Setting expectations can help in trading. They give you something to aim for and a way to measure how you’re doing.
But if your expectations are off, you’re just setting yourself up for frustration.
Here are some of the most common trading expectations that often lead to disappointment:
1. More Trades = Faster Learning Process
But most of the time, this mindset just leads to overtrading. You start taking setups that aren’t really there, just to stay active. Next thing you know, you’re making decisions based on emotion instead of your plan.
The traders who actually improve are usually the ones who take a step back. They focus on cleaner setups and, more importantly, they spend time reviewing their trades after the fact.
That’s where the real learning comes from. Not from how many trades you take, but from how well you understand what you did.
To help you in this cause, we recommend keeping a detailed trading journal so you can look back and learn from your trading experiences.
2. I can make a living out of trading.
Let’s be honest, most people get into trading because they want that level of freedom.
But you’re simply setting yourself up for disappointment if you think you can accomplish this within your first few months (or even years) of trading.
Med students don’t become skilled surgeons overnight and bar exam passers don’t become competent lawyers in the blink of an eye.
Just like any other profession, it takes years and years of practice and experience to develop the skills needed to turn trading into your primary source of income.
When you trade, you’re not just learning how markets move, you’re learning how you react to wins, losses, pressure, and uncertainty. That kind of consistency doesn’t come together overnight.
It’s a longer process than most expect, and rushing it usually leads to frustration instead of progress.
Promoted: Don’t Risk Your Own Portfolio in a Market Crash.
As Dr. Pipslow notes, focusing on simply taking more trades can derail your trading success. Instead of risking your own hard-earned capital during extreme volatility, what if you traded simulated funds instead?
With FundedNext, you can test your bearish setups with up to $300,000 in simulated capital. They have absolutely zero time limits on evaluations, allowing you to wait patiently for the market to settle.
Take the pressure off and start your Free Trial with FundedNext today!
Disclosure: We may earn a commission from our partners if you sign up through our links, at no extra cost to you.
3. It’s all about the money.
If you judge your performance day by day based on P and L, it’s easy to feel like you’re doing something wrong, even when you’re not. Even solid strategies go through periods where they don’t perform well.
Even the best traders have days, weeks, or months when their tried-and-tested strategies don’t turn a profit.
A more useful way to measure progress is through execution. Sticking to your trading plan, taking valid setups, and managing risk properly are things you can control.
If you find that you’re still not making profits even after a series of good executions, then maybe all you need to do is tweak your strategy.
Whatever the case may be, money-making shouldn’t be your be-all and end-all in growing as a trader.
None of these expectations is unreasonable on its own, but together they can push you into trying to move faster than you should.
Trading tends to reward patience more than urgency. Once you focus on doing things right rather than doing them quickly, progress becomes much more consistent.
Promoted: The Strategy is Half the Battle; Your Mindset is the Rest.
Most trading mistakes aren’t technical—they’re psychological. In the classic “Trading in the Zone” by Mark Douglas (⭐ 4.7★ | 10,000+ reviews on Amazon), you’ll learn how to master the staying rational and on top of your trading game. If you’re worried about how to weather extreme volatility, this is your manual for consistent execution.
Click on the link to learn more about “Trading in the Zone” by Mark Douglas!
Disclosure: To help support our content, we may earn a commission from our partners if you sign up through our links, at no extra cost to you.
