how-big-should-i-tradeLet's be frank - the bigger the better when it comes to trading stocks: 

Big Returns = Big Money

Big Portfolio = Big Positions

Big Positions = Big Profits

Bigger Positions = Bigger Cash Returns on Small % Gains = Less need for significant winning trades

So Why don't we all just trade as big as we can? 

Because the exact opposite is true when you lose and the true reality of the above statements really becomes:

Big Returns = Don't come as easily

Big Portfolio = Increased anxiety

Big Positions = Big Losses

Bigger Positions = Bigger Cash Losses on Big % Losses = More need for significant winning trades

What do we do then!?!

Evaluate yourself. Are you afraid to hold a position overnight, even though you find yourself to be a swing-trader? 

- Then you are trading too big

Are you scalping with big positions and settling for pennies on the dollar and finding some satisfaction with it? 

- Then you have too much fear in your trading....and you're trading too big. 

Are you checking your positions every gosh-darn second of the day. Getting emotional on small blips throughout the day while trading? 

- Then you are trading too big. 

Becoming moody at night with the wife/husband/friends/kids? Checking Futures obsessively at night? 

- Then you are trading too big. 

Got a spreadsheet that says "If I make $X,XXX per month/per trade/per week I will be worth $X,XXX,XXX,XXX,XXX in two years" 

- Then you have unrealistic expectations and you are trading too big. 

What Should I Do?

Sound Extreme? It isn't - there are lots of people that are reading this post that will relate to the grand majority of the questions asked (but hopefully none that will relate to all of them). But take some time after the market has closed or during the weekend and ask your self, with your average position sizes, what kind of angst and stress is it causing you. 

If you are watching the profit/loss on your active trades more than the actual price movement of the stock itself, you need to take a step back and figure out how much you need to reduce the position size of your trades. 

But I won't make as much money?

But you won't lose as much either, and the goal here is not how rich you can get off of the market (the fool's draw to trading) but how you can equalize your emotions towards the capital that you trade in such a way, that the trading you undertake is close as possible to emotionless (since we are humans, getting rid of the emotions all together is impossible despite what others might claim). 

Because you are trading with reduced position sizes you'll likely see your returns go up because you're not making as many mistakes and bad decisions in your trading because you are able to trade with less stress and with less fear and anxiety. 

Going forward...

Ask yourself "How much do I need to reduce the size of my trades before I feel comfortable, and near stress-free with my trading?" Then that is what you need to trade with. If you reduce your position sizes and still feel the anxiety that came with trading before, then reduce it again...and again...and again until you find that desired state. 

At the end, if you do this, I believe you'll be glad you did. For most this won't be acceptable course to take because excuses and reasons why they can't do it will block them from doing the right thing. And if there is a reason for why you can't trade at a reduced 'stress-level' and MUST trade position sizes you aren't at all comfortable with, then there is probably a very, very good reason why you shouldn't be trading at all. 


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