How many of you guys do this as a career?

[Jones75]

So, people on many forums in general will tell you to passively invest by buying Vanguard index funds and letting them sit for 40 years so you can have a few hundred thousand for when you retire.

That's fine and all, and I do that too, but I want to know how many of y'all do this every day as your bread and butter. How many of you guys have a significant amount of capital (at least 100,000) that you actively manage. How many of y'all buy and sell individual stocks? How many of you guys perform fundamental analysis and use statistics tools to help you buy and sell?

How did those of you who do this for a living get to that point? Do you work for a bank, or do you do all of your trading at home? How did you get into it? How old are you? Did you go to school for it?

I'm a swing trader that likes fundamentals and stats. Candlesticks are good for timing entries and exit's Really enjoy reading financial statements.
There are so many ways to trade, just keep experimenting until you find your niche.
And the most important thing is money management, "no money, no trade".
Best of luck!

 

[Cswim63]

Well, you're right

I quit my job, started a company, failed, and then decided to be a full time trader and investor. I've been pursuing this as a career from home, self-employed, for around a year. I've managed to lose at least $40,000 so far... And let me tell you... It wrecks your confidence. But I am staying after it. I've experimented with day trading, swing trading, timing the market, position trading, but and hold, the Buffett approach and reading 10-Ks. But I might lack the discipline to be successful. Time will tell. You do learn something from every experiment. I do like to read and think and so basic math. I do think that's all there is to it. I like this career because, though it is financially risky, it's physically safe.

Look, I don't feel like talking about myself right now. But I have to say, if you are consistently losing then you need to stop, at least temporarily. It's been my experience that people who lose want to lose, deep down. There's no excuse for it after awhile. Pause, regroup. You may find that when you come back you see everything differently, more clearly. You can't see well when you are losing.

 

[MaryOldman]

Why only guys? Women do it too. Even better sometimes, we have very strong sense of intuition, I guess you've already found out that.
And yes, it's my career. It's quite risky, but I like it.

 

[marketsurfer]

Why only guys? Women do it too. Even better sometimes, we have very strong sense of intuition, I guess you've already found out that.
And yes, it's my career. It's quite risky, but I like it.

Here's another successful woman trader: http://lindaraschke.net/

 

[Redneck]

Why only guys? Women do it too. Even better sometimes, we have very strong sense of intuition, I guess you've already found out that.
And yes, it's my career. It's quite risky, but I like it.

Out of the gate (starting out) - women are typically more level headed (less ego / less hesitant to exit a loser).., hence manage risk better

RN

 

[speedo]

Add the brilliant Connie Brown to the woman's list.....also Carolyn Barodon.

 

[Jones75]

I think "guys" has morphed into more of an androgynous term, can be used with either gender, at least in Toronto.

 

[TraDaToR]

Ag trader( sole income ) since '07. Started dabbling in stocks in high school. Didn't finish law school and decided to give the markets a try. 2008 helped me to start as it was the perfect environment( high volatility ). I trade from home. 33. Scalping and Fundamentals.