It’s no secret that every single forex trader wants to make as much money as possible, otherwise, what’s the point? Even if you’re already bringing in consistent profits, you might be surprised to learn that there are some very simple changes you can make to put more money in your pocket. If you’re a beginner, this could even be the difference between having a positive or negative profit ratio. Would you put in the effort to make the difference?
Change #1: Use a Simple Trading System
It might seem like more complicated trading plans bring in more money. After all, these plans seemingly account for more factors and are more technical, so it’s easy to think that they’re better. In reality, simplicity is key to making consistent profits and avoiding all that unnecessary confusion. If you know what you’re doing, you’ll be less stressed and you won’t have to spend as much time in front of your computer screen, so this is definitely a win-win for everyone. If you’re currently using an overcomplicated plan, do yourself a favor and switch to a simpler version.
Change #2: Trade During the Best Times
Did you know that there are certain times when it’s better to trade? The best trading times occur whenever sessions overlap and things tend to heat up towards the middle of the week. Mondays and Friday evenings are slow, and nobody wants to trade on the weekends, so you should give yourself the much needed time off when there aren’t good trading opportunities. Other times to avoid trading? Major holidays and whenever big news is expected to be released. If you trade during the best times and avoid the worst ones, you’ll be able to profit more efficiently without making the mistake of trading in more volatile market environments.
Change #3: Check Your Broker’s Costs
Whether you recently signed up with a broker or you’ve been using the same one for years, it’s a good idea to go back and check out their rates, then compare them with a few other options. You might find that switching to a new broker will save you a ton of money, plus, several new companies have probably opened up since you opened that old trading account. Say your broker charges a 5% withdrawal fee for withdrawing via card but you’re able to switch to a broker with no withdrawal fees. Or perhaps you could save 0.5% or more on the spread or commission charges. At the end of the day, these small changes will really add up and leave you with more of your money. Another added bonus is that your new broker may offer some extra perks like a deposit bonus that will add to your money when you switch over.
Change #4: Limit the Pairs you Trade With
Some traders like to trade a variety of assets, which can be profitable, but it might be more helpful to stick with around three pairs so that you don’t have to keep up with as many factors affecting prices across different markets. If you’re able to focus more clearly on what you’re trading, your profits are bound to increase as you’ll avoid missing out on important news or becoming overwhelmed.
Change #5: Make Smarter Leverage Choices
The more leverage you use, the more money you might make…or lose. If you’re looking to increase your profits, now is a good time to consider the leverage you’ve been using and to think about your profits. If you’ve been losing money, you might want to lower the leverage you’re using, as this will lower the amount of losses you take from losing trades. On the other hand, those that are making consistent profits might want to increase their leverage slightly, as these traders are more likely to benefit from doing so. Every now and then, you can increase your leverage in increments as long as your profits stay consistent.
Change #6: Be Patient
Some traders have a difficult time sitting around without entering trades, especially after some time has passed. However, you shouldn’t trade for the sake of doing so. If the market isn’t throwing out any good opportunities, simply don’t trade. Otherwise, you run the risk of losing money on a trade when you could have opted not to trade at all. In times like these, remember to stick to your trading plan and know that the market will give you more opportunities later on.
Change #7: Never Stop Learning
It’s easy to start thinking you know everything you need to once you’ve been trading for a while with consistent profits; however, you should never stop seeking out more trading knowledge. Learning about trading psychology and reading about different or new kinds of strategies are a couple of examples of topics you can look up, but you shouldn’t stop there. The more you know, the more chance you’ll have to increase your profits, and you might even find a better trading system along the way.