how we manage Day/swing Trading with Full time job like 9-5

Normally swing trade indexes. Use internet at work and also smart phone. Sometimes very hard to concentrate at work depending whats happening in the markets. Its a question of priorities and at the moment making much more money in the markets so just have to make time at work.
 
Normally swing trade indexes. Use internet at work and also smart phone. Sometimes very hard to concentrate at work depending whats happening in the markets. Its a question of priorities and at the moment making much more money in the markets so just have to make time at work.
when you say swing trade indexes, you mean Index Futures like YM, ES,NQ or ETFs like SPY, TAZ etc ? I am trying both but stops on Futures are much bigger
 
To preserve capital and keep yourself in the game you should be using very small size until you establish a record of positive results. This requires even greater patience and discipline than if you are able to dedicate yourself to trading full time.
this a very good point. I realized this 2 yrs after I started so last year, I sized down to a very small size/symbol that gave me excellent learning for about 9-12months but only cons was I was paying more commission due to small size/symbol. no other easy way around
 
My next suggestion is to focus on swing-trading quality stocks that the big funds like to own. The basic idea is buy into a market with positive drift when short term fear is present, and then repeat the process over and over. Develop a dip-buying strategy that holds 4-5 days to two weeks, and then cycle your capital into the next trade. The more you try to manage your trades and overthink things, the worse you will do. If you can't or don't want to develop a strategy like this, here is a guy (no affiliation with me) who offers good stuff or can help you with a customized strategy:

http://alvarezquanttrading.com/services/

Just keep it simple with minimal "management" and u might do OK.
well, firstly thks for your input and i have spotted some good Instruments in the last 6months and doing good in swing, but I am new to swing, as I have tried DT again and again in 5 yrs and didnt like it.
but dont know for now, how to spot this, "Develop a dip-buying strategy" so I would read more and talk to this alvarez services. thks again
 
You will be unable to day trade with a full time job and keep your job. Most likely, you will be unable to swing trade with a full time job and keep yourself employed either. This is because you will be constantly thinking about/checking up on, the markets and not concentrating on work. Thank you for your time.
 
You can day trade futures or forex while having a full-time job. Simply, day trade before work or day trade after work. Basically, your day trading will impact your social life considering its occurring "outside" your normal work hours. Therefore, not advisable for the family person and not advisable for someone in a serious relationship. Thus, more suitable for the single person or for someone that has "odd" work hours.

In addition, you may be trading markets you don't like but that shouldn't be a problem considering your goal should be to be profitable and not married to some trading instrument.
 
You will be unable to day trade with a full time job and keep your job. Most likely, you will be unable to swing trade with a full time job and keep yourself employed either. This is because you will be constantly thinking about/checking up on, the markets and not concentrating on work. Thank you for your time.

I already went thru this and had to change my job, that's why I raised this thread. thks for your input :)
 
You can day trade futures or forex while having a full-time job. Simply, day trade before work or day trade after work. Basically, your day trading will impact your social life considering its occurring "outside" your normal work hours. Therefore, not advisable for the family person and not advisable for someone in a serious relationship. Thus, more suitable for the single person or for someone that has "odd" work hours.

In addition, you may be trading markets you don't like but that shouldn't be a problem considering your goal should be to be profitable and not married to some trading instrument.

your suggestion is similar to Buy1Sell2 and just responded there. i already hurt my social life, work, hobbies but didn't affect my marital life, as I was just careful with 1 person in my life, my spouse and explained to her and she supported me to learn this trading. thats the one reason i am still in this business
but I screwed health last year and recovering now :) assigned myself more work out time, hobbies etc, so a healthy body/mind let me think better. I now spend only 45mins in evening and 45mins early AM to look my charts and I am able to swing trade
 
Need to make one amendment/clarification to my previous post. --Swing trading historically makes heavy use of the closing price on daily charts and never looking at charts below 60 min. If you are able to duck on to the internet say a half hour before close and do a quick review of daily and hourly AND make an entry/exit at work before market close, AND not compromise your work quality, then you may be able to swing trade successfully. That is about the only real essential time of the day that a swing trader needs to have unto themselves for reflection and action. If not able to do that, then position trading for longer periods is the best bet. Thank you once again, and lastly, for your time.
 
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I don't think it's very possible to become a good day trader and work a full time job. I tried that several years ago, and even though I didn't lose, I mainly treaded water.

My trading improved greatly once I switched to longer term trading. That isn't so say you have to be a Warren Buffett type who buys and often holds for decades.

You can work off of daily charts and hold positions for days/weeks without an enormous time commitment. I spend about 3-4 hours per week actually looking at charts, making decisions and managing positions.

That doesn't include the time I waste on "financial entertainment" such as listening/watching CNBC, Bloomberg, reading ET and financial articles, etc but of course these things aren't going to help you that much.

Also, once you have kids, there is absolutely ZERO chance you can day trade and work a full time job. There are only so many hours in a day. Your free time gets 5x more chaotic when you have a couple of kids in the mix.
 
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