Hello traders! As I write this newsletter in Dallas, Texas, we are experiencing a record-setting cold spell that thankfully ends today. Having below freezing temperatures for several nights in a row is highly unusual for us this far south! This week’s newsletter is aimed at the poor people who are “trapped” in a geographic location that they might not be a huge fan of…
So, why is trading for a living the best business out there? Several reasons immediately come to mind; let’s start with a few selfish reasons.
You can do this job from nearly anywhere. All you need is a computer and an internet connection! I’ve had several students in class who have decided to roam the country in a recreational vehicle, and trade from wherever they decide to park that day/week/ month. Trading from a beachside in the winter or a mountain in the summer sounds pretty appealing to me! By the way, did you know that there are many markets/exchanges around the world? Staying put in your home country is one option, but I am a fan of being able to trade from anywhere on the planet. With the spot forex market, and other 24 hour markets out there, you don’t have to change up your daily schedule based on where you are living. Waking up in Hawaii is one thing; waking up at 3am to trade the United States stock market is another thing entirely! People who decide to start a regular business with a permanent location are a bit stuck. I personally wouldn’t be a fan of opening a business in the far north of the United States where the winter is cold and snowy for months. If you like that type of weather, more power to you, but it isn’t for me.
Overhead is cheap. The only capital you need is a trading account and the proper education. How much you need in a trading account to earn a living depends on your skill as a trader; knowing how to trade is an invaluable asset that can never be taken from you! Opening your own business obviously takes tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars, especially if you are going the franchise route. Using their knowledge definitely makes sense for a new business owner, but do you really want to work for someone else forever? The overhead of buying into a franchise, leasing a space, hiring people, etc. etc. is a series of headaches I personally don’t want to endure.
Being your own boss is a good thing! There are days when I don’t feel like trading. Perhaps I have to take the dogs to the vet, go shopping, or watch the World Cup soccer tournament at a local pub at noon. I don’t need to ask for time off; I get to do what I please. Running an office/franchise definitely ties you down, at least a bit. On a side note, if you are normally a day trader and you want to take a few hours or days off, you could certainly trade from longer time frames as a swing trader. In which case you are still “working,” but at a less frenetic pace. Checking your trades every few hours allows you to live the rest of your life as you see fit!
Get paid what you are worth. In nearly every class, someone complains about their previous corporate job where they haven’t received a raise in years, or don’t believe they are earning what they are worth. In trading, you get paid based on how good you are as a trader. Now, I realize not everyone is comfortable with this benefit; some would rather slog through life earning what they are paid. I personally think that being paid what someone else thinks I am worth is a bit of a drag. As a trader, if I believe I am worth earning six or seven figures, I can build up my account over time, expand my skillset, and earn that much money. If you are working for a large corporation, not too many non-executive jobs will ever pay you six figures. Even fewer will ever earn seven figures working for someone else! Are there any less selfish reasons that trading is the best business? The answer is yes. Now, these other reasons might fall into the above categories, but please bear with me.
Philanthropy – As people become more and more successful, they often choose to “give back” to a cause that is near and dear to them. Volunteering your time is one noble choice; donating money is almost as valuable, but not as rewarding (again, in my opinion). Donating money to an animal shelter or volunteering your time at a hospice center are both great things; everyone has their own cause. Trading as a business allows more flexibility in how you give back.
A legacy for your family – Successful traders often leave a bit of money to family members. However, another option is to teach your children, nieces, nephews, etc. the skill of trading and give them a small trading account to start with. I understand that college can be a great thing; however, the massive amount of student debt that can be accumulated, plus the high probability that the student might not even find a job in their chosen field might be cause to reconsider college. I can’t even imagine what my life would be like today if I learned how to trade when I was a teenager instead of at age 30!
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Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD trades weak below 1.0800 amid Good Friday lull, ahead of US PCE
EUR/USD continues its downward trend for the fourth consecutive day, driven by a stronger US Dollar influenced by the hawkish market sentiment surrounding the Federal Reserve and expectations of prolonged higher interest rates.
GBP/USD: The first downside target is seen at the 1.2600–1.2605 zone
GBP/USD trades on a weaker note around 1.2620 during the early European session on Friday. The decline of Pound Sterling is backed by the growing speculation that the BoE will begin the rate-cut cycle this year.
Gold ends Q1 2024 at record highs, what’s next?
Gold is sitting at an all-time high of $2,236, lacking a trading impetus amid holiday-thinned conditions on Good Friday. Most major world markets, including the United States are closed in observance of Holy Friday, leaving volatility around Gold price highly subdued.
Ripple's move above this key level could trigger nearly 50% rally for XRP
Ripple price has overcome a critical resistance level and flipped into a support floor on the weekly time frame. This development happened while XRP tightly consolidated for roughly 250 days.
US core PCE inflation set to ease in February on month as Federal Reserve rate cut bets for June mount
The core Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index is set to rise 0.3% MoM and 2.8% YoY in February. The revised Summary of Projections showed that policymakers upwardly revised end-2024 core PCE forecast to 2.6% from 2.4%.
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