As you will find out soon enough, the foreign currency exchange market is not all pink and roses. There are drawbacks that you need to be aware of at the onset. Also, some of the best advantages of trading the forex market can turn into in to disadvantages that may derail your forex adventure and even make it short lived.
Leveraged Trading
Leverage is like a double edge sword. It can cut two ways – maximize returns for your money or magnify your losses. Do not make the common mistake of most start up forex traders and concentrate only on one edge, albeit maximizing your returns. Never forget that with foreign currency trading, you can build wealth fast but you can also lose an entire fortune just as fast. You can however, minimize this risk with the use of prudent money management strategies and the incorporation of trading stops into each trade.
Highly Volatile
The foreign currency exchange market is the most volatile and the most unpredictable financial market in the world. Sharp and frequent price swings is a common daily occurrence. While the more experienced forex trader cherish the market volatility with great passion as this is where more trading opportunities can be enjoyed, the same cannot be said for the more conservative investors who may find such as simply too much for their meager appetite for risk taking.
Requires a longer time to overcome the learning curb
While it is really easy to set up a forex trading account and learn how to execute buy and sell orders, traders often find out too late that there is really much left to be learned. A gung ho attitude can prove to be truly fatal as the forex market is wrapped with a lot of uncertainties. Unless you have the patience and the endless passion to keep on learning, it will be better off to stay away from forex trading. With the forex market froth with uncertainties, the only way you can minimize the risks is with a thorough understanding of the forex market. Unfortunately, this is something that cannot be acquired overnight.
Dealing with the wrong broker
Foreign currency exchange trading or retail forex trading as it is known today can only be done through an online retail forex broker. There is always that risk of choosing a scrupulous online broker who is there only to rob you of your hard-earned funds. The forex market is still littered with them despite the regulatory measures in place.
Choosing a reliable online broker is vital to the success of your forex adventure. You need an online broker who will go out of his way to help you wade through the sea of confusing data and market development and give you the much needed support as you learn to take your first steps in forex trading. It is also vital to choose a broker which is under the regulatory control of a reliable and dependable regulatory body. That way, you have a last recourse to remedy a situation where your broker is putting a fast one on you.
If you are reside in the United States, it is best to deal only with US based online brokers who are members of NASDAQ and are registered with the CFTC. If you deal with overseas brokers, it may be difficult to go after them in case you have legitimate grounds for complaints.
Foreign currency exchange is not really difficult to learn. You just need patience and dedication to keep on gaining knowledge and experience. This is the only way you can minimize the inherent risks associated with forex trading.
