Why do most of the retail traders (~90%) lose money? And how they can be more successful? (2024)

Retail traders are individuals who trade stocks, currencies, commodities, or other financial instruments for their accounts rather than for an institution or a professional firm. Retail trading has become more and more widespread in recent years, thanks to the availability of online platforms (such as Robinhood), low-cost brokers, social trading platforms, and, of course, social media. However, retail trading is also hazardous and challenging, and most retail traders end up losing money. According to various studies and reports, between 70% to 90% of retail traders lose money every quarter. This article will discuss the main reasons retail traders lose money and how they can enhance their performance and profitability.

Firstly, it has been observed that retail traders often need help in making a profit due to the absence of a well-defined and consistent trading plan. A trading plan essentially outlines the rules and principles that steer the trader’s decisions regarding which assets to trade, when to do so, what amount to invest, and how to manage risks and exit positions. A trading plan helps the trader to avoid emotional and impulsive trading, which can lead to overtrading, chasing losses, or holding onto losing positions too long. A trading plan also helps the trader identify and exploit market opportunities based on their analysis, strategy, and edge. Without a trading plan, retail traders are more likely to trade randomly, inconsistently, and irrationally.

Another reason why retail traders lose money is that they do not have an asymmetrical risk-reward ratio. This means they risk more than they stand to gain on each trade, or their potential losses are more significant than their potential profits. An asymmetrical risk-reward ratio allows the trader to be profitable even if they are wrong more often than they are right. For this purpose, the investors should check the Sharpe or Sortino ratios. Those ratios represent the potential earnings in relation to the standard deviation of the stocks. An additional tip would be „checking out for the maximum drawdown“; as an example, ourAP Long-Short strategyhas a maximum drawdown of -17.10%, suggesting a rather safe investment opportunity compared to, let’s say, S&P500, which has -47.51%.

If you made up your mind for it, there are also tools suitable for maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or maximizing Sharpe. Our Portfolio Manager tool would be a great example and useful tool for people who knows what they want.

Why do most of the retail traders (~90%) lose money? And how they can be more successful? (1)

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How can retail traders be more successful?

While there are no guarantees when it comes to making money through trading, retail traders can improve their chances of success by following the proper steps. Though it may not be an easy process, with the right strategy, achieving success is certainly possible. First, they need to develop and follow a trading plan that suits their personality, goals, style, and edge. A trading plan should include the following elements:

  • A market analysis (fundamental, technical, or quantitative)
  • A trading strategy (entry and exit signals)
  • A risk management system (limits, stop-losses, take-profits, etc.)
  • A proper performance evaluation

Second, they need to adopt an asymmetrical risk-reward ratio that allows them to be profitable even if they have a low win rate. Third, they need to be disciplined and patient in executing their trading plan. Fourth, they should not let their emotions or external influences affect their decisions. Fifth, they should also avoid overtrading or undertrading. Finally, they need to learn from their mistakes and successes, and they should constantly seek to improve their skills and knowledge.

And as an alternative, there is always an option to ask for financial advice or invest in pre-existing actively managed funds.

In conclusion, retail trading is challenging and risky, requiring much preparation, discipline, and skill. Most retail traders lose money because they do not have a clear and consistent trading plan and a proper risk-reward ratio. To be more successful, retail traders need to develop and follow a trading plan that matches their edge and style, adopt an asymmetrical risk-reward ratio that allows them to be profitable even with a low win rate, be disciplined and patient in executing their trading plan, and learn from their experience and feedback.

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Why do most of the retail traders (~90%) lose money? And how they can be more successful? (2024)

FAQs

Why do most of the retail traders (~90%) lose money? And how they can be more successful? ›

In conclusion, retail trading is challenging and risky, requiring much preparation, discipline, and skill. Most retail traders lose money because they do not have a clear and consistent trading plan and a proper risk-reward ratio.

Why do 90% of people lose money in the stock market? ›

Staggering data reveals 90% of retail investors underperform the broader market. Lack of patience and undisciplined trading behaviors cause most losses. Insufficient market knowledge and overconfidence lead to costly mistakes. Tips from famous investors on how to achieve long-term success.

Why do so many retail traders lose money? ›

Lack of Effective Risk Management

In-Depth Insight: Inadequate risk management is a critical factor in retail trader losses. It involves setting stop-loss orders, determining position sizes, and managing overall portfolio risk.

Why do 90% of forex traders lose money? ›

The reason many forex traders fail is that they are undercapitalized in relation to the size of the trades they make. It is either greed or the prospect of controlling vast amounts of money with only a small amount of capital that coerces forex traders to take on such huge and fragile financial risk.

Why do 80% of traders lose money? ›

**Lack of Education:** Many traders enter the markets without a solid understanding of how trading works. A lack of education can lead to poor decision-making and financial losses. 2. **Overleveraging:** Overleveraging occurs when traders use borrowed capital (margin) to make larger trades than they can afford.

Why do traders lose money in trading? ›

Many traders in the Indian market either do not set stop-loss limits, or set them too liberally. Without a tight stop-loss, traders are susceptible to the market's volatility. In such cases, one bad trade can result in substantial losses.

Why do 95 of traders lose money? ›

Insufficient Education and Knowledge: Many traders plunge into the market without a solid grasp of its nuances. This lack of understanding leads to impulsive decision-making and substantial financial losses. Comprehensive education is the bedrock upon which successful trading stands.

Do retail traders actually make money? ›

Most traders are not profitable. Can Retail Traders Actually Make Money? Retail traders can make money if they discipline themselves to learn a specific trading style and use risk management techniques. It isn't easy to make money consistently as a trader, but it's possible.

What percentage of retail traders are successful? ›

Approximately 1–20% of day traders actually profit from their endeavors. Exceptionally few day traders ever generate returns that are even close to worthwhile. This means that between 80 and 99 percent of them fail.

What is the success rate of retail traders? ›

It is widely accepted across the investment fraternity that the vast majority of retail traders lose money - any seasoned investor will tell you this. In fact more than 70% of DIY investors lose money.

Do 90% of traders fail? ›

According to various studies and reports, between 70% to 90% of retail traders lose money every quarter. This article will discuss the main reasons retail traders lose money and how they can enhance their performance and profitability.

Why do retail traders fail? ›

The truth is, most traders lose money for one simple reason: They don't have a plan. These losses can be substantial: The bull run during the pandemic saw retail traders lose more than $1 billion, according to a recent study.

What is 90% rule in forex? ›

The 90 rule in Forex is a commonly cited statistic that states that 90% of Forex traders lose 90% of their money in the first 90 days. This is a sobering statistic, but it is important to understand why it is true and how to avoid falling into the same trap.

Why 99% of traders fail? ›

The most common reason for failure in trading is the lack of discipline. Most traders trade without a proper strategic approach to the market. Successful trading depends on three practices.

How much money do day traders with $10,000 accounts make per day on average? ›

With a $10,000 account, a good day might bring in a five percent gain, which is $500. However, day traders also need to consider fixed costs such as commissions charged by brokers. These commissions can eat into profits, and day traders need to earn enough to overcome these fees [2].

Why do so many traders fail? ›

1. Lack of knowledge. The single biggest reason why most traders fail to make money when trading the stock market is due to a lack of knowledge. We can also put poor education into this arena because while many seek to educate themselves, they look in all the wrong places and, therefore, gain a poor education.

Is it true that 90% of traders lose money? ›

According to various studies and reports, between 70% to 90% of retail traders lose money every quarter. This article will discuss the main reasons retail traders lose money and how they can enhance their performance and profitability.

Why do people fail in the stock market? ›

If an investor does not work in a disciplined approach with patience and a proper strategy, it often results in failure. Investors should follow a disciplined approach by properly analyzing various factors before investing, utilizing a stock market app for assistance.

What are the odds of losing money in the stock market? ›

That's a roughly 1-in-4 chance of losing money in stocks in any given year.

Why did people lose money when the stock market crashed? ›

Among the more prominent causes were the period of rampant speculation (those who had bought stocks on margin not only lost the value of their investment, they also owed money to the entities that had granted the loans for the stock purchases), tightening of credit by the Federal Reserve (in August 1929 the discount ...

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