You should know that copy trading has become an increasingly popular way for newcomers to gain exposure to the forex markets without having to develop their strategies or spend time researching assets. By following successful traders, copy traders can potentially achieve above-average performance without necessarily acquiring new technical skills.
However, copy trading also introduces unique risks that traditional traders don’t face. Given you’re effectively relying on someone else’s analysis and decisions, it’s critical copy traders understand how the process works as well as some important nuances to help manage risk.
In this extensive guide, we’ll outline the top things every copy trader needs to know to participate intelligently. By the end, you’ll have a clear picture of both the benefits and drawbacks of this approach along with practical advice for selecting quality traders to copy and minimizing downside. With the right perspective, copy trading can be a smart path for prudent risk-takers – let’s get started!
Due Diligence is Important
The copy trader’s first line of defense is to conduct exhaustive due diligence on potential leaders. With a marketplace full of options, it’s tempting to jump at the trader with the flashiest returns. Resist this urge and focus first on verifying resume credentials through independent source checking rather than promotional statements alone.
Key aspects to examine include:
- Trading history length – Prefer established traders with multiple years and market cycles on record.
- Average returns – While outsized gains grab attention, consistent mid-teens returns sustainably outperform once fees are paid.
- Maximum drawdown – Larger setbacks carry a higher risk you’ll be stopped out or need a lengthy recovery period.
- Asset/strategy correlation – Diversify by following traders with non-overlapping style exposures.
- Communication activity – Look for those explaining trades to build confidence in the process.
Taking the time upfront to analyze trading histories with a critical eye on independent platforms helps avoid over-optimistic profiles and sets the foundation for prudent copying decisions.
Diversify Your Copiers
Just as traditional investors allocate capital across differing funds, copy traders must diversify by copying multiple proven traders rather than concentrating one account with a sole leader. Spreads both investment risk and allows reacting quicker should any begin struggling.
A prudent portfolio may involve copying 3-5 traders, with position sizing weighed towards those exhibiting lower maximum drawdowns, longer track records, and greater consistency over time. Geographically diverse trader locations also reduce single-point risks from regulation changes or internet disruptions impacting access.
While smaller individual allocations reduce any one trader from comprising an undue percentage of overall equity, prudent diversification remains a cornerstone of risk management.
Use Proper Position Sizing
Position sizing refers to allocating the appropriate percentage of a portfolio to each trader based on their level of risk as represented in historic drawdowns and volatility statistics. More aggressive traders warrant smaller allocations.
As a general guide, position sizes scaled between 1-5% appear appropriately prudent for most individual copiers based on their overall account equity, risk tolerance, and degree of diversification achieved. Larger 10%+ allocations concentrate undue risk.
Position sizes should also scale down for copy traders with smaller total portfolios that can be more readily drained by a copier suddenly closing positions or reversing gains over many months of copying performance history. Micro-sizing protects the capital base.
Adopt Risk Controls
While following proven traders aims you know to benefit from their skills, starting copy trading systems should incorporate risk controls mitigating downside exposure from sudden losses or traders abruptly pausing activity. Such precautions help manage position drawdowns within defined risk parameters.
Common controls include:
- Maximum daily/monthly loss thresholds – Auto close positions sustaining excessive losses
- Trailing stop losses – Close positions if drawdown exceeds a fixed percentage
- Take profit limits – Partial close of positions locking in gains
- Inactivity periods – Close positions if the trader is dormant for 30+ days
- Money management – Scale in/out of positions rather than full allocation on loss streaks
Intelligently applying such controls customized to a trader’s volatility helps offset risks beyond one’s control like communications blackouts or significant strategy changes mid-stream. Protections preserve capital during adverse periods.
Assess Fees Critically
Given platforms facilitating copying distribute a portion of trader performance fees, those charges ultimately reduce realizable profits. It’s prudent for copy traders to understand fee structures fully to avoid surprises impairing long-term performance.
Ideal platforms minimize complexity by charging fixed monthly/annual subscriptions over opaque revenue-sharing models vulnerable to unfavorable cost inflation as assets grow.
Consider also whether traders receive performance bonuses for retaining assets that may discourage risk management or alter trading behavior towards speculation vs. preservation over the long-run needs of copiers.
Well-structured low-fee models better serve copy traders by aligning interests and letting trader performance drive decisions rather than compensating platforms/traders excessively at the expense of investors. Transparency prevents fee creep from eroding profits.
Monitor Accounts Closely
Even with rigorous upfront vetting, no trader maintains a fixed degree of skill perpetually. Performance and circumstances evolve over market cycles. Astute copy trading therefore demands ongoing review of accounts for:
- Changing strategy correlations affecting diversification
- Recent drawdown periods outside historical norms
- Performance trajectory noticeably deviating from long-term trends
- Reduced communication frequency impairing evaluation
- Regulatory/compliance issues threatening access
By proactively examining copiers to identify struggles before severe losses materialize, copy traders can pivot in time to limit exposure or exit positions altogether if a once-proven approach deteriorates meaningfully. Constant evaluation sustains prudent risk allocation.
Invest for the Long Run
While the temptation exists to treat copy trading as a short-term speculative vehicle you know, its greatest potential arises from a long-term investment mentality undeterred by intermittent volatility or drawdowns inevitable across all trading.
Successful copy traders focus on compounding profits steadily over years rather than chasing immediate performance, diversifying portfolio-wise and position-sizing accordingly. They accept periodic fluctuations that come with the territory and resist panic reactions exacerbating losses.
Patience allows for riding out adverse periods knowing all traders experience difficulties periodically that smart risk management and position hedging can offset through diversification effects. Those with strong processes rebound as markets normalize.
Prudent investors copy proven traders committed to proven styles suited to varying conditions rather than rotating opportunistically towards the flavor of the month hype. A long-term mindset optimizes capitalizing on compound gains over the long haul.
Seek Continual Education
While copying proven traders outsources active trading responsibilities, copy traders still bear the responsibility to continuously sharpen their skills through independent research and education. Understanding how different professionals approach the markets enhances evaluation abilities.
Valuable areas for self-study include:
- Technical analysis fundamentals like trends, indicators, and patterns
- Macroeconomic reports impacting major currencies
- Risk management strategy considerations
- – Trading psychology factors influencing decisions
Expanding one’s knowledge base fuels more informed oversight, trader selection, and portfolio construction abilities over time. It also expands future career options should copying interests transition to include assisted strategies or independent trading down the road. Perpetual learning sustains a competitive edge.
Conclusion | Things To Know When Copy Trading
When undertaken judiciously using the guidelines discussed, copy trading presents a practical low-maintenance pathway for initiating forex market exposure. By committing to exemplary due diligence, risk controls, diversification practices, and long-term perspective, copy traders can potentially achieve above-average returns by leveraging the knowledge of subject matter experts.
Just as importantly, understanding each concept and limitation discussed helps minimize unrealistic expectations while managing risks inevitably present when relying on third parties for trading outcomes instead of direct control. With diligence and discipline, copy trading’s strengths can be harnessed while circumventing inherent weaknesses.
