Quote from Oldtimer:
Brokerboy wrote:
>>>>well i make money and i could not trade if i did not have firm capital. i also know alot of others like me so in the end people who can't do this will just be weeded out. so why do we have banks and creditcards and loans so people can use it as a tool right. i think thats the same thing a prop from does or am i crazy. lets be real there are people in this world who are going to screw up. so how will the guy who can handle it get his shot. also i don't understand you since you are saying basically part of your career you were wrong. maybe even worse your saying you proposely hurt people by letting them trade with alittle capital up so you can have nicer things. i just don't think you can go both ways. <<<<
Your credit card analogy is accurate to a point. Itâs true that leverage is like a bank issuing a credit card, and allowing you the ability to get in over your head. The difference, in my opinion, is that learning to trade with leverage is a process, with a learning curve and opportunity to evaluate your mistakes, correct them, and become a better trader. Credit from a bank, although an open invitation to overextend and screw up, doesnât lend itself to the same type of process.
However, the difference between a good trader who uses leverage, and the other washouts to which you referred, is their ability to handle this enhanced power and, to use it for good, rather than evil.
Regarding my personal experience in the industry, we actually had a high rate of success among our traders because we did modulate their use of leverage, and allowed them to make their mistakes without blowing themselves up. The unfortunate failures among our group were the ones who âalready knew what they were doingâ. In those cases, we hit the wall where we couldnât force them to liquidate losing positions, nor could we force them to learn from their mistakes.
As far as my former traders (both successes and failures), my partner and I maintained contact with most. Not all, but most. I didnât have it âboth waysâ in my firm. I offered the opportunity to learn a skill, and mourned those who didnât take full advantage. I never viewed my traders as âfilling a seatâ, and I think that made a difference. I'd assume a smart trader like you could grasp this.