Consistency or one time large profit?

Discussion in 'Trading' started by Trade Prophet, Mar 19, 2021.

  1. I have been trading for over 15 years, always valued getting rich slow, but recently I have seen that one time large profits are rewarded like its brain and not luck, that has been the case since March 2020, TSLA, GME, NIO and the likes have quadrupled in profits while I maintained my "get rich slow" mindframe and was underperformed,
    Wanting a piece of the action I repeatedly ask myself should I update my trading version to the new style of trading and bet on the hottest names instead of investing in solid, profitable companies with average returns?
    Any thoughts?
     
    murray t turtle likes this.
  2. AbbotAle

    AbbotAle

    Run 2 funds for a year or so and see how you get on.

    90% for your present gameplan and 10% for chasing the hot action stocks.
     
  3. wmwmw

    wmwmw

    The criteria is not whether it is large or small profit, it is whether you have a strategy to make consistent profit on it.
     
    murray t turtle likes this.
  4. %%
    I like TSLA + have it several ETFs............/they position size it right/10-12% of a diversified ETF.
    So i could see how you do both/but with a very important difference/ proper position size.I sure would not put 10% in TSLA, but like the idea of several etfs putting 10-12% in TSLA.

    BIG problem with ''get rich quick so seldom works'' \so how much are you willing to lose in a single stock like TSLA????? That's a good way to do it.Rockets come down also.
    Quad in profits =OK, just be prepared to lose that same %?,??? I never considered trading gambling, but with Warren Buffet calling bitcon ''rat poison''=anything is possible:caution:,:caution::caution::caution:
    And how many have already killed themselves over those HI flyers gone bad?,???
     
    Trade Prophet likes this.
  5. Running multiple portfolios / strategies works well in my experience and also based on analysis and backtesting. Especially if the strategies are loosely-correlated or uncorrelated. You may want to consider running a speculative aggressive strategy alongside your get rich slow strategy. If you're able to, try doing some analysis to see what the optimal split between portfolios is to maximize reward vs. risk. You can also do a rebalancing once a month or quarter when the split deviates too much from your goal.
     
  6. bone

    bone

    "Swinging for the Fences" has it's own unique pitfalls.

    No shame in being consistent and grinding out income - as far as hedge funds and bank desks and proprietary trading firms go it's actually greatly preferred.

    If you are truly consistent, you will on occasion get those monster days.
     
    murray t turtle likes this.
  7. Dustin

    Dustin

    Getting rich slow is great for the low vol years, but in this market swinging for the fences is rewarded. Make hay while the sun shines.
     
    Trade Prophet likes this.
  8. zghorner

    zghorner

    Started in Options after being seduced by the WSB YOLO victories a few years ago...account currently down 75%. for every winner their are 10,000+ losers that blow up and are too ashamed to post the loss porn.
     
    Amatrue and Trade Prophet like this.
  9. Bad_Badness

    Bad_Badness

    You should always be updating your system and then testing it. Consistent profits with the occasional super days are a solid plan. But more to the point, different systems are designed for different expectations. "Repurposing" a system for a different expectation, reveals the robustness of the system. Sometimes it will be need a lot of rework, sometimes not. Confusing the need for rework and a system-expectation mismatch, can in itself, cause problems.

    There is really no question here, but only a warning. Do it and then TEST IT thoroughly less there be dragons.
     
    Trade Prophet likes this.
  10. Sorry you lost so much, and I appreciate the honesty, this is why I stick with the get rich slow mantra, many traders try to swing for the fences in the first shot which is practically impossible or is a lucky shot,
    I have a few strategies that will not make me a millionaire over night but over 10 years... That's a long time for many of us.
     
    #10     Mar 19, 2021
    murray t turtle likes this.