How to Grow Your Trading Account, Part 2
In Part 1, we discussed some general ideas about how to grow your trading account. Here in Part 2, let’s check out the impact of this concept.
Jack and Jill are two hypothetical traders with different personal motives which lead to different plans for their trading profits. Keep in mind that both Jack and Jill have the same trading strategy.
Jack is a part-time trader looking to pull some money out of the market each year to supplement his income and help pay for his boat. Hypothetically, the same trading results will cap his earnings going forward, although it allows him some additional income each year. Every year, though, Jack’s account resembles these figures:
Jack: $100,000 trading account, withdrawing profits annually:
Beginning: $100,000.00
Profits: $20,000.00 (20% return)
Withdraw: $20,000.00
Ending: $100,000.00
Jill is a full-time trader who is performing the same as Jack each year, making 20%. Her husband works and they live off his income, which allows Jill to leave her trading account and subsequent profits intact. Jill begins to make more and more money every year with the same 20% performance. Look at the rapid growth Jill enjoys in her account:
Jill: $100,000 trading account, leaving profits intact:
Year 1 Beginning: $100,000.00
Profits: $20,000.00 (20% return)
Withdraw: $0.00
Ending: $120,000.00
Year 2 Beginning: $120,000.00
Profits: $24,000.00 (20% return)
Withdraw: $0.00
Ending: $144,000.00
Year 3 Beginning: $144,000.00
Profits: $28,800.00 (20% return)
Withdraw: $0.00
Ending: $172,800.00
Year 4 Beginning: $172,800.00
Profits: $34,560.00 (20% return)
Withdraw: $0.00
Ending: $207,360.00
WOW! Jill more than doubled her trading account in 4 years, whereas it will take Jack 5 years to double his initial stake. For Year 5, Jill would only need to make 9.7% to match Jack’s profit of $20,000! Or, she could match his 20% performance and more than double his profits for the year.
We all know the amazing results of compounding money, but hopefully this example of two hypothetical traders will get you thinking about what to do with your trading profits. If the freedom to access your trading profits each year is something you need, then regular withdrawals are for you. However, if you’ve got the savings put aside or an additional income to get you by, leaving your profits in your trading account even for a few years can do wonders for your trading results, even if your methodology never improves!
Jeff White
President, The Stock Bandit, Inc.
www.TheStockBandit.com
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[tags]Trading Strategy, Stock Trading, Trading Account, Trading Profits[/tags]
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Mark | Jul 6, 2006 | Reply
But who trades using 100% of their buying power? I guess if you are truely disciplined you can increase your lot size as you make more money. But, be careful trading size can cause new problems.
Administrator | Jul 7, 2006 | Reply
Who said anything about using 100% of buying power?
This is a hypothetical look at what happens if 2 traders who make 20% over the course of a year (by no means an impressive return) do different things with their profits.
In part 1 I mentioned that a slightly bigger account will provide you with an exponential rise in buying power, but I didn’t mention using it all.
Jeff
livermoresghost | Jul 7, 2006 | Reply
why not just start with a million dollar account, then at twenty percent returns, you can spend some and save some?:)
Administrator | Jul 7, 2006 | Reply
Love it! Why didn’t I think to add a comma??
Jeff
Mark | Jul 7, 2006 | Reply
no doubt about it, increasing your lot size exponentially can definately bring in more money.
i’m still trying to be consistent with my minimum 200 share style.
thanks for the blog, my favorite read after a day of trading. keep up the good work
Administrator | Jul 7, 2006 | Reply
Thank you Mark, glad you find it of interest!
I like your effort to find consistency on one level before progressing to the next. That should make the transition a successful one when you’re ready.
Have a great weekend,
Jeff
shirley | Jul 21, 2006 | Reply
Thank you jeff, this shirley i am new to trading and blogging.your trading information is very helpful.Nice blog…
regards
roberto | Jul 26, 2006 | Reply
This blog is really helpful to ametuer investers as it gives them a feel of the market beforehand and also i wud siggest them to keep asking questions so that they wud get answers frm guys who are there since some time and have real gud knowledge abt the market.
roberto