Quote from RedDuke:
Drawdown
When I said that 10% is a joke (which obviously can be very serious money depending on capital in works), I meant that if ones goal is 10% why not just invest in S&P 500 and focus on other things in life. 70 years a pretty good statistics, which encapsulates included major global event including WW2.
I am trading for a sole purpose which is to MAKE MONEY. I do not care about excitement, being right or wrong and other such things. There are plenty of other things in life which are much easier that I can do to experience all types of emotions.
2006 is the first year when my strategy is finalized, and it looks like I would be able to make 100%+ this year. I obviously do not know this yet, and if I can extract more from the markets great, less I am also fine with it. I do not know nor care what will happen in the markets tomorrow. I observe and react, in and out all day.
I day trade futures on Eurex exchange.
Regards,
redduke
RedDuke,
Thanks for your kind reply.
Having the goal to "MAKE MONEY" is OK...
IF your risk (to make upwards of 100% if you can) does not go off the charts.
I finally reached the point where I made 100% in less than 6-months.
Would I do that with my own capital on an ongoing basis? No, because the risk level is so high (in excess of 50% DDs, etc.) it's not worth it.
I guess I should clarify that the 10%+ I take in nowadays is for me trading "live" (in the market) only about 10% to 20% of the time that I used to trade (even though my money's in the market live 24/7 in one direction/structure or the other).
Plus... the 10% I reference is
minimum (not my "goal") - that's almost all interest
without even making a trade. By opening and closing some trades in addition, I hope to
exceed 15% this year. And that is taking on
bear-minimum risk.
Now we're in a different ballpark.
While those numbers don't compare to gains you're talking about... my trade risk level is near non-existent.
Plus, as I mentioned before, I get to do the trading (as opposed to an S&P 500 fund where others trade for me).
Like you, I too find the overall trading environment engaging and rewarding when I can pull off a trade that beats the rest of the global market.
It gives me a feeling of self-respect and accomplishment.
If you clear ANYTHING over 30%... 40%... and, egads, even 50%!! ... you're already doing better than just about everyone else in the world of trading and you should be happy with yourself.
You may want to consider the shear risk involved in reaching for the higher earnings...
and the time involved.
Life is more than 50%+ gains a year.

-- And, unless this is what really floats your boat, you may also want to (re)think about all the things you're missing
while you try to "MAKE MONEY."
Good luck,
The DrawDown