The term averaging can be confusing for newer traders. In simple terms, it means entering a stock at one price and then adding more shares later, which creates an average cost basis based on how many shares were purchased at each price. Buying at higher prices is known as averaging up, while buying at lower prices is averaging down.

In this episode, we take a deeper look at the pros and cons of the three different ways traders add shares to a position. These approaches I refer to as professional, risky, and deadly — and understanding the difference may be the key to avoiding a trade that never ends.

Episode Resource: youtu.be/7eT7kjkq4NA?si=fDDXhv8t8KCkHclq

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Due to the holidays, it's been an extra couple of weeks since my last podcast. This one actually came as an offshoot from the last DTS educational event I did in mid-December. That event was called A Fireside Chat at DTS and highlighted some of my favorite topics from the year. One of those topics had to do with the role of strategies and the misunderstanding of that role as it comes to traders. This podcast explains that very critical concept and also uses a great analogy foreshadowed by the title.

Set up a free coaching session with Paul:
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This one was inspired by many questions I received. In this episode, I break down one of the biggest trading demons we all face — FOMO. I talk about how fear, impatience, and the pressure to “catch the move” can quietly push us into overtrading and stepping outside our plan. I’ll show you how these emotions connect, how they trick even experienced traders, and what I personally do to stay disciplined when the market is tempting me the most. If you’ve ever chased a trade you knew you shouldn’t take, this one will hit home.

Set up a free coaching session with Paul:
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The DTS Free Stuff Page:
https://disciplinedtradingstrategies.com/free-stuff

To learn more, visit:
http://disciplinedtradingstrategies.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
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In this episode, I dive into the trap of judging trades by their results. Sometimes we get rewarded for doing something sloppy, and other times we take a clean, disciplined trade that just doesn’t work out. I talk about why a “good trade” might not be as good as it looks — and why a “bad result” might still be one of your best trades of the week. It’s a simple idea, but once you really understand it, it changes how you look at every trade you take. This is also a key reason for new traders to fail or struggle, tune in for the details.

Set up a free coaching session with Paul:
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The DTS Free Stuff Page:
https://disciplinedtradingstrategies.com/free-stuff

To learn more, visit:
http://disciplinedtradingstrategies.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/paul-lange

Two podcasts ago, I talked about trading plans for the first time in this series. Now, it’s not because trading plans aren’t important — they’re actually critical — but they’re not always the easiest topic to break down in a podcast format.

That said, I got a lot of great feedback and a few interesting questions, so in this episode I want to take a little time to follow up and dig deeper.

If you haven’t listened to that earlier episode yet, it’s Podcast #68, “Trading Plans – Just Some Tips.” You might want to go back and check that one out first.

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The Pattern Day Trader Rule essentially prevents people from day trading stocks unless they have a $25,000 balance. This rule was enacted in 2001 and was intended to protect traders. In my view, it has hurt those it has tried to help. This video explains why, and also what an opportunity it may open up for the average person.

Set up a free coaching session with Paul:
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The DTS Free Stuff Page:
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To learn more, visit:
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Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
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In all this time, this is Podcast 68, I have not had a full presentation on trading plans. The answer is partly because I just haven’t gotten around to it yet, partly because the detailed topic of trading plans may not be best for a podcast, and partly because many people feel this to be a boring topic. However, it is among the most important topics. So listen a little even if you don’t want to.In all this time, this is Podcast 68, I have not had a full presentation on trading plans. The answer is partly because I just haven’t gotten around to it yet, partly because the detailed topic of trading plans may not be best for a podcast, and partly because many people feel this to be a boring topic. However, it is among the most important topics. So listen a little even if you don’t want to.

Set up a free coaching session with Paul:
https://calendly.com/dts-paul/coaching-session-w-paul

The DTS Free Stuff Page:
https://disciplinedtradingstrategies.com/free-stuff

To learn more, visit:
http://disciplinedtradingstrategies.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/paul-lange

A while back I did a podcast that was simply titled “Time frames” which discussed some of the basics and what you may choose to focus on as a trader. This podcast is a little more advanced and based on constant questions I receive, so I will try to clear up some misconceptions about the differences in time frames and how we make money from the different time frames. If you are very new, by time frames I’m talking about the difference between long-term investing, which may use a weekly or monthly chart, to swing trading which typically uses the daily chart, to intraday trading which may use anything from a 60 minute down to a one minute or even a “tick” chart.

Set up a free coaching session with Paul:
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The DTS Free Stuff Page:
https://disciplinedtradingstrategies.com/free-stuff

To learn more, visit:
http://disciplinedtradingstrategies.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/paul-lange

While on one hand this may seem like a fairly basic topic, I get a lot of questions that let me know that a lot of traders are confused about risk management versus trade management. I have talked specifically about the “risk unit” back in Podcast #35, and a lot of comments in general about trading management back on podcast #25. However, this podcast is devoted to discussing how they tie together and emphasizing how they both are critical for success and perhaps the true number one reason for failure.

Set up a free coaching session with Paul:
https://calendly.com/dts-paul/coaching-session-w-paul

The DTS Free Stuff Page:
https://disciplinedtradingstrategies.com/free-stuff

To learn more, visit:
http://disciplinedtradingstrategies.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/paul-lange

Sorry about using one of those “top-five” titles. But that’s what this one is. It’s a new topic to discuss these as a group, but naturally each one of these may have had some partial discussion in prior podcasts. Here is the redacted list:

1. Over xxx-ing…
2. Dxxxxxxing Inappropriately…
3. Risking amounts that xxxxxxxxxx…
4. Listening to xxxx xxxx…
5. Trading with xxxxxxx which leads to xxxxxxxx.

Set up a free coaching session with Paul:
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The DTS Free Stuff Page:
https://disciplinedtradingstrategies.com/free-stuff

To learn more, visit:
http://disciplinedtradingstrategies.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/paul-lange