Quote from Maverick74:
Steel, I'm simply giving you the stats. You don't have to believe them. I really don't care. Every trader has their own unique needs. I sit here in Chicago and talk to 50 guys a week. Most of these guys are former floor guys or guys that are trading from home. I would say 95% of them tell me the isolation is absolute torture. Again, I am simply giving you my experience. I spend a lot of time talking to traders in Chicago. If you are in Chicago, we are doing a big trader social event at a bar downtown. A lot of guys will be there from all over. You can talk to these guys in person and see for yourself. These guys are dying to get out of the house. The reason we are now doing these monthly bar events is because guys need to get out of the house.
That's an excellent point. Let me add, if you truly enjoy trading and intend on being great at it, there is no greater feeling than being around others who share your passion.
You read books on it, you pour over news and information on it, over time it's almost all you know or can think to talk about. So when someone comes up to you and says did you catch American Idol last night or some other pop culture show, you might be thinking, no I was reviewing some economic news.
So there you are wanting to talk about the economic news and how it relates to trading and they want to talk about American Idol!
Being around traders, even the worst traders on the planet, who at least have a passion for it, is still a great feeling. Just to know there are others out there that would get what you are saying, maybe even question you a bit and challenge your thinking on a few issues. That is a huge plus of working in a office. I could just imagine the trading stories that go around at those get togethers at bars after work. I have a few that I could tell as I'm sure you have a few you could tell too.
Most people would never get them. They'd think what are you talking about? Level 2?
That's why this message board is so popular. What you have to ask yourself though, is if you are working with a select group of traders and are exchanging ideas, don't you think they are more likely to share more sensitive information with a smaller group than with a bunch of people they don't know on the internet?
You are just going to get much more info, more ideas and more synergy.
Sure working remote could work if you are anti-social and would rather work in your underwear and like talking to yourself.
Let me just say that there is something great about being long a position when someone else is short that exact same position and hearing why they are short and them hearing why you are long that really expands your perspective.
Everyone would also agree that there is always someone out there who has more experience trading and is more knowledgable than you in certain areas. You would be a fool to not think that. If you can get access to a great group, like you stated floor traders, you are basically guaranteed to pick up a few things it would take you years to pick up on your own through experience and trial and error. It's just not the same.
I don't think it even compares. I have even said in the past, I don't think anyone should trade who's never worked in the financial industry because they don't know enough. Some people would scoff at this comment but I personally feel that anyone who's worked in this industry, especially as a floor trader, has a huge edge over those who never have.
And you sure as hell aren't going to find all that great information in books or on message boards. But I guarantee you may get a few gems from them over a few drinks in a private conversation!