There is no doubt that stock trading is getting very popular nowadays and it’s the preferred vehicle for most people to make money. Almost every household talks about it. Most of them enter the market now and then.
To be successful in the trading game, there are some rules to follow. By violating the rules, you will definitely on the losing side of the game.
Regardless of all the trading books and newsletters that have cropped up, all of the market gurus are sharing and following the same trading rules. You can’t live without them if you want to succeed in your trading.
Here are the rules to successful trading, in random order, and they apply in all trading situations:
1. Plan your trade and trade your plan. You must have a trading plan to succeed. A trading plan should consist of a position, why you enter, stop loss point, profit taking level, plus a sound money management strategy. A good plan will remove all the emotions from your trades.
2. The trend is your friend. Do not buck the trend. When the market or stock is bullish, go long. On the reverse, if the market is bearish, you short. Never go against the trend.
3. Focus on capital preservation. The most important step that you must take when you deal with your trading capital. You main goal is to preserve the capital. Do not trade more than 10% of your portfolio in a single trade. For example, if your portfolio is $10,000, every trade should limit to $1000. If you don’t do this, you’ll be out of the market very soon.
4. Know when to cut loss. If a trade goes against you, sell it and let go. Do not hold on to a bad trade hoping that the price will go up. Most likely, you end up losing more money. Before you enter a trade, decide your stop loss price, a price where you must sell when the trade turns sour. It depends on your risk profile as of how much you should set for the stop loss.
5. Take profit when the trade is good. Before entering a trade, decide how much profit you are willing to take. When a trade turns out to be good, take the profit. You can take profit all at one go, or take profit in stages. When you’ve recovered your trading cost, you have nothing to lose. Sit tight and watch the profit run.
6. Be emotionless. Two biggest emotions in trading: greed and fear. Do not let greed and fear influence your trade. Trading is a mechanical process and it’s not for the emotional ones. As Dr. Alexander Elder said in his book Trading For A Living, if you sit in front of a successful trader and observe how he trades, you might not be able to tell whether he is making or losing money. That’s how emotionally stable a successful trader is.
7. Do not trade based on a tip from a friend or broker. Trade only when you have done your own research and analysis. Be an informed trader.
8. Keep a trading journal. When you buy a stock, write down the reasons why you buy, and your feelings at that time. You do the same when you sell. Analyze and write down the mistakes you’ve made, as well as things that you’ve done right. By referring to your trading journal, you learn from your past mistakes. Improve on your mistakes, keep learning and keep improving.
9. When in doubt, stay out. When you have doubt and not sure where the market or stock is going, stay on the sideline. Sometimes, doing nothing is the best thing to do.
10. Do not overtrade. Ideally you should have 3-5 positions at a time. No more than that. If you have too many positions, you tend to be out of control and make emotional decisions when there is a change in market. Do not trade for the sake of trading.
Above all the rules, there is one single most important element in trading success: YOU. The markets have been the same and will always be the same. You decide whether the trade is a success or failure. Losing is part of the game. Don’t give up and keep improving. Be disciplined, determined, persistent, and most of all enjoy your trading.
PT Cheng is a business owner. He believes that everybody has the potential to be rich and eventually financially free. For practical tips on how you can be your own boss, make more money, and have fun along the way, subscribe to his FREE newsletter at
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