People change after you make money. But what's the alternative? Lie? Sock away every penny until you die? If you can't enjoy it, what's the point of making it big in the first place? And people might kiss your ass more, but with great achievement comes respect. And haters. But that's part of life, regardless of any profession. True friends don't change much unless you act like some untouchable genius, which most layman assume successful traders are since their portfolio gets chewed year-in, year-out. In reality, profitable trading is often easy and simple. Anyone can learn. However, separating the wheat from the chaff takes years of toil and heartache. Most traders don't tell anyone how simple trading really is because they want the adulation of the crowd for ego and pride.
About friends and family, why not judge a tree by its fruit? The people I trust with financial details are the ones who stood by me even when I struggled and was dead broke. And there's a few. What kind of friend would they be if they didn't? And nobody says you have show them your tax returns. If they know you're a multi-millionaire, that's enough. With acquaintances and potential mates, I am very cautious. Advertising your bank roll to strangers is done purely for ego and dangerous, imo. Sure, you can bed an easy girl. But here, you are right: you'll never know if she wanted you just for money. Chances are, yea. Ladies are all about financial security. Who doesn't want a free-ride in life? When I date, I tell ladies I work a regular management job and pull an average salary (45K). If they like me for me, they'll stick around. If not, I saved myself a terrible marriage and nasty divorce.
Last, I don't trade family money. And I don't share methods with anyone. People ask, sure. But I tell them nobody gets a free-ride off my coat-tails. Gambler is right about this. People think trading is some ridiculously easy way to cash in and for some reason, feel entitled to share in that windfall. I tell acquaintances that it's a long road to profitability. If they want more info, I give them a reading list. I tell them to follow up with me in a year, and if I feel satisfied they understood the information I gave them, I'll give them another reading list. Then do the same until year 5. If after year 5 they haven't found something that works, I'll point them in the right direction. Again, let them prove themselves. Nobody has returned my email after year#1. Everyone wants a free ride. And phuck them. It took me 6 years. Granted, there's a few close people I help out.
Last, in the event of my untimely death, I will either pass my strategies on to family, or teach them directly in the next couple years. It would be an absolute shame to let his information die with me. The hard part about that is sharing your glory. Now they've seen it's just a man behind the curtain pulling the levers and can build their own fortune that rivals yours, all the facades a trader has built for himself, melt away. So what to do? Posterity? Or fleeting glory?
Honestly, in your case, I would work on consistency. 100% a year is decent. 1% a year is not. And to be honest, it's a red flag. If you want to go after the big fish, day-trade. Or figure it out.
Also, I understand not all my advice is applicable given you live in a small town where big money sticks out like a sore thumb. At the end of the day, it's a personal decision. Why are you trading to begin with? Financial security? Or a great lifestyle? For me, it's the later.
Quote from Smart Money:
Regarding where I live? You're right...I live in a place where big money is unusual. And interestingly, I have no interest in leaving. It's like Mayberry (from the Andy Griffith Show)...there is a quality of life here that I don't want to leave.
SM
