First time poster, I've been lurking on this forums for a while. I was inspired to write a response for this thread, because of all the misinformation.
Before, I give my 2 cents. I'm a Forex trader for 12 years, I've been doing this for 12 years, and I do this now as a full time job. My stubbornness, and will to continue moving forward has kept me in Forex, because I refused to surrender! Let me set some of the myth's.
Forex is NOT gambling, I repeat Forex is NOT gambling. Now with that being said, a new person that comes into forex drops money -- opens a trade that is gambling, now the action preformed is gambling.
Forex is a market, and there is a lot of obstacles in that market. Brokers most of the time make money, by hedging against its clients, Alpari even had it in its terms and conditions, that having clients and being a broker is a conflict of interest. Due to the nature, that most traders run in without understanding the mechanics, its easier to hedge against its own clients.
Most people that tell you that anyone who makes money in Forex is lieing, is someone who has lost money in Forex and holds grudge.
Every post that everyone, has said here.. I've done it. When I first started trading Forex in 2001, I got $2,000 dropped in on 100k Account which is $10 per point.. Made money my first transaction lost everything else, and I did that over and over and over again. Over the years, I kept losing money.. I'm not ashamed to say, I've lost thousands of dollars in Forex.
I knew, that the problem dosn't lay with Forex itself. The problem was with me, and my actions and my behaviors. I picked up books, I did Demo, I've studied, I lost more money. Rinse and repeat. I've identified the problem(s). I made more mistakes, and eventually I finally was able to correct every single issue, and become successful. Am I stinking rich? Am I a millionaire, no. I don't have millions, and I don't have a castle or a Ferrari or a boat.
I'm an average person, who is controlling his risk with proper money management. I don't day trade, I'm not in and out of the Market. (I used to, I was up all nights, and taking 3 Am walks after I crashed and burned multiple times)
I'm a conservative trader, I swing trade I use the 4 Hour chart. My trades sometimes are open for up to 2 weeks.
For those who are wondering, I make about $3000 a month. For anyone who thinks, that's awesome. I wish I could do that. Please read, what I've said. It took me years to get to this point. I only trade on pure technical analysis. I don't look at reports, I don't look at fundamentals. I only trade on Technical analysis. I position my trades, when my system that I've created lines up and open trades and let them run. I take losses, its part of trading. There is no such a thing as 100%.
Forex is a very well oiled machine, and it operates through patterns. I can see those patterns, but that's because I've been watching it for years and years. With Mechanical trading, and no emotion, and proper discipline and money management a person can be a successful Forex trader.
Someone said on here, that Stock is more predictable and easier. That is absolutely correct. Stock market is more predictable, and easier because its easier to measure participants, and direction. Forex Market has more players, and requires bigger amounts of volume to move it, a lot of people find advantages and the people who don't know what they are doing get burned.
I don't like to reference the term "noob" I was once new too, and I'm new to other things and prospects, and I feel like its disparaging when it used in a matter to put someone down, for not knowing something even though they are making an effort to learn it.
I wanted to respond on this to offer my opinion, and this all just my opinion. I'm not doing a witch hunt after anyone. I wanted to offer a perspective from someone who has been through this, and to offer advice to those who are doing this is that if you stay long enough, if you put in enough effort. It will pay off. This is not a get rich quick scheme, and its not a gambling if you don't treat it as such.
It requires time, patients, effort, discipline.
For anyone who wishes to take shots at me, because of my grammar. As I've seen it done countless times, by all means. I know my writing isn't awesome, that shouldn't deter from my point. I hope that someone finds merit in this post. I wish to encourage people to have a better understanding, nor am I looking to change anyone else opinion.
I will be happy to answer any reasonable questions.
The matter of Etoro, in my opinion. I don't use or would use Etoro some members on here gave very good explanations. Etoro is not a good broker, I'm not looking to bash them down just speaking my opinion on that specific broker. I would use a broker that is and has been in the industry for a while, someone who has a better reputation.
Thank you, for anyone who took the time to read this. I just wanted to toss my 2 cents on the subject.