BecomingWhoYouWantToBe

You know the difference between winning and losing trades — we’ve all experienced both and know the joy and the pain well.

However in considering the loss of a trade, the strategy is usually sound, it is the trader that came up short.

Well, yes there is a good chance this described you. In this article I will talk about ways to change all that. Your stop loss order is a really good place to start, this should be decided before you place an order.

You can’t delve into the topic of position entry thoroughly without speaking of stops. The question is, “Why are stop losses used by so few investors?” If not using stops is a weakness for you then you want this info. This info could mean the difference between on time retirement with a fat nest egg or just ‘getting by’ at a later retirement date.

When you have a plan for placing stops, your wins will out weigh you losses, and when the losses come you will come out on top because you will still be around to trade. The traders psychology of loss taking bears looking at here.

All professional traders understand they must know where they are getting out before they get in. They have to know ahead of time what a wrong trade looks like so they can exit it quickly. This is a rudimentary fundamental that EVERY professional trader knows the answer to.

Are you able to respond to these questions?

1.) What are the indicators for staying put, or getting out?

2.) When a stock is losing, do you have a guide that lets you know when to sell?

3.) Do you have a rule of when to move your stop to break-even?

Are you unable to answer these questions? You aren’t alone. This indicated that you should be establishing some rules, especially when going to short stocks, but trading rules don’t mean a thing if they aren’t used. This is why we need to have a frank discussion about why you aren’t managing your risks in a hands on way, like a pro should.

There are 2 base reasons why Investors won’t take a loss:

1. Inability to admit they are wrong.

A realized loss is a great big unavoidable acknowledgment of wrongness. For many traders, this is just too painful to admit. It’s interpreted as an allegory for a total life failure or feeds a persistent, negative self-image.

They personalize the loss and experience emotional pain. Many traders prefer to remain in denial instead of acknowledging their losses are causing them pain. This type of trader often has to lose it all before he begins to change (or gives up trading).

2. Taking that large of a hit would damage their portfolio greater than it can recover from.

The loss is a real loss, it is not solely on paper, the stock/bond option has the value of the quote, even if you don’t see it.

These 2 situations are types of self-denial this problem is common with tons and tons of investors. Observe Merrill-Lynch, AIG, WAMU, Lehman.. and on and on…. you should be comforted to know that this self denial is not limited to just one income level or social status.

If this article is making you uncomfortable or bringing up feelings of anger or powerlessness, then that’s a good sign. It means you have enough self-awareness to change.

The winning trader uses a different strategy from the losing trader by regarding the pain from the loss in an impersonal way. They use the loss as a sign that something went wrong with their approach, or their execution, but NOT that something is wrong with them.

Separating themselves from what they are doing is what a winning trader does. Either they know it or learn that the problem is either in their approach or their skills not in their worth as a human being. Changing the pain of a loss into a motivational factor that increases their quest to be a better trader.

Both are learned responses and within your control. The opportunity for growth from the pain of losses is the same. It’s what we do with the emotional pain of a loss that matters, not the loss itself.

Stick with my proven ETF Trend Trading system and make winning a habit. Study; ask questions and monitor your position size relative to your portfolio and you will end up on the winning side more often than not.

My constant reminders about proper stops and risks are one of the strongest parts of my one year mentorship program. Even after you understand my system 100%, it’s still good to hear me tell you, “Don’t move your stop” or “Be sure to take profits when the system says to, not too early and not too late.” Most my students like the mentorship part as much or even more than the course itself.

Learn how it’s very possible to make 6% per month in your investment accounts using etf trend trading! “Big A” is a recognized expert in the world of etf trend trading system & reveals etf secrets that have been kept under wraps by hedge traders for years. Give him your email & get a free report & webinar today!