It takes?a lot of dedication, courage and a well thought out plan to make it as an elite athlete, and?those same attributes are what it takes to learn to trade and become a successful options trader.
The World Series playoffs are about to begin and it is the most exciting time of the year if you are a fan of baseball. But did you ever stop and think for a minute how these fantastic athletes got to be where they are? It took a lot of dedication, courage and a well thought out plan to make it to their elite level. If that sounds familiar it should because those same attributes are what it takes to learn to trade and become a successful options trader.
Need a Plan
You might be dedicated and have the courage to be an options trader, but do you have a trading plan that you follow??I talk to a lot of option traders and sadly it is true. Option traders spend a lot of time looking for solid trades that they often neglect probably the most important part: the management of the trade. If that is you take a little solace because you are not alone.
A simple way to combat this problem is by having a plan in place before even entering the trade. This is the psychological part of trading. Having a plan in place will remove emotions from getting in the way of decision making and possibly producing unwanted results. Should I stay in the trade or should I exit? Decisions like that should not be made after the trade is executed because many option traders can become too emotional when the trade is in progress especially when they are losing money on the trade. Here are a few things to consider about trade management.
Plan Should Include Determining Exits
Option traders should think about how they are determining their?exits for profit and loss. Don?t forget to consider how the greeks and the implied volatility may be affected if the outlook or environment changes. In a volatile market like this, an options trader may need to make some adjustments especially about taking early profits or exiting for a loss.
I generally determine my exits two ways; a certain percentage or based on the chart. When using a certain percentage, I determine how much percentage-wise I am winning to risk on the trade and what percentage I am looking to take profits. When using the chart, I determine at what levels I will exit my position for a loss if?that area is?violated and I?always look to take some profit off if the stock comes into an area I deem a target area (maybe a?support or resistance level).
Option traders should also think about how they will exit if their targets are not met. How will the exit or stop be determined? Once again, don?t forget to use the greeks and implied volatility in your methods because it could make the difference between profiting or losing.
Finally
All trading including option trading can be very difficult at times just like training?to be a professional athlete and appear in the World Series.?Not having plan in place can make it exponentially more difficult and determining exits is just one part of that plan. It helps to have courage and be dedicated to reaching your goals but a solid trading plan can go a long way towards potential success. Athletes that train without a plan are similar to option traders letting their emotions make decisions for them. Once there is well thought out plan in place and most importantly the plan is followed, an option trader removes unwanted emotions which can hinder his or her chances of being successful.