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How I Lost 50% Of My Capital Before Becoming A Profitable Trader (True Story) 

Last Updated: July 8, 2023

By Rayner Teo

once upon

When I was 20, the first book I read on investing was “Buffettology“.

It explains how the world’s richest investor, Warren Buffet selects companies to invest in.

I was fascinated by how a man could be so wealthy by simply picking the right stocks to hold for the long run. Who wouldn’t?

After reading Buffettology, I was hooked.

I started researching all I could to make myself a great investor.

I read books on value investing and fundamental analysis. After a while, I notice the authors kept repeating these 3 elements…

  1. Ensure the company has more assets than liabilities
  2. Ensure revenue, net income, and cash flow are increasing each year
  3. Ensure the company has growth potential

Voila. The secret to successful investing!

The investor

Now:

Armed with my new found knowledge, I was ready to pounce the markets.

My first stock I bought was Sembcorp Marine in 2009 because it had solid fundamentals, and the markets were recovering.

I got long at $3.28 and told myself to hold this stock till the price doubles!

5 days later, I bailed out at $3.08. What a chicken I was.

Then I did a short reflection and concluded that it was my emotions that trigger this action of mine.

Not giving up just yet and with the markets making a bull run, I knew I had to get back into the game.

Being naive and ambitious I did more fundamental research and bought more companies, with margin.

Here’s what I bought…

I went long Noble Group, Keppel Land and Sembcorp Marine with an initial outlay of $20,000.

In 2 months, I was up close to $10,000. But me being a fundamentalist, trying to emulate Warren Buffet to hold these stocks for the next 30 years, I held on.

At this point, I was feeling like a champion, with a knack for picking stocks. Even my broker was commenting that everything I touched turn to gold.

2 weeks later, my unrealized profits of $10000 vaporize into smoke. The Euro Debt crisis had hit the markets.

Now…

…I had nothing to show for but a stench of bitterness.

One moment I was feeling like Rock Balboa, the next I was Luke Skywalker when he realized Darth Vadar was his father.

Luke skywalker

I am a fool. What was I thinking?!

Those phrases kept playing in my head over the next few weeks.

Eventually, I bailed out of all my positions when the price went further against me. I just couldn’t bear the pain anymore.

A few months later after recovering from this mental trauma, I started reflecting once more. What did I do wrong?

After much brainstorming, I realized I had no plan for exits. So this led me to further research on stop loss, entries, and exits.

If you Google that long enough, forex trading websites would start appearing on your monitor.

And that’s how I entered the trading arena…

The trader

So after my failed attempt at being an investor, I figured being a trader would better suit me.

I was immediately drawn to the fanciful charts and colorful indicators that beautify my screens. This beats crunching numbers and financial statements.

In the matter of days, I find myself drawn to trading more and more. It became my passion whereby I was spending more than 10 hours a day in front of the screen.

Everything started to make sense and trading didn’t seem that difficult.

All I needed was:

1) A trading strategy

2) Risk management

And it could be found on trading forums, for free!

Why would I want to invest in a stock for years when I can buy and sell currencies in minutes!

Easy money is ahead of me, all I need to do is click my mouse. Or so I thought…

The journey

The following series of events occurred while I was studying in university.

It was on Babypips where I was first exposed to a trading strategy.

I was looking for anything interesting and chance upon a thread teaching new traders like me how to trade.

The thread owner had a huge following and traders were worshiping him like a Demi-god.

Since I was new to trading and so many traders can’t be wrong, I followed him religiously as well.

Bollinger Band

My first trading strategy was using Bollinger bands to buy low and sell high, and take profit at the opposite end of the bands.

On hindsight, it looked something like this…

profitable trader
I thought this was the Holy Grail!

Every chart that was posted made money.

But it was only after I traded it myself did I realize that there was more than meets the eye.

I traded this for 6 months and lost money. I concluded this wasn’t going anywhere and looked for another strategy. Sounds familiar?

“Price action” trading

After my failed attempt with indicators, I was feed with the notion that it lags the market, and that’s why I wasn’t profitable.

This then led me to trade raw price itself, the price action world.

This led me to Forex Factory where there’s a thread dedicating to “price action” trading.

In fact, if you Google price action trading you will see many websites regurgitating similar content

You’d probably see something like:

  1. Identify support and resistance
  2. Wait for a pinbar or engulfing pattern to form at your level
  3. Enter and set your stop loss beyond the wick of the candle
  4. Target at nearest support or resistance with a minimum of 1 to 2 risk reward

In hindsight, it looked something like this…

profitable trader
Among the different trading strategy I tried, I spent the most time and effort on “price action” trading.

Reason being there are so many trading gurus out there teaching this method and they all have a huge following. They all can’t be wrong right?

I was an ambitious naive trader who wanted to make millions of dollars. I couldn’t possibly settle for one trading strategy.

Thus, another trading strategy I was trading concurrently was harmonic patterns.

Harmonic Patterns

The Harmonic Trading Strategy took me 6 months to figure out. I thought to myself that the more complex a strategy is, the more powerful it will be. How silly I was.

In essence, harmonic patterns are drawn by using the confluence of Fibonacci ratios and extensions. They have a few variations of harmonic patterns, like Gartley, Bat, Crab etc.

Personally, I find harmonic patterns to be the most beautiful thing on my charts. But I was in this business to make money and not draw beautiful patterns.

Example of a bat pattern…
Become successful in trading

The cold hard truth

Numbers don’t lie. And the reality was that I was a losing trader despite learning so many trading strategies.

From indicators to raw price action to harmonic patterns. Just name it, I probably would have tried it.

A drawdown of 50% after 3 years of trading…

drawdown

The returns you get when you don’t have an edge but a good risk management…

pnl - bad trader

At this point, most traders would have thrown in the towel.

I mean, who would continue trading after spending thousands of hours at it only to lose more money than he started. It’s a losing proposition!

But the stubborn me refuse to give up, always believing that I am one step closer each day.

And know what’s the funny thing? I graduated with first-class honors but failed at trading. So it is true that even if you have a degree, you may not be a profitable trader.

This had to be my darkest days in trading when the statistics stared right in my face.

I followed my trading plan religiously and adhere to my money management, still, it wasn’t enough.

What should I do?

Fighting on

When I graduated from university I knew there was only one career path for me, proprietary trading.

During one of the interviews, the interviewer made a statement that hit me hard.

He said, “if you’ve been trading your strategy for the last 1 year but it’s not making you money, you better find a new strategy”. That was a wake-up call for me.

It doesn’t make sense to stick to the same strategy throughout the years, firmly believing you have an edge when clearly the result speak otherwise. I knew I had to let it go.

Shortly after I was accepted into their proprietary trading firm, my journey to professional trading began.

I first started out scalping the futures market and doing arbitrage across inter-related markets.

Within 6 months I knew it was not something for me as I wasn’t comfortable with the psychological aspect of scalping.

Albert Einstein said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over again and expecting different results”.

It has been 4 years now and whatever trading strategies that I attempted to trade the markets clearly wasn’t working. I had to do something about it before the fire in me dies out…

The reflection

trader reflection

Despite trying out so many trading strategies and none seems to work, there were important lessons behind it that would make me the trader I am.

And that I would like to share with you. This is solely my opinion and I could very well be wrong.

Indicators

Most indicators lag the market so it is difficult to enter at a good price. By the time the indicator has confirmed you would probably miss a chunk of the move.

Furthermore, confirmation from an indicator does not necessarily increase your win rate, thus, I stopped using indicators for trade confirmation.

Instead, I use indicators to allow me to identify support & resistance, and gauge the volatility of the markets.

“Price action” trading

This has to be the most popular trading approach among retail traders due to its fantastic internet marketing.

Because of its popularity and the herd mentality, it was very hard for me to let this strategy go.

I kept telling myself this has to be the way to trade and the only way to make money. And I’m wrong once again.

The biggest problem I faced with price action trading was waiting.

I was always waiting for the price to come to my level, and then form a reversal pattern before initiating a trade. And often price doesn’t do that and continues moving in my intended direction.

Looking back right now, I realized there’s more to “price action” trading than just Support & Resistance, Pinbar & Engulfing patterns. You can look at the volatility of the markets, the size of candles and much more to give you a feel into the strength and weakness of a market.

That being said, I did learn a lot from “price action” trading. I was trained to draw support & resistance, understand confluence and to be patient, really patient.

Harmonic Patterns

What can I say? These are the most beautiful chart patterns I’ve come across, no doubt about it.

I was seduced by this trading strategy due to the high winning rate (70% from what was being claimed) and making my charts look like “I know what I’m doing”.

However, one of the problems I encountered was the subjectivity of drawing these patterns which constantly makes me doubt myself.

Nonetheless, the biggest takeaway I had was identifying good risk to reward ratio which allows me to be wrong more than half the time and still makes money.

The turning point

There is one quote that kept propelling me forward and to be open to constant learning.

There is no such thing as failure, only feedback.

After 4 years of trying out different trading strategies, I’ve gathered feedback to know what works and what doesn’t. At the same time, I learned more about myself as a trader and started having an idea what kind of trading strategy would suit my personality.

Here are some of the traits I learned about myself:

1) I wanted to be in the markets when it is trending strongly

2) I wanted to be systematic with less room for discretion

3) I can accept being wrong most of the time

4) I am patient and discipline

When I understood my trading psychology better, that’s when I had X-Ray vision to see which are the trading strategies that would fit my personality.

It is not long later that I met my wife, trend following.

But is it a good marriage?

The trend follower

trend

Initially, my first impression of Trend Following was simply trading with the trend. But as I read more books and studied research papers, I realized it is much more than that.

As a trend follower, there are 5 distinct traits that make it stand out from the crowd

The 5 traits are:

1) Trend follower does not predict where the market is heading

2) Trend follower has low winning %

3) Trend follower has no profit targets

4) Trend follower trades all markets

5) Trend follower buys high and sell low

After being a losing trader for 4 years, it took me 6 months to make back everything and more.

The returns you get when you have an edge and a good risk management…

profitable trader

It felt darn good when I saw my account back into the green and growing after what seems like forever.

To me, it is not the end but the beginning of a life-long career in trading.

Conclusion

If you’re reading this and struggling to be a profitable trader, then I want to tell you that it can be done.

Yes, the journey is tough, the obstacles are huge and the heat is on. But you are not powerless.

You have a mighty weapon called discipline and a protective shield called perseverance which will see you through the fire and the storm.

Still, if you are having a hard time trying to improve your trading, leave a comment and I’ll be glad to help you out.

So, what is your story?

I’ve more than 500 trades that hit my stop loss. I’ve lost 50% of my trading capital. More than 30 times I thought I will hit a home run only to be stopped out. I’ve failed over and over again in trading. And that is why I succeed. – Rayner Teo

 

Leave a reply

  • Thank you for sharing your trading experience. None of the textbooks in Singapore will teach this, and I wish someone told me this when I was young. Sharing your personal experience is a very surreal process in imparting knowledge and wisdom to others.

  • I used to trade without stops, and was profitable for a few months, then lost it all back plus 70% of my capital to the market. I have seen many times that the losses turn to profits after some length of waiting, while I have also seen my capital gone into the drain at one night. I have followed your blog for a few months now, and I really understand the importance of stop loss. Guess I need some time now to cool down and spend more time with my family and close friends before I dare to step into the market again…

    • Hi Zh,

      Yes you’re right, trading without stoploss is playing with fire.

      It’s a matter of time before it catches up with you and wipe out your trading account.

      Yes spend time with your loved ones is not a bad idea, trading isn’t everything afterall.

      I hope all goes well for you, let me know if you have any questions about trading i will do my best to help.

      Rayner

  • Hi rayner.

    Thanks for sharing such an inspirational story for all passionate traders like us. As i read through your story. I cant help to feel that your story echoed my trading journey and i hope that i will be one trading profitable like you in the near future.

    I confess that i do face doubtful periods during my trading journey i started 3.5years ago. Without any results make me feel like I am not suitable for trading.

    Lastly i hope to seek more advise from in the coming days. Thank you

    Regards.
    Weiren

    • Hi Weiren,

      Thank you for your support.

      Yes i can totally relate to what you’re going through, as i doubted myself for years too.

      But i believe if you persevere enough, remain a discipline approach to trading, and find a successful trader to model, you can do it too!

      I’ll be glad to help, just let me know.

      Rayner

          • You did describe beautifully. You are a
            Better trainer than many . I like your style
            and the substance
            that is simple and effective for any beginner wanting to succeed in trading.
            Moreover , your blogs
            are so useful and free
            you are doing something cost free
            I am not hesitant to
            say that I am your follower. Good on you.So true is your
            statement that academic degrees
            can not make you a successful trader.I am a lawyer and have
            lost money over and over again

    • Hi Simon,

      I know the feeling is horrible. But trust me if you fight on you will see light at the end of the tunnel.

      So don’t give up and fight on. If i can do it, so can you!

      Rayner

  • Thank you for this post Rayner. You really gave me a wake up call. Started trading only recently but the feeling of constant losing really isnt enjoyable at all.

    • Hi Tok,

      Well it’s never too late to start improving on your trading.

      Yes losing isn’t enjoyable, however when you lose it’s a feedback mechanism telling you that something is wrong and needs to be worked out.

      That way you can always strive to improve for the better.

      Don’t give up, you can do this!

      Rayner

  • Hey Rayner great story!

    Feels exactly the same as I do as i have and still journeying through what u are doing as well.

    At the end of the story what is your working strategy now ?

    I am most interested and i suspect this will help get our of the constant losses for us all.

    • Hi Gary,

      Thank you. I am a trend follower and basically i only trade markets that are trending.

      I can’t say that my strategy will work for you as we have different psychological make up.

      But you could give it a shot and let me know how it goes.

      Check out my market analysis and you will have a good idea of how i trade the markets.

      Rayner

  • Only 50% thats minor 🙂 i’ve had 100% loss, but only on a small account, before i becomme successfull 😉

    I like this article because it is written neutrally. That’s characteristic for every successfull trader. I becamme successfull even more i master my emotions. At the end, my Key to success, was moneymanagent, and a well balanced mindset.

    My motivation to trade was in the beginning, the hope to geting financial independed. But i found more in the FX market. Finaly i learned a lot about my self so far. Only because of that was it worth.

    keep trading hard!
    greez Alex

    • Hi Alex,

      Wow 100%. That takes alot of courage to fight back despite being a small account.

      Thank you for sharing your experience here.

      Yes i do agree that mindset, money management all comes into play if i were to trade properly. Added all these elements together, that’s how i define my edge.

      Once again thank you for your kind words, much appreciated.

      Rayner

  • What can i say, Rayner ?
    You have said ” It All ” !
    To quot myself again ” There is a reason why we are following you, and this is one of it ”
    Regards.

  • I can feel 80% of your article until the part you become profitable. Haha.. 2014 was a turning point for me for which i have decided to stop trading as i have lost much more than i have earned when i was at more than 500% in profit and got wipe out not just that 500% but more within a mth or so? I realized i became a gambler than a trader.

    Here are some challenges I have faced and not overcome.
    – having stop loss, but that depletes the account gradually-depending on the size of trades though.
    – having no stop loss, manage to win big but lose bigger.
    – emotion overrun. Almost impossible to manage emotion by not looking at the profit and losses every now and then.
    – trend following or not? scalping, always at the losing end as i’m not fast enough or broker have delay. trend following, hard to put stop loss and dont know when to take profit and in the end, trend reverse and wipe out.

    Should i give up? yes for now as it’s affecting my daily life and marriage. But i still want to become professional trader as i do not want to give up my 7 years of experience.

    • Hi Zac,

      I can totally relate to what you are going through right now. The despair, the thought of wasting countless of hours only to continue losing.

      I’ve been there and the only way forward is to REFLECT & NOT GIVE UP.

      It’s good to know what are the problem you are facing, this is when you start to think about the solutions.

      It all begins with asking the right questions which clearly you already know what they are.

      Now is the time to put together the remaining pieces of the puzzle..

      1) You definitely need a stoploss for every trade, because it is a recipe for disaster if you don’t.

      2) You get emotional, that could be due to you are trading with a size you are not comfortable with. I would suggest to scale down to micro lots if need be. Trading is a marathon, not a sprint. Focus on getting the process right and you can increase your size later on.

      3) Scalping is disadvantages to a retail trader due to speed and transaction cost. You know it, so consider trading the higher timeframes instead.

      Trend following? It worked for me and i hope it could for you as well.

      Do check out my series of videos. I talk about how i analyze the markets, enter and exit. Watch as many as you can to get a feel for what i’m doing and see if you can relate to it.

      Give up? Well the last thing i want you to is lose a marriage because of trading. How about trading a micro account to reduce your psychological pressure instead?

      I hope you give it a shot and keep me posted on how it goes.

      Best of luck!

      Rayner

      • Thank you replying. You are right that I got emotional due to large trading size. my trading size increased with confidence and over confidence cloud my judgement and without confidence, defeats the purpose of trading. Ironic isn’t it. But i do understand what you trying to say on trading on micro lots which i might just try.

        And yeap, will find sometime and go through your video and drop you any note or question should i have any.

        Cheers!

  • Hey your story is very similar to mine, from the time you started trading.
    I to have tried all sorts of strategies over the past five years, (except the harmonic one didn’t and still don’t like it).
    Persevered with a few accounts been blown out, both demos and live ones.
    But in the last six months been trend trading mainly because of your posts etc. that I one day chanced upon.
    It’s all looking very profitable now and it’s a safe way to trade.
    Cheers Rayner! Keep the posts coming they are very helpful for confirming in my mind I’m doing the right thing.

    Graham 🙂

    • Hi Graham!

      Thank you for sharing your story with me. I’m really glad that you are seeing the positive side of things now.

      It isn’t me but you that did the hard work! So keep it up!

      I’ll be keen to hear more about your updates, so keep me posted eh?

      Best of trading!

      Rayner

  • Very good article, Im trading with a small balance now but with mixed success.

    Do you ever have the feeling of doubt when you enter a trade and it just eats into ur soul until it is over?

    • Hi Yuxuan,

      Yes i have a feeling of doubt throughout these years, whether i can make it or not.

      But once i hit those big home runs that more than cover my small losses, i know it’s a matter of surviving.

      Survive the small losses which are the cost of doing business, the big home runs will eventually come.

      Rayner

  • i m new to trading.
    can you recommend any good trading resources to learn to be a good trend follower?

    thank you

  • Dear Rayner

    This post of yours resonates greatly with me, as i have lost 50% of my starting capital as well, all of which are hard-earned savings from national service. I also began with the mentality of holding for many years trying to be another warren buffett, then ventured into penny stocks where the asiasons/blumont saga nearly wiped me out, all within minutes while i was having lecture in school.

    I continued reading voraciously. Simultaneously, i went for a paid course, set up a cfd account with a certain singapore brokerage where the commission killed me even before the one big profitable trade could come during the bearish months of 2013 and 2014.

    I am since then, venturing out of the singapore market, exploring the other financial instruments offered such as futures, forex etc. I’m still leveraging as my capital base is rather small, but with prudent risk management.

    Still in the midst of earning back through simple price action as well as trend following, which i hope to learn more from your continued dedication to this blog. I have only recently went back to looking at forex charts after revisiting your blog, the last time being many months ago after stumbling upon your post in hwz.

    More so than knowledge, I feel that tenacity and discipline (and experience) are really mandatory to sustained success in trading. The learning curve is also very steep without a mentor, even the very first step of setting up a brokerage account is very much daunting, much less talk about trading.

    Hoping to learn more from you on your blog. Your selfless imparting of wisdom is really commendable, unlike many so-called experts out there. Really heartfelt thanks to you. It is my dream to have a trading career after graduating from university ever since venturing into the stock market, and this inspirational post has further reaffirmed that dream.

    May 2015 be a year of great returns to you.

    Regards
    yun

    • Hi Yun,

      I understand what you are going through and i must say it is commendable to have that fighting spirit in you!

      Yes discipline and the hunger to succeed are key ingredients to make it in this business.

      There will be tough times, you have to brave it through. I don’t deny that i myself still face psychologically issues from time to time.

      But look at the big picture, if it’s that easy everyone will be millionaires. But no, it takes more than that.

      I’m honored to have you say such kind words, and i’ll be more than willing to share with you what i know.

      Best of luck in your studies and trading!

      Rayner

  • Hi,

    For beginners who have totally 0 clue on even where to start learning trading, can you please suggest where we should begin with?

    Regards,
    Bao

    • Hi, I have been doing trading since last year and was looking for a course that gave a solid strategy. If you like then you can look at camjmitchell Instagram page and go from there.

  • Great post Rayner! Surely one of the best i’ve ever seen. I run into your strategy 4 months ago, and i’am working hard to become a profitable trader. Thanks to you i am a little bit closer.

    • Hi Gonzalon!

      Great to you see here as well my friend.

      Thank you, but i believe it’s your hard work that get things moving. So good on you!

      Feel free to pop by anytime buddy.

      Rayner

  • Dear Rayner,
    Thank you for posting your article. My story is same as you but for the last part. Struggling since 2009, I have seen ups and downs and have paid heavily for tuition. It was not until end of last November I treadled upon several trend trading sites. In last month I am seeing a positive change.
    Based on my experience and over 30000 hours of screen time, I can easily related with your story.
    Thank you for putting all this.
    Regards

    Shaukat

  • Hi Rayner,

    I like the blog and appreciate all that you share. In the article above you mention trying various methods and failing repeatedly but then joined a prop firm. Can you tell me how that works? I thought a prop firm only hired proven profitable traders, but you got hired and then traded a Trend Following style. If you have already discussed this elsewhere please refer me to it. Thanks very much.

    GI

    • Hi GI,

      Thank you for your kind words, i’m glad you liked it.

      In Singapore, prop firms don’t necessarily hire profitable traders. They are opened to fresh graduates as well. I wasn’t hired as a trend follower but rather a scalping approach.

      But was fortunate to eventually adopt in to a trend following approach.

      I hope this post could shed some light on it.

      Rayner

    • Hey Himel!

      Well it’s a little misleading there as it only takes into consideration closed trades.

      The spike in December was actually due to the Usdjpy positions I have carried over the few months earlier.

      Cheers!

      Rayner

  • Hi Rayner,

    The article was truly inspirational! we share 101% similarity (even the 1st class honors part) haha. I am in my 3rd year of (failed) trading. I believe that my own emotion is the biggest enemy in trading. Hopefully, I could overcome it and trade confidently like you (i.e. ride big wave). Keep up your weekly sharing! in fact, will you consider doing daily market “alert” for intraday trading?

    ps. are you a full time trader?

    Thank you for your effort!

    Best wishes,
    Mr. NG

    • Hi Gandi,

      Thank you for your kind words, am glad you enjoyed it! And it’s awesome to know you’re a 1st class hon graduate too!

      Yes i’m currently trading full time with a prop trading firm.

      Thus it’s quite impossible to do any videos while at work, lol.

      Rayner

  • Hi rayner,

    Appreciate your article and it is very encouraging to me.

    I had started live forex trading after a year of trial in demo account and i believe I ready for the real profit. Initially I gain 30% and and recently loss to left 10%. I had once felt wanna gave up. Now I decided to continue after read your cheerful article. Once again thank you.

    By the way, are you still working as properiatry trader? Do you mind share with me more through my email?

    Thank you.
    Best regards
    Louid

    • Hi Louis,

      I am glad it is encouraging you and thank you for your kind words!

      Yes i am still working as prop trader. Feel free to ask questions here, or if you want email is fine too.

      Rayner

  • Hi Raynor,
    My path is more or less the same as yours…I have now crossed the PAT, Harmonics and Risk Management now and very close to success…This article of yours gave me the energy coins required to be in the journey at the right time when I was running low….Thanks for the great article…you will one amongst my list of people when I taste success…

    • Hi Vijay!

      It’s great to hear from you. Yes i understand how you feel and i truly hope you don’t give up.

      Do fight on and let me know how you progress, would love to hear from you.

      Cheers!

      Rayner

  • Hey there,

    Great post. I have a couple of questions. I’ll group them somewhat below:

    1) What is a trend to you? Do you only enter when there is one? What if the market is trendless? How do you identify a change in trend?

    2) You emphasize the importance of stoploss. Do you feel the same way about target price? Or you prefer to let the trade run and shift your stoploss with it?

    3) What is your winning rate? If you don’t keep a record, throw a rough percentage if possible.

    Thanks a lot man; looking to learn more here.

    Regards

    • Hi Robert,

      Thank you for your questions,

      1) Yes i do enter only when there’s an obvious trend, otherwise i stay out of the market completely. You can check this post here on how i tell when a trend may be ending.

      2) I let my trades run and never have a predefined take profit in mind. I trail my stops till the market takes me out of my position.

      3) I win about 30% of the time.

      Hope that helps and glad to have you around 🙂

      Rayner

      • Thanks mate.

        Truly appreciate the short and sweet response. I have some further questions about your replies:

        1) How many pips is your trailing stop?

        2) What is your longest string of losses?

        Thanks for you time.

        • Hi Robert,

          I don’t have a fix number of pips as trailing stops, because it is relative. Some pairs are more volatile than others, and would require a higher number of pips. I use ATR instead to trail my stop loss.

          I have losing streaks of 10 in a row before.

          Rayner

  • Thanks. Personally, I have never used ATR to trail my stops, so no experience there (will check it out though). My SL is usually fixed below a significant low or above a high during retracement.

    What would you say is too tight a SL? Assume hourly or 4-hourly time frame. Alternatively, how far away is the average SL on a least volatile pair you trade?

    If I am just starting out in FX, what would your recommended minimum capital be?

    How long did you take before you could say your system is profitable? (If this is in a post somewhere, feel free to link me to it; I have barely gone through your posts yet as I’m new here).

    Sorry for the wealth of questions, really eager to learn a lot here.

    • Hi Robert,

      I would highly encourage you to read through all my blog posts and watch about 15 videos back. It would give you a good idea on how i trade.

      With regards to stop loss, you may want to check out this post here.

      The minimum capital is an amount that you can treat it seriously when trading, and yet not small enough so that you can pay as little ‘tuition fees’ as possible.

      It took me about 4 years to be profitable. Hope that helps!

      Rayner

  • Hi Rayner!
    I stumbled across your blog and I wanna say thank you for your posts! Keep it up!
    I am looking forward to learning more from you.
    🙂

  • I’d like to comment on this quote: ‘He said “if you have been trading your strategy for the last 1 year but it’s not making you money, you better find a new strategy”. That was a wake up call for me.’

    This doesn’t sound very professional advice to me. You could count on the fingers from one hand the traders with long track-records and zero down years (Stanley Druckenmiller and Paul Tudor Jones come to mind). I see that you now settled on trendfollowing. This is not a strategy that guarantees zero negative years (no strategy can do that). Will you jump ship at the first sign of loss, as per the interviewer’s suggestion ?

    • Hello Vlad,

      That’s a great point you made. But i believe in that context he was talking referring shorter term trading, scalping to be exact.

      Scalping usually would generate a much higher frequency of trades thus their edge should play out in a much short time frame compared to a trend follower. And if after a year they are down, it would probably be a wake up call for them to re-evaluate what’s wrong.

      Now that i’m a trend follower trading on a much higher time frame, it is not logical for me to jump to something else even if i’m negative for the year. Because chances are it is a draw down in the grand scheme of things.

      Cheers!

      Rayner

  • Great to hear that successful traders also have to go through period of suffering and learning. I am still at the suffering stage, hopefully one day can transit to be a successful trader like you.

    • Hey weich,

      Thanks for stopping by.

      Yes I definitely had my share of ups and downs, but I’m glad I stick through all the way.

      Don’t hesitate to let me know if you’ve got any questions alright?

      Rayner

  • Good article.

    I’ve always been attracted to trading currencies, because i’m poor and the financial freedom sounds great, if you can be successful.

    Unfortunately though i haven’t been at it long i have not been successful, thankfully i’ve only been using demo with Nadex.

    I was just starting to gravitate toward price action. Is price action all bad?

    I think i’m going to read some books on personal finance, then some books on trading.

    • Hey Dale,

      A misconception about trading is that it can bring you fortune in a short period of time.

      Unfortunately that is further from the truth.

      In trading you need money to make money.

      If you can make 20% a year consistently…

      …A $1000 account would only be $200 a year.

      But on a $1m account, you’re looking at $200,000 a year.

      And this is what I mean by you need money to make money.

      Regarding price action, first you need to define what is price action?

      If you’re referring to solely trading pinbars and engulfing patterns, then you do need more than these patterns to be profitable.

      I believe this post here can help you become a more consistently profitable trader.

      Rayner

  • This is awesome article. same year i started trading and still losing money. I feel a bit stupid. I hope someday i can catch up. I use mean reversion with oscillator and chart patters such a double bottom, flag or head and shoulders. i can make profit during demo trading. but i cannot on real money. i feel very nervous even with small balance.

    • Hi nobuo,

      Thanks for sharing.

      It’s normal to feel nervous when trading live, especially when just starting out.

      Your focus should be on following your trading plan flawlessly.

      Only then would you have any idea if your method as positive expectancy. If you’re still nervous with the small account, try reducing it by half and see if it helps 🙂

      Rayner

  • Hello,

    I have been trading for 4 years now. I had good days and bad days. I totally relate to your article. I had the steep learning curve you had mentioned but after 4 years there is a BUT. I still make stupid mistakes. I am still waiting for the turning point that happened to you.
    Great article.

    MAX

    • Hi Max,

      Thanks for reaching out.

      I sincerely hope you find that ‘AHA’ moment as well.

      Hope to hear more from you in the near future 🙂

      Rayner

  • Hello Rayner,

    May I ask if your strategy is suitable for people like me who dont have alot of starting capital? At most a few k?
    I’ve attended various course and most of the time you need alot of capital to really profit from a short period of time.

    Looking forward to hear from you.

    • Hi Jason,

      Yes you can start off with a low capital amount.

      You’d probably be trading forex and CFDs.

      I wouldn’t look at trying to profit within a short time. Trading is a skill that needs time to develop (possibly a few years before becoming consistent).

      It’s best to align your expectations from the start, than be disappointed later on.

      Rayner

  • 1000 Thanks Rayner.
    Your story is more common than seems. I think many of us had lived those same situations.
    In my case, I´m still on that, trying to found the trading style that better suits me.
    Thanks to people like you, that shares all of your experience.
    Regards,
    JuanF.

    • Hello Juan,

      You’re most welcome, glad you enjoyed it.

      Yes finding a trading style is like finding the ‘right’ wife, it takes time to find something that actually suits your schedule and personality.

      I hope to hear more from you in the near future 🙂

      Rayner

  • Mr. Rayner:

    Thank you for the honesty in your journey. I also would love to be a mentor to those who are struggling one day myself. I have yet to trade live, only demo, and I really am quite bad after 9 months. Making some progress but the bad and ugly continues to surface. Need more good for my turn around.
    I have just discovered your site and have a good feel I am in the correct direction. May our brains continue in a positive fashion…thanks again.

    Tim

    • Hello Tim,

      Thank you for reaching out.

      It takes time to become a consistently profitable trader, but hey, its worth it.

      I hope to hear more from you soon 🙂

      Rayner

  • Awesome Rayner, thanks for sharing your experience. I’m a little late to this post, but better than never 🙂

    To put things in a slightly different light, I think that you almost HAVE to go through a series of trading systems to get to the one that works for you. So it might actually be beneficial for people to fail as quickly as possible so they can figure it out sooner.

    Also, I think we beat ourselves up too much for a system that didn’t work out. We just have to see it as part of the process, and move on without getting too emotional about it.

    Of course, this all depends on if you are quitting for the right reasons…but that’s a whole different story.

    Anyway, your site is coming along nicely, great job!

    • Hi Hugh,

      Thanks for reaching out.

      Yes its a learning process where a trader tries different approach, and finally BAM, he finds one that makes sense, and stick with it.

      That’s usually what I noticed, and its the same thing for me.

      Rayner

  • Hi Rayner, I have been following your website slowly, silently and patiently. Thank you for every thing you teach us here. I’m very grateful. You are doing very well. Keep going !

    • Hello Nikki,

      Thanks for reaching out. I’m glad to hear that its helping you.

      Don’t hesitate to let me know if there’s anything, I’ll be glad to help.

      Rayner

  • hi,
    I like to know about the risk management, i read online that if i have $100 in the forex account, is that the only total amount i have to lose in the event that my forex trading got square out?

    thanks

          • no worries, do you have a review on the brokers? it make sense that the broker is local in singapore, for all the “just in case” matters.

            What i know now only IG, Onanda and CMC is locally based.

            Any advise on the brokers will be helpful.

            thanks

          • Hey Mobi,

            I don’t have reviews on them. You can try asking people who have traded with them, or google it.

            Cheers,

            Rayner

          • Hi Rayner,

            This is so encouraging as I have been struggling to be consistently profitable trading FX.

            Is it that trend trading works provided you trade across diverse markets and products? I have not gone through a lot of your articles yet, but you mentioned trading CFDs as well. Do you mean indices, commodities and rates?

            Also, on the question on broker, is it convenient for you to reveal the broker you are using?

            Thank you

            Wee Kiat

          • Hi Wee Kiat,

            Yes. I trade across forex and futures product. CFDs can be substituted for the futures product if a trader has a smaller account.

            I don’t publicly talk about brokers but if you want to know, feel free to email me.

            Cheers

            Rayner

  • Hello Rayner.

    Great site. I read your book and I remember you stating about following mentor without a proven track record. I was wonder if you can provide the link to your myfxbook.com or username, so we can keep up with your track record.

    Thanks.

  • Thanks for sharing your own Trading Experience….

    I think trading by your own rules & strategies is something which every trader should

    follow, so I won’t tell you an advice. So, be confident about your own trading plans, tactics

    & strategies.

    I really wish you || All the Best ||. . . . . .

    • Hello Kewin,

      Thank you for reaching out.

      Yes I believe each trader has to go through the “process” before getting the AHA moment.

      I hope to hear more from you in the near future.

      Rayner

  • Hi Rayner,

    Enjoy your blog as it really reflects what i have been doing over the past few years. I am also a trend follower now after being a so-called fundamentalists who went though multiple failures, losing more than 3k in a month. I am really keen to learn more about your trend following strategy as i know alot of trend followers have their own unique set of indicators and rules…

    Some of my favourite book on trend following are:
    Trend following – micheal covel
    The way of the turtle
    The complete guide on turtle trading
    Trading in the zone
    Come in to my trading room
    And a few others.

    Personally i use multi-time frame, RSI and MACD to identify a trend and to confirm the momentum. Currently, i am planning to short the market as soon as the indicator identify a major down trend but i doubt it will last long (using a similar time frame back in 2011, i think it can last 6 more months before the trend side swing and reverse). So is better to get it early and get out early. Look forward to ur next posts. =) and all the best in ur trades

    • Hi Kayson,

      Thank you for sharing your experience.

      I myself didn’t had a good start with fundamentals too. But hey, we all learn something, don’t we?

      Yes you’re right. Trend following has a set of fundamental principles and after which, different traders have different ways of entering a trade, exiting and managing a trade.

      I’m a discretionary trend follower and I read a lot into the price action of the markets.

      Don’t hesitate to let me know if you’ve got any questions, I’ll be glad to help.

      Rayner

  • Hi Rayner!
    Thank You for Your story! One Day I will write My own and help others, when I get profitabel and good. I study Price Action and I think it suits My personality and full time job. Patience is something I am working on, I might be wrong but I certainly will try on demo account (I hope). Anyway You opened My eyes to Trend Following and it is really one of the best I have read about. This suits me aswell as full time worker, I can leave the computer for many hours and as we know, the trend is our best friend. I will try this too. I wanted to leave all indicators, I have used many of them and seen the market turn long time before. But the way You use them sounds very readonsble. I could also think about using the ADX to confirm the strength of the trend. I certsnly want to learn more. You give me hope!

    Best Regards

    Stephen

    • Hi Stephen,

      Thank you for reaching out.

      I appreciate the time you took to read the story.

      Don’t hesitate to let me know if there’s anything, I’ll be glad to help.

      Rayner

      • Hi Raynnar
        Came across all ur blogs and articles and debates ..
        Owesome knowledge and experience u have shared .. i would like to request u on to advise me if my plan is a good idea to start trading live . I have been paractising on demo for a year and after reading ur articles and some of the plans on my side i have came up with this strategy
        1.To follow trend
        2.identify support and resistance level
        3.analysia fundamental events
        4.candle stick patterns
        5.stop losses
        6.Not risking more than 5% of the account in one trade
        7.patience
        8.Patterns
        9.only 10Max trades a week
        10. Take profit and stop loss on high volatlity news.
        Please advise me if these steps are good and reliable
        Regards,
        Raja

  • me am cofuised and i dont know what to do becouse i have wipe out all my account nore then 10 time.even thogh it with small amout of money but i consider if it was also a big account maybe it can be the same.but i still strongly believe i can make money trading forex bcs some time i do it well but end up losing all the money i made.some time it come to my mind maybe it’s the broker who he is making me lose.i have even change broker,i have trade with more then 5 broker with really account ant more then 10 broker with the demo account .when i trade demo i do it well but when it come to really money it a big problem.

  • Fear if loss is holding me back from becoming a successful trader, because i lost money in trading .

    kishor nirmal

    • Hi Kishor,

      The fear of loss is perfectly normal.

      You can consider starting small first and work on your trading process. Once you’ve gain the consistency, you can always scale back up later on.

      Rayner

  • Hey Rayner,

    Thanks for sharing your story! Perseverance & discipline are the key to success. Just finished reading your guide to price action trading and I have to say it was a fantastic guide! Pick up a few gold nuggets and I especially love using the slope of impulsed move to assess the trend.

    Keep it up!

    Cheers,
    Ming Jong

    • Hey Ming Jong,

      You’re welcome. Glad to know you found it useful.

      Don’t hesitate to let me know if there’s anything, I’ll be glad to help.

      Rayner

  • Thanks Rayner,
    Very nice and interesting article… My experience was, I lost 50% of my account in my first day of trading. I did not know about position sizing and risk mgt. I did not even know I was trading 1 standard lot for a 2k account size. Because all I saw when I attended a 2 day forex seminar
    worth 3K was $10/pip if you win 30 pip you will earn 300$ and that simple it is. My mindset was being program to train that way and was doom for failure!
    By the way I have a question: You said you are a trend following trader. Do you scale out of your trade just to protect your position? and how do you manage your trailing stoploss?
    Thanks!

    • Hey Rey,

      Thank you for sharing your experience. 1 standard lot on a 2k account is definitely too much risk.

      I do scale in my positions when the price goes in my favor.

      You can check out this post here on trailing stops.

      Rayner

  • I fully relate to your experience and I have realised that, although there is so much on the web for new traders who are trying to find their niche and style of trading, there is also a huge problem with most of those sites. They only show the winning trades after the fact and everything looks dandy and easy even a school kid could be a trader. Instead of helping traders, this will harm them because it gives them the wrong ideas about trading and makes them loose their shirt trying to replicate those “artificial” trades. I have noticed the same thing on your facebook site where most people like to show off their successful trades and rarely give up any useful insight (even when asked) on why the trade was taken in the first place. Also, rarely you find anybody posting trades at the time when they where taken with a reason. Whether the trade turns out to be right or wrong in the end, it is irrelevant because, as you well know, the market will do what it wants at any time and NOBODY is 100% right. However, if, instead of showing ONLY the good trades after the fact with the great number of pips locked in, traders posted the trade at the time it was taken, other novice traders would learn a lot, if nothing else, from all the comments from other traders agreeing or disagreeing with the position. You will be able to make your own mind on what makes sense in the discussion and what does not. But best of all, you will then see the result and can review the trade until you have done it often enough to pick up patterns and the better way of trading.
    Thanks for all the time you put in to help others.

    • Hey Alfio,

      I appreciate your sharing on the facebook group and it tells me it’s the work of an experienced trader.

      So thank you for shining a light for new traders to learn from, truly appreciate it.

      Rayner

  • Wow you truly are an inspiration Rayner! I was at my wits end like so many. So many teachers out there and some simply made me feel more “dumb”. It was sheer ‘there has to be some answer’ deep inside that kept me pursuing. And then I found you!!! This blog made be realise that I am not alone in this situation and best part, that there is an answer and hope!
    I take this as a challenge and one day I will give my testimony thanks to your encouragement!
    God bless!!!!

    • Hey Natasha,

      Really glad to hear the blog resonates with you.

      This is a tough business no doubt, and having peer support is a big plus!

      Don’t hesitate to let me know if there’s anything, I’ll be glad to help.

      Rayner

  • Hi Rayner Lately I have been reading about Murrey Maths and followed it for a while I wonder if You ever used them. As a matter of fact I have done a few trades demo buying and selling at the extreme selling after a candle formation after reaching +1/8 or even +2/8 and buying at extreme of -1/8 and even -2/8. No trades when the price is off these extreme. Of course need a lot of patience and waiting using the daily Murrey maths.They seems to work decently well . What do You think? Then as You say discipline and all the rest is really the trick to be a successful trade. All the best Aldo

  • Hi Rayner,

    thank you so much for writing on your trading journey.

    Your honest and genuine reflections on trading is priceless.
    Truly enjoy reading you’re posts in the FB group and also watching your your analysis videos

    Thank you so much again! Appreciate what you are doing in the trading community. “)

  • Thank you Rayner ….. Your article hit the spot again. I’am ashamed to say it but I have been at it over 10 years. I cannot give it up and I can’t seem to be profitable consistantly. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.

    • Hi Kevin,

      Thank you for reaching out.

      Keep fighting on my friend, I believe you’re almost there.

      Don’t hesitate to let me know if there’s anything, I’ll be glad to help.

      Rayner

  • Hello Rayner,

    Just finished reading this article and i must say what you have shared is very very useful for new traders like me. It has been a year since i started trading and I’m happy that I’ve realised early what style of trading suits me.

    But one thing that’s troubling me since some time is these days experienced trader are using quant/ algo and all complex systems to make decisions and trade. So, for new traders like me who have no idea of these topics, will discretionary trading and trend following system still give that edge? Deep inside i think i should work on things i can understand and let go of complex topics

    I mean i need some motivation here.You’ve mentioned that you have worked at prop trading firms before.What’s your opinion on this.

    • Hi Ankur,

      There are many ways to trade the markets and algo trading is one of them.

      Personally, I don’t think the existence of algo traders will affect trends in the market. They’re operating usually on the lower timeframes whereas trend followers are on the higher timeframes.

      Rayner

  • Hahahaha… i can relate to the story 🙂

    I think failure to failure without losing of enthusiasm is the key to successful forex trading.
    Many will quit before they become successful trader.
    Nice article man!

  • Hi rayner

    I have been doing a similar thing trading pin bars and engulfing bars from support and resistance on 4hr and daily charts but getting no results. They very rarely occur on a chart leaving me with about 2-3 trades per a month, which is obviously not enough. I want to be a swing trader as I don’t think I can deal with loosing most of the time. Do you have any advice? Thanks!

    • Hello Ian,

      Trading false breakout is a decent strategy.

      You can look to trade it on the 4 hour and daily. They should provide enough setups on a monthly basis.

      Rayner

  • Thank you so much for this article.Trading systems or styles are like sports. You cannot be good at any sport you try. Everybody can hit a ball. But you will not be Messi. You must find a sport in which you feel good, you see that you’re doing well and can improve. Then focus on that sport, getting better and better every day.

  • What you have written was exactly what I have gone through, Rayner…I am into my 7 years of trading, largely on the losing end over the first 5 years (even blowing up my accounts several times). It was only the last 2 years that I am consistently profitable month on month…but it’s all worth it as the 2 years can get back whatever you have lost and more…self discovery and discipline.

    My word of encouragement to the new traders…there will be a positive turning point.

  • Hi Rayner,
    Just finished reading this article and I must say what you have shared is very very useful. I just started trading, using StochRSI. The problem I face is how to find best stock to trade. I’ve read up articles said that best stocks are those with 30 days above moving averages and high trading volume. They’re also saying, is best to get familiar with 1 to 2 potential or popular stocks when you’re new to trading. I started going to BarChart to look for stocks with 52 weeks highs and with high trading volume. Well, till now I still not sure if this could help me. The stock that I bought is trending up slowly.

    • Hi Kelvin,

      You’re most welcome.

      It’s true there are a lot of stocks out there. Thus, you want to focus on setups that make the most sense to you. Not just stocks breaking out of 52weeks high.

      One thing you could look at is the slope of the moving average, to give you an idea of the strength of the trend.

      Rayner

  • I like your version of MJ’s famous quote converted for trading. Haha. Thanks a lot for this Rayner. After reading I said to myself “I am not the only one who tried dozens of strategies.”

    Continue to inspire many more traders Rayner. I hope to meet you someday.

    • Hi David,

      Thank you for reaching out.

      Glad you enjoyed the post 🙂

      Don’t hesitate to let me know if there’s anything, I’ll be glad to help.

      Rayner

  • hello rayner, i like this post, it enlighten me.. Im newbie in forex, just 1 month try fibo, price actions, supply demand..those method make sense for me than other indicators..
    Can give you advise to me..
    1.i want to grow up my account aggresive, it seems scalping suitable for me, but you said it doesnt have edge, what time frame minimum so i can use scalping strategy? 1m, 5minute, 15minute, ?Even in short timeframe there is trend move right?
    2.i apply stop loss, it seem killing me softly, in demo account use 1 minute time frame many hit stop loss in row..ha..ha…i use broker with spread 70pips, so i double become 140 pips..for stop loss..target profit 1:2, 1:3…still confuse where the price will move, even i use multi time frame analysis, fibo, supply demand zones..im use tablet for practise..when it charged for 4hours.. Missed a trend..ha.ha..

    • Hi Fran,

      There are traders who do fine as scalpers, but it requires the necessary skill to do so.

      I would recommend reading my trading guides on the “right side”. This will equip you with proper trading knowledge.

      Rayner

    • Hi Tej,

      Thank you for reaching out. Glad to hear that!

      Don’t hesitate to let me know if you’ve got any questions, I’ll be glad to help.

      Rayner

  • Hey Reyner,

    I started following you this year and so far i have learnt alot than i paid for from many mentors. I guess i was running after people who didnt really care much about making me a trader but just taking my money through their classes. I blew all my accounts and currently budgeting and armed with many desciplines i learnt from you. Thank you very much man.

    Thank you.
    Walter
    South Africa

  • Excellent article Rayner! I can find myself within it :), I have 1 year of forex trading and still looking for a good strategy, still losing money, etc. Sometimes I double or triple my account in no time and then lose it all. I have dozens of trading rules collected but I admit I don’t follow them all the time, mostly when I feel Ihave an edge and breal the rules that’s when my account getsI blown up .

  • Interesting article. I am fairly new to FX and it left me wondering several things. Since you seem to have failed using various methods, which method is it that you make money from trading now ? or do you make money from selling courses.
    My searching reveals to me that it seems very common out there in FX land for people to repackaging free information and labelling it with “ultimate” or some other superlative and then selling it… There seems to be so many “educators” out there pumping out the same stuff without showing any proof that they actually trade profitably.
    I suspect that “Education” IS the holy grail of how to make money in FX.

    • I’ve been trading for 18 years and lost many accounts when I was starting out, I’ve seen all types of marketers but Rayner gives most if not all information away for free including his own experiences and if he were selling something you could review his style first.
      I have discovered many good ways and “secrets” to entering trends over my time that I am not prepared to share online because I will not tolerate trolls.
      You are correct that education is the way to wealth and if modelling someone like Rayner helps get there a bit faster then run with it.
      It takes at least 3000 hours to have half a clue about trading and then you begin to learn and apply your own style, at 10000 hours you are beginning to really understand and get on top of your emotions.
      Trading is the worlds most boring job and we are always looking for something to fill the gaps, some write how-to’s on trading and I get on my dirt bike and bugger off for a day or two, each to his own.
      I think Rayner IS the most generous character I’ve ever come across in trading.
      I found Rayner while looking for help to overcome fear at higher levels, a natural roadblock in trading psychology as everyone eventually finds out.

      Ken – Australia

      • Hi Ken,

        Thanks for sharing. I do agree that you’ll find different entries into trending markets, that’s what I found myself throughout the years as well.

        Glad to be of help, best!

  • Hi Rayner

    Excellent article, thank you for sharing your experience. I often look at a trader,s psychology as a child going through their development stage. Where at each stage the trader matures and develops better insight into their attitudes to trading

  • Awesome article rayner…thanks!

    I feel that I am also similar to you in terms of trading psychology like
    1) I want to be systematic with less room for discretion
    2) I can accept being wrong most of the time
    3) I am patient and discipline

    I have so far read your Price Action ebook. Will finish it soon and read the “Trend following” ebook.

  • 5) Trend follower buys high and sell low
    Is it mistake? Or if it isn’t how to understand it?
    By the way – very inspirational article.
    Thanks!

  • Hi Rayner,

    It is a great article. it’s just stick right to my heart (of problem).

    I just made back all my loss in these 5 past year. However, I lost it all again last week (about 200k USD). Now I’m lost and I tried to add more money and keep losing it until I have nothing left for now. My main problem is that I always try to counter the trend, I don’t know why in my brain always say “It’s gonna reverse now”. Then I take the trade and then boom……
    or sometimes, I was right but I’m chicken out before it blossom.

    I really would like to know how to set my mind set for trend following method.

    Really appreciate your suggestion in advance.

    • Hi Tim,

      Thanks for sharing your experience. Try getting a trading plan and following it closely.

      Have fixed rules to follow and focus on the process, not the results.

      Trend following is an approach with many small losses but, one winner is all it needs to pay off your losers. Thus, cutting losses short is mandatory to survive in this business.

      • Thank you so much. I agree. You word is very true.
        I’ll try to cut loss short.

        in the past, my understanding is the market is always random. So, to find the right entry level is difficult. My timing always not perfect. Then I tried to average loss.
        I have to change my thought on this.

        Thank you again.

  • Just like you, Rayner, I tried the whole 9 yards. Experimented with a bunch of different strategies and systems, including online signal services, but didn’t really get anywhere until I started trend-following and using my own system that I put together from all my studying and reading. I also found that longer timeframes worked better for me for stocks and ETFs (weekly or monthly vs daily). What works best for me is good risk management via position sizing, and a set of simple rules that are easy for me to follow, emotionally, so that I don’t second-guess myself. I also found that I need to limit myself to trading no more than 8 different stocks simultaneously, or it is too much work to monitor everything. Much less stress that way, for me, and only needing to check end of week prices when the weekly bars have formed. But what’s right for me may not work for someone else; people need to find or develop a system that they can follow without sabotaging or bailing out. A person needs to follow his rules, or one can’t trade. Period. That’s why I advocate your “points” system. It’s brilliant.

    • Hi Steve

      Thank you for sharing your experience. It seems like you’ve found your own approach and I’m really happy for you.

      You nailed it perfectly and I couldn’t have said it better.

      Cheers

  • Great article, I can relate with every word you said, I want to learn your trend following strategy
    I’ve been practicing for 3 months and everytime I trade in real account, my stop loss gets hit,

    I want to feel confident and have a strategy to recover my losses with good risk management
    Im passionate and would like to learn from you, the trend folllowing strategy

    how can I learn from you?

    thx

    • Hi Saif,

      Thanks for reaching out.

      Have a read at my trading guides on the right-hand side of the blog. I believe those will help you immensely.

      Don’t hesitate to let me know if there’s anything, I’ll be glad to help.

      Cheeers

  • Well, we’re should I start… I see myself in your words despising the fact that I started 18 months ago and still no consistency in profits. I used it all like you, I think I was looking for which indicators had more colors than profitable ones. Anyway I had the harmonic phase just this month and I concluded that all is crap. I read naked forex and I’m daily swing based in his strategies, so far so good but required a big mindset to hold positions for days with 100/200 pips stop loss and double as take profit. Anyway sometimes I still feel lost, I look at charts and I have no idea where price wants to run, it’s a feeling of emptiness and at the same time is stressful. I’m tired of loosing, I have a full time job and two little boys so for forex I basically sleep less to study and look at charts at night, my point is if you are willing to help count me in, I would like to learn from people that went all the way as I am struggling now, some call it the dooms circle where you test everything and change strategies every week. Take care and tks for the post

  • I’ve been trading for just a year now and I’ve blown many accounts already.
    Thanks for the share, it gives me hope that it’s possible to be profitable in this business.

  • Awesome article.
    I have been following you sine 1 month your trading satragies are so good.I am currently trading on forex market.But i also want to trade on stock markets.Can yo plz tell me which is the best stock broker.bcz i lived in pakistan and i have search many brokers that are only for USA citizens.Can you plz tell me which is the best brokers for stocks for beginners.

    • Hi Awais

      Glad to hear you’re enjoying it.

      Sorry I can’t comment on stock brokers since most of them are based in US or outside Pakistan.

  • Hi Rayner,

    Your honestly ,effort n precious time you put in was not wasted as your Strength of members & subscribers continue to increase.Well done n keep going . I had been trying to learn more on trading n hope I can soon be profitable . Thanks you for sharing your personal experience n imparting good knowledge in your trading to others … Cheers!!

  • Afternoon Rayner, This is Kgothatso all the way from South Africa i just read your journey as a trader very inspirational and it gives me hope to keep going, i have been introduced to you a month or so back by a fellow trader and am glad he did you are Real Rayner.

    In my year of trading i have never used an indicator fortunately and am not about to start. I saw ur previous video were u analysed Gbpnzd and Gbpusd making use of clean charts and continuation patterns bull flags this made me feel at ease finding a professional trader that incorporates these patterns in his analysis cause i do to but get some criticisms for using them saying that they dont work …. with that said thank you so much and may the God Lord strengthen you so that you can continue to be a blessing to most of us out here.

    As i take ur advise to surround myself with real traders!!from today tradingwithrayner’s website is my new home.

    • Hey Kgothatso

      I’m glad to have you on board, my friend.

      Don’t hesitate to let me know if you’ve got any questions, I’ll be glad to help.

  • Hi Rayner,

    Thanks for your honest and motivational story. At least, we are well informed about trading forex. If you say we can do it, I totally agree with. You are a good teacher.
    Quite like what is been sold to us out there. That trading forex is easy, one of our student started with $500.00 and made $40,000 in one year.
    I have spent a lot of money learning forex, but have not been able to make profit. I am almost at the point of quiting, but I saw your video about trading with the trend and how to use 200EMA to determine trend on a daily chart in the past two weeks with a micro account, I made $500 in two weeks. What I have learned from your weekly videos and your free books revived my confidence. I greatly thank you. You brought me back to actually learn how to trade forex. i loved watching your videos, short and to point. Also the greetings.
    Please what time of the day is best to scan through charts to pick up setups.

    • Hey Godson

      I’m happy to hear it’s helping.

      There’s no best time of the day to scan for setups, although I personally do it after new york close.

      cheers

  • Highly Inspirational!

    Thanks for sharing your amazing experience and how you reached to this stage by series of trial and error.

    You rightly said, everyone initial thought was could enter Forex and easily make quick money trading both sides of the market. But, once they start trading with actual account and then they realize that’s not true.

    Lucky people got your guidance now.

  • Hi rayner, im a trend following trader too, my win rate is 30%, from that 30%, only 30% that had profit big enough to cover all my losses and leave some profit to me. So, only 10% of my trade that give huge chunk of profit, How much yours rayne? Thanks

  • Only 50%…? You are so lucky man…
    I have blown up 3 small accounts and half of the forth……after that I m realising the fact of money management n emotional descipline…… Doing great work ….keep it on

  • Hey Rayner,

    that was straight from the heart…thanks for the wonderful blog…

    Appreciate your honesty.

    I am about to begin my trading journey in a few days, honestly I am in the process of deciding on a strategy, but my problem is the more I think on strategy, I am into analysis paralysis mode, as every strategy has pro n cons, do you feel I should begin first, and then finalise a strategy…?
    Want to make it big…

    Lot to learn from you…

    Love, Atul

    • Hey Atul

      Take it one step at a time. You won’t get the perfect strategy, but you’ll constantly refine and tweak it over time.

      Best!

  • This is just ecstatic,, considering many educators charge a fortune with no guarantee of success but you selflessly offer your trading history, mistakes and turn around. Many people, myself included can relate. i’m looking to start trading live next monday 12 June. all this time i’ve been searching for an edge and courage o actually take this head on rectifying the mistakes many have made. Thank you Rayner

  • It’s really impressive. I started trading at November 2016 with a pair very familiar to me EUR/TRY (because I’m Turkish living in France) and at that time a clear political uncertainty was on my country which made a huge uptrend in this pair. I started with 100€ on a broker with a leverage of 1/100 and it went just perfect, on January my capital was 3500€, of course I wasn’t fallowing any risk management or strategy but pure luck… I was feeling like unstoppable river. But of course like all trend, mine also reversed but I was so much “in love” with my trading strategy that I was blinded to see the reversal. .. In only one week I lost 3000€ of my capital (it’s not much as money but too much psychological speaking…) It made me question the life and made me want to go to Tibet for meditation like Ace Ventura… Then once the shock passed, I started to search for strategies, EAs, patterns and all you can imagine… But nothing worked well, (I also imagine that I didn’t try them long enough) then I found your website and your videos … frankly thank you for helping me make my mind and restart to look for trends!

  • Hi ray, is it possible for a trend following trader to survive if he only trade in forex? Almost 50 pair is on the radar, not just a few pair only of course. Tq ray

  • Hi Ray, I am looking to begin trading Binary Options and plan on getting registered with your trading course, however, I am from the US and the first step is what broker can I trust besides Nadex (Nadex is too difficult for me to understand and I don’t have the capital to buy expensive lots). Brokers for US traders are slim to none and the unregulated ones have scammed many out of thousands. I read that Marketsworld has taken a turn for the worst. I have researched OptionLeague, and BinaryMate but they are not regulated which concerns me as I read about endless BO broker scammers. Any help o brokers would be greatly appreciated.

  • Hi,

    This is a good read. I have just started investing in the stock market for 3 months. Currently, I don’t have any strategy. Can you suggest any books or website to gain knowledge in trading? Thank you

  • Thank you Rayner for sharing with us your forex trading journey.

    You are really an inspiration and a blessing to all the traders who are

    struggling. “We should never give up on our dreams.”

  • .I can definitely rely to your story, i am going through the same struggles and you just gave me new hope. The journey can be rocky but the reward at the end of the tunnel makes it worth it.

    Thanks for sharing your story Rayner

  • That’s such a motivational journey you had shared here. However, you didn’t mention anywhere that how was your family /friend reactions, when you were standing at loosing position for years ? Since, financial loses makes your daily life difficult somewhere.Don’t you think ??

  • Hi…in your 5 traits for a trader…the last point where you have said that a trader buys high and sells low …can you explain it to me….generally in trend following you just follow the trend, for uptrend buy low and wait for the trend to take it forward and for a downtrend sell high and let the trend take it forward….

    Thanks

  • Great Article Bro Seen your videos in Youtube especially breakout strategy ..build up trade with trend and not too far from bo..these are my mantras from you Excellent Work Bro Keep it up Please let me know if there are better strategy than this..

  • The trend of trading seems to be:
    you get in thinking in 2 years you’ll be driving a Ferrari and trading from a beach.
    you spend money one research
    you lose money trading
    you keep being told its easy so you get more money
    you keep losing it
    you work overtime to repay yourself all that lost money
    If you manage to keep your head above water you suddenly get 20000 internet ‘friends’ who are at the beginning of the trend who want to skip all the other steps ha ha.

    Well done Rayner, you made it and the best of luck to you and your family. I will continue to hang around, hoping for some crumbs of knowledge from your table.

  • Thank you so much for this article. I really appreciate your honesty.
    It was like reading my own learning journey word for word!
    I was , last month, just at the point of giving up after 5 years, when I came across your articles and videos.
    Since then my trading has taken a turn for the better! It’s early days but I have confidence that I have now finally found the best advice yet! Thanks again.

  • i have something to share too, i remembered briefly buying AIG shares when suddenly the next week the sub prime crisis blew up, it turned my first investing experience of a $3k investment into $30 overnight, talk about prefect market timing, put me off investing or trading for the next 5-6 years, which of course i missed the great rally after that, nevertheless it was fruitful to hear your story, wonder if i could learn more from you before venturing back into trading, to be able to set foot off on a right track with a guiding mentor, wishing you a Happy Chinese New Year!

  • Hi Rayner,

    This means a lot… People like me are very lucky, everything to learn is here, especially for new to trading. Your ups and downs during your first to four years of trading have a big impact on me. Fewer people sharing this story. And I am very glad that I learned a lot from here, and will be applying on my journey to the trading world.

    Truly, as a new in trading, I have only one goal in mind “Not to lose at all time, and gain profits every each company I bet”. But the question is “How can I do that”? That’s the big question for all.

    With this kind of your blog. Answers all the questions on my mind…

    Thanks a lot…

  • Hi Rayner,

    Thank you so much for this. I just learned trading a month or so ago and I can relate from almost 90% of what you wrote here. When I started to learn about trading I even thought about quitting my day job to do full time trading only to lose 50% of my capital on the first 2 weeks. I’m starting to doubt myself then I read this article and realized that what I’m experiencing right now is just labor pain of learning something new. Thank you again and God bless you.

  • Hey Rayner, your story is inspiring, am following you since a month and look forward to your posts. My story is quite similar. I have put in 3 years into learning day and night but am not a profitable trader. Most of my views are accurate but i dont have the guts to trade because of fear of losing. And whenever i do trade selectively trade does not go in my favour. I lack execution skills. What do u suggest i should do? Thanks.

  • Nice Article Man!

    For me now Its been 2 years of trading from which one and half year, my trading account capital was in down trend, now from last 6 months i am finally able to see it in sideways (Means on weekly basis, i loss only what i make), but not been able to move in uptrend. Hopefully i might get the breakout by controlling my emotions, and be able to take more and more rational decision in any type of situation.

  • Hi, I’m Paul. I’ve already lost some money with trading. I only have 100 on the nadex platform. Can you help me? I have some goals and want to turn that 100 into 200. Then 200 to 400 and so on per month. 100% gains every month for a year. Please help?

  • Thank you for sharing… Im new to trading and still learning. Ive lost some of my capital but at the same time i learned a lot about my self and trading in the real world. This was so inspiring… Thank You!

  • Thankyou for this article sir . I always watching and reading youre articles. Do you still have a training course that i could take? if there is please show me how I could avail it . Thanks

  • Nice read Ray, i can relate to a lot of what you have been through. I am on the same journey, in the phase of struggle but haven’t given up hope.

  • Thank you so much Rayner for sharing your story. I had similar experience as you had. It gave me hope that soon I can be a successful trader myself. Im very much grateful for the likes of you who is so generous with your knowledge in FX trading. May your tribe increase.

  • Hello Rayner,

    Today’s message struck something in me. I have to be strong and patient. I started trading live about 2 weeks ago and I started with $100.

    I traded a demo for 3 months before going live. Yet the feel is different with the live account.

    I only have $20 left but am learning my mistakes as the day goes by.

    I would like to have you as a mentor.

    I also started reading books because of some things you said in your blogs and am seeing the importance of reading books.

    Thanks a lot.

  • Sharing your life events are indeed helping in creating a good forum along with trading education Rayner.
    Thanks for posting it.

  • God bless you rayner.I am so encouraged and inspired.
    I have chosen you as my mentor in trading.I found something unique about your heart.
    I love you rayner.
    Cheers.
    I just wish someday,i would meet you in person.
    Cheers again

  • Hello Rayner, i´m really inspired by the story of your trading journey, i´m sure i´m going through what you went through and i would like to learn more from your experience. please tell me how i can join your class.

  • Thanks so much for sharing your trading experience with me it gives me hope that I will one day cross over from losing to winning . I’ve not seen a good strategy that is good for me . I want follow your strategy I believe it will bring back my lost account I’m six month in Forex I’ve lost half of my capital

  • Thanks Rayner, this boosted my struggling self-confidence after i lost almost all of my borrowed money that i invested in leveraged bull&bear certificates and turbo warrants (it got knocked out), i got stuck because my bank (or maybe the emitter of the options) don’t offer stop loss function, i am sure i can make money otherwise. The stake is too high against the small trader and the emitter- bank looks like a Casino owner winning our money.

  • Hey rayner bro,
    I know I’m too late but I think that I may be this time on a right track when I found out about your youtube videos and this website material I’m getting through your email service. I’m not good at English but I will try my best to explain my problem to you.

    Rayner, as you asked that if I need your help I would have to comment this post (expecting to get your help).

    I’m into trading for approximately 1 and a half years but, I’m loosing what I already had. I juat thought sometimes that I’ve learned what I can over the internet and now I just want someone to help me a little to further know about trading. I have a pasaion about trading so I’m not here to quit just want someone to help me dig deeper. I hope you can understand what I’ve said.

    Juat one thing to ask now rayner, can you help me be a better trader? Can you contact me to help me learn even better? Please do reply atleast so I know that I’m getting your help or not.

    A big thanks for whatever I’ve already learned from your videos.
    Peace!

  • Thank you so much Rayner for sharing this… truly inspirational.
    I am pretty much in the same boat you once traveled. Striving for a happy ending like yours.

    Thanks once again.

    Best regards

  • Hi Reynor, thank you so much for your knowledge, I really need your help with entry and exit rules I’m a struggling trader as well iwould like to understand strategies on entry and exit rules , is it okay to use price action for entry rules

    Kindly assist
    Regards
    Busi

  • Hi Rayner
    thanks for sharing all this. Its invaluable for all traders out there.

    Just a question on your trend following method. Hope you don’t mind sharing this:
    – you mentioned that your batting average in trend following is 30% ish ( 3/10 winning trades), so what is your risk reward profile? is it usually 1:2, 1:3, or 1:10?

    – do you hold these trades for days?weeks? months?

    – how do you avoid the temptation ( I know its really about discipline) but how do you avoid taking profit too early, or “chickening out” too early, if trade does not go in your favour immediately? I trade really small but sometimes I bail out of a trade too early . I know this is a bad habit that I have, that I really need to fix! 🙁

    thank you in advance

  • Rayner how good you are there is no words to express, just felt very much Happy heartly, you are great human, legend, best Guru for me, reading your blogs is like energy booster for me, I salute you sir,i pray to my god that you always live with healthy and wealthy, thank you so much

  • Thank you Rayner.. I’m a new trader and Reading your articles and books makes me stay woke and also gives me much energy to press on..

  • Hi Ryan,
    Your story is amazing but the lessons are even better.
    Now, because you asked people to share their experiences, here is my story.
    I was struggling a month ago with 20 losses in a row when I asked someone else if this is normal and he said it’s not. Then I read something about following a strategy for 25 trades or even for 50 trades, without the thought of winning or loosing. That was the point where I start learning and adapting. After 27 trades, I tried another one in the same time, but I didn’t give up to that one. It’s all happening on a demo account. I have a real account as well but after I lost most of it I stopped and I’m experimenting on demo only.
    It’s all on paper in my journal, with bad and good things, with ideas and conclusions. Every day I’m reviewing what I wrote and testing again.
    I don’t know when and where I’ll end up, but there can be only one way for me. I know I’m on the right path, I just need some guidance, some directions.
    Any advice is welcome.
    Thank you.

  • Thank you for sharing your trading journey Rayner. You provide excellent trading lessons, but most of all you are are a great person!

    I started in 2012, and studied EVERYTHING from stocks and value investing, to options, to forex, to futures and indexes. Like you I learned something useful from everything and every one. Last year I finally came to the conclusion there is no more I can learn that is going to make me consistently profitable, and telling myself it’s not my system, it’s not the market, it’s all because of me. 2018 was the first year I learned how to make money consistently day trading futures, and long term trading daily and weekly stocks. I made back all my losses within a year, but am still working on myself and my behavior in order to keep it. My behavior that takes money away is being anxious and entering early, hating to miss the action and chasing the price, watching every tick and losing the overall market, afraid of losing profit, and afraid of losing trades. It’s really really tough, kind of like hitting your thumb with a hammer, it hurts, yet you can’t help but do it again and again!

    The quote that hit home is trade like a sniper, not like a machine gun. I was the machine gun that kept missing, I’m now a sniper 🙂

    Keep up the good work Rayner!

  • I’m also at the point of 50% loss in capital and trying out various strategies. Your article really resonates with me. I hope I can preserve like you say.

  • Hi Rayner,
    I’m 10 months into trading and I yet have not found an edge in the market. I spend many hours everyday trying to learn and practice to become better but my results doesn’t show it. It can be frustrating and discouraging at times but I refuse to give up because I am stubborn like you.

  • Hi, Thank you for everything. Been using your trend following strategie for some Time now, and still losing money consistently. Im trading with iqoptions, dont know if the problém is in that. I have like 1 winner to 10 stop losses, that not Good. Any suggestions? Josef.

  • Hi Rayner,

    I was introduced to the world of trading just around 2 months ago in October 2018 and within this short span of time, I lost over $60, 000.00.

    Basically, my ‘holy grail’ was the RSI; I buy when it is showing a value of 30, sell when it hits 70 and I ignored all things else. That proves to be my undoing….

    It feels like the end of the world for me…that is, until I saw your videos on YouTube…

    I felt greatly inspired by your ‘tutorial’ videos that you posted on YouTube; through them and with hindsight, I had realized those simple but yet highly deadly mistakes (trading against the trend being the biggest one, not setting any stop-loss which blew up my entire account, trading candle stick patterns in isolation etc) which I had made resulting in my loss.

    Right now, I have been following your videos on YouTube closely and saving up in the hope that I will be able to replicate your success story.

  • What an inspirational write up .l am a new trader trying to get extract income for my self and family. But having lost 75% of my capital I know I knew nothing about the trading strategies.

  • Hey Rayner,
    I appreciate your honesty in sharing your journey of where you was to where you are today. I have recently starting my trading journey and am yet to find a strategy that consistently produces a net profit for me. But thanks to your inspiration I wont give up one day I will regain my losses and maximize my profits.
    Continue sharing your great work with many of us.

  • Hello Rayner, thank you so much for your videos and posts. I love the way you relay information in such a simple straightforward manner. I’m a new trader and I’m mostly interested in day trading but Forex has grabbed my attention through watching your videos. I only have a small amount of capital, but I want to begin trading Forex. Please recommend some good brokers for beginners. Thank you so much, blessings!

    • I don’t publicly discuss brokers because in this day and age, we have no idea what goes on behind the scenes.

      If you want a recommendation, drop me an email me and we can discuss it.

      cheers

  • Hey Rayner thanks again for this awesome article and truly inspirational. I wanna want to learn more on pinbar and engulfing trading patterns

  • I have lost my capital 2 times and lost a lot of money and my trading strategy is not working at all because it looks like the market just goes for my stop loss then rebounds after taking me out. I don’t want to throw in the towel but I don’t want to lose more money

  • I’m having a hard time improving my trading skill as a beginner, I’ve watched countless trading videos I’m still not getting it right instead I keep losing money

  • I watched your videos in YouTube, and I thought I could trade trends but every time price hit my stop loss, what should I do? I am beginner

    • That’s the cost of doing business.

      Not all trades will capture a trend, most will fail a few will make it, and that’s how you get paid.

      You consider widening your trailing stops too to ride longer-term trends.

  • Thanks for sharing your experience in trading you have encourage me because am like giving up because I trade binary option but all my investment was a donation to the market for this reason I conclude not to be damaging my money but you have stir me up to start learning the more and not to give up. thanks very much I appreciate you.

  • hi. am just confused.ok which way do you go when trading?trend following,prise action trading or which way?am just a beginner in trading

  • Am a dummy almost feeling bored because of unexpected difficulty in trading. Your story gives hope it’s common to be tortured by the market and still be profitable. It is out of humble mentors like you who say about their failures who we can learn and get hope from. Thanks much TEO.

  • hie rayner,i’m actually in a similar scenario,im struggling to be profitable…ive juggled so many strategies to no avail whilst seeing my capital dwindling in front of my eyes,a couple of times i let my profits go because of not having exit strategy…would be greatful if u cld be my mentor

  • We Got Same Story Here, I’ve Tested Different Indicators & Strategies But I Discovered Knowing Your Psychology Is The MajorKey For Successful Trader But I’ve Been into this Industry Just Less Than 1Yrs
    I’ve Learned Enough From Different Sources Am Getting Profitable Everyday Using Proper Risk management, You’ve Been My Superior From The Very First Time.

  • Rayner! Your short story of what seems to be a long trading experience, is like a trading course of one’s lifetime. I applaud you for your stick-to-it-ive-ness, and I do hope that you will have continued success in your trading. With my discipline and your coaching webinars, I hope that I will be able to help, and do the same for others. Winston

  • Hi Rayner could you explain abit more on Trend Follower principles 5) Buy High and Sell Low rather than buy low and sell high

  • Hey Rayner, Thanks for sharing this article. Before reading your articles, I lost 50% of my capital and still I could not sell trades (feeling the pain for loss).
    After reading your articles still I get fear when I enter to trade.. Can you suggest..

  • I just know forex 1year later, already get MC(margin call) 1x
    I read many forex book but i think that very important is emotional,risk,good money management&never give up,we will study from experience&practise in market.
    Thank master for your helpfull information,

  • Everybody talks about money management but to be successful you need first a strategy that actually works, otherwise there is not management possible, isn’t it?. Could you explain a bit more about MM? Because if I close every 100 pips and my profit is 100 pips, and my stop loss is hit most of the time, there is not scope you are dead… thank you!

  • Hello im also same as like you im new to trading i have lost $10000 in 2 months but i didnt give up again i fund my trading account with $15000 again i lost $12000 but i think its ok.i want help from you

  • I am just in a state of shock to be honest, invested in two Binary option companies and both brokers really took everything I had, worst of all they kept making me invest more at this stage I would really like to speak with others who have shared similar experiences they must be a way to catch these miscreants, please do reach out.

  • Hi Rayner , I have been trying out new strategies, but been losing more than 60% , im still not giving up and was hoping to find the right strategies. Your books and video are awesome ! Hope to see you in person one day and learn personally from you.

    Thank you Rayner !

  • I am a beginner for Stock Market. I want to gather Trading Strategy for Trending Market. Your Articles very helpful for me. Thanks a lot.

  • Hi Rayner
    I’ve got you beat. I lost 100 percent of my account at the beginning of 2016. Now I’m trading a much smaller account. I’m 66 years old and I love trading. I employ a combination of Buffetology and swing trading. I use indicators (rsi, macd, ema).
    I use risk management inasmuch as I usually have my account split between 6 or 7 stocks. The Buffetology part comes in if I’m wrong on a trade, then I’m quite comfortable letting it ride til it turns around. I enter and exit trades by the RSI and MACD, when they are both in agreement. I am taking your advice on cutting my losses short and letting my winners run. Well…at least till the RSI tells me to get out.
    But I need to switch brokers because, the one I’m using doesn’t have stop loss capability. I guess I’ll need to learn more about technical analysis in order to learn where to place stops.
    Thanks for all you do. I enjoy your videos tremendously.

    Mike L

  • Hello Rayner
    Thank you for sharing your story,
    I and a lot of new traders trying to find out what strategy is works , but in my opinion we don’t have to loose if we’re use your experience, I really like to have briefly advise, what is the best time frame for day traders?
    Regards

  • i am EXACTLY experiencing everything you discussed in this blog, i am currently down 50% after trading for 3 and a half years now mainly because of jumping from one strategy to another and failing to cut losses. i am now testing out swing reversals (mostly hammers) but doubting my choice after reading your conclusion that includes this strategy. would you advice me to continue tackling these small swings? the reason behind me picking this strategy recently is that swings are the most abundant structures in the market. trends are formed by a collection of up and down swings. my thinking is that i can just get out of trading and when i go back there will always be a swing opportunity somewhere, all the time, whether its a bounce on a down trend or a pullback on an uptrend. ironically, due to its abundance, being whipsawed seems to be as abundant when i swing. is it worth it in your honest opinion to pursue swing trading?

  • hi i trade the gold and it performs well in trending market 1 hour candle with adx but in trendless market i confuse and hit my stoploss. how can you help me ?

  • What will you say about, your trade or trade conviction is abosulutely correct but time is wrong due to which, trade turns into loss but later u find you were right.
    Success ratio could have been 70-80% but it turned into only 10%
    Many times it happen to me.

  • Thanks Rayner, very inspirational. I have started trading about 14 months ago and while I am wedded to trend following as a concept, am still struggling to make money primarily on account of the below reasons:
    1. Choosing the right time frame: I see that the big trends can be caught only on a longer time frames (daily / weekly) but the stops are also that much wider and hence for a small trading account, difficult to manage. On the other hand, the hourly trends are choppy and hence whipsaw is much more frequent. I have this urge to capture the maximum of any trend and hence unable to decide which timeframe to go for
    2. Exits : Am using a simple trading technique – look at the bigger timeframe and take a strategic call on the direction. Enter trades on the shorter time frame in the direction of the strategic call. Entry and exits based on moving averages. Exits however on moving averages alone gives away a lot of profit. However, exit using any other strategy (previous low/high take out / indicators etc) may assure some profit but then if the trend continues, you struggle with the decision on how to re-enter the trend after having exited.

    Will be great to hear your thoughts on both timeframe and exits

  • Hey Mr. Rayner, could you add me to your Facebook group, my Facebook name is Xylee Roman, i answered the questions and submitted my request, but I have not gotten a response yet. I truly think you have done an excellent job breaking down the markets from the videos I’ve watched and the material I’ve gotten from you so far, I hope I am able to join your Facebook community as well. Thanks.

  • I am glad to meet My coach Rayner Teo.One thing that gave me joy is that Rayner has a good heart for people,he is willing to help people succeed. I love him so much.

  • I have been looking for some help with getting candlestick charts and how to trade with them, after listening to a webinar on them. So how do I get candlestick charts for potential stocks to trade ? Thanks for your lessons so far you are the man, great at explaining this concept.

  • Your Story: How you Lost 50% of your Capital Before Turning Into a Profitable Trader… I’m just a dieing young man,who has been reading so many traders e-book but still I’m affried of lossing my little life savings to the big market called forex market..
    I need help on a pratical class on a profitable income for now, because my Story is a first class disgrace/insult and shame I have received from family and friends.

  • Dear Rayner. What a tough trading journey. But that has made you a great trader. Very inspiring experience. Thank you for making your trading guide available on line. I managed to download “Ultimate Guide to Trend Following” and “Price Action Trading Strategy Guideline”. As for me, I have just started trading – less than 2 months. I have made some profits and losses too. Am still learning and will continue to learn. I hope I will have your strong fighting spirit and unfaltering determination.

  • Inspirational trading journey. Its good I found you so that I can learn the winning and not have to go through very hard times. I am new to trading though I have read alot on trading in a short time. Your books are my next learning materials and I hope to learn how to make consistent profits from you. Thank you for what you’re doing. God bless you

  • I think you have an amazing gift for teaching and I am really very grateful for your videos. But I am just a little confused. You have done a lot of videos on price action trading, but in this blog it seems you found that price action trading doesn’t yield anyway as much profit as trend following. Should I then not spend too much time on learning price action techniques, and focus on trend following or do you blend the strategies?

  • Thank u for ur story Rayner the name is Jeremy iv been tradeing for 3years on demo not have the guts to go live maybe this year hope to learn something new following u

  • Am a day trader and i just lost 80% of my balance in 4 days but your story has given me hope and i know every mistake i made so am not quitting.

  • Definitely can relate to your story and I’m at an identical stage in my trading journey. I am encouraged and like you I don’t plan on giving up. Thanks for the value that you share and I would greatly appreciate your help.

    • It largely depends whether you want to capture a swing or ride a trend.

      If you want to capture a swing, then you’ll look to exit at Support Resistance, swing highs/lows etc.

      If you want to ride a trend, you’ll trail your stop loss as the price moves in your favour.

      • hi rayner thank you, I just started trading 3 months, alot of concepts still not sure, to capture swing, will it be recommended to adjust my stop loss during trading is in my favor?

  • Rayner, thank you for sharing. I learnt a lot from you. I, too, have many stories about my trading journey. One day I will spend some time and share them with you and your readers. I hope it will inspire others too.

  • Your the best mentor ,why I’m a late to know you bro.all the story ,the struggle is same as am struggling now to turn into consistency profitable.

  • I find it hard to improve my trading it’s over a year now and I’m still struggling and most of the people I started with are far better than me

  • Wats up my friend.
    So buy and sell has been my forte since I was 14. Unfortunately I was buying and selling meth. About 2015 I found a binary training app and on the demo account i regularly made coin. After research i found out that it was a scam and threw the idea in the bin. Shortly after i got caught by the police and spent the last 4 year’s in prison. So im out 3 months and have met a paster who uses Highlow trading app and funds his ministry threw this platform. He told me about you and I’ve been following your videos since. On the demo account of high low i make 20k daily and im about to put some real coin in and have a dig. I’m fresh out of jail and i need as much help as i can. It seems to me you like helping people or you wouldnt be writing bookes and so on. I’ve had a shit life and i want to help people to. Please follow up this comment and help me to become successful.

  • Ray, you’re inspirational and I’m looking forward to hearing from you my friend and learning from you. Thank you for all the knowledge you have shown me!!!

  • Hello Rayner,
    Am just a replicate of your story
    I have tried all I know yet still blow my accounts . I have read so many books as well. Yet the same thing. Pls I will really appreciate it if you can guard me and help me out.
    Thanks
    Await your feedback

  • I am apply the your knowledge in my trades getting results. from your knowledge im making myself better analyser and trader.
    thanks keep it on Rayner.

  • now i know what to do somehow.
    thank you some much for lighting up my fire. I wont forget you for this. once again thank you

  • I earn 2 times out of 4 trades but 2 time that I loss is much higher than my win amount.
    So clearly I am unable to choose the right exit and right stop loss

  • 9/10 traders don’t know what they are doing, and I’m one of them. I’ve trade stocks before and have spiked an interest to trade futures. I am very happy to have found Rayner’s video on youtube, absolutely critical to help my success in trading.

  • Hi,I m Herick. I have been trading 4 3yrs but I can’t seem to get it right. I have blowen my account 8 times already but my love for trading just don’t seem to stop. I use price action trading setups as it only strategies I have learned. Please I need help. My main problem is my entries. I always enter when market is just turning against my predicted direction and hit my stop loss then after it turns out my predictions was right,jst that I entered at the wrong time,can u please shape me up on that

  • So inspirational. I am fired up. Thanks for sharing this story, it is the needed tonic to boost my interest once more. I lost all but now i have made a u-turn. Thanks.

  • Hey Rayner,

    Thanks for all your videos and transparency. I have had a very similar journey like yourself. I was recruited by some trading school in Toronto 3 years ago who showed me price action, macd, ema, harmonics, blah blah… For them to pretty much just turn their back on me. I have lost about 80% of my capital. At this point I have decided to do as you did. Turn to the internet forums and books, which is why I am here. Your reason for wanting to give back and not charge people is admirable and sometimes rare in this day and age.

    As of today have very minimal indicators on my charts. I only use support and resistance, trade with the trend, use Price Action and candle stick patters. I vowed to trade on sim till i mastered a winning strategy and truly believe it will work.

    So thank you again. Cheers.

    -Adrian

  • That’s the situation I’m facing now. Try to be financial free in trading but the result against me.

  • This is such a relief after reading your story, i have been trading and trying different trading strategies for half a year now but still loosing money everyday and almost to a point of iving up.
    Learning from you is a blessing

  • This seems like my story tried several strategies for half a year now but still loosing money and blowing accounts

  • i read your truly inspired story after that i read your given book which increased my knowledge of trading and it also increase my hungerness to gain more knowledge . now i get more confindence to become profitable investor.
    Thank you so much for giving this.

  • Hello rayen.. i am trying to learn trading from one motth. And i am always failed. This post help me understand my nega tive points . Help me out for make change in my trading style

  • Really connected with this because this is where I am right now struggling to make sense of trading. Jus lost my trading capital after getting a margin call. Thanks for sharing your story. It has really encouraged me

  • God bless you Sir. I have just read your story that is similar to what happened to me, my account has been blown several times. I am very much so encouraged that your strategy is going to make me a quadtrillionaire. It will take me from zero to Hero. Thank you very much in advance.

  • I’m facing much problems in trading in fact i’ve lost and owing a debt of over $15000 equivalent to over 5000000 what of NIgerian money that might lead me to jail. I just need help please

  • your journey is similar to those bollywood ( indian) movies . excitement , struggle and finally happy ending .

  • Thanks very much Ryner…. I’m also in a loosing streak right now and I appreciate your encouragement… I’ll be glad to receive your help.

  • Hello Rayner,

    What an inspiring narration. I see your story resonating in me, I have actually came in contact with the idea of FX since 2011 and I so believed in it that its my sure way to financial independence.
    Can I really mention how many account I have blown? too numerous to mention and all these monies are my hard earned salary. I will borrow with even an outrageous interest believing I will pay back with ease when I start making money and be you say Jack the account is gone.
    I have tried all strategies I could lay hand on, at a time I was almost wanting to believing that maybe trading is not for me or am being followed by my Village people (Bewitched) lolzz. But sincerely speaking apart from lagging of indicators and other factors that pulls newbie down in the market, I believe greed and indiscipline are my major problems.
    suffice me to say thank you for opening my eyes and pointing me in the direction of Trend following. I will make out time to go through all your videos on Trend trading and should there be and reason to ask a question I won’t hesitate to do so.
    Thanks a million for the great job and the passion to helping humanity.
    Cheers.
    Frankson

  • I am new into trading ,till now have lost a number of times,still learning.I realized my wrong way of trading and now learning from you.Thanks for sharing your journey of trading experiences and teaching new techniques to beginners.

  • To be honest my journey is hectic, am still new to the system but I have realised that the market is no joke

  • Dear Rayner Teo,

    Thank you for your telling us The secret to successful investing!

    I am Forex trader and have lost my first investment 34% and, still I did every thing. but unfortunately i have not the way to success.

    Abdirisak, Wartsame

  • Hey hey buddy! Thank you so much for sharing your trading story. The problem i face in the market is to enter, whenever i enter it goes against me…please help me, how to analyze the market.

  • Hy reyner

    My name is Sanele,I’ve been watching your videos and they really interesting and so educational.i just subscribed today after a long time following you by watching your amazing work.Thanks so much for sharing your trading experience,people like you are the ones that keep us trading even if the journey is tough.Ive been trading for two years by now and ever since I started trading I never made any profit I keep blowing my account.Now I stopped for a while to try and learn,so I’ve been on YouTube and thanks to it that I found people like you and since I watched your videos I see the light.

  • I’d really like to improve my skills. I’ve had my share of losses here too and I really admire disciplined and focused traders.

  • It all sounds so familiar. I was investing succesfully in stocks before the Covid19 wiped out 28% out of my account. It got me in such a mood that I missed all the rally after the march lows. I was just too frustrated to invest again, especially with all the crazy volatility. Now I gave up stocks and are trying to learn trading forex. I feel more in control of things as I do short swing trades and most of the time I know that my stops will work overnight (unlike in the stock market). But I still need a consistent trading strategy, because even with risk management and all, profits are still elusive. I guess my low win rate (41%) has a lot to do with it. Two months trading forex and made only 2%, sounds like a joke 🙂
    Thanks Rayner for all the info you post, it has been of great help.

  • Very finely explained Sir!! Your story is similar to mine just the difference being that I have been loosing money on overall basis since 2 years. Now I am currently 24 years of age. Hope I would be able to achieve my dream of excelling in trading just as you did.

  • Sound like me since the 80’s I been at this and now that im.close to retirement and something I would love to do as a 2nd Job from home in the future . It would be nice to win big. By the way out of all the people who advertise on you tube U R the most interesting coz you offer to teach for free so I’m want to learn coz I dont have the money to waste.

  • Rayner, thanks for sharong your journey. Im new to trading (about 5 months) and I took classes with a local academy, they teach well the basics and some advanced strategy but i think you learn by testong and loosing.

    Right now im loosing (hahaha) and wanted to ask you if you’ve tried the Parabolic SAR strategy?

    I stumbled with it this weekend and been testing it for a while and its seems to be like a decent strategy and work it with a Trailing Stoploss to.

    You have any thoughts about PSAR?

    Thanks man.

  • Thanks brother for your story, And this is my story I need your advice
    I heard about forex when I was studying in high school, two years ago, and then I started learning about it because I was really interested as people were saying it is a good business, after learning about it without a mentor I reached a point where I said now I can trade, I said to myself let me try by starting with a small account, and I double it in single day and the next day I blew it.
    I’m in the college now studying but somehow it is hard for me as my parents can’t pay the college fees and I wanna stop the studies and put all my efforts in forex hoping that I will make some money. So as to make money in forex market consistently what should I do now?

  • I have lost 75 percent of my capital. I was at beginning successful buy and hold and selll at price target. I quite my job and trading full time but no success yet. I am scared that I am failing. I need any help and guidance you could offer me,

  • Hey…I have just discovered Forex trading via social media and have tried learning it using Babypips but I’m not really understanding a lot. Would you recommend any suitable learning material because I am eager to become a trader and I don’t want to lose the interest I have for it.

  • Hi Rayner, I am new in trading. This is only my second month and in fact I am only on demo account. I chanced upon it at youtube and I instantly became hooked up at trading. I find your articles awesome. Thanks.

  • Thanks for ur story. I felt like it was me bcoz I went thru same, blown 4 accnts and still struggling to b profitable I won’t give up

  • I have never traded, completely new to it, most traders offering courses, training and information, charge exuberant amounts of money. Even for basic information. So the question is why are you offering most of your content free.

  • Hie rayner, that is a powerful experience and im also blowing accounts every now and then even after reading books and watching videos and even through buying signals i still blew up accounts, but after watching your videos and reading few books from you, it gives me hope but i feel like everything you say on your videos i know and i have tried using those methods, but still there’s something wrong with me because i keep on loosing.

  • This story is so inspiring. Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful experience with us. A sure thing that I won’t give up until I’m a good trader ❤️

  • Hello. I’m still in losses in forex. With all the videos and teachings I’ve watched and applied the results seems to be the same full with losses

    • Hi Wilfred,

      You are expected to do your backtesting for every strategy being given out to you and master your risk management skills.

      Cheers…

  • hello Rayner, thanks for sharing this beautiful story with us, I want to be a winner just like you. Surely with your help we will shorten this path.

  • Hi Rayner,
    Thank you very much for sharing your expertise with us all.
    I am too lost at this moment ! Not sure if I have to continue trading or stop as I find it too nerve racking ! I had started 3 months ago&I built up my account from $500 to $10,000 and blown it all up in 2 hours ! I know what I have done wrong but I am not sure what I did right to make that money within short period of time ! Luck , good risk management, listening to different trader … whatever it was I have lost my mojo now and every trade I take it’s a loss now 🙁 I have a daily job but I still like to make some money on the side .. and maybe one day it can be my day job too. ! Unfortunately, I broke my neck and can’t do what I used to do to get my adrenaline fixed and Trading gives me the kick 🙂
    Any suggestion to be a profitable trader will be highly appreciated 🙂
    Thanks again for your time .

  • Hello, I have read your e-book on price action and was convinced I would try out the strategy. However, in another post, you say it’s not the best as you tried it and failed….You suggest trend following…so I’m really confused between the two what I should take

  • Hi thanks for allowing me for a comment here,am new to this trading world done researches and reading many more fundamentals on basic but the worrying part is the whole setup of the trading platform and the operating skills am lacking

  • 2x burned my account
    very sad to say that man☹️ until i found your vlog and hoping you is the key in triump

  • Hi Rayner,

    I follow your youtube for years, but i think everybody must have a strategy to enter buy/sell, it is the key point of every trader, can you share your enter strategy ?

  • Hi Rayner, I saw you mentioned that you typically keep your trades for months to ride the trend and winning rate is circa 45%. I am concerned that with such a strategy it will take a long time to compound your returns and grow your balance.

    Example if you start with a $1000 account and if you keep trades for 3-4 months and winning rate is <50%, it will be a huge challenge to grow the account.

    I might be missing something here?

      • Hi Tochukwu, you mean markets as in forex currency pairs or markets as in Stocks, Forex, Commodities etc?

        I don’t see how trading different currency pairs will make a material difference if you are holding for long periods.

        I am no expert but I would think the advantage of trading(not investing) is that you realise profits quickly and then redeploy the profits at ever larger amounts to generate even bigger profits? I.e. compounding.

        Don’t get me wrong the information provided by Rayner is very good just I don’t get this part of it.

        • Hi Joe,

          Rome wasn’t built in a day, and no real movement of importance ends in one day or in one week. It takes time for it to run its logical course. – Jesse Livermore

          I hope that helps.

          Cheers.

          • Compounding is the 8th wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it; he who doesn’t, pays it. ~Albert Einstein

            I’d rather earn it hence why I am asking. But others prefer to pay it, but to each his own.

  • Hi Rayner
    Thank you for all your hard work and interest in us novice traders. I am blown away with your generosity in sharing your many years experience to help your followers & friends “us”.
    You have certainly changed the way I trade with the most important lesson being “I am allowed to Lose”. I have in the past 6 months made a lot of money but also lost a lot because I could not bare the thought of losing on a trade so I hung onto them to hopefully trade out of them- a very costly mistake. Had I set my stop loss as you have thought me, I would have made a lot of money in current turbulent times, but have turned a leaf. I can’t thank you enough for the lessons you have thought me. I will be in trading for a long time and will be keeping a very close eye on your future advice. Who knows- we might meet one day. My best wishes to you my friend.
    Peter

  • Hello Rayner, I really Thankful for sharing your experience with us. I have been struggling, but after watching your videos and reading few books from you, it gives me hope to become a profitable trader.
    Thank you very much.

  • This article is really inspirational. I have entered into trading just before 3 months . initially its good for a couple of months with 50% profit. and just 2 trades lost everything my profit and investment. i have invested 5 years of my savings. sometimes i just think of quitting, but sometimes i jusrt want to learn my mistakes, i want to learn more than earning. But whenever i open trading window i just become depressed. feel like i did the biggest mistake of my life.

  • I always wanted to learn about technical analysis but I don’t know how to start until I found your youtube channel. Every video is surely a golden nugget! Your trading story surely re-lit the fire in me! Thank you very much! I wish you more success in your trading career! 🙂

  • Same dilemma I had too.
    Started with few trading style and ended up with PA and then now looking into Fibonacci retracement.

    Only this year I already lost 70% capital and still trying to recover that with what I left.

    I am avoiding currency market because I blow out my account few times hence only trade indices. Indices I found simple and make sense rather what is happening in international market.

  • Hi Rayner, great content here, I always enjoy your trading email delivered to me as they are always helpful.

    I want to know, do you give or can you give a private label right(plr) to your books as I would love to market and sell it?

    Please, you can reach me in my email submitted with this response.

  • Nice article. Really inspiring. I m new in trading. Can you please suggest me how I can move forward.. what to read and how to gain knowledge. Thanks

  • I am trying to understand price action trading but not getting it exactly. My most of the trade are break even, loss or small profit. Overall I am loser. Please help to understand price action trading and how to use fundamental analysis with price action trading.

  • Hi Rayner, good to hear your story and how much good you are giving in the world. Your passion is infectious. Mine is yoga. I am 57 (teaching for 35 years) and would like to start trading the daily chart (I read your article on this). I have been bouncing from one method to another but this seems possible. Happy to learn slowly and effectively :). Would you be able to recommend how to get an education on this stuff! eg videos, tutorials. I guess its confidence at this stage. I am very keen. Thank you for sharing.

  • Hello Rayner,
    I was really inspired by your story. Personally I’ve thought trading to be a get rich quick scheme and a more legitimate way to escape the trap of Ponzi scheme I’ve been victim of for a long time.
    I bought my first course July this year and having learn what the course taught me, also after spending some time with Babypips I’m still not profitable. No doubt, I’ve done a few gambling on my chat that has caused me more harm than good. I really am in interested in knowing what works. With lots of confusing indicators in my chart, I need help to be a profitable trader. I really want in.

  • Awesome article! Inspirational!
    The same I’m feeling right now. As a noob trader of 6 months I’m feeling so lost. Thank you!

  • I Need your help i havent made any profit for a previous months instead I make loss and my account balance its $300 Dollar and I am in South Africa. Can you Help Me to improve my trading strategy and make a profit

  • I lost all my money on trading Iq Option. I thought I was good enough to win and shared it to my brother, knowing that both of us lost, I was so frustrated and so angry to myself. After reading your testimony and watching your videos, it feels good know that there is still hope to recover all the losses.

  • Perseverance is tuff, especially when the market keeps pounding the crap out of you, and then you squeak a tiny profit out just to lose it the next trade.

  • Hey hey my friend
    I got advised by a friend about trying out forex as a means to combat the rising unemployment in my country.i then enrolled into a local trading academy to get started but then I realized everything was similar to what i studied already in the university.So I said hey,I could start trading immediately and decided to open a 100$ account.Traded 2 weeks and doubled it.started feeling like Superman and so increased my lot size but woo lost everything in one trade.Refilled my account same day and lost it all same day in same one trade.but like you said,these looses gave me feedback and I’ve learnt from them.
    I recently just discovered your blog n channel and it has taught me alot about stop loss(I wasn’t using at first) and key secrets.
    Have a new account now,hoping with your lessons and mentoring i won’t have to lose as long as you did (lol).before gaining consistently.
    Much love from me
    Gracias

  • Hello, how are you doing and how is the weather over there? I hope you’re doing good. I want to Introduce you to an online business platform that enables you to make money and be financially free, I believe you have heard about Bitcoin Investment which is currently changing the lives of people around the world. With a start up of $1,000, You will be getting a good return of $10,000 in just 2weeks time. Isn’t that wonderful? You can get more than that if you decide to invest more also…I can tell you more about it if you’re interested. Stay safe my friends whats-app me on (+1)657 210 1293

  • Im a beginner trader and have been loosing..i need your help please..im trading with 1000cent for now,but instead of making profit,im loosing.

  • Hi Rayner,

    I have not lost my saving but bank loan, wife saving, friend’s money and my kids saving. I have lost 5 digits euros in three years. I don’t know how will I recover my losses. I am working full time shift work in a factory and two small kids. My physical work and two small kids make me tired and busy so how can I learn successful trading. I would really appreciate your advice, by the way I have been in the cryptocurrency trading since 2017.

    Thank you

  • I lost all my account by listening to a so called trader who worked for the company I opened my account with. So I have to start again with £100 and build it up. I will now do this by myself and using your book.

  • Great article Rayner! A colleague forwarded your price action link, great read too. Short and sweet. My trading approach is buying with the institutions on the futures exchange incorporating volume, seasonality, and the COT. Similar stuff. So I’ll read some more of your stuff. Thank you!

    I initially got into trading after I saved for 10 years working in other industries then realized I don’t know what I am doing with my money, figuring out that I am not even beating inflation each year so I started reading savings books (wealth bucket, income bucket, registered accounts, etc…), then was blown away with Ray Dalio and Harry Browne’s all season approach and beyond. I started investing. Lost a lot during a heavy correction, overweight in 1 company. Later on a friend of mine mentioned that he had became a successful forex trader after a career in owning coffee chains?? That got me started and it took about 18 months for it to truly click – a strategy and trade plan that suits ME looking at 40 different Futures charts and using a similar approach to private and warrant investing for +12 month trading to keep taxes low on my profits/losses.

    I’ll be sure to share your material with others here in Canada. Thanks again.

  • Hlw sir, feel little motivated to read your past and how you came long long way..
    I am currently in loss of 70% of my capital mostly due to intraday trading in my beginning day now my idea is to learn and take trades positionally or only for 5-8% that’s it on different scripts like a very short term investment but problem is it didn’t turn out the way i plan i am currently watching your video to get more technical knowledge as my trades is for short term..plz advice if u have any for me

    • I need help to be a profitable trader I’m making s lot of loss but since i started watching your youtube I’m very sure that my losses is less than before I need more help to improve myself

  • This 8sntruly inspirational . Just seeing this in 2020 December yet it still makes a huge impact. This story is very familiar but I’m still working on getting better. Hope you’ll see this and reply a struggling trader like me.

  • I honestly thought I had what I knew down, but that was until I realized my skills in entering and leaving trades were bad due to hesitation from not actually knowing. I just read the book and its amazing! I very much thank you for the book. I do have a question regarding the bullish/bearish engulfing. I know it works on the daily chart but I am not completely sure even after seeing some proof of this pattern working on the minute frames and am wondering does this work on the minute frames?

    • I also just realized the importance of the different minute time frames for this pattern and others as well. The pattern appears in the 1, 3 and 5 minute frames more than then 2 minute. I assume this is up to a matter of preference?

  • Resonated with what u wrote.
    Took a few courses over the years.
    Went through similar experiences. Threw in towel couple times.
    Came back again in 2020 (think still got ambers of fire).
    Was about to close the year 2020 with 7% profit.
    Then BABA took it all (what a Cmas Eve 2020). Sigh.
    Now restarting all over again in 2021. Telling myself it can be done. Enquired about mentorship.
    It’s $10K with no guarantee of profit!
    Googled about mentoring articles (Guess to find comfort☺️)
    Chanced upon your article.
    It has encouraged me somehow.
    Yes to go on.
    Yes I can make it.
    Even though at 56 now.
    Gamette me!
    Thanks for posting this article.

  • Hi Sir, I wanna order your book, but there’s only 2 concerns:
    1) i live in South Africa and i dunno if i’ll receive the hard copy with this lockdown around the world.
    2) First info to fill are name and email but why my phone number? i don’t want any phone calls for any reason please.

    could u please advise. thank you.

    • Hi Ibaa,

      It would be delivered to your provided address.
      Make sure you have the correct email address and delivery address.

  • Hi Rayner,

    My name is TUYEN Nguyen and I’m from Vietnam.

    I’m a beginner and I’m learning trading from some books such as “Trading For A Living”, ‘’Forex 100%’’,..and videos from YouTube from you, Adamkhoo & Others.

    It’s very nice to learn from your videos from YouTube.

    Appreciate and thank you for it !

    TUYEN Nguyen

  • Nice write up, also feels nothing is working and probably nothing will work but with this I will work harder on myself to get the best strategy that will work. Thanks bro.

  • More like my story, and i told myself am not giving up more of my research lead me to your YouTube video and am happy to call you my mentor, I’ll like to know more on candle sticks reverser pattern.

  • Nice and informative article. I am also started intrday and option for the last one year in Indian equity, but failed to make profit.

  • Hard work never fail this proverb best eg person rayner you are my trading hero and I am follow you to learn more about fx very thanks rayner sir

  • Hey Mr. Teo,

    Thanks for all the wealth of knowledge and experience “sharing” that you provide. I’ve purchased one of your books and wanted to share my gratitude and appreciation. Will keep watching your videos and learning more about your methodology and practice. Much thanks . Manaf

  • Hi Rayner. I guess I’m a little confused. In the article it sounds like you are saying that price action trading doesn’t work. However, you teach price action trading. Should I be learning price action trading to become a profitable trader? Is there a difference in what you are teaching in your book versus what you said didn’t work?

  • Was so close to giving up Friday, had a real bad day lost about a quarter of my account. After reading your article on Trading you’ve given me the confidence to give it another shot.
    Thanks Rayner

  • Ola. Just start trading. Two weeks back. I do not have a Uni degree. Been see few youtube videos when came across to yours and I have been watching every day for hours going back and forward. Love the simplicity of your videos and the way you drawing and showing the charts. Q? I have a forex trade person “company” who’s been trading in my behalf. Is that a good thing to do? As I am still learning and not confident? Thanks

  • Hi, I have been following you for a while now and your explanations have always been easy to understand. My problem is when the market takes a vere up or down in a violent swing, that’s when I lose out. Generally daily trading is good. Its just those big swings. Any advice?

  • always i struggle to be profitable trader but i have got a lot of obstacles that causes to burn huge capital…please can you push me in order to make one step ahead in my carrier

  • Hi Rayner, after gone through your trading experience and setting the correct path to get succeed in trading. I feel I found the right mentor and to start trading, because I am a beginner to stock market and I have gone through many vedios and tried indicators but I am not confident to trade with indicators. After I am practicing price action seems good but as I am beginner I need to follow rules to become a successful trader. I have seen your vedios and I really like the way you explain very easily. I want to become a successful trader and I need your support to become a successful trader. Thank you

  • Hi Rayner. I have been trading using many methods but basically technical analysis. I use price action, and indicators RSI, Stochastic, and MACD. I have had very poor results overall. But I keep going. It is frustrating!!! So here I am reading your information, which I have had some success with, but I want to be in the market all the time, and this cruel me and my results.

  • Hi Rayner, I’ve recently stumbled across your YouTube channel and have watched a few of your videos so far (I plan to watch many more). I’ve only recently got back into trading cryptos, I quit a few years back when the crypto was hyped and the market dumped straight after. I was wondering if you could give me any tips or strategies that could help me in a volatile market such as crypto, especially with new alt-coins that have a short history. I struggle to find support and resistance although I have just watched your YouTube video on it.

    Anyway, thank you and hopefully I hear from you.

    Tom

  • Hello Rayner!
    Wow what a story…. thank’s for sharing a part of your trading experience, it give me more strength to carry on. many time i’ve been so down about my mistake but i’m still convince that i can do better. watching your video and reading all your work help me a lot ! thank you my friend.
    Christian

  • I’m still learning about stock market and still making losses but, because of you i understand that the market is not for the impatience people and in order for you too succeed is to have an edge and risk management. I am forever thankful for your awesome videos.

  • Is your paid service Trade idea only relative to forex and futures market ?
    Looking to become part of one of your premium services but not trading forex or futures currently

  • I thought I had found the strategy perfect for me while practicing but I turns out I was wrong. I don’t know how to improve on what I have and I honestly don’t know what next.

  • Hello Rayner I’m glad you shared your experiences in trading I am currently going through a similar phase. This is my 5th year and I have found a strategy that works for and unfortunately I’m still trying out new strategies because they are more profitable but it doesn’t seem to work ing out well for me like my normal strategy is it okay to ditch them and focus on what works for me?

  • Hi rayner can you help I currently have a 50% win rate and am slightly up in 3 months of trading lots of small winners but a couple of big losers had wiped most of my gains out I always use a stop loss method but seem to be taking profits to early how can I avoid this..?

  • Very inspirational my friend, And it is a reflection to our group we fail so many time now, we lost our money, I wanted to know more a secret of being a profitable/succesful traders.

  • Help Me To Perfect The Price Action Strategy Reynar Because i feel Comfortable with it and I’m Willing to Accept If The Marketgoes against Me no Strategy is 100%

  • Thank you Rayner for sharing your experiences. I hope to learn from them as much as i can so i can have the results that you’ve had.

  • Thanks for sharing your story Rayner. Hear about it is fresh air to my career, specially to not feeling frustrated when bad times come! Keep on sharing your great experiences and resources, so many people is following your story.

  • Im 58 yrs old and losing on trade. ive started real traiding just this Jan 2021 by doing demo. and i see oh easy to get profitable. but now i really find out that seems a hidden hand is manipulating the direction opposite always to me. i suspect the spread and brokers added spread seems the reason the market go against me always. i can only profit seldom if got fundamental news on. Stop loss always hitting me even at 30, 50 pips. But thanks to you for an inspiration of your book to go on even i have 20 usd now remains in my account. — Nonoy Cortez

  • I’m just turned 40 and starting out on this journey. The only investment books I have read are Rich Dad, Poor Dad and the richest man in Babylon.
    Your story gives me an idea of the road ahead. Thanks for sharing!

  • I haven’t given up, I’m turning 17 this year and learning from rayner has helped me a lot, the only thing i am struggling with is coming up with a strategy and controlling my emotions,

  • i came from your yt channel. thankiu for the good content that u post and i just wanted to say i respect your hustle after reading this article. u deserve all the dollars from your trade bud!!!

  • I just started this journey about two months ago…. I knew literally nothing. Like I didn’t know the differences between the DOW and the NYSE
    I am up to started with about 200$ and have been building my positions out in a few stocks like $ZOM $TRCH $NAK collectively I’m @ 1500$ I like this short/long term style of investIng. I follow Chris Sain and have learned a lot. I have identified that I have a desire to become a successful day trader as well!!! To do this I must understand chart reading exponentially better! I look forward to learning a lot from you RAYNER!

  • Thank you very much but please I have big interest in forex trading and I don’t have any degree please can I go on? Can I understand it? Or I should stop here not to wast my time and energy?

  • Hi,
    Have read some of your book ,and watched some of your video on YouTube,
    I just want to start trading please, I will be happy if you can help me.

  • Hi,
    You are the best.
    I bought one of your book and watched most of your videos. I am still loosing money on trading cryptos after 3 months but hope to learn more from you.
    Sohail

  • i’ve been missing out on huge profits, lately. i always didn’t know when to sell. i’ve read a few traders experiences too but it just seems like i dont want to learn. how much more profit do i have to give back? I just got over watching a token from $0- $800 profit and then back again. I feel refreshed now, realized the brood is not necessary. what’s your take on this please i really wanna know. is it greed? What can i do?

  • First Class Honours (not an easy accomplishment) and still struggled with trading!! Thanks for your story and what is it about human nature that we can take comfort and inspiration from others’ hardship? I was ready to throw in the towel but not now.
    Thanks Rayner 🙂

  • To be honest, when i read your story i got totally motivated your story , your struggle, your never give up attitude pump my confidence, n you are write every one has a turning point in life n for me if you have to be a good trader you have to be self disciplined, you should have patience in life, just follow your system your process, i don’t know if you’ll read this or not but your story, your struggle will help other traders to keep faith in themself n i now tha this will be your great success. Keep sharing your knowledge with us.

  • Hey rayner, I started trading at the beginning of the month.
    I was doing pretty well I won 3 trade just of the get go. I felt invincible haha, not was I wrong! I ended up putting $45,000 on a trade everything was going fine untill the sellers came in and dropped that massive red candle stick like a bomb! Anyway after a couple of days feeling sorry for myself I thought to myself why did I do what I did having very little experience in the market (the jokes on me) anyway me being abit like you I don’t like giving up on things and I decided to look for someone who knows what there doing. I stumbled across you. The way you talk about reading the market and what each candle stick means has helped me analyse the market so much more efficient. And to not put all my eggs in one basket because like you’ve mentioned a lot the market is so unpredictable and anything can happen. Just like to say thank you for your videos and training it really helps a lot. One day I hope to meet you in real life so I can thank you! but for now ( hit the likes button and subscribe to my channel) cheers bro your a legend

  • Thanx man so inspiring hopefully i will be rescued from the beginners’ dilemma i am drowning into.

  • I would like to ask, what method u using now?

    Im currently using bollinger, price method and sto7ch. Is it good combination?

  • Hello sir, I am 17 years old and I want to start trading as I am about to be 18 soon. I am very new to trading but thanks to your YouTube and the things you teach up there I have gained some knowledge on trading and I plan to keep going. I could use all the help I can get but I would like to thank you for providing all of this information to me for free. I am very appreciative.

  • Hi, my name is Jude Joel from Nigeria. I am interested in trading even though I have not yet started live trading still practicing with demo account. I actually needed to know the basics before starting live trading and thank God I stumble on your YouTube videos. Hope you will guide me through l really want to know how to trade.

  • I lost my money it’s really traumatic and i feel hopeless, but after watching your youtube videos and reading your journey, I realized that this is not the end, this is just the beggining, I will equipped myself with your knowledge.Thank you for sharing it for free. Stay safe and God bless.

  • Please am a beginner, always miss out entries
    As a request please the price action book can I get a copy, in soft copy since no shipping to Nigeria

  • I have suffered tremendous lossess, I have jumped from one system to the other finding the holy Grail. But I releazied that there is no holy Grail and the secret to becoming successful is to be consistent and keep working

  • Hi, my name is ayobamidele, I’m from Nigeria. I was really moved. After i red this, and i thought to myself i needed a mentor like you, in my trading career. Though, never traded before, just a beginner, no experience, I don’t even know where, or how to start. Please I need to your help…….??

  • Thanks a lot Rayner! I’m new to this trading industry and my knowledge is quite minimal. So, your article is such an inspiration for us new to this type of industry. I would really appreciate if you could advise me what to do before I started trading since my assets is at the minimal as of now. Again, all the best for you!

  • I’m just into stock trading early March this year. I have been learning here and there to get more knowledge. I have tried trading few times with very small capital. Although I profit in terms of % but in the end I lost because I did not account for the fees! Haha. Your story is so valuable with lesson learnt and at the same time gives me the fear of trading. I intend to go full speed next year. Hope I will succeed without going through major losses. By the way I just bought your book and now waiting for it to reach my house. Ironically we are neighboring countries but the book have to shipped out from US. Anyway, thanks Rayner.

  • Hii Rayner!

    Greetings from INDIA..!
    Myself Amit..!
    I have been started watching your YouTube Videos since past one week now… The content and explaination is just Awesome..! Though I’m not into Forex Trading.. just now started learning intraday trading in equity…. The way you have explained the Price action is commendable..!
    Even though you have made the Price action videos from basic to advanced in recently posted videos but You would be surprised to know that I liked your videos so much that i had started watching your 8 year old posted video on ‘My Fav candlestik patterns’ “FOMO” 🙂

    I wish you a great success ahead..!

  • I would gladly like your help in this career…your story inspires me somewht different from the rest..

  • Hello sir,i am also facing the same situation that you were in.i have already lost around 2 lakh(2700$) in trading.Now i am on a noway state.i cannot decide what to learn/follow.but i am not willing to quite trading.I have to learn & earn.pls sir suggest anything.

    • Hi Sunny,

      There’s no better trading system. Build yourself by studying and
      practicing.

      Cheers.

  • Hi Rayner,

    I just hopped onto your channel this week after stumbling upon one of your Youtube tutorial videos and struck by how good a teacher you are! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and your journey.

  • Amazing Article!!!! I’m beginner in trading. Will your book Price Action Trading Secrets help beginners learn from basics.

  • I have blown my account twice as of now.so I have decided to do demo trading for the mean time to get a strategy that actually works for me
    Other than that,my broker is exness,I would love to hear from you whether he is genuine or not…thanx

  • Hi, Rayn
    I made a lot of fail mistakes in my life still the ghost is not leaving meh alone yet.You kw I feel shy of telling all these but your patient n perseverance stand out in your journey which i feel i have little bit of it but sometimes i go out of discpline.I got the fancy of stock market 8 yrs back with the aim of earning big bucks ,start reading Snow ball ,built to last,once upon in wall street ,newspapers n all dat but could not understand anthing.Some how i start trading 2 yrs back n loss all the money put little more n the same thing happen.meantime i lookout for other means of earning there again same thing happen.Now after a year break I’m sitting back again to trade………I hope your guidance could help me…….
    thanks
    Birjeet

  • I have been loosing in the forex market ..but I’m always telling my self that “my time will come” #never give up

  • What a blessing am really encouraged by your experience.
    Please how can I get some of your videos on training

  • Hello sir am your follower on YouTube and a new trader (24 years of age)trying hard as you have (in your story)…..my major problem is knowing when to get in and out of a trade….i have read price action….lost more than 50% of my capital…in my country 2 out of 10 knows about trading so its hard to get someone to share with….all am asking is to be among close people you can help out when i come running (not money trouble though)…. I mean advice and idea because i kinda need someone experienced now….have a nice day

  • Hi Rayner. Great resources! I’m learning a lot from your material, but I’m having difficulty drawing useful triangles on charts. Could you point me to any resources to help with this? Ally

  • phenomenal insight, it’s very relateable. i’ve always dreamt about trading/investing full time since I was 18 after nearly a decade of trying to be consistently profitable, following different trading educators, researching allkinds of systems that just went over my head…finally!

  • Very interesting post on forex trading. Awesome and step by step explanation. I really appreciate the way you have written and explained.as a beginner in trading field this info is worth for me. Thanks for sharing with us!

  • thank u sir for your graceful effort . u are awesome. I read your entire story there but could not figure out what was the best trading strategy as you mentioned that one failed after another. Would be grateful if you could clearify that.!

  • Hey Rayner ! Thankyou very much for keeping us pumped up enough in losses .. You are such a great mentor i can’t explain in words ..
    I am watching your videos and following your advices and only doing trades now a days as i am a beginer ..
    I have a few questions if you please can guide me it will be a great favor
    Q1# which market to chose either crypto or stock market ?
    Q2# i couldn’t get meaning of your saying ” buy high and sell low ” was it a writing mistake or its my fault that i am not getting you clear ?
    Q3# as you now every newbie here want to become rich in days so what plan you recommend for us i.e day trading , intaday trading or what ? As i have a lil investment of 2000$ i am continuously getting a feel for daytrading as it seems to me like i will double my money in a month as my dummyntrades work well almost 6/10 winning rate .. Kindly guide me i do strongly need your advise and will be highly thankfull for your precious words ..
    Thanks please .

  • Been loosing consistently on forex trade.Sometimes after winning 50% of my account ,I will loose all in the next few minutes

  • awsome article, I’m really inspired by your lines of thoughts Teo
    my trader jouney is going awsome tho I am looking forward to see your PATS and what it will expose to me I believe in my heart that it will be an eye opener for me no doubt ‍♀️
    thanks once again
    your friend
    01Kims_FX

  • It is always the greed, the chart will reverse again so that my deficit will be lesser, the feeling of losing the hard earn money through hours of trading, that fails in trading. In my opinion, I guess emotions are more than 50% of trading. I’m glad Rayner’s tons of videos and materials help on these.

  • Hi Rayner,
    I started trading in 2017. It has been 4 years and I am still losing all my capital that I have save over the 4 years. Loss 6 figure. How should I get back on my feet? Or should I just quit?

  • Pls,I am struggling to be a profitable trader,I need your advice and coach or anyway you can assist my trading journey

  • As i’m reading this i’m in my 3rd consecutive year of a loosing trader but unlike you i lost everything and hit rock bottom 4 times already and still trying to be profitable . It’s like being addicted to trading and don’t know if i still have to continue or just trow the towel and give up … i’ve lost around £80k in all this years and been bankrupt once . I failed around 15 challenges on different prop trading firms like 5%ers or fidelcrest . I had passed the initial challenge on some but ending up busting up the next phase . The only winning streak i had it last year (2021) when i made around 13k in 2 months from 8k deposit but ended loosing it all back and another 4k on top . Like you i have a degree in science but never worked in the field… instead i was doing cabbie ( uber ) saving some money to keep funding my trading accounts and addiction . I cannot stick to a plan of trading and always get emotional and go all in on some stupid trades because i cannot take a small loss at the beginning when the trade goes against me . I was trading with stop losses but so many times i was getting stopped out than the trade was going in my direction after that i decided to not use SL-es anymore which made things even worse .
    Any advice would be recommended .

    King regards

    S. Alex

    • Hey there, Alexandru!

      Jarin here from TradingwithRayner Support Team.

      I understand where are you coming from. I highly recommend you use a stop loss to minimize your risk because if you do not use a stop loss, chances are it will blow your account always. I know it is hard to control our emotions but we have to work with our psychology so we will not be too emotional in trading. I highly recommend you find a strategy that will work for you and keep on practicing it first on a demo account. Once you have consistent positive results on your trading journal, you can hop on the live trading.

      We wish you good luck and good trading.

      Cheers!

  • Hello, thank you very much for the article that you posted. To be honest, now that I am writing this message to you, I have passed a bad day, while I have been trying for a long time in psychology, in technical and in gaining experience, but what made me It has upset me, there is no harm. I have fully accepted the loss and the negative periods. What worries me is that I am going the wrong way. The thing I realized today when I was checking my journal was that I I am afraid to open some trades that I know are likely to be profitable and this fear makes me unable to follow my trading plan properly. Please guide me on the path I will take.

  • Your story with trading is very close to mine, and I remembered Einstein’s important saying that if you repeat the experiment more than three times with identical conditions and lose, this means that you are a fool. During two years, I tired multiple strategies, and the indicators are all semi-failing, except for the RSI indicator that can be relied upon in the decision to buy or sell from During the large timeframes above the four hours. But six months ago, profits began to appear in me, thanks to the strict decisions that I took

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