Tuesday, 8 July 2014

Wimbledon 2014 Championships (Game-Set-Match) Reaching For The Top Of The Game - Lessons For Financial Traders

The annual Wimbledon tennis championship is a world renowned international sporting event which has showcased some of the best talent in the tennis arena since 1877.

Whilst the sport itself may not be to everyone's taste the fact is you cannot escape the heightened media coverage informing you about the latest up and coming talent as well as the current 'big players' in the game. 

If you haven't had a chance to attend the championships in London, UK you need not worry, as you can now get a real feel for the event watching online, listening on the radio and of course viewing the coverage on television; whichever media tickles your fancy,  just be prepared to listen to a series of 'oohs' ah's and the rapturous applause, drowning  the 'thwack' of the tennis ball against the racquet. It is very exciting!!!       

So, you may be thinking, how does Wimbledon or even tennis have anything to do with financial trading?

Well you will be surprised to discover that  there are some valuable lessons you can learn from the annual Wimbledon championships and some of their sportsmen and sportswomen, who not only have some exceptional qualities which are not often highlighted, but as you read on you will see that many of their skills are akin to those needed for financial traders.

(1) Learning the correct techniques

Just like the 'shot' and 'overhead smash' techniques tennis players have to learn and develop for the game, fundamental and technical analysis are two of the techniques which are important for financial traders. The ability to analyse and interpret the market price and an organisations predicted performance goes a long way in helping you improve your decision making which is key to selecting those assets which will bring you a tidy profit.

(2) Consistency

Tennis players undergo a rigorous training programme in order to ensure that they are physically fit for the game. This not only takes time, but also effort and consistency.  Before you consider undertaking financial trading you should analyse your time and schedule, and ask yourself these fundamental questions 'Can I really commit a block of time on a regular basis to learn the principles of financial trading' & 'Am I committed to life-long learning'?  If you are to work towards reaching the top of the game in financial trading,  consistency will be required, not only at the outset but on a continued basis.

(3) Mental Strength and Determination 

This is an area which is often overlooked by financial traders yet it is one of the most important characteristics needed on your quest to success. Having mental strength includes, the ability to believe in yourself and to be determined; try to develop a mindset of championing yourself to the top. There will not always be someone on hand to celebrate your success, so its good to self reflect about your progress to date (no matter how small) and celebrate yourself.  If you would like some top tips for building your mental strength you can view the following article from Forbes

Tuesday, 24 June 2014

2014 World Cup Fever – What Financial Traders Can Learn from the World Cup


You will in no doubt have seen the extensive preparations which have been highlighted over the last few weeks prior to the World Cup in 2014.

Not only was the host country, Brazil faced with an enormous task to ensure that they were ready for the event, the sportsmen will have also had to deal with extensive training regimes in order to be physically fit and emotionally equipped for the football matches, which lie ahead of them.

For the footballers taking part in the World Cup achieving personal goals, meeting the expectations of the fans around the world and having an opportunity to bring the World Cup back to their home country may be some of the driving forces which help them push their efforts to the max.

If you take a look at the global media coverage both offline and online you will find some memorable moments captured in photographic and video format showcasing the global excitement, laughter, joy, pain and sometimes disappointment. One thing is for certain, irrespective of the match results, footballers, and some of the fans not only still love football; they live, breathe and eat football.

So, as a Financial Trader what can you learn from the 2014 World Cup? The News Team have put the following points for you to consider;

  1. Hard work pays off. You may have seen or heard this quote sometime during the course of your life, but the fact is if you are really passionate about something, it will be easier for you to dedicate your time to ensuring that your skills and knowledge in this subject are current, up to date and always on top form, not only so that you can be the best, but so that you can deliver the best at all times. Being at the top of any profession takes hard work, not some of the time, but all of the time.
  2. Working in a partnership or as a team can help you achieve success.  Each person who works within the team or partnership has a number of skills which they have a proficiency or strength at delivering. By identifying and harnessing these skills, and ensuring that all the tasks are allocated to the most suitable person, duplication of effort can be minimised, and it will be easier to measure the progress towards the goal or objective. Think about this in trading terms, perhaps you are talented at spotting companies which are a potential investment opportunity. However, you have a number of friends or associates who may possibly be more experienced and talented at providing the fundamental or technical analysis of these opportunities. By working as a partnership or team, and agreeing those tasks each member will perform, at the outset, you can all improve your chances of identifying successful trading opportunities.
  3. Competiveness has its benefits. One trait you can identify in most footballers is that they ooze competitiveness and have a desire to be the best at what they do. Whether you choose to believe it or not everyone loves feeling that they are valued, in both personal and professional relationships. However, do not forget that drive and determination are also important on your quest to success. On the days, where you may feel unappreciated and as if there is no one to celebrate your successes, do not give up, it will only be a matter of time before you are recognised for the value, skills and abilities you have, and people will be drawn to you for advice or assistance. Finally, remember every challenge you face is an opportunity to polish and refine your skills so you stand out, and gleam above the crowd.
In conclusion, whether you are a fan of football or not, one thing for certain is that you have to admire the desire, passion and commitment that those involved in the football profession bring to the game. By taking time out to develop and enhance some of the skills discussed in this article, you may find that you are well and truly on your way to success and ‘Financial Trading Fever’ in 2014. 

Tuesday, 27 May 2014

Dont Lose Out...Get Regulated


No one I have ever met likes losing or being taken advantage of.  

Whilst we know that financial trading includes a risk of loss; the mere thought that you could lose part or your entire portfolio as a result of financial irregularity or criminal behaviour is not something anyone would ever feel happy experiencing.   

There are steps you as an independent trader can undertake, to reduce the risk of encountering any direct loss to your trading portfolio.

One of the ways you can achieve this is by selecting a financial broker, who is regulated.

Broadly speaking, regulation defines a set of behaviours and rules which the broker must abide by in its day-to-day business processes and procedures. 

Once the broker proves they meet the specified rules, they are usually allocated a membership number from the regulatory body.  You will also find that brokers usually display details of their regulation status on their website.    

Once you acquire details of the broker's regulatory membership you can obtain the detailed requirements of the regulation and subsequently verify with the broker how they satisfy these rules.

Some of the criteria regulators have as part of the sign up process include; 

The way client monies are handled*

Conduct of the business*

Disclosure of Information*

Honesty and reliability*

* This list is not exhaustive

Finally, there are different regulators in countries all over the world, and their rules and requirements will vary so it is important that you satisfy yourself that the regulator rules will be easily enforceable, by you, if and should the need arise.  

Thursday, 24 April 2014

Three Benefits of being an Independent Financial Trader


The team have been discussing some of the benefits of being an independent financial trader, and we agreed to publish some of our thoughts, opinions and experiences with you, our readers as part of the latest blog entry!

So here we go, firstly we agreed:-

You can work the hours you like.  Financial trading provides an around the clock opportunity to place trades globally within different time zones. As a result, you can work the hours which suit you best, without impacting on your personal or social commitments.

Secondly, you can make your own decisions;  this ties nicely into the first benefit; just picture this -  waking up in the morning and deciding that you do not want to place a trade today. Well, we are sure that you will not be surprised to know that you don’t have to!  if you feel like dedicating more time to pursue your favourite hobby, travelling the world, or even meeting your best friend for a bite to eat, you can!  it’s your call, your decision.

Finally, you can start on the journey to financial independence.  Have you ever heard the saying, you only get out as much as you put in? The beauty of any task, job or profession is the more quality time you spend learning and mastering that particular trade, the more seasoned and experienced you become. Dedicating more quality time to building your financial trading skills and knowledge can help you to enhance your current knowledge of financial trading and the markets. You can also use the process as an opportunity to discover new workable strategies to help build your financial portfolio; this is a great start to work towards being financial independence;  the sky is the limit! Isn’t that a great feeling?

These are just three benefits the team discussed and we have presented them to you in no particular order or priority, however, we would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave a comment sharing your experiences with the team

Wednesday, 9 April 2014

Focus on Binary Options Trading: 24option Offers Training for Beginners

24option

24option is one of the world’s leading online binary options brokers and an excellent gateway to the financial markets for new traders. The award winning site is fully CySEC (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission) regulated and has a strong reputation for integrity and fairness.

What are Binary Options?
Binary options are an exciting online investment opportunity that evolved out of online forex trading. Many investors were frustrated by the limitations of forex and looked for a faster, simpler and more flexible investment system. Binary options have grown massively over the last few years and are now recognised as a reliable form of online investment. In essence, traders speculate on the performance of a variety of assets on international financial markets. There is no need to buy shares or bonds, or commit to a costly business relationship with an old fashioned broker. An additional benefit of binary options is that they pay out exceptionally high profits on successful trades.

The assets available for trading include commodities (such as precious metals, crude oil and food staples) stocks, global indices and currencies. Investors combine their chosen assets with a financial instrument; Boundary, High/Low, One Touch or Short Term. The instruments create a framework for predicting the movement of the assets on the market. It’s possible to profit in as little as 30 seconds at 24option.

Training for Beginners

24option invested heavily in a state of the art online education center. All traders have free access to eBooks, webinars, VOD film tutorials, daily reports and archives of financial analysis. Beginners can quickly develop a sound background knowledge of the financial markets and develop a reliable trading strategy. The professionally developed learning tools make it easy to master the sophisticated 24option trading platform and benefit from extra features like trading signals and data feeds.
Are you ready to learn more? Visit the 24option website

Tuesday, 8 April 2014

Binary Options Trading - An Introduction


Forex Trading has seen an exponential growth over the last few years - and for those of you that do not know, Forex is a shortened title for 'foreign exchange' which involves trading global currencies.

As well as Forex there are a number of ways to trade and this article' introduces you to another financial trading instrument namely 'Binary Options'

Binary Options are a pure and simple way to trade based on your opinion of where a market is headed over a certain period of time which at expiration, pay out a pre-determined, fixed amount or nothing at all.

April 2014 Source: https://www.cboe.com

For those people who may have a keen interest in learning how to trade, but do not know where to start binary options is seen as an excellent starting point. One of the reasons for this is because in its simplest term, binary options trading involves indicating whether the price of an asset being traded will go 'up' or 'down'

Once you have completed your fundamental and technical analysis you will have a number of options of how long to place your trade, this can be as short as 60 seconds or even as long as one week, the decision is yours. 

Like other forms of trading binary options trading involves a high risk of loss so it is wise to undertake some form of training and acquire sufficient knowledge and skills of the process before you trade enormous amounts of money.

For further information about some of the best binary option brokers visit the Forex Maximiser website www.forexmaxmiser.com in addition, you will also find details about their latest trading offers.

 

Thursday, 20 February 2014

Use these Personal Development ideas to Improve your Trading Goals

'Personal Development' seems to be one of those buzz words which has grown over the last few years and like me, you have probably seen the expression somewhere in your professional or personal life.

So you may be asking yourself 'what is Personal Development'?' 

FGY Magazine - the specialist personal development resource tells us that 'Personal Development is a self help and self improvement journey which helps an individual reach their fullest potential by discovering, creating and transforming their thoughts, environment and life.

We asked our CEO - Glen, who has been using this technique for the last eight years for his opinion and he kindly provided the following five tips: 

  1. Set realistic financial and trading goals which you can personally identify with, and ensure that the goals are Specific Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time bound (SMART)
     
  2. Read your goals on a daily basis; this point is missed by so many people, yet it is so important and effective. Dedicating time to read your goals helps you focus and is a reminder of what you are working to achieve. This in turn will help you only make worthwhile decisions which produce the desired results towards your overall goal.  
     
  3. Break large financial or trading goals into smaller sized chunks and by doing so - they will be easier to achieve.  
     
  4. Have a positive outlook - you must apply this positivity to all areas of your life. 
     
  5. Avoid stressful situations. Clear your mind. Relax more. Surround yourself with people who are supportive of you and your life plan.    
     
    In conclusion, goals are an effective way to keep you motivated and moving in the right direction towards your dreams. If you have never tried this technique before, give it a go you may be surprised at the results.

Thursday, 6 February 2014

What the romantic city of Rome can teach you about Financial trading

'All great things have been built up through years of preparation and hard work'.

 
Rome situated in beautiful and picturesque Italy is renowned as one of the most visited cities in the world. Rome's popularity can be attributed to its magnificent architectural culture which covers a broad spectrum of both the old and new, a factor which visitors are keen to see and experience.


You may be familiar with the adage 'Rome was not built in a day' Wikipedia's stance at defining its meaning concludes that 'all things take time to create. And all the great things have been built up through years of preparation and hard work'.
 

You may be asking yourself how Rome and financial trading can be related. Fast forward a number of centuries and you will see that the principle from the age old adage can be applied to your trading; the team at Forex Maximiser have put together three points explaining how;   

  • 

Firstly, realise from the outset that you cannot build your financial portfolio overnight. Financial trading takes time, effort and patience so the best you can do is adequately prepare yourself for the journey ahead. 



  • Secondly, Rome's architecture includes perspectives from both the old and new. Therefore, your trading plan should include both tried and tested as well as new techniques and strategies; by doing so you are increasing your chances of success.

  • Finally, there is a deep sea of information concerning financial trading available online; one of your first tasks is to periodically sift through and discover which information is relevant and most valuable to you. Do not forget a great source for  financial trading advice can be obtained from specialist trading forums where traders willingly share details of the most up to date techniques it is also a great chance to network and make new friends all over the world.

Dedicate time to acquiring the skills and knowledge to build your financial portfolio successfully, and when you have those moments when you feel like giving up - just remind yourself 'Rome was not built in a day'


Forex Maximiser is an online resource featuring the latest trading offers, resources and training to help financial traders and investors reach their financial dreams. Visit our website at http://www.forexmaximiser.com


The Forex Maximiser website contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. Therefore we encourage our users to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects personally identifiable information. By viewing any material or using the information within this website, you agree that it is an offer to trade or purchase educational material and you will not hold anybody responsible for loss or damages resulting from the content provided here by “Forex Maximiser”. Trading foreign exchange carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors as your trading may result in a substantial or complete loss of funds and there is no guarantee of specific results; your results can vary therefore you should not invest money that you cannot afford to lose, you can also seek independent advice from an independent Financial Adviser.

Thursday, 30 January 2014

What Madonna Can Teach You About Diversification


Wikipedia – Jan 2014

‘Madonna is known for continuously re-inventing both her music and her image and for retaining a standard of autonomy within the recording industry’

You may have heard the proverb – ‘do not put all of your eggs in one basket’.

Having a variety of trading strategies and investments may just be the key for ensuring that you are successful in reaching your financial dreams and limiting the potential for any losses.

Diversification in trading term is the act of introducing variety, investing in several kinds of securities.

Making changes to the trading strategies you currently use is important on your quest. Change can sometimes be difficult to grasp because generally, we are creatures of comfort; however, a clever way to navigate yourself through the change process, is to think about all of those potential opportunities which could materialise into your next successful trade story. One thing is for sure, you will never know, unless you try.

"If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten."

Tony Robbins

Finding new financial trading strategies may pose a big challenge for you. But there are a number of resources available online where traders actively share their knowledge and experiences, free of charge, which may be an effective approach to assist you with making decisions and getting the trading results you want.

Dedicate time to research, learn and apply new strategies to your current portfolio. If you are not willing to research and try something different from what you normally do, in twelve months if your portfolio has not grown there is only one person to blame; and that person is you!

So you can get going now! There is no time like the present. Happy Trading.

Tuesday, 14 January 2014

Four Essential Tips - Building Your Financial Portfolio In 2014

The beginning of a New Year always seems to be a catalyst for many people to change or improve an aspect of their life. Whether you wish to improve your career prospects, lose weight or find that dream relationship – there are many examples which can be listed.  Just do a search online and you will find an abundance of tools and resources in e-book format and online training available from specialist service providers, offering ‘the solution’ for your requirement or need. 
Similarly, as a financial trader there may be aspects of your trading you would like to improve in 2014. We believe that reflecting on your trading strategies and results obtained in 2013 will be a good starting point to help you ensure that you are prepared and equipped to successfully build your financial portfolio in 2014. 
For example, do you have a problem staying on top of everything? Then it may pay you to remember the following quote ‘a failure to plan, is a plan to fail’  Financial trading is a journey, no quick fixes, it takes drive, determination, ability to analyse, take risks and make decisions rapidly. Bear this in mind as you continue on your quest.
‘The team at Forex Maximiser have come up with four easy to remember points aimed with helping you reflect where you are and deciding where you want to be’

  1. Set realistic financial goals for your portfolio (Remember your goal can be too little or too large). If your goal doesn’t make you feel challenged or if it makes you feel overwhelmed then it is very likely that it needs to be changed. Setting realistic goals are instrumental in ensuring that you can plan where you are going, effectively; goals also help keep you focussed and as a result you are more likely to make worthwhile decisions about potential trades.  An easy principle to remember is simply; the more accurate and profitable trades you complete, the closer you get to reach your financial dream;
  2. Review your financial goals against your trading results. It is advisable for you to review your overall goal against your progress. Put time aside periodically so you can ‘review the overall picture’ and make changes where necessary. For example, if you have almost reached your financial goal, then you can increase the amount you wish to achieve. Similarly if you are losing trades and your profit is decreasing, having an exit plan and sticking to it is just as important as having a profit plan;
  3. Get independent advice and opinions. If you are using an online broker, then you should be able to get independent advice, on a no cost basis.
    Additionally, ‘picking the brains’ of any friends who work in the financial sector can be of benefit at this time
    Specialist blogs and forums serve as a source of free and sometimes unrivalled information and insight to the latest trends and commentary from other worldwide traders, giving you a global perspective before you make any final decisions.
    Knowledge is Power; this power provides you with opportunities to become a better trader and increase your profits; and
  4. Training. The fourth and final point brings to mind the further learning which you can undertake to increase your knowledge of new trading strategies or of the latest techniques; again a good starting point may be advice from your online broker or from friends who work in the financial trading sector.
    There are also a number specialist blogs and forums where traders from around the globe share their ideas and opinions with like minded individuals, free of charge.
    Finally, you can also search online for specialist trader training companies, who offer courses covering techniques and principles at beginner, intermediate and advanced level.
    Forex Maximiser is an online resource featuring the latest trading offers, resources and training to help financial traders and investors reach their financial dreams. Visit our website at http://www.forexmaximiser.com
     
    The Forex Maximiser website contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. Therefore we encourage our users to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects personally identifiable information. By viewing any material or using the information within this website, you agree that it is an offer to trade or purchase educational material and you will not hold anybody responsible for loss or damages resulting from the content provided here by “Forex Maximiser”. Trading foreign exchange carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors as your trading may result in a substantial or complete loss of funds and there is no guarantee of specific results; your results can vary therefore you should not invest money that you cannot afford to lose, you can also seek independent advice from an independent Financial Adviser.



Thursday, 9 January 2014

Four Important Tips To Help You Select The Right Broker




As a financial trader one of the most arduous challenges you may experience is selecting the right broker.  There are four important points for you to consider before selecting and making a final decision including ensuring that;-


  • Firstly, the broker is regulated – regulation gives you reassurance that the broker has specific guidance and follows a set of rules which minimises the risk that you will be exposed to financial irregularities and/or fraudulent activity;
  • Secondly that the Broker has sufficient tools and resources to help you make timely and informed trading decisions. Such tools and resources include a personal account manager, availability and types of customer service, market commentary, mobile trading and relevant depositing methods.

You will find in most countries where financial trading takes places that there will be some form of regulatory body.  Most brokers will have details of their regulation on their website; however in the event that no details are visible, consider contacting a representative from the company using the contact details on their website or using their live advisor service to verify. Alternatively, by undertaking a simple search engine enquiry, you should be able to find details of the relevant regulator(s). Some of the most popular regulators include the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) and Financial Conduct Authority (based in the UK).


Thirdly, see what else current and previous traders are saying about the broker, request copies of recent testimonials and of course you can also use search engines online to view comments and conversations which may be recorded on specialist trading forums.


Finally, the fourth and final tip is about you. Deciding on your financial goals, reviewing and sticking to them or making other changes such as finding a new broker may be one of the hardest decisions you have to make along the way.  It is important to remember that trading is like a journey, and all journeys have a final destination – how you get to your destination may be time consuming or more costly based on the route that you take, but the important thing is that you focus, stick at it and do not be afraid to try new strategies along the way.