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Hey there! After a decade in the trenches of financial markets, I figured it's about time I shared some hard-earned wisdom. The name's Ronin Trader, and this blog is my way of passing on what I've learned through both success and (plenty of) failure.
Why I'm Writing This
The "ronin" part isn't just for show. Like those masterless samurai, I've carved my own path outside traditional financial institutions. I'm not tied to any bank's agenda or investment firm's products. This independence has shaped how I see markets and money. My story started over a decade ago with some crypto investments. I jumped in during the early days, riding the wild volatility that followed. Did I know what I was doing? Not really. Did I learn some expensive lessons? Absolutely. What I needed back then was someone who'd been through it – someone who could explain complex concepts without the financial jargon and sales pitch. That's the gap I'm trying to fill here.
What I'll Be Covering
I'm planning to post every day or two, sharing insights on stuff that actually matters to independent investors. No corporate speak, no "market outlook for Q3" nonsense – just practical advice based on what's worked (and what hasn't) for me. You'll find posts about:
- My experience as trader with a positive track record after more than a decade
- My experience as investor (it's not the same)
- The tools I use to automate my finances so I can focus on living
- My adventures with different fintech products (portfolio manages, robo advisors, screeners, etc)
- Building income streams that don't require constant attention
- How I learned to evaluate risk without overthinking it
- Starting small but thinking big with fractional investing
- Commission-free platforms I've tried - the good, bad and ugly
Expensive Lessons I've Learned
It's very good to learn from your mistakes but it's way better to learn from others' mistakes. Here's something they don't teach you in finance books: patience beats cleverness every time and we always learn the hard way so as a beginner, I ignored basic principles like spreading risk and steady investing over time. That mistake cost me real money, but it bought me real wisdom. I realized I needed a system that protected me from my own impulses and emotions. Through this blog, I'll share these failures openly. Not because I enjoy reliving them, but because they might help you avoid the same expensive education.
Let's Talk
This isn't meant to be a one-way conversation. I want to hear about your experiences, answer questions, and create something more valuable than just another finance blog. So welcome aboard! No suits, no BS, no generic advice – just practical insights from someone who's taken the hits and kept moving forward.
Next up: I'll start by the basics, the difference between trading and investing.