Posts Tagged ‘emotions’

Investing - Buy and Hold Strategy

Tuesday, December 16th, 2008

Does a buy and hold strategy still work well for unit trust funds? There’s an argument that buy and hold is not a strategy, but is the same as not doing anything. To make it worse, your investment may ’sink’.

Given an example, let’s say, you bought into an equity fund in December 1998 and kept it until December 2004 and had a return on investment (ROI) of -2%. If you had actively managed your investments and switched to a bond fund (during bull bond market) and returned to equity later (during bull equity market), your ROI would have been 15%. Thus, some analysts suggest a buying, monitoring and rebalancing strategy.

The buy and hold strategy is based on an assumption that over the long run, markets will go up eventually. It’s a strategy that helps the investor save on transaction costs, taxes on capital gains and avoid the hassle of buying and selling.

There are a number of factors concerning this strategy. First, it’s assumed that the portfolio is diversified into different stocks and asset classes. If the investor only invested in one stock, he won’t even recover the cost today. He needs to invest across the asset classes (bonds, gold, cash etc.). In the long term, the portfolio will give good but not necessarily the best results.

Second, the investments must be fundamentally sound. In developing countries, a buy and hold strategy may not produce the best results many changes are still taking place. Thus, business cycle, the economic and investing environment and government policies will change, in line with the country’s development. When change happen, you can’t ignore the impact.

That being the case, investors are advised to review their investments regularly (at least once a year). But should unit trust investors try timing the market? As you know, a unit trust fund is a medium to long term investment vehicle. However, you can’t just invest and forget about it. Investors should monitor them closely and not easily give up control of their hard earned money.

Not all investors are literate enough to know when to enter and exit asset classes. Investors’ emotions come into play, making it hard for them to sell and take profit or cut losses, especially those who invest directly in the market. Thus, leave it to the professionals if you’re clueless and illiterate about financial markets, although even professionals can’t get it right all the time too as timing the market is never easy.

Another critical element of unit trust investing is to figure out if you’re comfortable with the fund manager’s style. If the investor were to rebalance his portfolio himself, in this case, the asset allocation decision is made by the investor himself. When markets move, he decides whether to buy, hold or sell.

For you those of you who prefer taking control of your investment, even if it’s a small sum, make sure you go into a fund that charges minimal entry and exit fees or allows free switches between funds in the same company and in the same year. Only move your investments when you believe market fundamentals have changed, otherwise don’t get caught up with investor sentiment.

Even if there were no changes in the investing environment, your own objectives may have changed, so it’s wise to review your portfolio at least once a year.

For investors who prefers to let the fund manager decide so long as they get a reasonable return on investments, there are funds that allow you to just sit back and watch your investments grow (if you’re lucky!). Go with funds and fund managers whose investment style suits your risk profile.

Finally, investors need to be educated. Get literate in your finances or make sure your investment consultant is literate.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Investing

Forex Trading Review - Why You Would Be Crazy to Trade Without Automated Forex Trading Software

Saturday, December 13th, 2008

If you know anything about Forex Trading then you know you can’t live without an automated Forex trading system. This type of Forex automated system will protect you from falling into the most common traps of Forex trading.

Those who have chosen to work from home with Forex trading systems have found that having this type of automated system is the only way to ensure success and take the human error factor out of the equation. Such proven profit systems ensures you a no hassle trading experience and virtually eliminates picking losers.

In this industry it’s not enough to rely on your gut feelings, and feelings in general, about the trades you are making. Such decisions based on hunches and emotions, are a recipe for losses. An automated Forex trading platform doesn’t have feelings.

So what should you look for in a trading system? Well, for one the trading software should be a no hassle model. Here are just a few things to look for in an automated Forex trading system:

  • Easy Installation
  • No experience needed
  • Proven Profit System
  • No hassle trading
  • No Human Error
  • Works w/any MT4 Broker
  • No Risk Demo Accounts
  • Automated Trading
  • No More Picking Losers
  • Start Within Minutes

Let’s talk about those free demo accounts briefly. What is better than being able to play the market with funny money? You can learn the system and see just how much profit you would make as if it were the real deal. This golden nugget teamed with some type of money back guarantee is what you need to look for.

The Forex market operates 24/7/365. It’s a global market, and it’s always business hours somewhere in the world. This little tool is like having your own Forex Autopilot System. It will create and trade Forex signals while you sleep. Oh, I forgot to mention you should look for a system that was built by the pros to mine and cherry pick the best deals for you.

I am all about working smarter not harder! So whether you trade as a hobby or you plan on making this a full time career this is one of those must have tools to add to your arsenal. No one likes to watch their money disappear. If making money is important to you it may be worth your time to look into this type of trading tool.

To discover how to put this Forex Tracer Tool to work for you Click Here

Methods of Profitable Forex Trading

Thursday, December 4th, 2008

I wanted to take the time to share with you a little about methods of profitable forex trading. This is a huge market with a lot of money moving around in a day. There is a big potential for an ordinary Joe to get some of that money, but before you can do that, you need to learn foundation of quality trading. I hope to share that information with you.

The first thing you need to get under control is what I like to call the “inner gambler”. You’ve seen gambling destroy people’s lives. This type of person lives inside of all of us. They’re fixed on the emotional high of winning and feel they can win back losses. You need to make sure that this person never sees the light of day. You do this by controlling your emotions and making decisions based on logic. If you seem to be getting gut feelings or stressed out, you’re allowing that gambler to surface. Stick to cold calculated moves and you’ll be on your way to profiting.

The next thing I’m going to share is the need to understanding a good buy. We are obsessed in our culture of finding the best for the cheapest price. The thing is we are consumers, so we’re not intending to trade. The key to profiting in forex is finding the exit or sell price. That is what determines profits. When you find currencies that you could trade that you expect to go up 15%, it doesn’t matter how much it costs. All that matters is the exit price.

The ultimate way to generate profits in the forex market is by using the Forex Tracer. It is a tool that can find the most profitable trades and make them on your behalf. It is a hands free way of profiting. Check out the Forex Tracer Review.

Discover the Secrets to Automating Your Income Using Forex Trading Systems

Thursday, November 27th, 2008

Ever since the introduction of automated forex trading systems, there has been a surge in interest in this type of trading. Small and mid level investors are now getting into the foray of what was once only dominated by banks and other large financial institutions. This market deals with trading the currency of one country for that of another country. Because trillions of dollars are traded 24/7, it makes this one of the largest and most active financial markets.

The advent of internet and advance communication technologies coupled with automated forex trading systems, today anyone can join in the trading provided he has a computer with an internet connection, a forex brokerage account and good knowledge of how trading works. Close and constant monitoring is required if you want to keep your position as the global market never sleeps. Automated systems allow you to pick up a currency and record the asking and selling price. With the help of a broker and your seed amount, your purchase and sell orders would be carried out immediately.

The automatic forex trading systems can help you reap the profits of the market despite the fact that you are not a professional trader. When you trade through managed accounts, the automated system carries out the work for you. You save a great deal of time with these auto systems since you do not have to carryout the trading yourself. Unlike manual trading, the auto systems allow you to manage multiple accounts simultaneously with the help of a trading platform. The biggest advantage of these programs is that you are allowed trading many systems in many markets.

You can use automatic forex trading systems any time you like and it does not require your presence. There is no chance of missing any profitable opportunity even if you are not present in front of your computer. You are then free to use the various forex strategies and multiple systems. Different trade factors impact different systems; you can therefore direct your investments and control risks.

To eradicate human emotions which often come in the way of making logical trading decisions, these automated forex trading systems are indispensable. You can now have the capacity to manage several currencies and monitor and trade them too.

Using an auto forex trading system does not spare you from learning the basics of trading, fundamental and technical analysis, study of market indicators, etc. Several factors and conditions control the market, so no automated system can assure you of profits all the time. You can customize the automated forex trading system according to your specific requirements.

If you enjoyed this article and would like more information on how you can automate your income through Forex Trading. and discover a secret step by step system, never revealed before to generate income automatically. Why not visit and find out for yourself.

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Forex Day Trading Strategies - Day Trading Your Way to Profits

Saturday, November 22nd, 2008

There are many forex day trading strategies and systems you can see promoted or for sale online - but which are the best? Let’s find out…

The answer is any forex day trading strategy you try won’t work because day trading and scalping by its very nature is doomed to failure - Why?

It’s simple really if you think about it.

You have to decide in a matter of hours or minutes, what a vast diverse group of traders are going to do and this group is countless millions.

Chaos in the Short Term

They all have different aims, educational levels, some are hedging some speculating, there are long term trend followers, swing traders and day traders and many are governed by their emotions, with greed and fear to the fore, so how on earth can you predict what they will do in short time spans?

You can’t! All short term volatility is random and you have no way of getting the odds on your side and you will lose.

What About the Profitable Track Records You See From Vendors?

You may see track records of profits but they are not quite what they seem.

Hunt around for the disclaimer on any of the forex day trading strategies you see sold online and you will see the worlds “hypothetical”, “simulated” and “back tested” written in the small print.

This means done on paper, not in real time! So these track records count for nothing, there simply made up.

Can You Make Money with any Short Term Trading?

Yes you can and rather than think forex day trading strategies think - forex swing trading strategies. Swing trading looks at longer time frames, normally a few days to a week and here you can get the odds on your side and that means you can win.

It’s still short term trading- but the data is valid and you can calculate the odds which is impossible in day trading.

If you like the idea of trading short term this is the way to go.

You can put together a robust swing trading strategy quickly and be making big profits in less than 30 minutes per day.

So don’t believe the hype about forex day trading strategies, go for a short term trading strategy that works forex swing trading.

You can avoid an inevitable loss and get on the road to currency trading success.

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Automated Trading Day - Day Trading, Scalping Robots Can Yield Big Gains!

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008

Automated trading daily - has the image of low risk and high profits as forex robots are plugged in and profits come with low risk and big long term gains. - But is this possible lets look at how an automated trading day and high profit day and see if its reality.

There are numerous forex robots that promise you that you can make big gains with low risk and you don’t need any experience either - just plug in and the profits come and they even show you fantastic track records to back up their claims - but there’s a problem. See a track record of gains in day trading and you will see this warning at the bottom take a read:

“CFTC RULE 4.41 - Hypothetical or simulated performance results have certain limitations. Unlike an actual performance record, simulated results do not represent actual trading. Also, since the trades have not been executed, the results may have under-or-over compensated for the impact, if any, of certain market factors, such as lack of liquidity. Simulated trading programs in general are also subject to the fact that they are designed with the benefit of hindsight. No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profit or losses similar to those shown”.

What does it mean? Well you have probably already guessed it - the track records are simply made up, meaningless, simulations in HINDSIGHT!

Let me see… if I had tomorrow’s price today, how rich would I be? VERY! But that’s not the reality of trading forex.

Would you trust a golf instructor who had never played golf?

Of course not - so why would you trust an automatic forex day trading system which hadn’t been traded and made a profit long term? Well thousands of traders do and they pay for it with a wipeout of equity.

Day trading is a good story - but that’s all it is a story which, doesn’t add up in reality and is based on ridiculous logic.

There are millions of people all trading FX and they all make the price and the question you have to ask yourself is:

How on earth can you predict what this vast mass of people will do when they all have different skills, motivations and are subject to their emotions and even harder what they will do in a matter of hours?

The answer is simple - you can’t.

Automatic forex day trading is good theory but with all short term volatility being random it doesn’t work.

You can prove this to yourself - find a forex robot that scalps or day trades and then look for the disclaimer saying it’s a simulation - look and you’re bound to find it.

Forex trading can offer you big profits - but making money is never easy and if you think about it - you wouldn’t expect it to be, with the rewards on offer.

You need to do your homework and learn to trade longer term. An automated trading day system is another phrase for a losing system longer term - because you can never get the odds on your side.

Trading is an odds game, no odds on your side no profits - PERIOD.

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Forex Factor X Review - Is This Another One of Forex Trading Methods Scams?

Friday, November 7th, 2008

Would you like to find out more about Forex Factor X, and whether it really works as a profitable trading system? There are many factors to consider when choosing a trading system. The first criteria, is of course, whether the method can really make money. Once that is found, you also need to make sure that it fits your lifestyle (for example, I would not use a profitable system if it required me to check my trading platform every 10 minutes or so). So how did Forex Factor X do in testing?

1. Review of the Forex Factor X System

Cuts Losses Fast and Runs Winners

Forex Factor X’s method aims to run profitable trades as far as possible, while cutting losses out when the trade does not pan out as planned. This is the reason how this system comes out with a profit in the short and long term. In fact, all the best trading systems that I have used apply this concept to preserve capital and while maximizing winners.

Simple to Understand and Implement

I personally felt that this system is relatively simple compared to some others that I have used before. It has been proven time and time again that the complexity of a system has no effect on its profitability. In fact, many successful traders use simple and fundamentally strong methods that survive any market condition.

The more complicated systems tend to fit market conditions to their system and therefore fail when conditions change. As long as you understand how Forex Factor X’s system works, you should have complete confidence executing your trades.

2. My Experience with Forex Factor X

This system tells me exactly what to do every day and removes any emotions I have that may affect my decisions. I would usually find a signal to enter a trade in the morning, and the system tells me exactly which price to enter, where to take profit and set stop loss.

Is Forex Factor X a scam? Visit http://www.top-review.org/forex-factor-x.htm to read a FREE report about this Forex trading system, or CLICK HERE to See Forex Factor X!

The Millionaire’s Mindsets And Habits

Friday, October 24th, 2008

If you observe genuinely rich and wealthy people, you will notice that truly wealthy people share and adopt similar mindsets and habits.

When I refer to millionaires or wealthy people, I am not to referring people who have large amounts of money in their bank account or people who have amassed large fortunes or assets.

I am referring to people who possess the millionaire’s mindsets and habits. These mindsets and habits can be said to be more invaluable than any current assets or fortune.

They are the reason why and how rich and wealthy people are able to create the wealth they have now. It does not matter where you are starting from. You can be a millionaire now or you could be having nothing to your name at the moment.

Having acquired the millionaire’s mindsets and habits, creating wealth is simply an everyday thing, a part of life, not something you struggle to attain.

The question is, have you acquired these mindsets and habits?

Introducing you to the…

MILLIONAIRE’S MINDSET

Millionaires Take 100% Responsibility for their:

  • Emotions
  • Communication
  • Results
  • Wealth

Millionaires believe: For Things to Change, I Must Change First

Here’s the opposite mindset of a millionaire:

VICTIM MINDSET

Here’s what victims do:

  • Give EXCUSES
  • BLAME Everyone Else
  • Go into DENIAL
  • COMPLAIN All the Time
  • JUSTIFY their Actions

Are you playing ABOVE or BELOW the Line? You decide which category you fall in. No one but only you can decide for yourself

Next we come to HABITS.

What do habits have to do with wealth creation and becoming wealthy you may ask? Let me be honest and upfront with you right now. Being rich & wealthy is a process; it is actually a journey filled with a set of principles. That is where this sets of habits come into place. If you cannot even master these 10 habits, forget about becoming wealthy. It could be too arduous and tiring for you.

Here are the 10 wealth habits

  1. Do More Than Expected
  2. Be Proactive - Make things happen
  3. Delayed Gratification - Invest more than you spend
  4. Do What You Love
  5. Constant and Never Ending Improvement
  6. Make it a Must - Put Yourself On The Line
  7. Have Integrity
  8. Have Discipline - Stick To Your Rules
  9. Play Win-Win
  10. Turn Failure into Feedback

Make these mindsets and habits a part of yourself. In this way you are in fact investing in yourself. When you start investing in yourself, you will begin to expand. Through self improvement and expansion, these internal resources will enable you to generate the riches and abundance in life.

Wei Chung Kay is an entrepreneur, content creator and marketer of web content and information. For the individual seeking financial freedom and abundance, Get the Secrets Of Self Made Millionaires Wealth Creation Program Today!

Beware the Most Toxic “Money Belief” - “I Can’t Afford It”

Monday, October 20th, 2008

Want to stop your financial progress in its track? Start believing the most toxic and limiting “money belief”–”I can’t afford it.” There are two things happen when you adopt this belief.

First, you begin to develop a belief of scarcity. When you say “I can’t afford it,” you are saying that there isn’t enough of something. While you might not have the resources available at the moment, that is just a temporary situation.

When you say “I can’t afford it,” you are slamming the door shut. You are forming a belief which may end up having serious consequences for your financial well-being down the line. Because of how your brain works with the words you say to it, you are giving yourself the suggestion that you not only can’t afford it now, but you won’t be able to afford it at a future time either. While that probably is not what you mean, it is what you assume unconsciously.

People who have difficulty with money or obtaining the resources they need (money, time or energy), often have a belief that there is not enough and won’t be enough. That is a belief that is usually not very helpful. The truth is that the universe is quite abundant. You are better able to attract some of that abundance if you believe it is possible for YOU to attain some of it.

The second thing that happens is an issue of value. When you say “I can’t afford it,” you are unsure about its value for you or your value to have this product or service. When you say “I can’t afford it,” sometimes you are saying “I don’t deserve it.”

If it isn’t valuable for you, it really isn’t an issue of not being able to afford it; the issue is that it isn’t something that is valuable, needed or wanted. When you say “I can’t afford it,” and mean “I don’t deserve to have this,” you are putting limits on your own value, and this will definitely limit your success.

Ultimately, you have a CHOICE to make–a choice about the value of the item or service to you. Is it valuable enough for you to spend your resources on? It isn’t an issue about what you can afford or what you cannot. It is really whether you choose to spend your resources on the item or service you are considering. Let its value guide you, not your limiting belief that you can’t afford it.

(c) 2008 Linda Pucci, Ph.D.

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach, trainer and owner of Inner Resource Center, LLC. She has 30 years of experience helping people overcome obstacles, change their lives, and reach goals they had not thought possible using her solution focused approach. She specializes in helping people get unstuck from negative emotions and limiting beliefs that sabotage their success. Get additional free tips and challenges for getting unstuck the things that block your success from her Inner Resources report at http://www.InnerResourceCenter.com or contact her for a free 20 minute consultation.

Forex Currency Trading Tips

Sunday, September 21st, 2008

Every day thousands of people make a large amount of money online by the Forex trade. However, for new comers Forex trade is not as easy, unless you know what you are doing. In order to gain money rather than loose a lot if it, there are a few necessary tips one should know and follow.

Firstly, be careful about what type of trade you go into, i.e. it is better that new comers begin by trading pairs instead of currency. When dealing with currencies it is essential that the trader knows all there is to know about each currency and consequently how each currency effects every other currency in the market. Market awareness and knowledge of market basics is also important. Volatility in the Forex market is where there is more benefit rather than when it is calm. Most new comers make the common mistake of getting scared and exiting when the market gets violent. Waiting for the market to become calm again results in loosing a chance at success nine times out of ten.

When choosing to trade Forex, decide before hand whether you will trade by yourself or whether you will have a broker trade on your behalf. Whatever choice you make there is one key point in each to understand, so that you don’t loose money either way. When choosing to allow a broker to trade on your behalf, don’t interfere with what he does or what he doesn’t do. If you’ve chosen an experienced broker then let him do his job his way. Furthermore, if you choose to trades independently avoid talking advice from too many outside sources. Too much information / advise can confuse you and make you act against better judgement, hence resulting in great amount of loss.

It is important to understand that the market has two directions; either up or down. When its up it’s up, and when its down it’s down. If you place a trade which is not working out exit from it immediately. Allow yourself some growth and learning time, gain confidence while simultaneously gaining market knowledge and don’t allow emotions to cloud your judgement. If you hit big on an initial attempt, don’t get too confident remain focused, cautious and determined.

Lastly, remember never to sell a dull market when present in a bull market. And never purchase a dull market when present in a bear market.

This article is written by Lara Lee, a prominent writer and editor for bezno.com. Lara specializes in Forex Trading Courses and Guide For more information on a variety of popular Forex Tips, check out these Strategies for Futures & FOREX Trading