Am I a day, short or long term trader? The problem is, I am interested in all these styles of trading! How have more experienced traders hit upon their style?

I think the key is in the phrase you used - 'experienced traders'. Through experience you discover what suits you best notwithstanding practical circumstances such as work commitments.

I've tried different styles and timeframes and found that my psychological response to each one showed me the path to where I wanted to be.

For example, I tried trading indices off 5 minute charts and I felt almost suicidal most of the time! Talk to another person and they will tell you anything other than trading off a 1 minute chart is pedestrian.

Are you patient? Are you impatient? Can you handle seeing money stream out of your account quickly as well as seeing it stream in? Can you take long term positions against the crowd and feel comfortable that you'll be right in the end? There are so many questions you could ask yourself that can only truly be answered when you put yourself in a position to test them out.

Van Tharp does a good questionnaire that helps define you as a trader although I dont seem to have the link anymore - perhaps someone else or Malcolm has it?


Jon

Hello

I think this is the link you are referring to.


http://www.tharptradertest.com/default.aspx?question=1

Its well worth it too.

ClearAir

What a terrific link! Thanks for that. I am enjoying reading through the Van Tharp website + links to various books, and I took the trader test too.