Forex trading is accessible, exciting, educational, and offers traders lots of opportunities. Despite all this, many traders fail to achieve good results in this market. In fact, a high percentage of Forex traders are losing money. Learning to trade Forex and learning how to trade in general can be difficult, and that's why we have created this article for you. This article will teach you how to become a successful Forex trader, and how to trade on the live markets. Additionally, it will show you the best trading practices for beginners. In fact, since you're reading this, you are already on the right path to becoming a successful Forex trader. Below, you will find actionable advice for beginners and pros alike. Without further ado, let's dive right in.

Learning Forex trading - a beginner's guide

The first thing that you need to do when it comes to trading Forex is to understand what you want to achieve. In deciding what you want, you have to be realistic. Set yourself a realistic and quantifiable goal. This could be something like: achieve 20% annual return on investment, earn 5000 USD of profit, get a total of 100 pips per month or something similar. Whatever you decide, your goal should also be easy to measure. What is also important is to set a goal that can be achieved over a long time frame - it is recommended to set an annual goal to achieve rather than a monthly goal.

Once you have set your main trading aim for the year, it is now time to start learning how to achieve it. The best way is to identify which resources are available to you. This may include the size of your deposit, the amount of time you are willing to spend on trading, and the amount of available funds you are willing to spend on trading-related matters (software etc). Once you have a clear vision here, let's move on to the next step. As you now know what you want to achieve and what you are willing to put on the table, it is time to make an action plan. This action plan should include the currency pairs you are planning to trade and the amount of trades you are going to commit to. This is of course difficult without having a proper strategy in place, so first prepare a template of your action plan, and then move to the next step.

Importance of Forex education

The Forex market is constantly changing, so traders need to be able to understand the ups and downs of this market. There is no patterned formula or set of rules to guarantee success in Forex. Instead it is a combination of many things all at once - and to succeed in this market traders need to be patient, talented and mindful. Understanding this is the first step in Forex learning. If you are interested in beginning your Forex education, why not consider taking Admiral Markets' 'Forex 101' course, so you can learn how to trade on Forex and CFDs with online lessons from experienced professional traders, completely free of charge.

Being able to talk about ratios, charts, indexes and trading should be be regarded as a skill to aspire to when you start to learn about Forex trading. In the beginning it can be tempting to rush through your learning, but it's important that you step back, take the time you need, and advance at a sensible rate. You need to be able to constantly evaluate your performance, and understand the reasons behind your wins and losses. Now let's see why should you learn how to trade Forex the right way.

How to Trade in Forex in 8 Simple Steps

Step 1: Never Procrastinate

This is a vital step in becoming a Forex trader. Successful people never put off until tomorrow something they can do today. This is even more important when trading Forex. You have to seize every opportunity to achieve your trading targets. This is why you have to develop a habit of avoiding procrastination. The best way to do that is just keep at it. Even something so simple as trading with a Demo account can help you to battle procrastination.

Step 2: Practice

Since we're on the topic of demo trading, there's a good phrase you probably have heard already - "Practice makes perfect". Some people even rephrase it as " perfect practice makes perfect", which is also true. With a demo account, you can practice to your heart's content. This is very helpful when you want to get the feel of the trading platform and get acquainted with its features.

Step 3: Learn

Sounds simple, right? After all, everybody understands the importance of a proper education. The best way to learn is visit our Forex & CFD webinars page, and examine trading terms so that educational materials are easier to understand. Admiral Markets provides numerous resources and materials, which you can find in the Forex education section. There are no shortcuts to learning Forex though. It takes time, effort, and passion.

Step 4: Recognition

In order to earn maximum profit, you must acknowledge the risk and safety zones in the market. For this you need to be self-aware. The first step in becoming self-aware is to make sure that any capital invested and risk tolerance to Forex trading are at the right levels. In short, you have to be able to analyse your aims and objectives, and trade accordingly. This is the most important thing to note on how to trade Forex for beginners.

Step 5: Invest what you can bear

One of the best tips for any new trader is to start with small amounts and only increase the capacity of your account with your profit - and not through further deposits. You don't have to invest a large amount to earn profit - you can maximise your investment, however small it is. By starting out small, you minimise the risk of heavy losses when large volumes of cash are involved. This is an essential part in understanding how Forex works and how to trade Forex online successfully.

Step 6: Start with a single currency pair

The currency trading world is complicated due to the unpredictable nature of markets, different characters, and the tenacities of its participants. It is difficult to be a perfect trader in the financial world. For this reason, it advisable to begin by focussing on a single currency pair - preferably one you are familiar with and can easily update yourself on. It may be better to choose one which uses the currency of your nation, or one which is widely traded. This will make it easier for you to learn Forex market trading.

Step 7: Control your emotions

If you find yourself becoming concerned about the market and effects on your trading, don't follow your emotions. Giving into feelings of panic, greed or excitement is a sure way to ruin your trading career. Instead, maintain a logical and practical approach to your trading. All traders should have a predetermined trading strategy to follow, so make sure you follow it. Don't suddenly change your mind halfway through a trade based on emotion - you're more likely to make irresponsible decisions which can cost you greatly. Whilst this tip isn't a direct answer on how to trade Forex, it can certainly help you to avoid costly mistakes.

Step 8: Keep a record

We learn from our mistakes, and this can be deeply implemented in Forex trading. Keep a record of your successes and failures, and any key mistakes and positive steps that you have taken in order to achieve your desired profit. This is an important step in learning how to be successful in FX trading.

Now that we've covered the basics, let's take a look at the fundamental steps you need to become a professional Forex trader:

Professional Forex Trading Tips

Pro Step 1: Develop a Trading Strategy

To become a currency trader, you need to have a clear vision. What we mean by that, is that you should have a good idea of possible market moves, and your relevant actions. There are many trading strategies available. You may choose to become a scalper, a swing trader, or a positional trader. What's more important, however, is to develop a strategy that you feel comfortable using. Developing such a strategy is a trial-and-error process that takes a lot of time and patience. You have understand what you are doing and why you are doing it. At this point, a Demo account once again proves invaluable as it allows you to test your strategy with zero risks. Just don't get discouraged by how much time it might take. Keep at it, and you'll definitely succeed. There are hundreds of different currency options and currency pairings to trade on in the Forex markets, including major pairs such as: EUR/USD, GBP/USD and USD/JPY, minor pairs like CAD/CHF, NZD/CAD, and exotic pairs such as: EURSEK, GBP/PLN, and EURRUB to name a few.

Pro Step 2: Do Not Overtrade on a Demo Account

Many people want to become Forex traders, but not everybody makes it. Generally, a professional Forex trader is a person who can trade for a living. The only way you can cover your expenses is by trading on a live account. For this reason, it is vital to switch to a live account trading as soon as you're ready. If you're going to use a demo account, you should ideally be aiming towards switching to a live account. It's hard to say when you should switch from demo account to live account trading, although, this process should not take more than one month. Make sure you have a good understanding of the market and the risks associated with Forex trading before you can trade live. Also, keep in mind that you should switch to live account trading in a timely manner. It is advisable that traders should not postpone live trading for more than three months after they have started trading on a demo account.

Pro Step 3: How to Be a Successful Trader in Forex

Finally, once you've established your trading strategy, and switched to a live trading account, you should move on to the next step—or steps, rather:

1. Set stop-losses for every trade. Otherwise, failure is almost certain.
2. Develop a trading plan and always adhere to it.
3. Don't risk more than 2% of your margin per single trade.
4. Keep your emotions separate from trading.
5. Never trade to compensate for your losses.
6. Only trade when you feel it's the right moment.
7. Don't be afraid of losses, every trader has them.
8. Try to achieve more profitable trades, and have less unsuccessful trades.

This is the right path to follow in order to become a good Forex trader. You will be facing lots of losses and stress along the way, but don't give up. With effort and passion, you can make up for any bad experience you may have. If you would like to learn more about professional Forex trading, you can do so with our 'Masters of Trading Educational Webinars' - which provide you with the opportunity to learn about advanced trading psychology and candlestick trading in the Forex and CFD markets.

Final Thoughts

Being a Forex trader allows you to work from nearly any place with an internet connection. Hotel rooms, cafes, and—thanks to the latest technological developments—even more distant corners of the world. Forex traders are blessed with strong growth potential, and their lifestyle can certainly offer a lot of enjoyment. But if you've ever taken this path, you know this gift does not come easily. The sooner you start, the faster you'll get there. So why not start trading now?

This material does not contain and should not be construed as containing investment advice, investment recommendations, an offer of or solicitation for any transactions in financial instruments. Please note that such trading analysis is not a reliable indicator for any current or future performance, as circumstances may change over time. Before making any investment decisions, you should seek advice from independent financial advisors to ensure you understand the risks.