The secret to building wealth as a trader is simple: Don’t be greedy. It’s also easier said than done. Greed is very difficult to overcome, because it’s hard to know exactly when to take a profit. You can stay with bullish trades for a very long time, so long as conditions remain favorable to the…
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If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know I am endlessly frustrated by the on-going game “Predict the Fed’s Movements.” Why traders and investors insist on playing annoys me to no end. The Fed doesn’t hide its intentions. In fact, when there’s a change in Fed monetary policy, you’ll know. Why the obsession…
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We all knew it was coming: new taxes. We didn’t know how far and wide it would stretch and who would be on the hook until last week when the Biden administration announced an increase in the corporate tax rate and the individual rate for high earners, including capital gains. While it’s never fun to…
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How to Use Index Puts to Protect Your Portfolio with Marc Chaikin – Webinar Recap Though the strong bull trend that’s been in place for nearly is year is far from over, this is not the time to be complacent. You need to be proactive to protect your portfolio from losses. During this options trading…
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Market Volatility and the VIX, Explained – Webinar Recap On Monday, I wrote a blog about how to manage low volatility as a trader so you don’t end up losing your shirt. In this options trading webinar, I’m expanding on that discussion to break down the myths and mystery behind market volatility and the VIX. Watch…
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Last week I wrote about how low volatility signals complacency in markets – and possible trouble ahead. The Volatility Index, or VIX, can stay low for quite some time while buyers continue to plow money into stocks. Eventually, the fun ends and some traders pay a price for their over-confidence. Today, we’re talking about how…
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While we love to see the markets hitting new highs, don’t forget that what goes up does come down. The stock market has rallied sharply so far this year, and we have yet to see the type of pullback that scares the living daylights out of us. This is the perfect time to slow down…
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For years, I have talked about the importance of paying attention to the market action rather than outside influences. The financial media, pundits, experts and noisy Twitter feeds are a distraction, especially now. If you listen to the market message, you’ll know that markets look strong. Data points to a strong economic recovery I don’t…
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If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know that I’ve shared many of my own lessons learned over the years. At this point, I’ve been trading full time for 16 years and counting. I’ve made every mistake imaginable – some more than once. As much as I value my college education, nothing…
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How Jesse Livermore’s Trading Advice Continues to Guide Us – Webinar Recap Jesse Livermore was a stock operator who thrived at trading in bucket shops and brokerages at the turn of the 20th century. He was ahead of his time, making millions trading on others’ emotions. In fact, he once earned $3 million in a…
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