By Nathan Boardman
Forex brokers’ websites openly disclose statistics indicating that 80% of retail traders experience financial losses. Specific sources have reported that the loss rate can be as high as 90%. However, it is essential to note that the exact figures may vary, and different statistics are available. Nonetheless, these estimates are generally accurate.
Due to this rationale, individuals new to forex trading often seek guidance on achieving a position within the top 5-10% of successful traders. Similarly, traders who encounter difficulties in attaining profitability desire information that can assist them in enhancing their trading strategies and cultivating a profitable trading advantage.
Regrettably, the vast expanse of the Internet is rife with inaccurate and misleading information about forex trading. Numerous websites inaccurately portray forex trading as a rapid means to accumulate wealth, misleadingly presenting it as a straightforward and effortless endeavor that can yield substantial profits without significant risk or the need for extensive expertise or experience.
What distinguishes the individuals who belong to the successful 5-10%, and what determines their actions? This article highlights the distinguishing factors that set the top 5-10% of successful forex traders apart from the majority. We will explore the top 10 secrets of forex trading that contribute to their success.
The 10 Best Forex Trading Secrets
1. Loyalty and Dedication
Engaging in forex trading with real money with prior experience or a well-defined trading plan is considered highly inadvisable.
To achieve genuine success in forex trading, it is essential to demonstrate a high level of commitment. This entails being fully engaged, maintaining a solid focus, having a dedicated work ethic, exercising patience, and possessing a continuous desire to learn about oneself as a trader and the market dynamics, including losses and wins.
It is commonly believed that consistent practice is essential for forex traders aiming to achieve high expertise, profitability, and consistency, placing them among the top 5-10% of traders. Therefore, these traders must dedicate themselves to regular trading exercises without taking breaks.
2. The Plan for Trading
Similar to a sports team’s dynamics, trading involves various skills, techniques, and strategic approaches. Before and after executing trades, the multiple components of your trading plan play a crucial role in increasing your chances of making profits and positioning yourself among the top 10% of successful traders.
Various factors can influence your trading decisions, such as the specific timeframe you prefer for analyzing price movements, the optimal trading time for you, the strategies you employ to navigate price fluctuations, the critical levels you identify in the market, and the ratio between the risk you are willing to take and the potential reward you expect to gain.
The activities conducted following a trade are referred to as the post-trade routine. This routine encompasses various aspects, including the management of losses and the response to wins. By incorporating these practices into a well-defined trading plan, individuals can enhance their decision-making abilities for future trades.
Although the forex market is complex, grasping every aspect is unnecessary to increase the likelihood of successful trading. Simultaneously acquiring knowledge and proficiency in multiple trading styles and strategies can lead to confusion and hinder your progress. It is advisable to master a single trading style or strategy before gradually branching out to other facets of trading.
To effectively analyze market trends, begin by identifying significant price levels. From there, one can proceed to assess the strength of the trend. Following that, it is advisable to direct your attention towards a specific entry pattern, such as pin bars, support or resistance levels, or engulfing candles. By broadening your range of skills in this manner, you will soon develop a comprehensive strategic plan tailored to your specific needs.
3. Be Patient
The primary task of forex traders involves analyzing price movements, utilizing both technical and fundamental analysis and subsequently executing market orders to either buy or sell.
Frequently, individuals engaged in day trading or short-term trading may need more interest in conducting routine analysis when market conditions lack significant price fluctuations or volatility. This can lead to impulsive trading decisions driven by personal beliefs rather than adherence to a well-defined trading plan and strategy. Not only are such decisions considered unethical, but they are often caused by emotions. Additionally, it is worth noting that, in most cases, these trades result in financial losses.
Traders who succumb to these errors risk experiencing significant financial losses or may opt to discontinue trading due to the accumulation of adverse emotions and frustration. To achieve success as a forex trader, it is essential to possess the quality of patience.
This involves dedicating time to acquire knowledge, creating a well-defined trading strategy, conducting thorough market analysis to identify potential opportunities, calmly waiting for trades to unfold and yield profitable or unprofitable results, and learning from both positive and negative outcomes.
4. A Clear Graph of How Prices Change
Inexperienced individuals entering the forex market often need to incorporate numerous indicators into their trading charts, which is a wise approach. The approach being used needs to be more professional and is causing confusion, mainly when the signals from the indicator are unclear or contradictory.
Maintaining an organized chart is crucial and offers psychological benefits. It is important to note that technical indicators and oscillators can still be valuable. However, ensuring that each indicator you apply to your chart serves a specific purpose and is used correctly is essential.
5. Making Use of a Trade Journal
Utilizing paper trading or maintaining a manual trade journal, rather than relying solely on brokers’ real-time trade records, is crucial for effectively monitoring your forex trading performance. These methods allow you to track essential metrics such as margin utilization, trade-specific profits and losses, buying power, and other factors significantly impacting your trading outcomes.
Journaling in trading is often overlooked by many traders, who find it less enjoyable than relying on their brokers’ real-time records. The issue pertains to the insufficiency of information within the broker’s records, which hinders the trader’s ability to review and acquire knowledge.
While the traditional method of journaling may require a significant amount of time, it is essential for recognizing repetitive patterns and specific behaviors in price movements. This individually distinct process holds valuable insights for traders who employ this journaling technique.
6. Back Testing and Forward Testing
Observing the number of traders who engage in forex trading without adequate stress testing their strategies through paper trading and demo trading is concerning. Developing a well-structured trading plan or strategy can be accomplished within a relatively short timeframe. However, the accurate evaluation of its effectiveness lies in the execution and implementation of the plan.
Suppose one has developed a daily trading plan that outlines their approach to the forex market. The significance of stress testing (including backtesting and forward testing) in evaluating the profitability of a strategy should be considered before making a long-term commitment.
There is a wide range of simulation tools available that can be utilized for this specific purpose. These tools provide valuable insights into price movement, allowing you to evaluate your strategy using historical data and various trading scenarios.
7. The Mentality and the Losses
Indeed, it is a common sentiment to prefer gaining money over losing it. Even the most skilled traders experience losses on occasion. To effectively manage losses in forex trading, adopting a proper mindset and understanding of the nature of losses is crucial.
Experiencing a loss in the Forex market is commonly regarded as unfavorable, particularly among individuals new to trading. However, proficient traders do not perceive losses as inherently harmful or attribute them solely to the forex market. They recognize that the market is indifferent to their specific entry price or stop-loss order placement.
What is the significance of a loss for accomplished forex traders? A loss can be understood as the cost incurred in conducting business operations.
It is advisable to adopt this trading mentality daily consistently. When experiencing a loss, it is most beneficial to approach it with a constructive mindset. Rather than becoming emotionally distressed, seeking feedback, analyzing the situation, and reflecting on potential improvement areas is more productive. Maintain a receptive mindset; the market will reveal essential trading insights crucial for your understanding.
8. Calendar of Daily Economic Events
The prominence of technical analysis has overshadowed the significance of fundamental analysis. Many traders need to pay more attention to the importance of news in influencing price movements within the market.
One effective strategy for gaining a competitive edge in trading is to utilize significant financial and economic news releases from various global sources, such as FOMC announcements, NFP reports, central bank interest rate decisions, GDP data, and similar events.
9. Establish a Relationship With a Reputable Broker
One crucial aspect to consider in the forex trading industry is the varying levels of trust and security associated with brokers’ licenses. Frequently, licenses obtained from offshore regulatory bodies need more value in many instances.
It is important to note that forex trading may only be regulated in some countries. As a result, certain brokers operate in different jurisdictions under offshore licenses. However, conducting business with brokers regulated by reputable authorities is advisable.
10. Accounts for Dealing Desk Trading Should Be Avoided
Traders frequently seek brokers that offer highly competitive spreads. In practical terms, the least expensive products available may not necessarily exhibit a high level of quality and may fall short of being superior to other options. The same principle can be applied to forex brokers.
Accounts that offer zero pip attractive spreads are typically associated with a ‘Dealing Desk’ execution model. In this model, brokers may provide less accurate data feeds and potentially hinder your trading activities in the forex market. It is recommended to engage in trading using a commission-based account and ensure that your orders are executed through an ECN or STP system.
Final Thoughts
Forex trading should be approached with a serious mindset, as it requires dedicated effort and time to achieve mastery and consistent profitability. Establishing attainable goals and objectives for your trading career while carefully considering these valuable insights into forex trading is crucial.
