Pace of trading

[Adamazing]

Hi everyone. I haven't started trading yet, but I've been researching it for awhile and I plan to begin soon. I've been reading Jim Cramer's Real Money and I intend to start with 5 diversified stocks. My question is: How often should I count on trading stocks? I know it's different for everyone, but I'd appreciate even a ballpark answer. This would be my discretionary money, not my investment money for retirement, so I'll have some speculative stocks. I'm also in my twenties, so I'll be taking bigger risks and pushing for faster growth. Will I be trading off each of these stocks everyday? Every week? Will I typically hold a stock for a year or so?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks everyone.

[aiki14]

Originally Posted by Adamazing

Hi everyone. I haven't started trading yet, but I've been researching it for awhile and I plan to begin soon. I've been reading Jim Cramer's Real Money and I intend to start with 5 diversified stocks. My question is: How often should I count on trading stocks? I know it's different for everyone, but I'd appreciate even a ballpark answer. This would be my discretionary money, not my investment money for retirement, so I'll have some speculative stocks. I'm also in my twenties, so I'll be taking bigger risks and pushing for faster growth. Will I be trading off each of these stocks everyday? Every week? Will I typically hold a stock for a year or so?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks everyone.

If that's your time frame it is sensible to make yearly re-evaluations. Sell the losses one day short of a year and your gains one day past. That's a tax strategy.
The shorter your time frame, the more you need to watch, use the amount of spare time you have in your lifes activities to make that judgement.
As an example, I trade intraday and short term (usually a day to a couple weeks) and I dedicate approximately 60 hours a week to it. Admittedly I am a bit manic about things but it serves me well.

[Adamazing]

Well, I was hoping to do more work than once a year. I like the idea of trading short term and I intend to do the weekly homework for it. Yearly makes it sound like they're more of investments - stocks I buy then forget about for a year. I want to get in the middle of this and learn as much as I can about trading every week. If I dedicate the time of doing the homework, is that possible to do with my five stocks?

[aiki14]

Originally Posted by Adamazing

Well, I was hoping to do more work than once a year. I like the idea of trading short term and I intend to do the weekly homework for it. Yearly makes it sound like they're more of investments - stocks I buy then forget about for a year. I want to get in the middle of this and learn as much as I can about trading every week. If I dedicate the time of doing the homework, is that possible to do with my five stocks?

Absolutely, If you have the time to pay attention, you can do it.

[Adamazing]

Thanks Aiki. I really appreciate your help. I'll probably be asking many more questions in the weeks to come. I'm a firm believer that if you don't ask, you won't learn. I really hope I do well on the market and who knows? Maybe one day I'll have a house on the beach like you!

Thanks again and if you have any other great advice, my ears are open. Right now, all I got is Cramer.