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Day Trader
Accounting and finance

How to become a Day Trader

What does a Day Trader do?

Fan of playing FTSE? It’s time to trade up…

Day Traders buy and sell stocks, shares, futures, and other financial assets. They are usually self-employed, and work with their own money, rather than that of a client. Their role also differs from that of a regular Trader when it comes to timescales, with Day Traders completing all of their deals before the market closes - in a single trading day.

Well, at least the name makes perfect sense.

Typical duties for a Day Trader include:

  • Observing and analysing markets
  • Formulating trading strategies (both short-term and long-term)
  • Liaising with brokers to complete trades and transactions
  • Selling assets before the end of the trading day, to bring investments back as cash
  • Cutting losses if an investment is failing
  • Recording all transactions and completing tax returns

Is a career as a Day Trader right for me?

You’ll need an excellent work ethic, not to mention natural financial acumen, in order to become a Day Trader.

Even though it’s a highly competitive industry, if you’re successful, you could be working on hundreds of orders every single day. And don’t expect the typical 9-to-5. Despite what the name would suggest, you’ll often be working long into the night to keep up with all the individual markets.

If you’re not a fan of long hours and can’t work to tight deadlines, this may not be the career for you.

Other key skills include:

  • Excellent analytical skills
  • Self-discipline
  • Decisiveness
  • Good instincts
  • The ability to forecast, and see the bigger picture
  • An in-depth knowledge of complex financial software

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Career progression and salary expectations for a Day Trader

1

Day Trader

| Up to £26,000

Get qualified as a Day Trader

You won't usually need any formal qualifications to become a Day Trader, but an understanding of financial markets, trading strategies, and risk management is essential. Many start by self-educating through books, online courses, or simulated trading platforms, and access to a reliable trading platform and sufficient capital is key. Certifications in finance or trading will also help to enhance your knowledge and credibility.

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What's it like to be a Day Trader?

"I used to work as a Stock Broker, and once I built up a decent amount of money and experience, I decided to give day trading a go. It can be pretty stressful, but I love the rush that comes with it, and every day brings something completely different. It’s all about setting realistic goals, and knowing when to walk away. Even if you take a loss, if you’ve set a reasonable loss threshold, you’ll ensure you leave before losing too much – and free up capital for other assets. And make loads of practice runs before you start spending your own money. There are tons of online tools to help you build trail portfolios, and they’ll help you get to know how the markets work."

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