Forex Trading: Beginner versus Seasoned Trader
In the world of Forex Trading, there are many retail traders in the market who seek to profit from the Forex Market. Some may have just joined not too long ago, and some have been in the market for many years. Just like how there are differences between a pro footballer and someone that just joined the Premier League, there are many differences between a beginner trader and a seasoned trader besides skills. In this post, we will look to see what are some of these differences so that you as a trader can work on these as well.
Firstly, seasoned traders often have better control over their emotions as compared to beginner traders. Beginner traders often struggle with controlling emotions like fear, greed and anxiety. This inability to control their emotions can lead them to make more impulsive decisions that will ruin their account. On the other hand, most seasoned traders understand that emotions are the downfall for many traders; they themselves have fallen prey to it a couple of times during their trading journey. As such, most seasoned traders often have the ability to regulate themselves better, and minimize the risk they have in the market.
The second difference would be that seasoned traders make better decisions as compared to beginner traders. This is simply because beginner traders have a tendency to make decisions based on their emotions or unreliable information, as compared to seasoned traders who will evaluate the information carefully before deciding to enter the market. The important lesson to learn here is to enter quality trades and not a lot of trades. You can enter many trades as long as the trades follow the strategy you subscribe to, but you should not be entering trades that do not have that quality.
Thirdly, seasoned traders are generally more patient and disciplined than beginner traders. Instead of being swayed by market noise or seeking quick profits and not fully maximising the potential of the trade, seasoned traders will demonstrate the patience necessary to wait for the high probability trading opportunity regardless of current volatility or market conditions. This allows them to minimize losses, which is essential in ensuring that their capital is intact to make more money off of it.
The fourth difference is that seasoned traders engage in continuous learning, and are an example of how continuous learning can lead to success in the Forex Market. This is an advantage that can only be overcome by beginner traders as time passes. By looking at the seasoned traders, beginner traders should not feel demoralized, but take them as a source of motivation; that continuous learning will help the trader to improve their trading skills in the market. Learning from your trades and how you make decisions can give you better insight then just blindly following the crowd or market sentiment, due to how market manipulation may occur.
Last but not least, seasoned traders are psychologically more resilient than their beginner counterparts. Forex Trading is a harsh world where many traders can lose their entire Forex accounts. This setback and loss often discourages beginner traders, potentially leading to self doubt and a lack of confidence that ultimately results in a withdrawal from the game. Seasoned traders understand through experience and other factors that these losses are not the end of the world, and they learn from the mistakes they make trading Forex. This allows the seasoned traders to maintain their confidence in their trading abilities over time. They understand that it is not about being in the game right now, but being in the game in the long term.
It is important to understand that these are not the only differences separating a beginner trader and a seasoned trader. There are many other differences out there that the seasoned trader has picked up that allows them to stay in the Forex market for so long. For both beginner and seasoned traders out there who come across this article, let it be known that these soft skills are as important as the hard skills necessary to enter trades in the Forex market. It will be wise of you to brush up on your self management skills so that you are able to survive in this harsh market.