THE FATHER BLOG

Bottom line here to answer this question: spare $$, the ability to analyze a lot of data in a short amount of time, and nerves of steel.

So what is a day trader?

A day trader is an investor who buys and sells financial instruments—such as stocks, options, or currencies—within the same trading day to profit from small price movements. They close all positions before the market closes to avoid overnight risk. This high-risk, fast-paced strategy often requires significant capital, technical analysis, and, according to FINRA, a minimum $25,000 balance for “pattern day traders”.

Being a Day Trader is a full time job (at least for those that are any good at it). I don’t have the confidence to quit my paying job to add the stress of knowing my income is based solely on every single decision I make in a given day. I can have a bad day of work now, but I’m a salaried employee and the paycheck still shows up every other week. But for some people, this is what they do and how they make a living. I’m ok with making an occasional same day trade should I see some information that leads me to believe I can profit a bit. But remember, all profits from day trading are short term gains and are taxed as such.

I’m going to stick with the tried and true method of buying a good stock and holding it long term. Or at least buy a solid ETF with good dividend returns. For those of you interested in day trading, here’s some more info. And if anyone reading this is a day trader, I would love to hear from you!

Successful day trading requires a disciplined, strategy-driven approach focusing on risk management, high-volume stocks, and emotional control. Key steps include starting with a simulator, risking only 1-2% of capital per trade, maintaining at least a 2:1 reward-to-loss ratio, and keeping a strict, documented trading plan.

Essential Components for Success

• Risk Management is Paramount: Never risk more than 1-2% of your total capital on a single trade. Use stop-loss orders to automatically close losing positions and prevent catastrophic losses.
• Develop a Strict Strategy: Create a defined trading plan with specific entry points, exit strategies, and profit targets. Stick to this plan to avoid impulsive, emotional decisions.
• Focus on Liquid Assets: Trade high-volume stocks (e.g., AAPL, NVDA) or liquid ETFs, which offer tighter spreads and easier entries/exits.
• Utilize Technical Analysis: Learn to read charts and recognize trends to identify high-probability, short-term market moves.
• Master Emotional Control: Successful traders separate emotion from decisions, avoiding chasing losses or letting greed dictate actions.
• Start with Simulation: Practice in a simulator for at least 90 days to gain experience without risking real capital. 

Key Habits and Tips

• Keep a Trading Journal: Document every trade to track performance and identify patterns in both winning and losing trades.
• Study Market Structure: Monitor market headlines, news, and economic reports throughout the day.
• Be Patient: It often takes one to two years to become consistently profitable; it is not a “get-rich-quick” scheme.
• Maintain Capital Requirements: In the U.S., pattern day traders must maintain a minimum of  in their margin account.

So many things going on in the world today. War in Iran, stock market still plummeting, TSA issues at the airports, etc. But this morning I took a quick look at North America to see what was trending and the results were only a little surprising.

People, I believe, get burned out and fatigued on bad news and most don’t spend their days searching out the negatives. So when I took a look at what is trending the past 24 hours in the USA, Canada, and Mexico….it was overwhelmingly the search for sports. In the USA, as expected with opening day in the MLB, most of the searches were for baseball games. Canada had some baseball and hockey searches of course. Mexico was soccer or futbol.

The bad news will always be there. I’m sure there will be something new today and over the weekend as well. But do your best to stay positive! Grab a beer this weekend, put on your favorite team, and enjoy a game! It’s a lot less stressful than putting on the news! See ya Monday.

I missed yesterday’s “Family” post so I’m going to do a little combo today for family and travel. So where does “move it or lose it” come into play? Let me tell you…

Lately, I have been seeing the decline of some of the older people in my life and even a death within the last couple weeks. I’m not talking about people in their late 80s or early 90s…I mean anyone would sign up for that longevity. I’m talking about people still in their 70s. On the other hand, I see commercials on TV with 100 year old people out golfing at the retirement community. So what’s the catch?

It’s definitely attributed in part to the “move it or lose it” mentality. Don’t get me wrong….it helps to eat right, drink in moderation, and not smoke/do drugs as you progress through life. But getting your ass outta bed in the morning with a purpose and getting yourself moving/exercising it HUGE!

I’m lucky. My parents are still in very good shape for their mid/late 70s. They live in a nice retirement community where they literally have activities they participate in daily. Sometimes multiple activities per day in addition to the friends they still meet for weekly breakfast and the occasional dinner (early bird specials probably but whatever keeps them moving).

This week my parents hopped on a plane and flew to Utah to go hiking at Arches National Park. I’m so happy for them that they can still do these things that make them happy and I believe, keep them young! So hike away and have a blast this week Mom and Dad. Can’t wait to hear the stories and see lots of pictures.

Yes, “move it or lose it” is true. Regular physical movement is essential to maintain muscle mass, joint mobility, cardiovascular function, and cognitive health. Inactivity accelerates aging, increasing risks for sarcopenia (muscle loss), osteoporosis, and chronic diseases like diabetes. However, lost fitness can be regained, making it more accurately “use it or lose it, until you work at it again”. 

• Muscle and Bone: Inactivity leads to muscle wasting (sarcopenia) and loss of bone density (osteoporosis).
• Joint Health: Moving keeps joints lubricated and reduces pain, while inactivity leads to stiffness.
• Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health: Regular movement prevents metabolic decline, reduces the risk of heart disease, and lowers obesity rates.
• Cognitive Function: Physical activity boosts brain health, whereas a sedentary lifestyle can lead to lower cognitive ability.
• Flexibility & Balance: Consistent movement helps prevent falls and improves mobility in daily life.
• Recovery: While muscles and fitness can be lost in as little as two weeks of inactivity, they can be rebuilt through consistent exercise later.