Quote from triple_j:
No flame here, but the above results are meaningless if there is no $$$$$$$$ on the line. When you trade with with money your entire thinking process will be different- you psychology will change, your outlook and personality will change, etc... etc........
Only way your gonna know if you can make it is to trade with money. Do 100 shares or 2 minis, whatever it takes. Put your balls in the frying pan so to speak, and you'll see what I'm talking about.
Just a few thoughts,
triple
No offense,
But to
tell a new trader or someone testing new trade setups not to paper trade is inappropriate.
To tell a new trader or someone testing new trade setups to trade multiple contracts via saying to trade 2 contracts is more inappropriate.
Yes...all experience traders know the psychological difference between paper trades and real money trades.
Yet, its
ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL that new traders or traders testing new stuff to develop confidence and understanding of how the Eminis move during a particular price pattern that the trader wants to exploit...throughout the intraday cycle until they are
prepared to go live (real money).
I will say this...basic paper trading sucks.
However, realtime simulator is a 100x better than basic paper trading (writing down Bid and Ask info).
There are some posts here at EliteTrader about realtime simulators.
Use ET search menu and type in Trading Simulators or Realtime Simulators.
I myself use realtime simulators as a trading tool whenever I'm testing new trade setups eventhough/while I'm trading with real money in my normal trade setups.
Thus, I may have trading days where I'm trading with real money on some trade signals and using a realtime simulator on new trade setup signals...all in the same trading day.
Remember this...experience traders are always learning.
Simply, paper trading (realtime simulators) is a trading tool that should not be ignored.
Here's a sports analogy...when I use to compete in sports at the top level...I never used
new techniques in the championship match...
I used what I had been
trained in, practice to perfection, comfortable with...that got me to the championship match.
Trading is no different.
Thus, trading new trade setups with real money without practicing first is one of the main reasons why so many traders go belly up.
If you don't understand that analogy...try this one...
how would you like to be a passenger in a plane...thousands of feet above ground to hear the pilot say over the loud speakers...
(a newbie pilot that's had no training, never practice)...
"I'm new and I was told that if I really want to learn how to fly...I first gotta do it with real passengers or else my entire thinking process will be different - psychology will change, outlook and personality will change, etc...etc...Only way I'm gonna know if I can fly is not use that simulator crap...
enjoy your flight."
NihabaAshi