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I too no longer do resting stops. I totally agree about whipsaws from stops. Too many times it just felt like someone had access to my stop limit information and grabbed my resting stop order. But I have mental stops and do not let my greed and fear override it and I exit whenever I see the price is below my mental stop. Obviously, when I am adding to my long term holdings, stops or violating stops is not a big concern.
I can accept buying as an idea but would keep somewhat tight stops so one does not get called on their bluff or bluff on bluffs. Part of my friction is that I can wager on risks but I can not wager on uncertainties. We are in a perfect environment for nimble traders, which is a very small percentage of market place participants.
(As to timing sales, that is a difficult art even for the pros like Stan Druckenmiller. Over the years, I have sought and not received good sell strategies. There was an academic paper on this and it concluded that monkeys fared better than professional investors in timing when to sell. (This is not an issue for nimble traders.))
Each to their own, of course .... as for me, I don't do stops unless it's for a specific situation/concern. Too easy to get whipsawed out of positions due to volatility in today's 'modern' markets ... I learned that a long time ago when actively trading futures.
Each to their own, of course .... as for me, I don't do stops unless it's for a specific situation/concern. Too easy to get whipsawed out of positions due to volatility in today's 'modern' markets ... I learned that a long time ago when actively trading futures.
I can accept buying as an idea but would keep somewhat tight stops so one does not get called on their bluff or bluff on bluffs. Part of my friction is that I can wager on risks but I can not wager on uncertainties. We are in a perfect environment for nimble traders, which is a very small percentage of market place participants.
(As to timing sales, that is a difficult art even for the pros like Stan Druckenmiller. Over the years, I have sought and not received good sell strategies. There was an academic paper on this and it concluded that monkeys fared better than professional investors in timing when to sell. (This is not an issue for nimble traders.))
I can accept buying as an idea but would keep somewhat tight stops so one does not get called on their bluff or bluff on bluffs. Part of my friction is that I can wager on risks but I can not wager on uncertainties. We are in a perfect environment for nimble traders, which is a very small percentage of market place participants.@Junkster,
Appreciate you visiting and posting in this forum.
@rforno,
I have given much thought to your question. US default (even a tactical default) does not rank in the top 10 problems that would precede why our investments (other than US treasuries) might take a hit. I think Junkster gave a good lead. He always does.
Oh I would not be selling stocks in such a scenario -- if they swoon in sympathy, I would be buying.
Right. Dare I assert that most of us here are NOT spring chickens anymore? I'm having repeat surgery coming up in March.... As Leonard Cohen said: "I ache in the places where I used to play." (Tower Of Song.)”We've heard over and over, do not let the political environment sway your investing decisions.”
@Crash - That’s probably great advice for 80-90% of investors - mostly younger and employed - who research shows are usually better off letting it ride. I’d still give that advice to a 25 year old just starting out with maybe 40 years to retirement.
But take a look at the “Buy Sell” thread. ”Set-it- and-forget-it” ? Huh? ISTM most who frequent financial forums like this one do alter their investments quite a bit year-to-year. So, of course, political climate affects their decision making and is worth discussing.

So you moved to WellsTrade?I agree with all of the comments that have been made here. Thanks.
As it happens the accounts (all 4 of them) moved to self-directed within the last few hours.
fyi, it is Wells Fargo Advisors. they have always been very friendly and helpful for years -- until this. The ironic thing is that the #1 reason I still had accounts there was out of a sense of loyalty.
Anyway, I guess I'm feeling liberated. End of an era.
Just addressing Trigger. All things that cause one to lose their mind can make them to act similarly. For example, fans of a team that wins a championship riot (burning cars, breaking windows, etc.). A group that feels aggrieved by society also riot. Very different reasons (triggers) but to our eye the result is the same.
Oh dear, did someone trigger FD1000 today?
+1 if my only remaining full service broker pulled that on me or gave me that attitude (and like you, I don't trade it very often) my account would be moved that week. As it is, I only have a few more years to stay with that firm, but after that (or my guy retires) I have no qualms transferring out ... paying ~$200 per occasional trade nauseates me no end but for family reasons, I keep the account there.Maybe it's time to move to another brokerage? Some Brokerages will do most of the work for you & possible give you a bonus $$$
How does tariff theater play into this?Stock fragility, a measure of a company’s daily share-price move relative to its recent volatility, is on track to reach its highest in more than 30 years among the largest 50 stocks in the S&P 500 Index, based on the average magnitude and frequency of such individual shocks so far in 2025, according to Bank of America Corp. strategists.
“The sideways range the stock market has been in for almost three months is hiding a big increase in volatility for individual stocks,” Matt Maley, chief market strategist at Miller Tabak + Co., said via email. “When you combine this with higher bond yields and concerns over tariffs, it has created a much higher level of uncertainty and nervousness than we usually see when the market is near an all-time high.”
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