Barclays Wealth has a new report out entitled “Risk and Rules: The Role of Control in Financial Decision Making.” This report looks at people and personalities and how they influence financial decision making. It also explores the strategies people use to manage their behavior when making investment decisions. Something I’ve noticed over the years in [...]

I’m pleased to be a part of the Traders Expo down here in Dallas this June and wanted to get the word out a bit early. I’m presenting on the importance of matching your trading strategies with your personality. Save the date: Friday, June 17, 2011 from 8:00 am – 9:00 am. I’ll be sharing [...]

As a therapist, when dealing with adjustment disorders and/or anxiety issues, one of my favorite questions to ask my clients was “where will you be in 5 days?” The logic that spewed from that point would offer up a window into that individual sitting in the chair on the other side of the room. If [...]

2010 is nothing but a memory now much like when I rang in the new century with a closet full of canned food a generator with 50 gallons of diesel in the garage and 10k stuffed under my mattress (that whole Y2K thing was a great scam). I’m always looking to improve myself and those [...]

As we approach the end of the year it is common for many traders to review their yearly performance. Most use an equity curve but those that want to improve upon what worked in 2010 take it beyond the basics. I’m talking about performing an analysis of the trade data to see where your strengths [...]

It seems so easy to focus on the things we do wrong. I can name hundreds of mistakes I’ve made in my life. I choose not to focus on what went wrong, but rather on how I can improve my standing and learn from my mistakes. I found one of the most frustrating aspects of [...]

Over the years I’ve been fortunate enough to get to know thousands of market participants. Some are long-term investors others are scalping pennies per trade on thousands of shares while others manage millions of other people’s money. The interesting theme I picked up on with nearly every one of them is that they each experienced [...]

Nothing gets my blood boiling like somebody that would rather blame others for their issues rather than owning them. Not the best mindset for a therapist, I know, but I was aware of my bias and addressed it by choosing a system of therapy that agreed with me—a psychology of use. I could care less [...]

Fear has a way of making us focus on unfavorable headlines and price action. Fear impacts our ability to evaluate alternatives as it clouds objectivity. Fear is why profits are taken too quickly. Fear is a four letter word that comes in many flavors. Fear of losing: Nobody wants to lose—doesn’t matter if it’s a [...]

As we approach that time of year where we adjust our clocks I take the opportunity to tie several other “to do’s” to this event. I change the batteries in the smoke alarms in my house. I change the water filter in my fridge. And, most importantly, I take inventory of what’s influencing me. Not [...]