Trading Psychology, Plan & Risk Management

For many traders, their trading psychology andNevertheless, having a good trading plan only
mindset will ultimately determine the success of theircomprises one part of the overall trading game.
trading. In fact, learning how to manage yourKnowing what to do when the going gets tough will
emotions while trading and training your responses toeventually distinguish a successful trader from the
various trading situations is a very important aspectother high percentage of unsuccessful market
of maturing as a trader. Many rogue traders thatparticipants.
caused huge bank losses failed to manage theirGenerally, traders will risk between 1% and 5% of
trading psychology well.their trading account's value on any given trade. Also,
The primary emotions, that tend arise when tradingby always risking the same percentage, the trader's
includes fear, greed and hope.trade size will tend to grow along with the equity in
Secondary emotional responses might include anger,their account.
frustration and elation. No matter what emotionIn order to effectively trade with stops, the trader
arises for you when trading, it makes sense to havewould do well to examine technical indicators and
an objective trade plan worked out in advance thatother trading signals and to place stop-loss orders
helps you manage them for optimal success.accordingly, thereby maintaining a more objective
Because of the volatility often seen in the Capitalmindset when trading.
Market, a trader without a sound moneyFurthermore, trading involves making both profitable
management component to their trading plan couldand unprofitable trades, and knowing how to manage
be likened to a skydiver without a parachute. In theemotions that arises from the unprofitable trades
event of a string of losing trades, the trader'stends to matter more. When trading profitably, the
account balance will drop much like the ill-fatedmoney tends to take care of itself, but when a
skydiver without the benefit of a parachute to breaktrader encounters a series of losing trades, having an
the fall.objective exit strategy and knowing when not to
A large percentage of people that begin trading intrade could save the account from ruin.
the market fail mainly because of lack of disciplineBasically, having an optimal trading mindset that
and poor money management. Without knowing howincludes sound money management principles is not
to deal with losing trades, many novice traders startonly essential for Forex traders to learn and practice,
"chasing money out the door" by committing a rangebut can benefit just about any business. In fact, even
of typical money management mistakes. Eventuallypeople that do not trade at all can often profit
they can end up losing a lot of money, perhaps evenconsiderably from learning how to manage their
their whole trading account.money better.