What are the best stocks to trade? For many people, they base the answer on tips they have over heard from others who they perceive as more in tune with the stock market. Its a simple way to choose stocks. Its also a simple way to lose money.

You wouldn't bet on a horse or buy some land in Florida just because a guy in your office says its a sure bet. So why would you do the same thing trading stocks? The problem for most people is that there is so much info at their fingertips, its difficult to make a decision. Do you buy based on charts? Based on fundamentals? Based on intuition?

Many times, its a combination of all three.

Its surprising how many people have asked me to take their $500, invest in a penny stocks, and give them a call when its worth $50 000 the following week. It just doesn't work that way. Anyone who tells you that, is trying to fool you. To quote Gordon Gekko - "a fool and his money should never have been together in the first place". So unless you are a fool, in which case, hand over your $500 and I'll give you a call when its $10k, do yourself a favor, and educate yourself a bit about trading.

Learning about stocks doesn't have to be difficult. You just have to know what you're looking for. What type of trading style matches your ability to trade and your willingness to risk your hard earned cash.

While penny stocks will give you the biggest reward, its also matched by the biggest risk. Trading futures will give you even more of a return, but you risk much more. Blue chip lowers your risk and provides lower returns. Scalping, momentum and day trading all require you to be glued to your monitor. There's good money to be made doing it, but, you need to sit in front of your computer each and every day, ready to sell or buy when conditions are right.

So what is the best stock to invest in? The answer changes every day, and for the most part, it depends on what level of risk you want to take on. Remember, there are tens of thousands of publicly traded companies out there. Once you figure out what type of investor you are, you'll narrow that list down significantly until you find the right trading opportunity for you.

It is infuriating that people can hack into your personal accounts and other personal records even though you tried to keep it private and confidential. What’s even more shocking is that even though you take precautions against identity theft you find out that another person has been using your personal and private information to buy themselves whatever they want.

By the time you find out, it’s too late, and you will have no choice but to pay for it till everything is sorted out. Then you have to go through all the legwork to get your money back before starting the almost impossible job of restoring your identity.

Due to the threat of identity theft, a lot of companies sprung up to deal with the threat and to prevent even more identity theft cases. To prevent identity theft before it happens is better than repairing the damages after the fact, so these companies use fraud alerts not credit monitoring.

LifeLock is one such identity protection company and they have a 1 million dollar service guarantee in case you become an identity theft victim. They protect you by placing a note on your credit report requiring a creditor to verify your identity before extending credit to you. LifeLock is available everywhere for a low monthly fee of $10. Save $11 on identity protection with this Lifelock promotional code.

LifeLock is the only identity protection company that earned an ISO certification which proves they have a top of the line security to protect your personal information. Life Lock also does background checks on all potential employees. In addition, they also conduct random drug sampling to ensure the honesty and dependability of their employees. LifeLock wouldn’t allow any risk of your private information because it is in the best interest of the company to be as secure as possible.

If you’re still unsure if LifeLock is the company for you, do some research and you’ll see why they are the best. There are other companies that offer the same services, such as TrustedID, so it is basically up to you to choose which identity theft service you think is the best for you and your family. Don’t rush things, but do make a commitment to protect your identity because your good name and reputation is at risk.

Investing in savings bonds is easier than you would first imagine. Similar to equities, the trick is to understand the investment well before you buy. So before we answer the question of "how do I invest in bonds?", lets answer the question of defining "What are bonds".

The primary purpose of a corporate bond is to lend money to a corporation for a fixed (specific) period of time and in return, get an agreed upon rate of return. In reality, when you purchase a bond, you are lending your money to a corporation (this may be a company or a municipality) for a fixed term, and getting a coupon rate which is based on the original capital invested. The only tricky part involving bonds is how much of your money should be invested in bonds. That's a topic we'll take on another day. For now, lets focus on what bonds are and how to invest in them.

The key advantage to bonds is in their constant income stream. Unlike shares in a company, you know exactly what you are going to get, and when. Take for example, a bond with a 10 year term that pays 3.5% tells you that in 10 years, you will be getting your principal back, and, you'll be getting 3.5% interest on that principal each and every year for 10 years.

A proven strategy to use when investing in bonds is to look at your investment horizon. Do you have years or decades in front of you? Remember, the further out the term, the higher the coupon rate. Smart bond holders spread out their bond investments to cover both a short timeframe (less than 5 years), medium timeframe (5-10 years) and long term (more than 10 years). Remember, the longer the bond, the bigger the coupon rate, but the longer your money is tied up. By spreading the investments around, you can always count on a short term bond maturing right around the time you need the cash.

The best way to answer the question about how to invest in bonds is to look at a strategy of selling your bonds before it matures. When the interest rates go up, the price of an existing bond goes down - who wants your bond that is paying 3.5% when the interest rate is 4.5%? On the flip side, when interest rates go down, the bond price goes up - leaving you with upside trading potential. Its more successful than investing in penny stocks.

Investing the money is, perhaps, the only way to save and grow money in the age of global financial problems.

Unfortunately investments have become a battlefield between the real investment programs and scams. In this post we are not going to dispute the question of high yield low risk investments, because this topic needs special discussion. But we will try to focus on the information that will help you to make wiser investment choices.

The first step is to set the financial goals that you are going to pursue. This means you have to decide what ou need and then it will help you to find out what type of investments can help you. You need money right now - one type of investments (more aggressive and risky); you need money for the pension plan - low risk investments.

As you can see the question - where best to invest - starts from the understanding of what you need, and only then comes the point of how you are going to get it.

Ok, the goals are set - we are coming to the investment products. Surely you should pay special attention to the numbers and conditions of the investment programs. But we highly recommend you to investigate whether a product that you have chosen is not a scam.

Modern investment scams are ready to invest over million USD to stay on the market for a year, do the payoffs and buy lots of advertising. And then they disappear - all numbers and calculations that you have done to see how this product fits your goal have evaporated.

Usually people use the help of the investment advisors. Basically it is the process of managing money being used for investments. Via money management, investment projections, investment counseling, and investment management planning competent specialists help to grow your money.

Investment management advisors may work as individual entities or as legal entities. They can be split into those who offer direct financial advice to individuals or businesses and those who offer asset management for corporate clients.

The good point is that investment management advisors are monitored by government (or better say - by the special agencies, that are authorized by the governments to do this job). At least, you can be sure that a person will not disappear after giving you an advice.

But you must realize that investment management advisors do not bear responsibility on your profits (or their absence) based on their advice and recommendations. When you sign up a contract with them, you will surely find somewhere in fine prints the message saying "we are not responsible in case our client does not many any profits from the advice provided, etc."

And this is a typical situation on the market, because only you can be responsible for your actions - they just recommend.

Due to this it is always wise to NEVER stop getting new investing advice from different sources of information.

Death Clock: Nobody Can Tell How Long You Will Live! Useless => Death Calculator-How Long will You Live?

Take the Quiz!

Answer all quiz items as truthfully as possible – in other words, to the best of your knowledge. Don't guess. Begin with 79 years, then add or subtract years based on the scoring of your answers on each item. Your completed (total) score is a rough estimate of your current life expectancy.

1. Where is your ancestral home? (if not given, enter a score of 0). US = minus 2. Austria-UK = minus 1. Canada-France-Italy = 0. Australia-Singapore-Sweden = plus 2. Japan = plus 3.
FACT: Life expectancy varies by nation due to genetic and cultural differences.

2. What is your gender ? Female = plus 1. Male = minus 2.
FACT: Life expectancy favors the female gender regardless of culture.

3. Do you have an annual physical exam? Yes = plus 3. No = minus 3.
FACT: Many diseases (cancers, hypertension) in later life are asymptomatic, go unnoticed and untreated.

4. Do you have parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents who lived to 85-plus? Add 2 for each 85-plus relative.
FACT: Research demonstrates that long-lived parents tend to produce long-living children.

5. Do you volunteer on a weekly basis? Yes = plus 2. No = minus 1.

FACT: Studies confirm that volunteering focuses attention away from ourselves and onto others.

6. Do you live alone? Yes = minus 3. No = 0.
FACT: Adults who live alone tend to be less well-nourished, more isolated, and less nurtured.

7. Are you able to laugh at and learn from your mistakes? Yes = plus 1. No = minus 3.
FACT: Laughter, humility, and a positive outlooks are linked to increased life expectancy.

8. Do you have a confidant who listens to your most intimate concerns? Yes = plus 1. No = minus 2.

FACT: Confidants offer emotional catharsis and a sense of personal worth to those in crisis.

9. Do you engage in daily mental exercises such as puzzles, games, learning or problem-solving? Yes = plus 4. No = 0.
FACT: Individuals that continually challenge their minds suffer fewer cognitive disorders.

10. Do you engage in some form of daily aerobic exercise such as swimming, jogging or biking? Yes = plus 2. No = 0.
FACT: Exercising at one’s target heart rate strengthens the heart and boosts metabolism.

11. Do you eat a balanced diet, including fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains? Yes = plus 2. No = minus 3.
FACT: Balanced dieters experience lower risk of both genetic and culturally related diseases.

12. Do you smoke a pack of cigarettes daily? Yes = minus 5 for men, minus 10 for women. No = 0.
FACT: Smoking causes nearly half a million cancer and lung disease deaths every year.

13. Do you live with, work with, or spend time with people who smoke? Yes = minus 1 for men, minus 2 for women. No = 0.
FACT: Although close association with smokers is thought to reduce a person’s life expectancy by one year, recent research suggests this association may reduce life expectancy by two years.

14. Does your body weight “yo-yo” as you go on and off diet fads? Yes = minus 5. No = 0.
FACT: Unorthodox dietary regimens stress the heart and immune system, increasing the risk of disease.

15. Do you own a pet? Yes = plus 2. No = 0.
FACT: Peer-reviewed scientific journals substantially support longevity benefits of pet companionship. (Note: Avoid exotic pets, such as parrots, monkeys, reptiles, or rodents. These animals have been known to carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans.)

16. When writing, which hand do you use? Left-handed = minus 1. Right-handed = 0. Life is stressful for lefties living in a made-for right-hand world.
FACT: Lefties live in a world where most objects are designed for right-handed people. Objects such as scissors, pencil sharpeners, door openers, and can openers are rarely designed for left-handed people.

17. How tall are you? For every inch of your height that exceeds 5’8” = subtract six months.
FACT: Size does matter, but not in any way you may have thought. Shorter people live longer.

18. Do you belong to any religious group, and do you practice your faith? Yes = plus 2. No = 0.
FACT: Attending to both physical and spiritual needs lowers morbidity and mortality.

19. Do you have two or more daughters? Yes = plus 3. No = 0. Daughters are elder caregivers.
FACT: Daughters provide the bulk of eldercare. Even daughters-in-law provide more care than do sons.

20. Do you use stress management techniques such as meditation, quiet time or visiting a spa? Yes = plus 4. No = minus 3.
FACT: Because there is no escape from stress in our modern society, stress management is the best response.

21. Do you walk to work? Yes = plus 2. Ride to work? Yes = plus 1. Drive to work? Yes = minus 3.
FACT: Walking offers fitness benefits, as well as a sense of self-reliance and personal freedom (no gridlock!).

22. Have you had cosmetic surgery? Yes = plus 5. (But subtract 1 for each additional surgery during the same decade.)
FACT: Cosmetic surgery reduces age phobia and age discrimination and evokes a positive response from a youth-obsessed world. Too many cosmetic surgeries (that is, more than one every 10 years), however, may actually accelerate the aging process.

23. Do you fear the uncertainties of growing old? Yes = minus 1. No fear = plus 0.
FACT: Fear of aging increases your risk of emotional illnesses such as self hatred, denial and depression.

24. Do you routinely use cannabis? Yes = minus 4. No = 0.
FACT: Scientific studies claim that frequent cannabis use increases the risk of physical and mental disorders—such as lung and heart disease and psychosis—by as much as 150 percent.

25. Are you sexually promiscuous? Yes = minus 6. No = 0.
FACT: Engaging in unprotected sex with multiple partners greatly increases the risk of sexually transmitted diseases.

26. Are you engaged in a long-term relationship of trust and mutual respect? Yes = plus 5. No = 0.
FACT: A relationship of this nature fulfills emotional, social, and physical needs and lowers morbidity and mortality risks.

27. Are all your friends the same age as you? Yes = minus 2. Do you have friends of different ages? Yes = plus 1.
FACT: Having friends from a younger generation counters an age-related decrease in your social network. Social isolation sets the stage for a variety of age-accelerating conditions. Those who live alone, for example, have a shorter life expectancy due to poor nutrition; the absence of companionship and someone who can intervene during periods of depression or physical illness; a decreasing need to get dressed and groomed; and safety issues (for example, the hearing impaired often misinterpret abnormal sounds, such as bathroom water pipes gurgling, as human voices whispering) and no one is present to tell them otherwise.

28. Do you keep a written list of specific life goals with time frames for completion? Yes = plus 1. No = 0.
FACT: Studies of performance behavior link specific goals and achievements to quality of life.

29. Do you have a family (blood relatives) history of cardiovascular disease or cancer prior to age 50? Subtract 2 per occurrence.
FACT: Family history demonstrates just how many cultural risks are increased by genetic predisposition. Culture (lifestyle) and genetics (inherited conditions) moderate the aging process. For example, some ethnic groups share a history of longevity, as do the children of long-lived parents.

30. Do you have a family history of obesity, diabetes, or chronic depression? Subtract 2 per occurrence.

FACT: Family history demonstrates just how many cultural risks are enhanced by genetic predisposition.

31. Do you take a once-daily dose (physician-approved) of an anti-inflammatory agent? Yes = plus 4. No = 0.
FACT: Scientific studies of anti-inflamatory drugs such as aspirin and statins show a reduced risk of cardio-vascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke.

32. Do you have an annual physical exam that includes a review of diet, over-the-counter medications, prescriptions, and dietary supplements? Yes = plus 2. No = minus 3.
FACT: Without oversight, combining prescription and over-the-counter medications with dietary supplements can be life threatening.

33. Does your dental care routine include daily brushing and flossing, plus a six-month checkup and cleaning? Yes = 0. No = minus 1.

FACT: A lack of preventive dental care and poor oral health habits raises the risk of infection elsewhere in the body, such as the heart.

34. Do you compute your daily caloric needs, then reduce caloric intake by 20 percent? Yes = plus 2. No = 0.
FACT: Research demonstrates a strong relationship between reduced caloric intake and longevity. If you answered “No” to this question, read the chapter, Thoughts for Food, for more information about computing your daily caloric needs and the benefits of reducing your caloric intake by 20 percent.

35. Do you have one daily serving of red wine (7 oz), purple grape juice (7 oz), or RDA grape-seed extract? Yes = plus 2. No = minus 1.
FACT: The agent in purple grapes enhances cardiovascular health by flushing cholesterol from the arteries.

36. Do you have one daily serving of oatmeal or oatbran (one -half cup, or one 70- gram granola bar)?
Yes= plus 1. No= minus1.
FACT: The fiber in oatmeal enhances cardiovascular health by flushing cholestoral from the arteries.

37. Are you involved in supervised strength training 3 times per week? Yes = 0. No = minus 1.
FACT: Muscular strength, flexibility, and coordination are essential to daily living and reduce the likelihood of tripping and falling.

38. Do you have a daily exercise routine that consists of at least 20 minutes of supervised cardiovascular training at your target heart rate, as well as warm-up and cool-down periods? Yes = plus 2, No = 0.
FACT: Cardiovascular and metabolic benefits occur when exercise is performed at your target heart rate. If you answered “No” to this question, read chapter five, Full Body Contact, for more information about calculating your target heart rate and the benefits of a regular exercise routine.

39. Is your home and indoor work space adequately ventilated by frequently opening windows, or equipped with air filtration that can filter microscopic particles? Yes = plus 1. No = minus 1.
FACT: Environmental studies have documented increasing evidence of cardiopulmonary diseases generated from indoor air and materials. Common items you have and use in and around your home – such as carpets and furniture, insecticides, cleansers, and paint and varnish – can release toxins into the air. In addition, all homes absorb toxins from the outside environment through normal cracks in foundations and walls.

40. Do you eat or drink more than two daily servings of caffeinated products, such as coffee, tea, cola, or chocolate? Yes = minus 2. No = 0.
FACT: Caffeine helps headache pain, but its toxic affect elsewhere elevates the risk of cancer and heart disease.

41. Is your BMI (body mass index) 25 or greater? Yes = minus 4. No = 0.
FACT: A Body Mass Index of 25 or above increases the risk of diabetes, heart attack, stroke, and hypertension. Clinical obesity has multiple negative and long-term effects on organs throughout the body. If you do not know how to calculate your Body Mass Index, read chapter five, Full Body Contact, for more information.

42. Is the average time you take to consume your meals more than 30 minutes? = 0. Less than 30 minutes? = minus 1.

FACT: Your brain requires 30 minutes to measure fullness, by which time you're often on a second or third helping.

43. Do you eat, drink, or use a cell phone while driving your vehicle? Yes = minus 1. No = 0.
FACT: These distracting behaviors elevate your risk of frightening close calls and outright accidents.

44. Do you have a consistent work schedule (i.e., work 9 to 5)? = 0. Or do you have an inconsistent work schedule (shift work that changes schedule)? = minus 2.

FACT: One in four workers is in a shift-work occupation that results in chronic sleep deprivation.

45. Within a 24-hour day, do you sleep nine or more hours? Yes = minus 1. Do you sleep 6-8 hours? Yes = plus 2. Do you sleep 5 hours or fewer? Yes = 1.
FACT: On average, most people need between 6 and 8 hours of sleep. Sleep deprivation is associated with poor concentration, more frequent accidents, and substandard effort.

46. Can you list symptoms associated with colon cancer? Yes = plus 1. No = minus 2.
FACT: It is not necessary for this cancer to be so dangerous to your health. Get a checkup, now.

47. Can you list symptoms of adult-onset diabetes? Yes = plus 2. No = minus 3.
FACT: Genetics, lifestyle, dietary habits, or a combination of the three are all risk factors.

48. Women only: Can you list breast cancer symptoms? Yes = plus 2. No = minus 3.
FACT: Preventive measures such as breast self-examination and mammography remain under-utilized.

49. Can you list high blood pressure symptoms? Yes = minus 2. No = 0
FACT: There are no symptoms associated with high blood pressure; therefore, you should have your blood pressure checked regularly.

50. Women only: Have you had a bone density test as a preventive step against osteoporosis? Yes = plus 1, No = 0.
FACT: Osteoporosis is more prevalent in women and increases the risk of back and hip fractures. Start monitoring early. As a preventive health measure, women should monitor their calcium needs as early as age 23 and their bone density as early as age 30.

51. Men only: Can you list prostate cancer symptoms? Yes = plus 2. No = minus 2.
FACT: After age 50, your doctor should monitor prostate health by reliable digital or PSA testing.

52. Men only: Can you list testicular cancer symptoms? Yes = 0. No = minus 1.
FACT: Avoid clothing fabric or styles that elevate testicle temperature. Monitor on a regular basis by inspecting the soft tissue of the testicles for lumps and painful areas; if found, see your doctor for a professional examination.

53. Women only: Can you list ovarian cancer symptoms? Yes = plus 2. No = minus 2.
FACT: Early risks exist but increase after menopause, and in association with advancing age.

54. Can you list heart attack symptoms? Yes = plus 1. No = minus 2.
FACT: Learn the symptoms and immediate interventions. Learn Cardiopulmonary Resusciation (CPR) for protecting loved ones.

55. How would you rate your sex life? Satisfactory = plus 1. Not sure = minus 0. Not satisfactory = minus 1.
FACT: Overstimulation by advertising, entertainment, and fashion results in a genuine need for a positive sexual outlet. The many ways in which the body benefits from a satisfying sex life are well documented at the National Institutes on Aging Web site located at www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sexualhealthissues.

Now add it all up. Your score is an estimate of how long you can expect to live. A score of less than 79 years should alert you to take positive action. In fact, 75% of longevity predictors are based on lifestyle, not genes. Remember, long life depends on seven factors: genetic inheritance (good genes give you a good head start), physical fitness, mental fitness (exercising your mind), emotional fitness (meaningful lives last longer), spiritual fitness (interpreting the purpose of life), food fitness (healthy nutrition and diet) and environmental fitness (limiting our exposure to toxic chemicals). Remember, the key to a long and healthy life is more than smart genes and dumb luck.

Low score? It's never too late to make positive lifestyle changes. A complete lifestyle plan, in an interactive question & answer format is available in Dr. David Demko's book, "Live Well Now, Dr. David Demko's Anti-Aging Plan to Youth'n Your Life".

Copyright Next Decade, Inc. 2005

Barbara Kimmel is a publisher and publicist. She is the publisher of David Demko's book. For more information about this book and other healthy lifestyle publications visit http://www.nextdecade.com - To Read more info about Death Clock browse SpicyBuzz.com

Day trading stocks, Futures and Forex are potentially profitable activity for the experienced and educated investor and day traders. Few people enter into day trading with lack of suffiecient knowledge and training. Some enter into this day trading as they feel it as a gambler’s high. Day Trading is nothing but the buying and selling of a security in a single day trading. In this day trading people try to make money in the stock market. This trading is not suitable for all investors. One of the most misunderstood topics is the profit potential of day trading. Day trading is similar to gambling than investing due to short duration that prevents the company research or traditional stock analysis tools.
The Day trading try to access the most complex financial services which is instrumented in the markets. Day trading is not so profitable in certain time and is highly risky too. But due to the advanced technology Day trading has become popular among casual traders. According to their trading stratigies and style, the trades made per day may vary from one to more. Per year traders manage to earn millions some days, by Day trading.
For Day Trading Futures lot of experience, knowledge and discipline is needed to be successful. When the trading futures, no positions are held overnight. This makes futures trader to have a peaceful sleep without any worries overnight. Futures often open with the very different price compared to the price closed on the previous day. Sometimes unexpected losses on your investment can also be faced due to some crazy things happening in the world. In a short duration one can learn the great deal regarding the futures markets from this Day trading. To be successful in day trading futures, one should be well disciplined. Very quickly commissions could be added with day trading. Investors of Day trade futures do not last for long. This is cause of undisciplined and unprepared bad decisions. It is always better to be well prepared before entering this. Day trade futures as it is a tough game.
E-mini S&P 500 is the market preferred by many traders for trading. In this market the trade execution is very quick as it is electronically traded. Other familiar futures are Dow futures, E-mini Nasdaq futures and E-mini Russell futures in the stock market which is focused by the futures day traders.
Day Trading forex is not the right way to gain lots of money in short duration. Initially if you start up the trade with the thoughts of Day trading forex. Only with the proper education and discipline profit can be gained. You should choose the proper forex education, as all the courses related to forex will not provide you the same eduction. So prefer the quality education on forex trading. Do not combine the knowledge of system to the other unless you back test the results. If you are careless the profitable forex system could be turned into unprofitable. Try to master the original one.

When attempting to develop a winning currency trading strategy you should initially look at market volatility.

Considering that one can trade currencies (Forex) at any time of the day on a world wide basis you will need to concentrate on specific sections of this vast market and find an area in which you can specialize.
Currency trading system,
Currency trading markets in different countries are obviously influenced by different market conditions.

Currency pairs are all of course subject to market volatility, however most currencies have various volativity levels depending on the time of day. Before you commence currency trading, you must develop an understanding of the currency trading system, which involves the pairing of currencies in various time zones throughout the world, and factors that can influence volatility.

The London Forex or currency trading market is the worlds largest, responsible for nearly one third of the worlds transactions. It is the biggest, most volatile and therefore responsible for many huge profits and of course losses.

For example, if we look at currency pairs such as the British Pound and the Japanese Yen, or the Pound and the Swiss Franc, their volatility can exceed in excess of 140 pips. Currency traders recognise that fluctuations such as these can generate huge profits in short time for smart investors.
Market volatility,
Volatility towards the conclusion of the London market is influenced by big traders converting their finances to US Dollars prior to the start of the US Forex market which is second in size to the london Market. The US market is buoyant during the morning which is a period where trading overlaps with the European market resulting in a period of very high liquidity.

Currency Traders willing to take risks on high volatility currency pairs during this time will often concentrate on pairs such as the Euro/USD and the US and Canadian Dollars, or the British Pound and US Dollar.

Investors who are more conservative may consider less volatile currency pairings such as the Australian Dollar/Japanese Yen, or the US Dollar/NZ Dollar and US/Australian Dollar

The Asian Market led by the Tokyo Exchange also overlaps the London market.

Many large investors will take their positions in the Tokyo market prior to the commencement of the London session, and we note that the currency pairs of the British pound and Japanese Yen can prove volatile during this period of overlap which is early morning in the US. This slow trading time is often utiled by investors to position themselves in readiness for the opening of the US or European markets.
Currency traders

WHY HAVE A TRADE PLAN:

Each time you fire up the trading software, you transport yourself into the world of global markets. You are traveling! Your purpose for traveling into this world…is profit; returning home with profit is your short-term goal. Long-term, you are likely in search of capital growth, stability, income and longevity. Experienced travelers use travel plans to venture from one location to another, and Accendo Traders strongly recommends trade plans for the stock market traveler.

effective trade plans

The alternative is risk attraction. Travel risk directly threatens your short-term goal of profit; but more importantly, it assaults your long-term goals of capital growth and longevity. Whether traveling to an unfamiliar city or into the global stock market via trading, the risks are the same. Risk in the form of: Getting lost, Wasting time, Capital mismanagement and strained decision making, Confusion, Late to the party, Unnecessary surprise, Fear, and even running short of funds before the trip ends. The risks are many and the list continues, but the point is: Effective trade plans inherently acknowledge the risks of trading and prepare you for them.

When we trade, we aren’t simply traveling down the street to our local food market (a short jaunt we can make with eyes closed). No. More accurately, as traders, we are traveling to foreign countries…trips that require maps, research, preparation and planning. This is why keen stock traders develop trade plans. Trade plans provide us with every advantage of the travel plan. Think of yourself as a global market traveler.

Viewed in their most encompassing light, trade plans are the means by which we become self-sufficient traders…they define our personal ownership of intent to succeed. Your macro or master trade plan…creates foundation and future objective by answering questions large in scope: Where do I begin (departure), Where am I going (destination), and How will I get there (your chosen route).

technical analysis

Viewed in their most focused light, micro or daily trade plans…are the means by which we ensure the least risk and safest return on each trip or individual trade. At this level we answer questions smaller in scope, but no less vital than the ones above: What indicators do I use, How much do I purchase, What loss do I accept, What profit is enough etc.

Between the master trade plan and the daily trade plan, you will develop your own unique trade plan philosophy; you will build a foundation, access and make the best use of your experience and resources…develop organization, repeatability and documentation. More than just a valuable trading tool, trade plans become a valuable training tool. In essence, trade plans allow you to learn, grow, adapt, develop pattern and routine, and ultimately prepare you for the day you get lost (it may happen within a specific trade and only last a few hours, or 3 years along into your global market travels and last for months…but at some point we all experience the emotion of ‘lost’). Trade plans provide us with the ability to respond to this emotional reality, in a way that furthers our growth and trading goals.

Does this sound complex, time consuming or daunting? It’s not. Trade plans present themselves more naturally than one would think. Remember, all we are talking about here, is developing a travel plan! For example:

How do I get from my house to my business conference: How much will it cost, will I drive or fly, what will I pack, who will I know? What city will I be in, how does the weather look, what comforts do I require? Translate these questions into trading terminology and you have: How do I get from my computer to a stock I want to buy, how much will it cost, will I buy 200 shares or 2000, what tools will I need and what indicators will I use; will I trade alone or with a group…who do I know? What Stock Exchange will I trade, is current market sentiment sunny or cloudy, what aspects of trading am I most comfortable with, and what comforts do I require?

You see? We desire more than simple strategies when venturing into the global market; Strategies alone will not produce self-sufficiency. Yes…we can charter a bus (find ourselves a stock picker), and allow this person to shuttle us along on a pre-packaged sightseeing tour…these can be fun once in a while; there are even benefits to this strategy. But it certainly isn’t free of charge. And what happens on the day we sleep in and miss the bus? We’ve already paid in full and now we’re left standing outside the motel holding the bag: lost. Well, if you’ve been reading along with interest, you’ve already begun the researching process, developing your trade plan and building the foundation of self-sufficiency; you aren’t planning these trips for fun—but for profit first, and capital growth to follow.

So lets begin the first leg of this trip together, with a discussion of what will become a cornerstone of your trade plan development…maps!

Maps have been a staple of human development since the beginning of time, and the concept of maps in tandem with the development of a trade plan will serve you well as a trader. As a people, we have mapped the stars, the continents and the weather—cities, roads and rivers. We have in fact mapped history! The world of markets is so tremendously large; traveling into the realm of them would be foolhardy without a reliable set of maps. As a trader new to the profession, we use maps for direction. As a trader in the midst of our adventure, we use maps for efficient and effective navigation. As a trader nearing the end of our journey (daily or yearly), we use maps to plot the way back home.

Maps provide 3 key elements: Scale, Compass and Substance

1. Maps provide scale: Sites such as Google Maps operate so seamlessly, it’s easy to dismiss the concept of scale; yet, each time we click ‘zoom’ we view a brand new map with its own unique boundaries. The same rules apply to charting software and to all facets of our trading research. Choosing the proper scale—and zooming between multiple scales—is everything when it comes to trading.

2. Maps provide compass: studying a good map will lead us to ask the most expedient questions and point us in a direction that furthers our travels, our research and our trade plan development. It’s often tempting to view our maps and trade plans “as-the-crow-flies.” However, identifying our starting point and our end goal—or our entry and our exit—is only the beginning. Twists and turns of every magnitude await us in between departure and destination; we require a sound sense of compass to stay on course.

3. Maps provide substance: Each map informs us of something different and valuable concerning where we are in a trade. Weather maps for example, relate well to market sentiment—economic calendars, earnings, upgrades and downgrades—information that affects the climate surrounding our area of interest. But even a great map will get us lost if we use it for the wrong purpose. Learning to evaluate each map’s legend is the key to understanding substance.

In order to demonstrate how the elements of scale, compass and substance work within the framework of trade plans—and how this concept of maps relates directly to traders—we need to begin with an example and common frame of reference. So, lets look at how we may link traders and maps, by developing one vision of a physical backdrop to the world of global markets; the world we intend to travel and trade within:

Countries: Think of our countries as the Stock Exchanges (NASDAQ, NYSE, AMEX, CBOE, etc). All countries have their own unique set of laws, customs and traditions—and exhibit unique behaviors.

States/Provinces: Think of our States/Provinces as market Sectors (Energy, Financial, Health Care, Utilities, Consumer Staples etc).

Cities: Think of our cities as the market Indices. We have large cities like DJI, NDX, SPX…and Smaller cities like QQQQ, DJTA, DJU, and SML.

Towns: Think of our towns as individual Stocks (From YHOO and MSFT to SIRI and AMD).

Roads, Weather, Statistics, and News: Think of these particulars and others like them as our Indicators—everything from longitude and latitude, to population, climate and topography (Bollinger bands, Volume, Oscillators, Moving Averages, Stochastic etc). Indicators fill in the detail. They sell us on a destination and with proper scale, allow us to navigate confidently—covering overall appeal, and right down to the decision of do we turn right or left at the next signal.

The particular combinations of maps we use are unique, personal and change as our trading careers change. And while the above outline provides a starting point, the style of trader we become influences the style and development of the maps we use (and ultimately influences the style and development of our trade plans). An options trader and a day-trader have different plans for an identical stock, just as a mountain climber and a wine connoisseur have quite different plans when traveling to Paris. Yet, the foundations for safe and efficient travel remain the same and before each traveler diverges towards their own specific interest, each reviews many of the same maps, information and travel routes.

For example, how would you research a trip to Embakasi? (Never heard of it? Good. This is a familiar experience for travelers within the world of global trading, isn’t it?) The process is the same when deciding to venture into an equally unfamiliar stock like XYYZ. First we pull up maps, and then we develop trade plans. A map of Embakasi doesn’t tell us much at first—we need to zoom out. Zooming out, we notice the Mombasa Road leading to Nairobi—our first bit of recognition. Pull back further and “aha!” We know exactly where we are, in the East African country of Kenya. Each scale of map has provided useful information, substance, questions, research direction and compass. And we will need each of these elements to develop our trade plan, as we zoom back in and plot our trip to Embakasi.

We use the same starting process to develop a daily trade plan for XYYZ: How do we ‘locate’ this stock within the market and what information do we need? A map of XYYZ doesn’t tell us much about the stock’s location and so we zoom out. What picture does the macro scale reveal? Does it sell us on the trip? Do we have an “aha” moment when identifying the exchange, index or sector? Now we begin zooming back in and organizing the specifics of our trade plan. We pull up detailed maps and pour over our indicators (New high, low volume, great news, upper Bollinger band and an overbought oscillator). Now we can make an informed decision about this trip. Is it a daily trip we’re comfortable making? Is it a trip that makes sense in view of our long-term travel plans? Are we experienced enough and do we have the money and the time etc?

The alternative to acknowledging the risks of trading and preparing for them: is risk attraction. If we wouldn’t dream of waking up tomorrow and boarding a flight to Embakasi—without so much as pulling up a map or packing a suitcase—then we can consider this scenario when the impulse strikes to purchase XYYZ in the middle of our work day. Expand this to encompass an excursion that will last a year, and the case for a master trade plan becomes more concrete! How many twists and turns will present themselves between departure and destination? How will we keep our compass? Who will wire us money on this journey, if we run ourselves broke thousands of miles from home? Lost.

Think! Where am I—at this moment—within the market and within my long-term objectives? This understanding takes you out of the realm of simple strategy…and puts you into the realm of trade plans. Thought of in these terms, it hopefully becomes more clear where you need to start when researching your next move—whether that moves relates to the foundation of your master trade plan, your trade plan for the upcoming week, or your trade plan for a particular buy, sell, or hold. Whether you consider bounce trading, option trading, penny stock, index, or futures trading, you will find and develop maps that help you determine what research is needed in order to execute these trade plans successfully. Don’t rely on instinct…research and plan your travels.

In this way, it is helpful to view your master trade plan as a large map in and of itself—because trade plans embrace all the positive advantages and reliabilities that maps provide. The trade plan and the map improve the odds of reaching a destination safely, they save time, money and resources: they allow us to retrace steps efficiently, to develop travel logs that document and organize various methods and paths of reaching the same destination: trade plans and maps provide flexibility and reference, allow us to compare results, to quickly create alternate routes in case of changes beyond our control: they prevent wrong turns, casual errors, and when we do get lost…they allow us to quickly and safely get back on track.

Trade plans make sense. And when thought of as travel plans, they become attainable and less mysterious. View yourself as a market traveler and develop a trade plan that reflects your experience and means. Travel safely out there…and drop Michael Glass of AccendoTraders.com a postcard sometime.

chart patterns

The stock market will get the best of every trader at some point. That is just a fact right? Well…I don’t believe it is and I’ll tell you why.

In my experience, the difference between successful and non-successful traders is self-awareness, not market favoritism. The stock market isn’t a “thing” that pursues personal vendettas…it’s simply a stream of data. And in fact, the only thing that gives meaning to this stream of data is our background knowledge of it, and our own interpretations and experiences with it. Making the best and most consistent use of this knowledge and experience, requires an understanding of our own personal data stream first—that is, knowing who we are, what our tendencies are, our strengths, weaknesses, beliefs, and perspectives.

technical analysis

I am often asked, what went wrong? Why did “this” or “that” trade go against me? Why is this market so horrible for trading? Why does the market hate me? I respond with a question of my own; “Can you explain to me your thinking for entering the trade…let’s start there?” Usually I am met with a response that involves a nod to a particular newsletter or the hint of a stock guru and a hot trade of the week etc. Not surprisingly, this response attempts to explain someone else’s thinking behind a trade more so than the individual’s thinking—and also not surprisingly, this type of trader typically comes to express at some point, that the market is out to get them. But don’t get me wrong, a feeling that the “market is out to get you” is not limited to get-rich-quick hopefuls…it strikes traders with far more experience as well.

In my opinion, the moment we frame in our mind, that it is “us against the market,” we instantaneously sabotage our success as traders. It’s all down hill from that point on because for one, the market doesn’t even know who we are and neither do the stocks. Tell me if this sounds familiar? We buy stock XYZ and hours, days or months later, we sell it for a loss. Then, in an effort to “get our money back,” we re-buy the same poor performing stock in order to exact not only financial recovery but…what? Revenge against a stock that had it out for us? Pride? A moral victory against our nemesis?

candlestick chart patterns

This common occurrence may bring a smile to some of our faces—if we are among the fortunate—but that thinking/strategy is all too common and all too often the undercurrent of thinking that ruins a traders future plans, even before they have a chance to discover what the successful trader has learned. And this is: the market is just a stream of data flowing along with or without our presence. Our goal is to find the currents that suit our needs and to ride out those currents with relative ease, not to become the determined salmon fighting every inch of their way against the current in a life or death struggle. The market—or stream—is what it is, and we have the choice to fight it or ride it.

What is our goal when we interact with the stock market? It is a simple question that too few take the time to consider. Add to that, this question—why am I placing this trade? I find that even fewer traders pose this question with the necessary amount of forethought and at the appropriate time. If we don’t know why we are interacting with the stock market, or understand what our fundamental rationale for executing a trade is…then we need to take a step back and take a serious look at these areas of our trade plan.

A trader’s goal is to create profits on a consistent basis. We all know that riding this data stream and becoming a “river-rafting” guru is far easier said than done. But why is this? Why can’t each and every trade make it to the promise land? Why do so many fail, seemingly, even before they execute their first trade? Why are so many frustrated with the results of their trading and the movement of the market? I believe it has a lot to do with this idea of self-awareness, market perspective, and confidence born out of planned consistency. It certainly doesn’t come from pitting ourselves against the market and waging a one-sided fantasy battle!!

In my experience, successful traders are consistent in their own behaviors and execute trades without fear of the result. Not without fear of consequence…but without fear of the result. Among other attributes, I find successful traders to exhibit a confidence in their trading systems and in their own personal philosophies. They begin with trade plans and build confidence systematically, by way of working to grow and improve their trade plans. They develop criteria and checklists that identify potential trades, and then utilize consistent and pre-established rules for executing their entries and exits. They consider their judgments sound—for either a profit or a loss—because they have learned to first trade by plan and not trade by emotion. Successful traders know at all times, what their goal is and why they are placing each specific buy and/or sell.

So how do you become the river rafting professional and ditch the I’m-going-to-be-the-first-salmon-to-reach-the-top thinking? I believe we get there by stepping back regularly, and looking inward. We must consider and review our perspectives of the market and make efforts to reconsider and make changes to, any defeatist attitudes we maintain about the market and our place within it. We must all develop a proper mental structure for interacting with the market. The consistency that we most desire will not be found thru indicators or market information. It is most important to find—and will be found—within our own attitudes and beliefs, regarding the market and the results of our individual trades and plans. We make or lose money on our trades; nobody and no “thing” does this for us—or to us.

So no, success is not about the latest stock market craze or about the most effective technical indicators. Success begins with our internal discipline—not with technique or market knowledge…or by the power of “this” oscillator or “that” moving average. Even with the knowledge of a new and improved trading style, we will still suffer the same pitfalls if we have not set-up the correct mental structure to keep us from repeating reckless and unplanned trades.

Marc Douglas, author of Trading In The Zone, puts it this way. Marc says, “…when you acquire the right mind-set, you will be able to trade without fear. You will no longer be susceptible to the multitude of fear-based errors that come from rationalizing, subconsciously distorting information, hesitation, jumping the gun, or hoping. Once the fear is gone, there just won’t be a reason to make these errors and, as a result, they will virtually disappear from your trading.”

I believe Marc Douglas has hit it spot on. It’s easy to fall under the belief that the market has it out for us and an easy conclusion to reach because it implies there is no more we can do ourselves to correct poor results. It removes responsibility and conveniently points outwards. But there is nothing easy about trading and relinquishing responsibility only serves to create unnecessary turmoil and failure for traders. The fact is…the stock market has no personal vendetta and the data stream itself has no meaning, until we apply our background and experience. If you are in a rut or have struggled with negative feelings and beliefs about the market, fear not, you have come to the right place. Together, we will work to develop winning attitudes (mental analysis) that use effective trade plans (technical analysis) to obtain trading consistency.

Successful Trade Plans

Where have all the auto insurance discounters gone? They're all around you. They just don't want to be found or known as a car insurance discounter. Why? Simply because if their fellow agents knew, there would be an all out quote war and believe me they don't want that.

If all that sounds confusing, and it is, let's sort it all out. A discounter is a person who offers a service or commodity, in this case car insurance, at a discount to the regular price. I should point out that if an insurance company advertises below average rates it is usually cheap insurance offered at a rate lower than good quality insurance.

I want to make one thing clear the car insurance I'm talking about being discounted is good car insurance offered by the leading companies not cheap auto insurance that is useless should you ever need it and only offered by non-caring agents just to get you covered to satisfy local and state laws.

Where are the Auto insurance discounters?

Here, there and every where but doing their best to keep it secret. If word got out that they would sell at a cheaper rate everyone would want the lower rate and they can't afford to do that.

When most people are looking for a better quote they usually contact one agent and tell them they are looking around for a good rate. car insurance agents and their staff know they're going to be told this but they also know that 95% of the people will never carry it out because it is just too hard to follow through.

So they will cheerfully give their standard rate knowing that 95% of the time they will get the business. The other 5% they lose but they have made enough to more than make up for the few dollars they lost. You see, 95% is better than 5% any day.

Car Insurance discounters don't like to discount!

If you want that discount auto insurance rate you need to get the insurance agent to think "end of the month". Why "end of the month?" Because that's when the agent receives their "fun" money or bonus pool money from the insurance companies.

The money from monthly sales pays the expenses like rent, utilities, salaries etc. but the bonus pool money is "found" money that the agent receives for selling policies. The amount of money is determined by the number of policies that they wrote during the month.

This is the area that you want to take advantage of. The agent knows that if they can sell you a policy even if they don't make any money, that policy will help them at the end of the month to qualify for an even bigger piece of that bonus pool. And believe me the agents love that bonus pool!

To get them to think "end of the month" and the bonus pool is not that complicated. You just need to force them into competition mode.

Force The Local Agent to Sell You A Discounted Policy!

Local discount car insurance agents are very competitive by nature. They don't want to lose a policy to their buddies down the block. They might be best friends but they are competitive and will do what ever is necessary to win that policy even if they have to eliminate every cent of profit. They like to win!

But they won't toss money away. They have to know without a shadow of a doubt that they are competing against the other local agents.

One Quote Request Sent To Six or Seven Local Agents!

When you complete that one simple quote request and send it through our system you create an situation that guarantees you the cheapest quote possible and here's why.

Those six or seven local agent that receive that quote request know that their best competition also received that request and that they can't take their time or chances with this request. They need to give the best quote that they can give, need to get it to you pronto and do every thing within their power to get your business. They Like to win and can't stand to lose to their golfing buddies down the street.

If your had enough of paying to much for your car insurance and want to guarantee your self the best rate possible then click this link now for auto insurance discounters, fill out that one simple quote request and sit back and relax because some of the best rates you have ever seen are on there way to you.