Is swing trading like gambling?
Swing trading is a game of skill, not gambling.
If you are willing to dedicate yourself entirely to it, you can easily earn a living through swing trading alone. Or, treat it as a secondary source of income and earn some extra money on the side.
Making some trades to appease social forces is not gambling in and of itself if people actually know what they are doing. However, entering into a financial transaction without a solid investment understanding is gambling. Such people lack the knowledge to exert control over the profitability of their choices.
The Swing Trading strategy can lead to profits in the short term, usually in the range of 10% to 30%. However, as most things investing usually are, it is a risky bet. About 90% of traders report losses during trading.
Slower profits versus quicker profits
In the process, he ends up losing all the profits made by him on the first day and more. That, in a way, describes gambling. Profits appear to come fast but more often than not they are a mirage. Trading, on the other game, is a game of skill and discipline.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | |
|---|---|---|
| Top Earners | $31,500 | $2,625 |
| 75th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 |
| Average | $25,349 | $2,112 |
| 25th Percentile | $21,500 | $1,791 |
We've seen estimations that as many as 90% of swing traders fail to make money in the stock market – meaning they either break even or lose money.
All of this can induce reward pathways in the brain. When a day trader makes a profit or even gets excited about a potential one, the brain releases so-called feel-good neurochemicals, such as dopamine and serotonin. This can cause you to become addicted, just like with casino gambling or using illicit drugs.
The main difference between day trading and gambling is that gamblers play available odds while traders strategize based on market trends, price movements, and past performances. Traders often use sophisticated analytical tools and real-time market updates to decide which stocks to buy or sell and how much to spend.
Traders also need to keep up with news and economic events that can impact the markets. Unlike gambling, where outcomes are random, day traders use these tools and information to make calculated decisions based on probabilities and trends. (However, results are still never guaranteed.)
What is the 1% rule in swing trading?
The 1% risk rule means not risking more than 1% of account capital on a single trade. It doesn't mean only putting 1% of your capital into a trade. Put as much capital as you wish, but if the trade is losing more than 1% of your total capital, close the position.
When done correctly using sound trading rules, swing trading can absolutely produce big gains. Even though you're aiming for 5-10% profit in a swing trade, those gains add up quickly when you reinvest the profits in new stocks and grow the overall size of your portfolio.
From Paul Tudor Jones to Stanley Druckenmiller, the list of successful swing traders is long and illustrious. Each of these traders had their own unique style and approach, but they all shared a common trait – the ability to anticipate major market movements and make bold bets on the outcomes.
Day trading is tough. A University of Berkeley study found that 75% of day traders quit within two years. The same study found that the majority of trades, up to 80%, are unprofitable. While some day traders end up successful and make a lot of money, they are the exception rather than the norm.
One of the key aspects of the gambler's mindset is the ability to manage impulses and resist temptations. In the world of gambling, it's easy to get carried away by the excitement and thrill of the game. However, it's crucial to exercise self-control and avoid impulsive decisions that could lead to undesired outcomes.
It requires a significant amount of research, analysis, and understanding of financial markets, as well as the ability to make informed decisions based on that information. On the top of it, the stock market can be volatile and unpredictable, and there are no guarantees that any particular trade will be successful.
Aiming for a 5-10% monthly return is a common and a realistic swing trading return.
Yes, you can technically start trading with $100 but it depends on what you are trying to trade and the strategy you are employing. Depending on that, brokerages may ask for a minimum deposit in your account that could be higher than $100.
Many people put in multiple years before breaking into consistent (or even any) profitability. It takes at least a year to consistently make money from day trading or swing trading, if working at it full-time or with a mentor, and only working one (maybe two) strategies. Six months is the quickest; most take longer.
Swing trading can be difficult for the average retail trader. Professional traders have more experience, leverage, information, and lower commissions; however, they are limited by the instruments they are allowed to trade, the risk they are capable of taking on, and their large amount of capital.
What are the disadvantages of swing trading?
The biggest con of this trading tool is the overnight risk. Swing traders hold positions for several days, which increases the risk of market gaps due to unexpected news or events. Another drawback is that many new traders may mistake false signals for trends.
Secondly, swing traders are also more susceptible to market volatility and can suffer massive losses. They also have the potential to miss out on potential long-term market gains while pursuing a short position. Lastly, fees are often higher since these types of portfolios require more management than others.
Due to the disruption of the brain's reward system that day trading can cause, as well as the damage done to the brain circuits involved in impulse control in the prefrontal cortex as well as neurally imbedded associations and memories that are formed with trading, relapse rates for day trading are very high.
While this is quite difficult to achieve, it is definitely not impossible. There have been many cases in the modern world where investors have become rich through their investments in stock markets. Let us take a look at how investors can make the most of stock markets to become rich through long-term wealth creation.
The challenges inherent in online trading and investment can wield a significant influence on mental health, unleashing a spectrum of emotions from exhilaration to anxiety.
