Performance Level Of An Exceptional Trader

[Doomberg]

Ok i think this will make an interesting topic as views will vary quite a bit.... The question i'd like to ask you all is this:

In your opinion what performance percentage level would a trader have to achieve each month to be called an exceptional trader?

Would it be a minimum of 5%? 10%? 20%? 50%+?... What do you think would be the benchmark pcm % to be classed as 'exceptional'

 

[JRP2891]

Any figures you receive from your Q will be from the unexceptional.

 

[forker]

It depends, the greater the % the higher risks being taken which could be a good thing as long as the trader has the nuts to stomp out a loser before it breaks his account.
To me an exceptional trader isn't measured by % but rather by a perspicacious consistency of engaging the market

 

[Masquerade]

Depends how much money they're trading

 

[glyder]

I reckon its probably lumpier than a fixed % per month (partly what makes it much more difficult),
but this
http://www.moneychimp.com/calculator/compound_interest_calculator.htm
tells me the £1000 over 50 months compounded at 20% per month = £9m +
Of course Warren Buffet averages 20% a year but he's an investor and he's got far more than £1K to play with anyway.
Other than that and what you can read in Market Wizards, I could only guess...and I would guess there are a few disciplined daytraders that can make 2-3% a day.
Moneychimp compound calculator tells me that £1000 compounded at 2% a day for 400 days is £2.75M ish. Thats good going. I bet it get MUCH harder as the numbers get big.

 

[Doomberg]

Any figures you receive from your Q will be from the unexceptional.

There are some good traders on this site JR, some very good ones in fact...

And even if some unexceptional people are answering they can sure give their views on what they feel exceptional is

 

[Doomberg]

Depends how much money they're trading

Not really imo, whether its 4 figures, 5 figures or 6 figures in their account

If the traders is using similar money management and strategies its pretty similar imo

 

[Masquerade]

Not really imo, whether its 4 figures, 5 figures or 6 figures in their account

If the traders is using similar money management and strategies its pretty similar imo

Well that's your opinion. But the game changes when you have a trading account which runs into millions.

 

[Doomberg]

Well that's your opinion. But the game changes when you have a trading account which runs into millions.

You're right actually, i didn't think properly before i replied...

But anything under 2-300k account it wouldn't matter at all as you wouldn't be getting slowed down etc

 

[bbmac]

What is exceptional is consistency and low drawdown (volatility)...ie day in day out, week in week out, month in month out, year in year out - consistency...what at first may appear unspectacular growth per say over those given t/f's is spectacular when consistent. Compounding gains can of course lead to even bigger gains in cash terms...only increasing risk (leverage) will lead to bigger % gains.

As for what % is sepctacular - well judge it against what is put at risk and compare and contrast any given trader's performance and consistency with what else is on offer from other investments over the same time period.

G/L

 

[Masquerade]

Well if you can return 20% PA on a consistent basis a lot of people would willingly part with millions to have you trading their money.

 

[BeginnerJoe]

Real traders play with large sums of money. So 2% a month is very exceptional.

 

[advfntrader]

yes JPR is one of the good traders on here

 

[TheBramble]

bbmac has pretty much covered it. Percentage gains without any other data is meaningless.

As is the question itself really.

Life tends to cluster.

 

[marbig]

What is exceptional is consistency and low drawdown (volatility)...ie day in day out, week in week out, month in month out, year in year out - consistency...what at first may appear unspectacular growth per say over those given t/f's is spectacular when consistent. Compounding gains can of course lead to even bigger gains in cash terms...only increasing risk (leverage) will lead to bigger % gains.

As for what % is sepctacular - well judge it against what is put at risk and compare and contrast any given trader's performance and consistency with what else is on offer from other investments over the same time period.

G/L

sepctacular/spectacular answer. :cheesy:

 

[Black Swan]

Well if you can return 20% PA on a consistent basis a lot of people would willingly part with millions to have you trading their money.

Hmmm... Not so sure on this, not that clean cut

 

[Black Swan]

bbmac has pretty much covered it. Percentage gains without any other data is meaningless.

As is the question itself really.

Life tends to cluster.

As do t2w threads, clusterfook

 

[TheBramble]

Talking of fook, how can you get up eight times if you've only fallen down seven...?

 

[Black Swan]

Talking of fook, how can you get up eight times if you've only fallen down seven...?

 

[Depth Trade]

I would look at Forexdesk.com that has the most traders from T2W as reference.
Week on week, the winners seem to average about +34%

Of coarse there is always a different winner each week and people like myself are profitable, but not in the contest. This does give one some idea of what can be accomplished.