Reader Beware

I have a unique perspective on markets and offering financial commentary. Unlike most of your internet hot-shots, guys trading in and out of stocks for nickels, never allowing a loser to marinate for more than a few hours, I do this for real, with real money. When you’re managing real portfolios, for real people, one doesn’t spin in and out of trades like a fucking idiot, especially in 3x ETFs. As a matter of fact, the industry that I work in hates 3x ETFs and makes it a point to stop you from buying or selling them.

Many of you are young, cow eyed, punks, with little to no money to your names. That’s fine, since we’ve all been there. Hopefully in a few decades you’ll have enough money to consider yourself a person of interest. The problem that I have with most commentary, especially on StockTwits/Twitter and an array of low brow sites, is the allure of fast money and riches. Listen to me now, the stalwart part of your revenue stream will derive from industry, not speculation. While it’s true, some have made mind-boggling fortunes in venture capital over the past 10 years or so; that’s not sustainable. Eventually, everything comes back to the mean and those buying late get diced like pineapples (extra Boss Ross).

I come across as combative, sometimes unstable, and somewhat of a carnivale clown with a murderous streak in him most of the time. But I do have a reservoir of experience and wisdom worth sharing when it comes to this line of work.

It’s important to dream; but don’t be delusional. Setting unrealistic expectations for yourself, such as duplicating ridiculous 10k to $1million portfolio success stories, is next to impossible. You have a better chance at getting struck by lightening than doing that. Also, the idea that you should quit your jobs and only trade, despite not having a high net worth, is dangerous. Some can do it; most cannot.

Trading is almost like gambling, except for the part that if you wait long enough and buy good companies, you’re most likely to have success, whereas the exact opposite applies to gambling. Anything worthwhile is worth waiting for. If you approach your portfolios in that manner, instead of this ego driven, manically bastardized version of instant-gratification or die, you will do just fine.