My Forex experience

Siitari posted:
Long story short:
for a few months now I've been looking into forex. It started probably in the same way as with most people -> how to get a little more money.
I stumbled across articles about forex and so on. I started to learn about forex, brokers, indicators systems and all that. I learnt about MT4, EAs, 'holy grails' and vendors. I found and devoured review sites(about brokers and EAs).


I must say that last few months have been very interesting. I've learnt a lot and found out that I still know very little. But most importantly I found out what I want out of forex(I suppose that is a lot in itself 😄).

I want

A. automated trading to gain
B. steady and
C. monthly income

Automated, steady and monthly. Easier to say than achieve and I can hear some of you laugh there 😁 But that is what I want and I suppose most of us want the same thing in that respect. I don't expect to get rich but I don't mind getting rich either.

So I started to gather EAs(free and commercial) to try them out. I backtested a lot of EAs and I've done dozens of forward tests too. I tried out different brokers to see differences. Actually I'm still doing these. I want to be thorough in these 'investigations' of mine to avoid the results of far too many others -> lose money and then lose some more money. I don't have that much of capital to use...

And I noticed something. Yep, most of the EAs are total crap. Like bat-shit-crap 😡 Most meaning well over 95%. I suppose some of the more expensive ones could work but I can't afford them so I have no idea. These $77-$299 ones and freebies tend to crash 'n burn or just slowly eat their way down. Me no likey. I've asked a refund on every EA I've bought and I've got refunded every time. At least something works... And settings can make a huge difference too.

I noticed something else too. Brokers are quite different from one another. There's a lot of things to take into consideration when choosing a broker. And there are hundreds of brokers out there offering their services. Spreads, off quotes, spikes, scams and so on... lot's of things to think about. And there's tons of broker review sites that have old information, wrong information, are in some way biased or something else.

I came to the conclusion that choosing the right broker can make a BIG difference. Even when you use the same EA on different brokers you can get VERY different results.


So, choosing the right broker and the right EA. This is what it is all about.

I have decided to use Blessing 3. My 'research' regarding B3 is still undergoing but this EA shows great potential plus it's very, very diverse and free! Thanks to all who have contributed there! Amazing work.

Then the broker issue. I suppose there are lots of opinions about what's a good broker.

My opinion of a good broker in a nutshell:

- MT4 - must offer
- EA - must allow all EAs(scalping, hedging)
- Regulated - must be regulated but cannot be regulated by NFA(hedging rule)
 -Micro account(0,01 aka micro lots) - must offer micro lots since most ppl dont have a capital of $10,000 or more to start with and good MM and risk settings require the use of 0.01 lots with smaller account sizes
- NDD(STP/ECN) - must not have dealing desk
- Offer leverage up to 200:1
- Good reputation and no restrictions on accounts(max lot size, max account size etc.)


These demands really eliminate lot of brokers right away. Sadly it seems that most brokers that offer micro accounts are not STP/ECN brokers or do not offer those services to micro accounts. I'm currently still looking for a good broker to start my live account on. ATM I'm doing all of my forward testing on Alpari UK(have tried dozens of brokers).

Ah, I suppose I've ranted enough here and have let my thoughts run wild. I'll let you know when I find a good broker 😄

High leverage is essential for small investment. Otherwise your trade will be close out due to margin call. If you have big investment, I think 1:200 leverage is sufficient.

Forex is a sea of money. If you want to swim in this sea, you need to have proper knowledge and experience.

Try using that much leverage that you think you will be able to afford to lose. Don’t go beyond that.

shaunmarsh posted:
Try using that much leverage that you think you will be able to afford to lose. Don’t go beyond that.

Leverage is a double-edge sword. We have to be very careful with how much to use.

For me; successful trading means making consistent result in a long run! The return percentage doesn’t mean much; but again consistency is the key.

success always complicated issue at any sector even Forex trading but it can be achievable of course by means of real patience, otherwise there is no real chance.

Adribaasmet posted:
For me; successful trading means making consistent result in a long run! The return percentage doesn’t mean much; but again consistency is the key.

Kinda agree. Consistency is hard to get in forex trading. Many make good profits sometimes, but to be able to do it consistently is a thing of pride.

Adribaasmet posted:
For me; successful trading means making consistent result in a long run! The return percentage doesn’t mean much; but again consistency is the key.

Yes. You are right.

shaunmarsh posted:
Try using that much leverage that you think you will be able to afford to lose. Don’t go beyond that.

To use leverage, you need proper knowledge about this market.

Being an experienced forex trader, my overall experience has been a mixed story. From making profits to losses, earning by referring and also earning by managing accounts. It all depends on the broker you select and the strategy you follow while trading. In my entire trading experience, I have been associated with ’n’ number of brokers.
In the forex trading world you need to move smartly to make a win-win situation for yourself. I have lost many dollars but following a consistent trade strategy has helped me a lot.

any topic where traders share their work experience and subtle points is cool! thanks!

When you initiate a forex trade you go long or short. You have a 50/50 chance of being right or wrong.

SofieAndreasen posted:
When you initiate a forex trade you go long or short. You have a 50/50 chance of being right or wrong.

I agree with you.

Everyone comes to the forex market for a reason, ranging from solely for entertainment to becoming a professional trader.