Risk Management
What is risk management?
I discovered there are many types of risk management.
Financial risk management is the practice of creating economic value in a firm by using financial instruments to manage exposure to risk, particularly credit risk and market risk. Other types include Foreign exchange, Shape, Volatility, Sector, Liquidity, Inflation risks, etc. Similar to general risk management, financial risk management requires identifying its sources, measuring it, and plans to address them.
continued Financial risk management can be qualitative and quantitative. As a specialization of risk management, financial risk management focuses on when and how to hedge using financial instruments to manage costly exposures to risk. (source:
Identify It’s Sources proven system with positive expectancy greeks – delta - price – gamma - price and time – theta - time – vega - volatility, beta – rho - interest rates liquidity
Identify It’s Sources product (read the prospectus, LLC income tax K-1 form for UNG) – ETF – ETN – TVIX (read – NAV (Net Asset Value) (-IV.IV)
Identify It’s Sources events – earnings – news – company or broker mis-management (MF Global) leverage margin
Measure It TOS analyze tab, trade tab SEC reports 10-K, 10-Q analyst reports news stories your trading records
Manage Exposure to Risk money management – position sizing – use stops - "your first loss is your best loss" - Rozycki – hedge with options or futures – capital allocation business accounts systems trades
Manage Exposure to Risk portfolio management diversification – class - stock, option, future, forex – sector – market cap – beta
Manage Exposure to Risk directional risk (have both long and short positions, or bonds and stocks) loss limits – daily, weekly, monthly (Merlin Rothfeld $250 per trade $500 per day limits) – Alex Elder 2% per trade 6% per month
Manage Exposure to Risk trade execution errors – continually learn and become proficient on your trading platform – know how to contact your broker and what information they will need trade management – from order fill to close of trade
Manage Exposure to Risk personal psychology – health – mood – relationships – stress – environment – recent large loss or win
Manage Exposure to Risk equipment – computer – back-up computer – internet – back-up internet – list of positions on paper in case of power outage
Plans to Address Risk business plan trading plan trade log trade journal risk management plan trade management plan
Plans to Address Risk personal management plan review plans- daily, weekly, monthly "plan for every conceivable contingency" - Joe Ross you are responsible for everything, so plan for everything
Why Use Stops? prevent a large loss protect a profit enter a position
Types of Stops stop market – prevent loss – enter a position stop limit – enter a position
Types of Stops time stop – prevent loss (option expiration) – maximize capital (opportunity cost) – enter a position at best time of day trailing stop – protect profit
Where and how to determine the best price level for stop placement? at a price where your original trade idea is no longer valid beyond demand (support) or supply (resistance) zones beyond highs or lows
Where and how to determine the best price level for stop placement? at specific profit points (75% rule – Vadym Graifer) a percentage of the ATR - volatility stop away from round numbers or specific indicator levels
Are stops always necessary? No – a defined risk option trade – a properly hedged position
How do you determine where to place stops?
Questions?
The End