Exit a trade when feeling greedy and stay in a trade when feeling afraid this advice aims to counteract common emotional biases that can undermine trading decisions. Greed can push traders to hold onto positions for too long, chasing higher returns and ignoring risks. This often results in missing the optimal exit point and potentially facing significant losses when the market turns. Exiting a trade at the onset of greed helps lock in profits and maintain discipline.
Conversely, fear can drive traders to prematurely exit positions, avoiding potential gains and reacting to short-term market fluctuations rather than long-term trends. Staying in a trade when feeling afraid encourages traders to trust their analysis and strategy, allowing them to ride out temporary volatility and achieve their intended profit targets.
Both emotions, if unchecked, lead to irrational decision-making. Greed blinds traders to risks, while fear prevents them from realizing potential gains. Thus, this approach emphasizes emotional self-awareness and discipline, ensuring decisions are driven by strategy rather than impulse. However, it is crucial to balance this approach with sound risk management practices and not ignore genuine market signals or fundamental changes that warrant a reassessment of the trade.
