Scaling a Trading Business-Season 2 Finale. TOGS Season 2 Episode 15
The TOGS Trading Podcast Season 2 Episode 15, the season finale, focuses on scaling a trading business. The hosts discuss the transition from amateur trading to professional trading, emphasizing the need for proper capitalization and treating trading as a business. They highlight the importance of managing risk, recording trades, and having a strategic business plan. Ian shares his experience with scaling up, noting the psychological challenges and the need for emotional readiness. They also discuss the potential of Prop firms and the importance of understanding market trends and position sizing. The episode concludes with a reminder to treat trading like a business and a thank you to listeners for their support.
Fear: A Traders Greatest Enemy? TOGS Season 2 Episode 14
In the TOGS Trading Podcast Season 2, Episode 14, the hosts discuss fear as a trader's greatest enemy. They explore how fear manifests in trading, such as hesitation and over-analysis, and its impact on trading decisions. They emphasize the importance of self-reflection, journaling, and having a well-defined trading process to overcome fear. Ian shares personal experiences, including a significant loss and the struggle to take time off. They also discuss the importance of trading in a group for accountability and the need to focus on the process rather than immediate profits. The episode concludes with encouragement to face and manage trading fears.
Make 2025 Your Best Year. TOGS Season 2 Episode 13
The discussion on TOGS this week focused on strategies for making 2025 the best trading year. Key points included the importance of committing to a trading plan, addressing fear and uncertainty, and maintaining discipline. Ian emphasized the need for a fundamental decision to change and the importance of understanding trading concepts rather than just setups. He also highlighted the role of self-discipline and self-awareness, suggesting the use of checklists to manage tasks. The conversation also touched on the value of competing with oneself and understanding the market context. Both speakers agreed on the necessity of a simple process and the importance of managing expectations and emotions.
2024 Review: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. TOGS Season 2 Episode 12
In the final episode of the TOGS Trading Podcast for 2024, hosts discuss their experiences and insights from the year. They reflect on the importance of reviewing one's trading performance, emphasizing the need for traders to be honest with themselves about their successes and failures. Ian highlights the value of emotional understanding in trading, advocating for simpler strategies and understanding higher time frame biases. They also discuss the challenges of trading during the first 15 minutes of the day and the benefits of letting trades run. Additionally, they touch on the impact of news events and the role of prop firms in trading, noting the higher failure rates compared to spread betting. In the conversation, Ian explains that trading is more akin to playing a video game, with no fundamental trading involved but rather relying on recognizing and replicating patterns. They emphasize that trading can be stress-free due to the predictability of these patterns and the use of mechanical trading strategies. Paul acknowledges the audience's engagement over the past year, appreciating both positive and negative feedback as it reflects the dynamic nature of the market. They announce the final podcast of 2024, with plans to resume in January and mention upcoming talks in London and Dublin. Both speakers wish their global audience a happy holiday season and a prosperous 2025.
Should we trade in December? TOGS Season 2 Episode 11
In episode 34 of the TOGS Trading Podcast, hosts discuss whether it's worth trading in December. Ian notes that markets are generally stable until late December, when volatility and volume drop, leading to unpredictable market movements. They highlight the concept of the "Santa rally," where markets often see a slight uptick post-Christmas. The hosts emphasize the importance of taking a break, using the time to review trading performance, and ensuring one's mental and emotional state is optimal for trading. They also discuss the benefits of trading micro contracts and the pitfalls of overworking during the holiday season.
Backtesting. Togs Trading Podcast Season 2 Episode 10
The podcast episode discusses the pros and cons of backtesting in trading. Paul and Ian emphasize that backtesting is necessary but not sufficient for trading success. They highlight the importance of testing ideas manually and using simulators to avoid emotional biases. Ian shares his process, which includes analyzing close charts, using simulators, and spread betting. They note that most backtesting ideas will fail, but this is valuable for learning and adapting. The conversation also touches on the limitations of backtesting, such as not accounting for emotions and market changes. They stress the need for forward testing to build confidence and ensure strategies work in live markets.
Trends vs Reversals. TOGS Trading Podcast Season 2 Episode 9
In this TOGS podcast episode, Paul and Ian discuss the merits of trading trends versus reversals. They emphasize the importance of understanding the difference between pullbacks and reversals, noting that pullbacks are more manageable for day traders, while reversals require more skill. They highlight the significance of Fibonacci levels in identifying trend changes and the psychological aspects of trading, such as the tendency for traders to overreact to market movements. The conversation also touches on the role of gaps in identifying trends and the importance of having a methodical approach to trading, including the use of mechanical systems to reduce errors.
What do traders want from brokers? TOGS Trading Podcast Season 2 Episode 8
The discussion on the TOGS Trading Podcast focused on what traders want from brokers. Key points included the importance of a reliable, stable platform, good fills, and quick access to tech support. Traders emphasized the need for brokers to be accessible in their time zones and to offer intuitive, easy-to-use platforms. The conversation also highlighted the value of free events for social connectivity and education, and the necessity of proper regulation and customer service. Additionally, the importance of good phone apps for trading emergencies was noted. The hosts also shared personal experiences and insights into the trading world, including the challenges faced by intermediate traders and the benefits of mentoring and community building.
US Election Special - well, what now? TOGS Trading Podcast Season 2 Episode 7
The Togs Trading Podcast discusses the impact of the 2024 US election on markets and geopolitics. The hosts, Paul and Ian, express surprise at Trump's victory and predict significant cultural and economic shifts. They highlight potential market opportunities, such as defense stocks and energy sectors, and discuss the potential decline in oil prices due to increased US fracking. Concerns about the impact on the UK and Europe are raised, particularly regarding the movement of tech companies and the potential for increased defense spending in Europe. The conversation also touches on the media's role and the cultural changes expected under a Trump administration.
Psychological Stop Losses - How to use them? TOGS Trading Podcast Season 2 Episode 6
The discussion on the TOGS Trading Podcast focused on psychological stop losses, emphasizing their importance in managing stress and emotional impact on trading. Key points included the impact of personal stressors like grief and family issues on trading performance, the necessity of taking breaks, and the importance of self-awareness and self-reflection. The conversation highlighted that stress often stems from the gap between perceived and actual trading outcomes, and that successful traders often face stress due to the complexity and unpredictability of the market. The hosts also stressed the value of trading buddies and the need for self-compassion in trading.
Traders in the media – who is worth following? TOGS Trading Podcast Season 2 Episode 5
In the conversation, the hosts discuss the reality of trading and the media's portrayal of traders. They emphasize the importance of following traders who provide live, non-selective trades and who demonstrate humility. They criticize traders who sell a lifestyle or high win rates without acknowledging the challenges and losses inherent in trading. The discussion also touches on the pitfalls of copy trading and the pressure it can put on traders. They highlight the need for traders to find methods that align with their personality and to be wary of those who claim their way is the only way to trade. The conversation concludes with a reminder that trading is an active, intensive job and not a passive income source.
Seasonality in trading - does it mean anything? TOGS Trading Podcast Season 2 Episode 4
Paul and Ian discuss the concept of seasonality in trading, focusing on its relevance to different trading styles. Paul explains that seasonality can impact both market trends and individual trading strategies, with high seasons (September to April) offering more stable and longer trends, while low seasons (May to August) are marked by more whipsaws. Ian, a scalper, notes that volume and time of day are more significant than seasonality for his strategy. They also touch on the psychological impact of life events on trading, advocating for psychological stop losses. The conversation concludes with a brief mention of upcoming geopolitical events and their potential market impacts.
How was your Q3 Trading? Lets review. What's in store for Q4? TOGS Trading Podcast Season 2 Episode 3
In the TOGS Trading Podcast episode 26, the hosts reflect on Q3, noting its eventfulness and the importance of the upcoming Q4 due to the US elections. Ian shares his busy personal life and trading experiences, highlighting the benefits of trading in a public Telegram group for accountability. They discuss the challenges of trading during quiet market periods, such as August, and the importance of managing one's trading style and expectations. They also touch on the impact of global events, like the US elections and UK budget, on currency markets. The conversation concludes with strategies for improving trading performance and preparing for future market conditions.
Returning to trading after a break. TOGS Trading Podcast - Season 2 Episode 2
The TOGS Trading Podcast, episode 25, discusses returning to trading after a break. Key points include understanding the reasons for the break, such as burnout, illness, or life changes like having a baby. The hosts emphasize the importance of not rushing back into trading at full intensity and instead gradually re-engaging with the market. They advise traders to recommit to their trading style, prepare their workspace, and start with small trades. They also stress the need for self-checks to ensure emotional readiness and the importance of maintaining a sustainable trading routine to avoid burnout. The episode concludes with a preview of upcoming topics, including the impact of upcoming economic events on trading.
Welcome back to TOGS Trading Podcast! TOGS Trading Podcast Season 2 Episode 1
In the first episode of season two of the TOGS trading podcast, hosts discuss their summer breaks and trading experiences. Ian highlights the challenges of balancing childcare with trading, particularly during the summer months when his son is out of school. He emphasizes the importance of time management and focusing on shorter, more manageable trading setups. The conversation also touches on the impact of the US election on markets, with predictions of increased volatility and potential trading opportunities. They discuss the psychological aspects of trading, the transition from simulated to live trading, and the importance of understanding one's motivation and constraints. The episode concludes with plans for future discussions on managing trading psychology and market events.
