Questions About Being A Trader

dbphoenix said:
Of course it's not over at 30. But it's far more difficult to get started today than it used to be. And if one isn't on the path by 30, he faces increasing competition from those younger, particularly if they have more drive.

There are a lot of people out there who are eager to work for practically nothing just to get the experience and, if they're lucky, the contacts. They are the competition.
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db, you have that right as so many many companies are outsourcing out to India. I have forgotten which fast food company here in USA receives food order and then sends it to right store back in USA. I am surprised so much accounting is still in the states, I am very sure ten years from now much of it will be elsewhere.

The Hungry gets what they want and the lazy gets layed off and says "Super Size This"? That's if a live body is still there.
 
HighFrequencyBum said:
So I graduated with an Accounting degree from a small school with a poor GPA because I'm lazy. My original plan was to get a job that pays $50-80k and live a decent life. That's still doable and I like having the Accounting degree because Accounting firms look after their own and only hire people with acct degrees and F500 companies value the degree as well, but I'm not sure I'll be satisfied with it as it doesn't pay well enough initially and it takes experience to make hundreds of thousands.

But trading pays well, so here I am. What are my options? Can I just take some calc classes, learn to code and try to get in with a firm or do I need a STEM degree? I've seen some prop firms accepting business majors but they have a high GPA requirement, maybe I could convince one to take me on though.
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Everything depends on what is definition of the trader.

People that executing orders at investment houses and funds called traders. Many of them earn big bucks. If you want to be one of them there is a usual path - from a good college (preferably Ivy), or connections - another path.

If you consider trading for a living using your own money (that what I call being a trader) - prepare to spend your life on it with very low probability of success.

and forget about prop trading - waste of time
 
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Get the CPA, learn to code & trade at nights. If you fail you will still land a low six figure job with the CPA and be good for life. Don't piss away the chance to get the higher education.
 
My niece’s husband sounds somewhat like you. Lazy, “C” student at best. But while many students were working for a grade, he sat back and developed perspective and common sense (which a lot of “A” students do not have). You may be that way also, you seem to know yourself and you are asking questions.

My nieces’ husband… when kid’s started coming along… applied his common sense, is now busy in a somewhat less lazy way, and is doing quite well.

You may find an elegant way to trade. DB’s approach might be called that. It may fit your definition of lazy? Lazy in the sense of more work up front and then not as much later? The way Gringo trades might be an example (no offense to Gringo!) Depends on what common sense and laziness are to you.
 
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Hooti said:
My niece’s husband sounds somewhat like you. Lazy, “C” student at best. But while many students were working for a grade, he sat back and developed perspective and common sense (which a lot of “A” students do not have). You may be that way also, you seem to know yourself and you are asking questions.

My nieces’ husband… when kid’s started coming along… applied his common sense, is now busy in a somewhat less lazy way, and is doing quite well.

You may find an elegant way to trade. DB’s approach might be called that. It may fit your definition of lazy? Lazy in the sense of more work up front and then not as much later? The way Gringo trades might be an example (no offense to Gringo!) Depends on what common sense and laziness are to you.
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In his first semester of college did he make a B on his Government class midterm only to realize a week later that he could make a D in the class and still receive the credit? Because that's what I did and I ended up making my first D ever in that class lol.
 
Don't be proud for being lazy. You aren't smart and you aren't cool. You will fail professionally if you don't change your ways. The world doesn't owe you a $75,000 job (or a $40,000 job). If you can't prove that you will work hard for a $40,000 income, why will anyone take a chance that you will work hard for a $75,000 income.
 
newwurldmn said:
Don't be proud for being lazy. You aren't smart and you aren't cool. You will fail professionally if you don't change your ways. The world doesn't owe you a $75,000 job (or a $40,000 job). If you can't prove that you will work hard for a $40,000 income, why will anyone take a chance that you will work hard for a $75,000 income.
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I lost my scholarship and had to take out loans after that first year because of the grades so I'm not that smart, I wouldn't have listened otherwise though, you couldn't tell a stupid teenager anything back then but it was a nice vacation for a couple of years.

I think I'll be alright though, if worst comes to worst I'll suck it up and try to pass the CPA exam and the GPA won't matter anymore.
 
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