and other items out even if the bank folds -they are dropping like flies these days).

You could also open up an account with a bank in Iraq (don't worry you won't have to go to Bagdad to do it), but we've heard more con than pro on that route.

If you have an Iraqi bank account, you can now even play their stock market which has gone electronic. For there market to really open up to the world, they will Have to get a world value on their currency. With the US pulling troops out of the country, there are many signs that this could happen soon. Look for our Opportunity Investigator Radio Show on BlogTalkRaio and find the episode on the Iraqi dinar, to hear more about it.

Most folks today would rather go to the casino or bingo hall and spend a couple hundred bucks. Gaming is one of the most profitable industries left after the meltdown. BUT, if you look into what I'm telling you here, it may well change your life and help you beat your own recession!

Friday, June 26, 2009

Market Timing That Actually Works

Many people look for ways to time their entry back into the market. Even though their timing was lousy on the way out, they are still convinced that they can time their way back in!

Why did so many folks lose retirement funds in their IRA's and 401k's? Because they are still holding fast to the old buy-an-hold strategy.

In watching CNBC this morning I saw an example of the very thing I have been preaching about for years now. Mark Haines and Erin Burnett anchor their show "Squawk on the Street", from the New York Stock Exchange. They are always asking investors and corporate executives if it is safe to go back into the market yet. This morning Erin said something like, "With all these professionals trading and going in and out of the market, how does a regular person like me time their entry into ETFs or stocks? Does the buy and hold strategy even work anymore?"

The answers to her questions are not important here. Her statement reveals a LOT, and is what we have been telling folks for years. The Professionals are "Trading" their money. They don't buy and hold, so why should you?

During the meltdown, they were shorting the market and riding it down. During the rally they were riding it back up. The same thing we were doing as index traders. Yes, there is market timing involved, but not in the sense of "is it safe to get back in yet". That is a foolish game in our opinion. The short daily swings in the market are MUCH easier to predict than the overall long term direction. Even while folks are waiting during a several day rally for the right market timing to get back in, traders are riding it up or down many times on the smaller moves.

Sure, there are many things you could trade, and they all involve timing to some extent or another. In fact, the index trading that we do is all about timing. The big difference is that we are NOT looking for some magic moment to get back in the market and hope it keeps up trending for years to come. We will take whatever the market throws at us. That is market timing that really works. If it changes we can quickly get out and go the other way if we choose to.

You can do the same thing with your IRA, 401k, or other retirement account if you want (we like the Roth, so that all of your trading income can be Tax-Free). Don't wait for the magic moment to get back in, and get your account growing! Pick up some trading skills, and use the type of market timing that really works!

Friday, January 9, 2009

Great Trading In Hard Times

Index trading has been really great lately. Seems the wild swings of the markets have slowed down to more normal moves.

Many economist feel things will get worse before they get any better. President-Elect Obama stirred things up this week by being honest and telling folks that things could get worse. That is not the message that many wanted to hear, but it sure seems possible.

The good news is the if you learn how to trade the index, it does not have to be bad financially for you, your family, your 401k, IRA, or bank account.

If you missed our opportunity call last night, you missed a good one! However, you still have a chance to listen in. Just rush over to:

http://oiopro.com/lastcall.html

You will learn the importance of keeping it simple, and you will hear about what others are doing with our simple index trading training.

If you don't have the money to get started, or even if you do, check our awesome Real Estate opportunity out at:

http://ipaycashforyourhouse.com

What are you waiting for? Join us now. We'd love to help you build some income streams that the recession can't take away!

Friday, December 5, 2008

BIG 3 Auto Makers Plead - Index Traders Smile

Help For Those With Lost Income

Just got off of our daily trading call with my fellow traders and students, and we had a Great time. It was easy to see the market moving down this morning, and the simple patterns we look for were there. Most of us took advantage with some simple profits.

Terrence stopped in, one of our non-US traders. Terrence lives down in the beautiful Caribbean, and enjoys trading the index. (Many of us here are jealous and want to move down and join him - we want to all meet on the beach with our laptops and make money while enjoying the awesome scenery!).

Soon we were watching the trend change and the market start going up. A few went along for that ride. After we hung up, I did see an even stronger confirmation of the up move and did a couple more little trades for the day!

Some of the amounts I heard on the call were $1200, $900, $800, and $400. These are amounts that folks made in under an hour of looking for trades (most of our actual trades only last for a few seconds).

Are you facing a loss of job and income? If so (or even if no), isn't it time you learn how to trade the index with us? What are you waiting for. Even President-Elect Obama is telling you that it will take some time for any real economic relief comes. NOW is the time to learn a skill that can help you make money - Regardless of what the economy is doing.

If you are a radio show host, and would like to talk about Index Trading, the recession, what got us here, market conditions, and anything else, please click on the Media link on the left. We can offer you a show that will not only enlighten your listeners, but will entertain them too!

Post again soon. Have a Great Weekend!

Friday, February 15, 2008

Did You Get Your Check Yet?

President Bush was on the TV with what should be his last State of the Union speech Jan. 30th. The Pres. assured us all that we can grow our economy by spending more money. He even promised to send us each a few hundred to help us do that.

Let's see, if you are already in debt up to your ears - like the US government is, how is sending out free money going to stimulate the economy? And, how is that going to help the US government?

OH, don't forget our friends over at the FED. The Reserve! The agency that is owned by the bankers. That masquerades around like they are part of the government. What many folks still don't know is that they all pulled a fast one on us by sticking that word Federal in front of their name. The same thing the guy at Federal Express did when starting his company.

Frederick W. Smith founded FedEx. I clearly remember years ago when he was on 60 minutes, he said that by the time folks figured out that he was not part of the government his company would already be well on it's way to BIG MONEY! Can't blame his reasoning? What a PLAN! IT WORKED for the FED why not FedEx too?

Let's quote right from the FedEx web site:

"Federal Express was so-named due to the patriotic meaning associated with the word "Federal," which suggested an interest in nationwide economic activity. At that time, Smith hoped to obtain a contract with the Federal Reserve Bank and, although the proposal was denied, he believed the name was a particularly good one for attracting public attention and maintaining name recognition."

I'm sure Smith did want a relationship with the Federal Reserve - who wouldn't! These guys have the legalized right to print money! Think about it. It does not matter if it is a $1 bill or a $100 bill, it cost them about the same to make it (a few cents each). Then they "LOAN" that money at full face value to the US government. Full face value PLUS INTEREST!

So if you are thinking that Bush's plan to grow the economy by handing out $100 bills won't cost anything - Think Again! Where is that money going to come from? That's right - the good ol boys at the FED. These mystical folks seem to be able to pull money out of thin air! Just think, with today's high-tech world, the FED can just punch a button on a computer somewhere and release new funds to the world. Most of which never represents new bills being printed, but just credit in some bank or financial institutions account. Electronic numbers moving through nanoseconds of time and space.

Not only does the FED create money, they also have the ability to set their own interest rate! The Fed's Open Market Committee (FOMC), announces their interest rate decisions. This is NOT the interest rate that you and I can get money for, (why don't we all meet at the Fed Discount Window - wherever that is) but what the BIG boys who keep the whole world flowing receive. They in turn pump up the volume and pass the savings on to you and me right - WRONG! It could take weeks or even MONTHS after a cut to see any savings at the consumer level, if we ever see any at all. So why do the markets get so active after an FOMC announcement?

Well again, the BIG boys are the ones who really move the market right. We just want a small slice of it. That's all. Remember that when you are trading (or practicing the trade) an FOMC announcement. Don't get greedy. Get a quick profit, and either follow it with a stop, or just get out and smile! Remember that it could GAP past your stop too.

My guess is that this HUGE economic mess is no where near finished. Who knows, it might even lead into the Great Tribulation mentioned in the bible. No matter what happens, we can all do well with Simple Index Trading. I look for GREAT times ahead for our team. We might have to pay more for the things we get, but at least we can stay home and earn the money to get them!

If you have never traded LIVE on a FED announcement, you really need to practice it.

See a video on trading a Fed Play here:

How To Trade A Fed Play


For a great video on taking advantage of down trending economy moves visit:

http://nosecretincome.com


Come back to our blog here to read other tips on Index Trading Moves.


Have fun with it, and I hope to trade with you soon!


Doug