Option FanaticOptions, stock, futures, and system trading, backtesting, money management, and much more!

Trader Meetups (Part 8)

A main theme of my last post was that while a Meet & Greet sounds nice and full of good cheer, I need something more to progress as a trader.  Today I will define that “more” by offering a template for a real trading group.

The real trading group (meetup) would be comprised of advanced traders each having a good work ethic.  Everybody must have something to contribute.  I mean no offense to newbies just looking to learn.  I was once a beginner.  I am a beginner no more as a result of the laborious work described here.  Consider that part of the undergraduate material.  The work to be undertaken by the real trading group is more akin to graduate study.  Members should ideally have live trading experience.  At the very least, members should have knowledge about how trades work and react in different market conditions.  Members should have some academic knowledge about different aspects of trading/finance and be willing to take the extra steps necessary to get educated about important elements they don’t know.

The real trading group would be comprised of individuals willing to share expenses rather than being sponsored by any company or service.  This group is a collaboration with the potential to develop new and improved trading plans for all involved.  The potential for consistent profit over time should far outweigh the costs.  Even food/drink costs should be willingly shared by all.

I strongly believe that food and drink should kept to a minimum, though.  Just humor me and consider it a matter of karma.  Provisions fall under the “eat, drink, and be merry” category.  I do this at parties and celebrations.  To invoke this here is putting the proverbial cart before the horse.  Much work awaits and only when complete do I have reason to celebrate and reward myself.  In my opinion, celebrating before accomplishment is just the sort of arrogance that Mr. Market would eagerly avenge in full force and losing large sums of money is not good business practice.