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3 Amazing Lessons I learnt from McDonaldsI love McDonalds. There was a time where I was ranking different burgers from around the world. UK, France, South Africa, Dubai, America, Switzerland and Greece. And I only ranked about 4 burgers an 8 out of 10. I know you’re going to hate but… McDonalds Big Mc remains one of them I ranked 8 out of 10 – Delicious!. Anyway, so I love the burger, I love the story – if you’ve seen “The Founder” movie. And I love the lessons learned from the success story. And since 2013, I always enjoy writing articles on how other companies, entities and even individuals can teach you indirectly about trading. McDonalds is the one in the spot light for today! 3 lessons I learnt from McDonalds! The fast-food giant has been able to achieve massive success by keeping things simple, sticking to a proven system, and adapting to changes in the market. These same principles can be applied to trading the financial Lesson #1: Less is more… The company has built its success on a relatively small menu of simple, easy-to-understand options. Also the way to make the meals are so simple with easy ingredients you probably have at home. Well, traders can achieve better results by focusing on: • Small number of markets or securities • One or two systems • One or two time frames • One to three money management rules • Less time trading and more time holding Lesson #2: Find a System to Repeat The company has built a highly efficient and repeatable system for making and delivering food. Remember the scene in the movie “The Founder” where Ray Croc organised his system within a tennis court until mastered? It’s simple, it works – and it’s never died out. This has allowed them to replicate their success across thousands of locations worldwide. With trading, you should also look for a system that you can repeat and stick with it. I mean, by now my MATI Trader System – must feel like child’s play to you because of how I have taught you the system in and out. And I have shared with you hundreds of trade line ups already with Trading View. And with you seeing it the system everyday, it must feel second nature for spotting a trade by now right? Well, just like Rocket Science isn’t rocket science to a rocket scientist – That’s why you feel that way about my MATI Trader System… And if you have a system that you swear by, you’ll feel the same way I do. This can help you to avoid the pitfall of constantly switching strategies and missing out on long-term gains. Lesson #3: Adapt to Change McDonald's has also been able to adapt to changes in the market, such as: • Environment concerns • Consumer demand for healthier options • Relevant and trendy toys in Happy Meals • New neutral colour style restaurant catering to all nations and cultures around the world • More options for vegans and vegetarians They have and has been able to stay relevant and successful for decades. Similarly, traders need to be able to adapt to changes in the markets, whether it: Adding new markets to your watchlist Adjusting your Risk to Reward during favourable and unfavourable environments Shifts in economic conditions or changes in consumer preferences. This might mean adjusting your trading strategy slightly or seeking out new opportunities in different markets. You need to be able to adapt to change which is crucial for long-term success in the financial markets. And so, McDonald's has been successful by keeping things simple, sticking to a repeatable system, and adapting to change. Apply these principles to your own trading and you’ll find trading to be a walk in the park in the medium to long run… Do you like McDonalds and what would you rate the Big Mc? I won’t judge. Trade well, live free. Timon MATI Trader (Financial trader since 2003)
NYSE:MCDEducation
by Timonrosso
Success is a self-introspection journey!You and I both know that financial trading the markets is an exciting and most definitely a lucrative venture for those who actually take the time and energy to get it right and trade well. But! Big But... If you want to become a successful trader, it's not just about analyzing market trends and making informed decisions – it is also about self-introspection and personal growth. This journey is one big self-discovery. And you'll find it's not only beneficial to trading but with life, love, work and even your true identity. Aas traders must know our own motivations, behaviors, and beliefs in order to truly excel. This means taking an honest look at our strengths and weaknesses, and being willing to make the necessary changes to become a more disciplined and effective trader. Do this and you WILL develop a strong sense of self-awareness in order to make better decisions under pressure. Trade well, live free. I'm off to bed. Timon MATI Trader (Financial trader since 2003)
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
1
11 Industries Blockchain will Rule the WorldBlockchain is the one technology that allows people to create unique, specific products, programmes and services online. Instead of downloading a programme, app or making a transaction on a regulated centralized system like Android or IOS, you’ll use a decentralized system to do everything you currently do with the internet. These ideas on how blockchain will disrupt industries will blow your mind. #1: Voting Blockchain and online voting may one day be the main platform where everyone can take part. Think about it. No more standing in a line, casting votes to a local authority in the hopes that your vote will be counted. Having a decentralised system for voting can result in: • No voter manipulation and fraud • One vote per identity • No external influence • Full transparency • Results within seconds • No foul play Once a vote is added to the ledger, it cannot be tampered with, removed or duplicated. And so having a blockchain-based-online voting platform, where everything is updated, in real time and with full transparency – could soon be a reality for elections… #2: Stock market trading & investing Blockchain could one day take over trading institutions and the financial industry as we know it. There will be no more use for brokers and market makers, as everything will be electronic. Investors and traders will choose the blockchain path to: Take control of their own portfolio 24/7 Extra security and privacy which cannot be accessed by anyone Facilitate trades without any costs, commissions or fees Result in much faster and more efficient transactions Improve liquidity and volume with financial markets Reduce fraud and manipulation Trade 24/7 markets including Forex, stocks, indices and cryptos Speed up deposits and withdraws within seconds Rely less on third parties #3: Social media and internet Imagine a Facebook, Tik Tok, YouTube, Instagram or even Twitter that nobody owns. With blockchain and dApps (Decentralised Apps), they would be completely immune to attempts to manipulate, regulate, spy or even shut them down. #4: Buying assets, goods and services Anything of value that can be tracked, traded and recorded on a blockchain network, will allow transactions in one form or another. In fact, we already have individuals and institutions that are buying, selling and exchanging crypto-currencies (i.e. Bitcoin) for tangible products such as vehicles, property, investments and other assets. An asset can also be intangible such as patents, royalties, intellectual property, copy rights and branding. Also, there are blockchain advantages including: • Lower costs • Less risk and danger • Guaranteed transactions • Accurate evaluations #5: Currencies As you’ve seen, crypto-currencies and forms of exchange – can be created and exchanged simply from the digital ether. The decentralised crypto-currencies will continue to provide a form of exchange for products and services as an alternative to general currencies. #6: Music, books and movies Since the days of Napster, Kazaa and Limewire, entertainment companies have tried everything to prevent piracy from wiping out their revenue. Just a few years later, and a single copy of a song, movie or programme could be distributed around the world within seconds. Blockchain and smart contracts technology could create a decentralised and accurate database of rights of ownership. It could also put an end to piracy and other forms of un-authorised copyrighting. The blockchain transaction will be made in a secure and transparent manner in a way the royalties will be distributed to the owner in a fair and an instant payment process. #7: Banking Blockchain will disrupt the entire banking system. By having a decentralised banking network, we won’t have to worry about a bank crisis ever again. The reasons for a blockchain banking system include: Lower transfer fees Less costs and taxes Instant processing time High security No third party Quick overseas transfers Never go offline or off the system Just so you know, all of your banking transactions take place in a digital online wallet. A wallet is the place (programme) where you can store and make transactions. When you have access to your wallet you get two keys. A private and a public key. The private key is a special digital idea or a code of numbers and letters, given to each user that links to their account. This is the code to access and take control of your account where you can transfer funds out of it. A private key is like having a credit card with your credit card number, expiration date and security code. With this information, you can spend as much funds as you like. That’s why you should never share this private key and never lose your private key. The public key is the code (numbers and letters) that is fully available to the public. A simple analogy of a public key is having someone’s bank account number. Anyone with this number can technically send money into your account. NOTE: The public key is known to the public. If you lose your public key, you can find it again with your private key. Just remember to never lose your private key. So with blockchain banking you can imagine how being able to deposit, withdraw, exchange and transfer money, will make things extremely efficient and secure – Don’t you think? #8: Games The next streamed and online game, may be through a decentralised operation – also known as Crypto-gaming. This will allow gamers, programmers and other entities to improve and build on the game to enhance the experience for all users. By having an source place for gaming there’ll be opportunities to: • Build on continuously and expand the game • Create social network of like-minded gamers • Have more stable, secure and transparent operation • Not have to worry about crashes, manipulation and shutdowns • Offer financial benefits for gamers i.e. customising and selling digital collectibles, art or created virtual worlds. #9: Crowd funding Crowd funding has become the new alternative to traditional venture capital, bank funding and self funding. The issues in the past have been where the banks require an existing business with good revenue, venture capitalists need proof that the business is a success and the costs are exorbitant. Soon there’ll be an era where blockchain will take over all three forms of funding. Blockchain will facilitate crowd funding when it comes to funding for projects, businesses, charities and other causes. The beauty about blockchain crowdfunding is that there’ll be: • Enforced funding terms • Instant money returns if the criteria is not met • Lower transaction costs • No middleman • Decentralised platform • Automatic actions according to the criteria stated • Better funding for ICOs (Initial Coin Offerings) And once the terms or funding is met and the transaction is a success – the money will be automatically distributed to the cause without any human error. #10: Health care Blockchain technology will one day be able to keep personal medical file information private and safer that with a central authority. You’ll finally be able to access your medical information with a click of a button and distribute it only to those you trust. With blockchain, healthcare will benefit in ways that you’ll be able to access: • Medical information which can’t be tempered, hacked or removed • Pharmaceutical companies will have a record of past, present and future prescription medicines to collect and deliver to • A list of personal health records of diagnoses, illnesses and private health information • Revolutionise insurance claims and reduce fraud and adjust quotes for members according to their current health situation #11: Supply chain management Blockchain technology will stream line the supply chain for businesses and drop shipping. Every step from requesting a transaction to having a product or service delivered to the customer can be traced, recorded and monitored. The most important element for supply chain management with blockchain is the transparency and validation that occurs between the transactions performed and shared between the suppliers. This includes transactions made through: • Importing & exporting • Shipment • Trade • Drop shipping • Commercial industries • Farming & supplying food Blockchain can replace the traditional supply methods for centralised authorities. The future lies with Blockchain technology I hope I have shared just a little bit of light and stretched your mind ever so slightly on what the future may bring. There is an evolution of the people wanting to take control, improve transparency, cut out the middleman and streamline the process in ways of greater efficiency. One day – this will be our new normal. Trade well, live free. Timon MATI Trader (Financial trader since 2003). If you enjoyed this article let me know, so I can write more around it...
Education
by Timonrosso
24 Hour Trading Stocks Around the Clocks!Doesn’t it feel almost inevitable? That in the near future we’ll be able to trade shares 24 hours a day, five days a week? Well, during the last week, I’ve been wondering what the future of trading will look like and what we need to prepare for. In this article, we’ll go through the practicalities of trading 24hour markets and what you may need to prepare for. 24 Hour markets available today Right now, there are more markets available to trade 24 hours a day than ever before including: • Forex • Commodities • Crypto-currencies • Exchange-Traded-Funds • Indices I guess the important question to ask is… Will it make a big difference if the world opened up to trading stocks 24 hours a day? Could it be the end of stock traded sessions? Currently, the trading sessions for shares are restricted to the hours the exchanges are opened. This is normally from 9:00am until 5:00pm. There are two historical reasons for having stock traded sessions: Maintain liquidity and timing for efficiency during operating hours. But what would happen if stocks never closed their trading times? Think about it… We’d have hundreds of thousands of stocks open to the public to trade at your disposal whenever you desire… We’ll need to address the pros and cons of how this would work… GOOD & BAD reasons for trading stocks around the clock Let’s start with the BAD. BAD #1: Less trading – Small price moves We could see thin volume of buying and selling taking place for each stock, as there’ll be little demand when people are off work or asleep. BAD #2: Higher price manipulation With the low trading volume, this can incite shady investors and traders to manipulate the share prices, causing major sudden price fluctuations So with low demand and movements for stock trading around the clock – right now, it just doesn’t seem to be practical having 24/5 stock trading sessions. But right now – does not mean it will always be like this in the future. Here are the GOOD reasons for a 24 hour trading stocks around the clock. GOOD #1: Higher employment numbers Most companies, will need to employ more brokers and dealers – for after hours – until they incorporate robo-advisors… GOOD #2: No more open price gaps The unexpected sudden price gaps on stocks will almost be eliminated. You won’t have to wake up to a nasty surprise seeing the market jump your stop loss overnight again. GOOD #3: Follow international events We will be able to base stock trading decisions and prices on any news event, earnings and ratings that comes out internationally. GOOD #4: New stream of investors This will attract many new investors and traders to trade stocks from other countries which will help companies share liquidity. Why we could see trading stocks around the clock in the future We are seeing a major rise in the number of investors and traders. Trading has never: • Been more affordable • Been easier to learn. • Been more accessible (with just a smart phone). • Shown such superior customer services. And we definitely have the technological structure and networks, to support around the clock trading for all markets. And when it comes to stocks. Well, with the increase in adoption of new technologies, and improvements with off-market liquidity – we will very well see stocks trading around the clock. And now you know what to prepare for… Trade well, live free. Timon MATI Trader (Est. 2003)
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
5 Habits of Successful TradingGet a pen and paper and write these five habits down. Each habit you have, write down a 1 and each habit you don’t have write a 0. Sum up the points at the end and you’ll know where you are, what you have to do to improve and whether you have the trading edge to be successful. HABIT #1: Courage You need the courage to follow these basic steps. #1: Open a trading account #2: Deposit money in your trading account #3: Adopt a trading strategy #4: Take the trades that line up #5: Follow your strategy (with the winners and losers) Have the courage to do that today or have done it? Mark 1 for YES Mark 0 if you’re not ready… HABIT #2: Persistence I’ve said this before… Trading is a forever business… It’s easy once you get it right. The hard part after a while is keeping persistent. Do you have the PERSISTENCE to: #1: Trade for a few minutes every week? #2: Look for trading setups? #3: Follow a proven trading strategy without changing the rules? #4: Not give up on a trading strategy after a losing streak? #5: Not go against a strategy after during a winning streak? Mark 1 for YES Mark 0 if you’re not ready… HABIT #3: Save Money Look. The more money you have in your trading account, the faster it will grow. If you think R5,000 or R10,000 is all you need to retire in a few years – it’s time to wake up! Every month, I deposit around 5% -10% of my savings into trading… Now I know not everyone can deposit such a large portion of their savings in trading as they have other capital allocations to their portfolio… Well, what ever you can deposit per month comfortably is better than nothing. This will help you to grow your trading account at a faster rate. Mark 1 for YES – I have the habit to save money per month. Mark 0 if you’re not ready… HABIT #4: Evolve The markets are constantly going through change. In just a span of 20 years there have been a multitude of trading instruments. For example: Shares – warrants – Futures – Binary Options – ETFs and CFDs. We’ve also seen a plethora of different markets including Equities – Indices – commodities – currencies and Crypto-currencies And as a trader, it’s our job to keep learning and evolving with the markets… Do you have the habit to adapt to change and learn throughout your trading career? Mark 1 Not ready for change? Mark 0 Habit #5: INDEPENDENCE Once you have everything you need to succeed as a trader, it’s all on you. You should not have anyone to hold your hand, influence your decisions or tell you what to do. When you are sitting by your laptop or device – No one should be able to change your mind including from: • Friends • Family • Mentors • Your conscience • Bloomberg • Spouse and kids If you think you have a good level of independence, mark 1. If you’re not ready for being independent mark 0. Final Thoughts The points where you marked 1 – Great keep at it and remember your strengths… The points where you marked 0 – It’s ok… Every successful trader started with doubts and weaknesses. Trade well, live free. Timon Rossolimos MATI Trader
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
Russell 2000 Index - EXPLAINED - What, Why, Where, How?Small cap stocks, Penny stocks and pink sheets are the high adrenaline stocks investors play games in. They are generally the cheaper, highly volatile, some are illiquid and can fluctuate 50% - 1,000% a day. From the Wolf of Wallstreet glamorizing the potential returns for investors to your every day salesman broker trying to sell you the next winner. But what is the Russell 2000 Index and what should we know about it? I’m going to sum it up a bit of information about how it works and important facts you need to know Enjoy! WHAT IS IT? The Russell 2000 Index (listed in 1984) is a stock market index that tracks the performance of small-cap publicly traded companies in the United States. It is named after the Russell Investment Group, which operates the index. The share price can vary significantly, as it is made up of a diverse range of small-cap publicly traded companies. MARKET CAP Small-cap stocks are generally ones with a market capitalization of between: $50 million and $2 billion. CRITERIA TO LIST STOCKS There are a few criteria that needs to be met to qualify for the inclusion in the Russell 2000 Index: • The company must be a publicly traded U.S. company. • It must market capitalization of at least $50 million. • Must be ranked in the bottom 2,000 of the Russell 3000 Index, based on market capitalization. • Must meet certain liquidity requirements, including having a minimum average daily trading volume of at least 250 shares over the previous six months. • Must have a minimum of one year of trading history. WHAT IT CONSISTS OF The index is made up of the smallest 2,000 publicly traded companies in the Russell 3000 Index, which represents approximately 98% of the total market capitalization of all publicly traded companies in the United States. HOW IT OPERATES The index is reconstituted annually, with new companies added and removed based on their market capitalization and other factors. VOLATILITY & LIQUIDITY The Russell 2000 Index has a high level of volatility (greater price swings) and low liquidity (ease of flow of orders) compared to other large cap stocks. DANGERS WITH THE INDEX Currency risk: When the US dollar drops the index can follow Diversification: There is no sector for the stocks. When the index drops the stocks follow. Liquidity: You might find difficulties finding buyers or sellers to ease in or out of your positions. Volatility: The jumpiness in the market is highly erratic. Lack of analyst analysis: You’ll hardly see news coverage via the media which means, you could be left in the dark with what is going on in the companies. Liquidation risk: You have a higher chance at being in a company that is about to be liquidated due to financial issues, no growth, manipulation and cooking the books. Economic issues: When global economies collapse, stocks drop with it. Small cap stocks are no exceptions. This can affect the investment prospects .
TVC:RUTEducation
by Timonrosso
EXPLAINED: Short Selling in 3 ways and with an exampleWhat is Short Selling? This is where you sell (go short) an underlying market at a high price, anticipate a drop in price where you’ll buy it back at a lower price for a profit. How short selling works… To understand this concept, I’m going to break it down into three explanations. • One line • Step by Step • Visual Explanation #1: One line Short selling is the practice of selling a financial market (such as a share, crypto currency, index etc…) that you don’t own with the intention of buying the same market back later on at a lower price for a profit. Explanation #2: Step-by-Step 1. You sell a number of shares, which you don’t own, at a higher price. NOTE: You borrow the shares from a broker or lender. 2. After time passes, the market then comes down in price. 3. You then decide to buy back the shares and close your position for a profit. NOTE: When you buy the position back, you automatically return the borrowed shares to the broker/lender and pay them a fee. 4. You will pocket the difference between the price from where you sold the shares and the price where you bought them back. The Broker gets the shares back you get the profit – bada bing bada boom – DONE. Let me know what other term you would like explained. Trade well, live free. Timon MATI Trader
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
WARNING! This will reflect on your tradingThe world thrives on drama, gossip and most people just want it to end by the way they think.... I can't blame them because most people are struggling to live their lives where they are working from pay check to pay check. Where they are hoping their boss will give them a half day off. Where they are constantly feeding the fat cats of the world and paying taxes from their salaries. But then trading comes along, where you can have some degree of control of your finances and investments. Where you can risk what you wish and play the rules with growing a portfolio,... BUT if you bring in your emotional aggression and tendencies, it will reflect on your trading... Instead, you should work on yourself more. Don't be angry over unnecessary things Don't make a mountain out of a mole hill Don't risk anything you can't afford to lose Don't get angry over a small loss - you are in the trading den to make money NOT to be right Take 10 DEEP breaths in and out before you make any impulsive decisions or take any abrasive action. Focus on change and the whole world, your mind and your trading results will change with you... Let me know if this helps. Trade well, live free. Timon MATI Trader
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
1
9 SIGNS You're Trading Well! Trading well is a marathon and not a quick race. It doesn’t matter how much money you banked in a week, winners you took or how much money you have in your account. What does matter is one word “Persistence”. And with persistence comes, 10 signs that you’re doing well with trading. Let’s get to them… Sign #1: You have the passion to LEARN how to trade When you learn to trade, it’s not only a strategy game but also a self-introspection journey. You get to understand who you are as a trader in a way that you learn: • What time you wish to trade • What markets you’d like to look at • The instrument you want to buy/sell • The broker that best suits your needs If you have the passion to learn what fits your personality when trading, it’s a good sign you’ll do super… Sign #2: You have a solid daily trading routine There is no right or wrong way to go about your trading. Once again, it’s what you feel comfortable with on a daily or weekly basis. Maybe it is reading MATI Trader first thing in the morning, then going through your watchlist and seeing which trades are lining up. Afterwards you set your trading levels and take your trade. Whatever your trading routine is, make sure you have a checklist to follow. Sign #3: You have strict rules to follow Rules are the only way to find consistent opportunities within the chaos. I have three rules with trading. 1. Never risk more than 2% per trade (no matter the portfolio account). 2. Never risk any money you can’t afford to lose 3. Never hold more than 5 trades at any one time. If you have rules to follow, you’re doing well… Sign #4: You have tunnel vision There are no two traders that are the same. This means, when you know who you are, you’ll know to ONLY follow your rules, strategy and vibe. If someone tries to change your mind, put your blinkers on and remember the proven strategy you KNOW works. Don’t listen to others and don’t care about where other traders are in their career. Sign #5: You have a track record Whether you’re still demo-trading or live-trading, it doesn’t matter. All you need to make sure is that you have an excel sheet or written pad with all of your trades you have taken or backtested. This is will remind you and give you proof of what works and will make you a consistent income during your trading. Sign #6: You have the time to trade You’ll need to choose the time, that suits you best to analyse and trade the markets. It can be first thing in the morning, during your break in the afternoon or even 2am when you wake up and can’t go back to sleep. Sign #7: You can psychologically handle it Trading is mostly mindset. How you deal with your winners, losers and with your trading longevity. If you are prepared to mentally handle everything trading comes with – you’re well on your way to a bright trading future. Sign #8: You have a dream As much as trading is fun during the process, we all have a future idea on where trading will take us. Some want to travel around the world and not have to worry about budgeting. Others want to just spend their time during retirement keeping their brain active and seeing trading as a forever-challenge. Me, I love to trade, teach how to trade and create financial freedom for my future and for generations to come. What is your dream? Sign #9: You have your trading system The game-plan… Do you know where to enter, exit and place your risk levels every time? If so, GOOD. You have a trading system. This is all part of trading well. If you enjoyed this article feel free to LIKE and Follow for more daily trading tips articles. This is information I've gathered since 2003. Trade well, live free. Timon MATI Trader
NASDAQ:NDXEducation
by Timonrosso
7 SIGNS You're Trading Well So, you’re probably wondering how you’re doing as a trader. • Are you rich? • Is your portfolio shooting up? • How many winners did you bank this week? If you think those are the questions to ask – Then YOU’RE WRONG! As I’ve mentioned many times before. Trading well is a marathon and not a quick race. It doesn’t matter how much money you banked in a week, winners you took or how much money you have in your account. What does matter is one word “Persistence”. And with persistence comes, 10 signs that you’re doing well with trading. Let’s get to them… Sign #1: You have the passion to LEARN how to trade When you learn to trade, it’s not only a strategy game but also a self-introspection journey. You get to understand who you are as a trader in a way that you learn: • What time you wish to trade • What markets you’d like to look at • The instrument you want to buy/sell • The broker that best suits your needs If you have the passion to learn what fits your personality when trading, it’s a good sign you’ll do super… Sign #2: You have a solid daily trading routine There is no right or wrong way to go about your trading. Once again, it’s what you feel comfortable with on a daily or weekly basis. Maybe it is reading MATI Trader first thing in the morning, then going through your watchlist and seeing which trades are lining up. Afterwards you set your trading levels and take your trade. Whatever your trading routine is, make sure you have a checklist to follow. Sign #3: You have strict rules to follow Rules are the only way to find consistent opportunities within the chaos. I have three rules with trading. 1. Never risk more than 2% per trade (no matter the portfolio account). 2. Never risk any money you can’t afford to lose 3. Never hold more than 5 trades at any one time. If you have rules to follow, you’re doing well… Sign #4: You have tunnel vision There are no two traders that are the same. This means, when you know who you are, you’ll know to ONLY follow your rules, strategy and vibe. If someone tries to change your mind, put your blinkers on and remember the proven strategy you KNOW works. Don’t listen to others and don’t care about where other traders are in their career. Sign #5: You have a track record Whether you’re still demo-trading or live-trading, it doesn’t matter. All you need to make sure is that you have an excel sheet or written pad with all of your trades you have taken or backtested. This is will remind you and give you proof of what works and will make you a consistent income during your trading. Sign #6: You have the time to trade You’ll need to choose the time, that suits you best to analyse and trade the markets. It can be first thing in the morning, during your break in the afternoon or even 2am when you wake up and can’t go back to sleep. Sign #7: You can psychologically handle it Trading is mostly mindset. How you deal with your winners, losers and with your trading longevity. If you are prepared to mentally handle everything trading comes with – you’re well on your way to a bright trading future. This is all part of trading well. If you enjoyed this article feel free to LIKE and Follow for more daily trading tips articles. This is information I've gathered since 2003. Trade well, live free. Timon MATI Trader
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
1
Choose your Ideal Broker with a 10 Step checklistAre you looking for the right broker in 2023 and beyond but unsure what to look for? With the high competition nowadays, each broker offers different features, instruments and advantages. That’s why choosing one not an easy task for a beginner or even an experienced trader. You’ll need to drill down exactly what suits your trading style, personality and risk profile. I say this because, in the last two decades, I’ve been through a fair share of brokers. So, I know how difficult this decision can be and how it can determine whether you make money or not as a trader. In this article, I’ll share with you an easy-to-follow checklist which you can use to help you choose the right online broker in 2020 and beyond. What is a broker or dealer? A broker is a company or institution that gives a trader access to a live trading account and trading platform which enables them to buy, sell and monitor different instruments and assets. Here’s my checklist to find your ideal broker… Checklist item #1: Make sure the broker or dealer is regulated! This is a must… Whenever you sign up with a broker, make sure they are authorised, regulated and recognised by leading regulation authorities. You will most likely find this stated on the company’s website, in the ‘About Us’ or in their ‘Disclaimer’, along with their license number they hold with that regulator. Countries with dedicated financial regulatory agencies include: South Africa (FSB) – Financial Services Board. USA (SEC) – Securities And Exchange Commission (FINRA) – Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Eurozone (MiFID) – Markets In Financial Instruments Directive UK (FCA) – Financial Conduct Authority Australia (ASIC) – Australian Securities and Investments Commission India (SEBI) – Securities and Exchange Board of India Japan (JSDA) – Japan Securities Dealers Association Switzerland (FINMA) – Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority When you sign up with a regulated broker, you’ll at least have the security and assurance that they have met certain standards approved by the regulatory body, such as: Having the right capital to protect the clients’ funds Ensure the firm won’t go bust Confirm they have met certain requirements from the financial service provider Checklist item #2: Check their reviews and testimonials Before you make any decisions, you’ll need to see what others have said and are saying about the broker or the dealer company. You can do this by searching on Google, ‘Hello Peter’, trading forums or go onto their social media pages to read what other unbiased REAL clients have written about them when it comes to reviews, testimonials and ratings. Checklist item #3: Broker minimum requirements There are two minimums to take into account: Minimum balance and minimum deposit per trade. Most brokers require you to start with a certain minimum balance to set up your trading account. Nowadays, with the high competition, you should easily be able to find brokers or dealers who require no more than R1,000 up to R5,000 to open a trading account. If they require any more to open your trading account, just know that there are other brokers out their where you can start with less. As with the minimum deposit to take a trade, you can easily find reputable brokers where the minimum is under R200 per trade. Checklist item #4: Availability: What they can offer you You should have a good idea on what you’d like to trade. This is why before you sign up with the broker, you’ll need to see the availability and range of trading instruments the company has to offer. What assets do you want to trade? Shares, CFDs, Options, Futures, Spread Betting etc… What markets do you want to trade? Stocks, currencies, commodities, indices, bonds, ETFs or crypto-currencies… Where do you want to trade? Via phone, mobile or computer. What times would you like to trade? Morning, noon or night? What gearing and leverage would you like to trade? Whether you’re a Forex trader or a stock trader you’ll need to find out what gearing the broker has to offer. Such as 5:1 – 20:1 (for stocks) and 50:1 up to 200:1 (for Forex). E.g. With gearing (or leverage) of 50:1 this means if you deposit R1,000 into a trade you can hold a position exposed and valued up to R50,000. REMEMBER: the higher the leverage offered, the higher the reward but also the potential risk. Do they offer a demo account or a trial period? You should never rush into trading with real money, before getting to know your broker and your trading platform. That’s why you should ask your broker if they have a demo trading platform or account that you can use to test out what they have to offer with your strategies Checklist item #5: Do they offer trading education and training? A good and genuine broker should want you to be successful as a trader. And to do this, they should offer you a whole range of free education, training sources and tools such as: Training guides Glossary Trading videos, podcasts, forums Written articles Step-by-step trading tutorials Support staff Opinion-based resources Live trading events and webinars Trading calculators, tools and calendars Checklist item #6: The trading platform itself Majority of your analyses, preparation and the execution of trades are going to take place on the trading platform itself. This is why you’ll need to try it out, test it and learn how to use it, to see if it will suit your trading. Here is a list of items to watch out for with your trading platform: Item #1: Chart types: E.g. Line chart and candle sticks Item #2: Time frame options of: E.g. 1 hour, 4 hour, daily, weekly & monthly Item #3: Trading indicators and oscillators: E.g. RSI, Stochastics, MACD, OBV, ADX, Bollinger Bands etc… Item #4: Real time charts: E.g. Not having to refresh your screen every 15 minutes or download anything unnecessarily. Item #5: Live streaming data: E.g. News feed, live speeches & announcements, and SENS (Stock Exchange News Service). Item #6: Customized watch lists: Make sure there is a functionality to create, modify and monitor a watchlist with the markets you’ll be trading. Item #7: Trading order variety: E.g. Market, buy, sell, limit, stops, trailing stop loss and guaranteed stop losses Item #8: Trading journal: E.g. Portfolio profit & loss summary of open, closed and historical trades. Item #9: Trading order box: Where you’ll place your entry, stop loss, take profit, margin requirements, order quantity, gain potential, risk potential and risk to reward. Item #10: Reliability: When you’re testing the trading platform, this is where you can ensure it’s reliable in a way that: It runs smoothly It saves your layout, charts and profile It doesn’t crash The speed is good The features all work as they should The web-based (java) or desktop application works great The mobile app is easy-to-use and handle NOTE: TradingView connects a amazing and reliable brokers. Checklist item #7: Customer support It’s important to find out where you can contact your broker, in case you need help due to some technical or trading reason. Which mediums can you contact them through? • Phone • Email • Online live chat • WhatsApp • Skype • Forums Also when you give the representative a call, make sure they sound knowledgeable and confident in what they tell you. Think about how they respond to your questions, how quickly do they solve your queries, are they friendly and approachable? The contact support will also confirm their quality, efficiency, reliability and credibility for what the company already portrays and offers. Checklist item #8: Costs and fees You will never be able to avoid costs and fees completely, but you can minimize them by choosing the right broker. You’ll need to do a bit of research to compare the costs of buying, selling and holding trades. Make sure you look at the following: Spreads (Fixed or variable) Note: The spreads should be low for high volume traded markets Commissions (When you enter and when you exit) Margin interest Service charges Minimum charge per trade e.g. R100 Checklist item #9: Ease of deposits and withdrawals This is an important one… Each broker or dealer has their own measures and policies when it comes to their clients depositing into their trading accounts or withdrawing back into their bank accounts. Ask your broker how you can make a deposit whether it be via: EFT Credit Card PayPal Wire transfer Then confirm with your broker to send you their policies and costs on how you can withdraw your money and how long it will take whether it be: Via email to ask for a withdraw which will take under 3 trading days. Via the trading platform where you can withdraw through an authentication process. Via the broker who can only proceed with a withdrawal on the phone which will take three working days. Note: A withdrawal and deposit with a reputable and regulated broker should NEVER take more than three working days or warning bells should ring. Checklist item #10: Safety, security and legitimacy There are a few ways to check if the broker is safe and secure including: Their website starts with HTTPS: and not HTTP: They are insured and deal with top banks around the world. They have secured encryption processes. They have proven to show growth for their clients over the last five years. They have won broker awards or are listed in the top brokers in the country you’re looking at. Final Words You now have an idea on how to find the most ideal broker for you. Take your time to do the research and go through each line item one by one. Never rush into choosing a broker as this can be a significant decision for your financial future. If you enjoyed this piece then follow more daily tips and lessons on TradingView. I've been in the markets since 2003 and happy to share what I've learnt along the way. Trade well, live free. Timon MATI Trader PS: Connect with my few socials below.
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by Timonrosso