Probably many ways to skin the cat......here's mine: I'm 65, retired from my construction business. Invested and traded part time until last couple of years when I started spending more time on it.....investment portfolio declined last year but trading has been going pretty well. I combine fundamentals with an eye on the charts. I do have a BBA which doesn't mean much except that some understanding of national and international economics is probably helpful in forecasting longer term trends. Also, it helps in guessing the impact that daily news has on the markets. So, with my seat of the pants trading method, I feel like I should learn and study the monetary system and economics as much as possible. Other people say all the information you need is in the charts, and if it works for them, I can't argue. When I do day trade, my method requires a lot attention, work, and stress. Stosh