Newbie looking for guidance

jokepie,

I have read alot already. I mean, i DO know what a stock is but, I find it hard sometimes to apply all the technical terms and relate them to the real world. I like the way scrub described it. Thanks.

I think i would prefer to be an investment banker. But ive read that it is highly competitive and cutthroat. I speak fluent french which is an asset and I will apply today to bilingual Financial Analyst positions that I have found online as the Financial Analyst seems to be the starting point.
 
I have read that trading is actually going to dry up because of the advance of electronic trading computers. But what I would like to know is, can anyone be a day trader? Or must they go through a broker?

Can I trade shares online? Just like Forex.com allows to trade currencies? Also, what is the best thing to trade in? Theres sooo many instruments it seems hard to know which is the best.
 
Quote from matty492:

jokepie,

I have read alot already. I mean, i DO know what a stock is but, I find it hard sometimes to apply all the technical terms and relate them to the real world. I like the way scrub described it. Thanks.

I think i would prefer to be an investment banker. But ive read that it is highly competitive and cutthroat. I speak fluent french which is an asset and I will apply today to bilingual Financial Analyst positions that I have found online as the Financial Analyst seems to be the starting point.
More...

IF IB is ur choice and not Day trading then - the path is clear.
Get into a Good B school for MBA i am talking about top 20 (US) - makes sure you have 2 yrs of experience in a reputable financial firm prior to getting into MBA - IB major.
Experience can range from Financial analyst/ Portfolio analyst assistant/ trader assistant(??)/ Institutional sales / under writing etc.

Cutthroat - very
Possible - needs little hard work + luck + CONNECTIONS.

Gud luck
 
I find that confusing tho. I mean, isnt an investment banker basically a trader? except hes being told what to do by his portfolio manager?

So if I were a day trader for years, couldn't I then become an investment banker easily?

I live in Canada so going to a top US school is likely out of the question. Plus, my grades in university were downright horrible.
 
Quote from the1:

I'm gonna give you the best piece of advice you're ever gonna get in your entire career --->> Forget trading as a profession.

If I could turn back the clock I would never pick trading as a profession knowing what I know now and I'm successful at it. Go to law school or something.
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I understand the feeling completely! I always wanted to be a Veterinarian.

Have kids in High School, and I DO NOT want to have to go back to school at my age.

However, I really wonder what could have been at times...

OP, you may be being saved by some posters here. Think it through.
 
Quote from Bolimomo:

matty I think you have a long road ahead of you. There are a lot of things you need to know in trading stocks.

Stock prices fluctuate according to the public's perception of the company.
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Nailed it!!!! Valuation is one thing... It's the PERCEIVED value that drives price.
 
Quote from matty492:

I find that confusing tho. I mean, isnt an investment banker basically a trader? except hes being told what to do by his portfolio manager?

So if I were a day trader for years, couldn't I then become an investment banker easily?

I live in Canada so going to a top US school is likely out of the question. Plus, my grades in university were downright horrible.
More...

No,

"An investment bank is a financial institution that assists corporations and governments in raising capital by underwriting and acting as the agent in the issuance of securities. An investment bank also assists companies involved in mergers and acquisitions, derivatives, etc. Further it provides ancillary services such as market making and the trading of derivatives, fixed income instruments, foreign exchange, commodity, and equity securities."

What this means is that you actuall yhelp CREATE stocks for new/old companies and then SELL them to the Market. Its called the Buy Side. Your motive is not to make profit buying and selling or vice versa.
You just sell new issues (stocks/bonds etc) and Take fat commissions home.
You could help in Mergers and Acquistions - Company A buy Company B etc.
 
Quote from lindq:

+1

The same advice I give anyone who asks.

With the ten years and many, many thousands of dollars I've invested to become a consistent trader, I could have had an MD and a couple PHDs.

Was it worth it? No, not really.

It takes a long time - years - to get the point where you can trust your instincts as a trader. And every day it is still a tough and often boring game.
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Agreed 100%!

This should be a good thread for ET.
 
So in your opinion, it is best to be an IB than a trader?

Or is that only because, trading is a negative sum game (with fees) so naturally there will be more losers than winners over time.

It feels like its just one of those thing, where those who have struggled will say "trust me dont do it" and those who succeed will not say anything
 
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