Is trading really worth it?

[dbundus]

Can I have a precise and constructive answer on whether trading is really worth spending time on? My brother wants to do this job for a living, and I'm just curious if it's a dignified, worth-spending occupation. I don't know where to ask, I don't understand technical analysis; when he explains it to me I feel it's some sort of gambling strategy.

I've used to read experts' discussions, papers, books and the like, but I find no such stuff on trading. It's a very vague term anyway. Are there really people who just "buy low and sell high", making a living by just doing that? I can't comprehend how can a person seriously make a living by something that looks complete gambling, instead of providing goods, services, work etc.

You cannot have trading as an occupation. It isn't supposed to be an occupation. It is supposed to be a side income source, because it isn't guaranteed to always give you profit and you can make huge losses. However, when done well, it could make you much more money than your job or occupation really gives you. But I do not advise to take it as the main occupation you have.

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[Altryist]

Some people trade and they love it when they make a profit, but there are people who do not give up when they lose and work even harder to get it back and they study hard to learn how they could learn from their mistakes and become better. That is the type of people that will become a trader and for them it is fully worth it.

If you fail to achieve good results, it is very important to learn from your mistakes, and not try to find some magical source from which you can get "dubious" advice. The main thing is not to rush, not to try to get rich quick, trading is not a very easy thing, but I believe that everyone who is capable of learning and has patience and good discipline is able to make a profit, maybe it will be small and unstable, but there is definitely such an opportunity.

[Russlenat]

Trading is at maximum a side hustle. It cannot be a job because of the speculative nature and the uncertainties associated with it. This applies to all types of trading.

So if a family member is willing to get into it, explain the same to them and tell them that it cannot be their main job. The main job should be one with a fixed income every month or so.

The technical analysis is pseudoscience and only correct at times. It is better used to predict rather than take decisions. Otherwise everyone doing TA would have been a millionaire already.

It cannot be a stable job but sometimes, the profits you get from it exceeds from your job’s income. But only professional traders can make it possible to happen, as newbies will only ruin and mess up in trading. However, seeing trading alone as your only source of income brings a lot of risks and uncertainties, so it’s better if you can have a good and stable job, and only makes trading as your second source of income.

[tippytoes]

Trading is at maximum a side hustle. It cannot be a job because of the speculative nature and the uncertainties associated with it. This applies to all types of trading.

So if a family member is willing to get into it, explain the same to them and tell them that it cannot be their main job. The main job should be one with a fixed income every month or so.

The technical analysis is pseudoscience and only correct at times. It is better used to predict rather than take decisions. Otherwise everyone doing TA would have been a millionaire already.

It cannot be a stable job but sometimes, the profits you get from it exceeds from your job’s income. But only professional traders can make it possible to happen, as newbies will only ruin and mess up in trading. However, seeing trading alone as your only source of income brings a lot of risks and uncertainties, so it’s better if you can have a good and stable job, and only makes trading as your second source of income.

That's a fair piece of advice. Because let us admit, even long-time traders can't assure their good profits. It is not everyday that they can earn decent profits to supplement their living. So yes, better not give up your job as your bread and butter, and just make your trading as another source of possible income. But if you feel you are doing good already in trading and you can let go your main job, why not?

[Munir575]

Trading is only worthwhile if you're committed to it and prepared to invest a lot of cash up front to build experience before realizing large profits down the road. It will take a while, and patience is something that is difficult to have if you are not really devoted to something.

[tbterryboy]

I know that some people view trading as a risky endeavor, but I believe that as long as you're smart about it and don't let emotions get in the way, it can be a very lucrative way to make money.

Yet, this does not not dispute the fact that trading is not a risky endeavor. It's absolutely risky! Being smart is not a yardstick to guarantee your success in trading thou it contribute a little. Despite being lucrative, I don't see trading as a means of living (daily survival) since you're not the market controller and the system entirely is not reliable due to fluctuation nature.

I do agree that just because you are smart or just because you are a veteran of trading doesn't mean that you will make a good profit. However, it increases the chances of you having a better result than anywhere else and that matters. I personally care about the fact that we shouldn't be doing anything that would risk it all, but if we know what we are doing then we could have 5 losses and 3 profits and the totals would be profiting.

Because, we would know which ones are better guaranteed and which ones are how much risky etc etc and that is why we would risk accordingly. That's what I really mean when veterans could still trade when it's risky because they know the risks.

[Bholutefe]

Well, Trading is such a very good source of income to people that knows and understands it best compared to novices that knows nothing about what trading is all about, Indeed trading is very lucrative when you understand the market buying and selling point zones. I can’t call trading gambling cos it is not. Some traders actually see trading as a gamble because they have no idea of what trading is all about, they are only guessing about the situation of trades either for a buy or sell. While real traders that understands the market situation and what trading is all about have acquired a lot of courses and trainings relating to trading to the best of their knowledge. Trading is not a day journey, it is a step by step procedure by understanding how the market situation affects trading from the bearest minimum to the top. Most importantly Trading requires patient, if you are always in an hurry to win, you might end up loosing all your money, it requires thorough calmness and enough patience. So many people went into trading because they are seeing others making a lot of money from trading, at the end of the journey they end up loosing all their money ,while trading doesn’t work that way.

[AsongJosh]

If trading is worth it, is a question that demands consideration of factors to be conclusive.

Well, yes it is! Some people have actually resigned from their paid job to focus on trading. Meanwhile, others see it as an additional source of passive income.  Having a fair knowledge of trading techniques and the needed capital, the question will have its answer.