Tips For Beginners: Effective ETF Trading System PDF Print E-mail
Written by Patrick Deaton   
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 10:29
As you get going in ETF trading you are going to find that there are a lot of strategies, systems, and methods. The method, strategy or system that is best, will be the one that works for you. An ETF trading system may be very effective for one person, but not for another. The effective trading system will be one that matches your personal style, your skills, and your ETF goals. To find that system you will need to work through a few to find the one that is the best fit for you.
by PatrickDeaton


As you get going in ETF trading you are going to find that there are a lot of strategies, systems, and methods. The method, strategy or system that is best, will be the one that works for you. An ETF trading system may be very effective for one person, but not for another. The effective trading system will be one that matches your personal style, your skills, and your ETF goals. To find that system you will need to work through a few to find the one that is the best fit for you.

Website that offer one system or one strategy are not effective for many people. They are also not a cost effective way to learn ETF trading. The websites which offer training, materials, books, and information about all of the strategies, systems, and methods that make up ETF trading will give you a holistic view of what is available. This websites also usually offer forums and chat rooms for beginners to ask questions and gain valuable information from successful ETF traders.

Most successful ETF traders agree on two things. The learning curve for ETF trading is about two years. And, if you get through the first year with a 0% loss you've had a really good first year. With that in mind, setting realistic goals for the first two years will help to keep you grounded and out of hot water with trading. Creating a safety net that allows you to try different systems and strategies without suffering losses is a great way to learn the intricacies of ETF trading.

The safety net will help you to stay afloat in a very fast moving trading medium. The ETF is moving at 15 second intervals. If a person has committed to the wrong system, in the wrong sector, they can lose gains before they have finished their first cup of coffee. So, setting a stop-loss will help you to avoid those kinds of losses.

Setting buy and sell points and/or setting "take profit" prices will also give you an added level of safety. Having a safety net in place will be of tremendous assistance when a person is first learning the intricacies of ETF trading and still trying on strategies, methods, and systems. A safety net acts as a life vest. Until you feel like you can dive in and swim in the deep end of the pool, keep a safety vest on. Even a little vest will add some level of protection and keep you from drowning.

When you are looking at the different types of ETF trading systems that are available, they will have a risk rating. A person who is just beginning ETF trading will be more successful working in sectors that have clear trends to track and have a risk rating that is medium low to medium. There may be some low risk systems, I just haven't seen any.

Any system that has trend following in some part of it is a good way to learn the structure of ETF trading and make effective use of the trends that are happening in a sector. Many new traders start with an ETFA (Exponential Moving Average) system. This system is a medium low to medium risk, easy to use system that basically is about trend following. The trader sets parameters for fast EMAs and slow EMAs and when the lines cross, you move. The system is most effective with RTH, SMH, SPY (long only), XLE, XLF, and TLT.

Tracking a system before using it to trade is a good way to find out how consistent and effective it is. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is that if a system is great and effective, it can be tracked and followed. There is no way for a trader to keep a system a secret in ETF trading. Look for key clues in advertising. When an individual is "selling" a can't fail system, every trader knows that there is no "can't fail" system. If there were ETF trading would not be the fun that it is, and successful trades would not be as exhilarating as they are.

DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice.

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