What % do you consider a success?

*(disclosure: I tried searching but nothing really relevant popped up)

For traders: How do you know you are successful? Is there a % return you have to hurdle to consider you are better than having some fund manage money?

What is that %?

 
Best Response

I too am interested in an answer to this question, and I too have googled to the numerous variations of Beny23's answer: "Depends on this, that, ect."

Say hypothetically I had a $100,000 account. What would be a reasonable long-run weekly/monthly/yearly average return on an account this size using a proper risk management plan? i.e. not betting the house on every trade.

I know leverage would play a huge part in an answer to this question, so for those who answer, please include this specification (because I don't know what is typical here either).

I know individual definitions vary as to what's considered a successful return and what isn't, but what would be a good and realistic weekly/monthly/yearly return goal to set? i.e. If I were to open this hypothetical account today, how should I hope to have progressed a year from now? (even though I know as a beginner, just breaking even your first year is great)

I'm not asking for some absolute magic return number, but simply a number to compare to; to put things in perspective. I mean a 100% yearly return sounds good to me, but someone who knows what they're doing may see that return in a month.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

 
TexAg:

I too am interested in an answer to this question, and I too have googled to the numerous variations of Beny23's answer: "Depends on this, that, ect."

Say hypothetically I had a $100,000 account. What would be a reasonable long-run weekly/monthly/yearly average return on an account this size using a proper risk management plan? i.e. not betting the house on every trade.

I know leverage would play a huge part in an answer to this question, so for those who answer, please include this specification (because I don't know what is typical here either).

I know individual definitions vary as to what's considered a successful return and what isn't, but what would be a good and realistic weekly/monthly/yearly return goal to set? i.e. If I were to open this hypothetical account today, how should I hope to have progressed a year from now? (even though I know as a beginner, just breaking even your first year is great)

I'm not asking for some absolute magic return number, but simply a number to compare to; to put things in perspective.
I mean a 100% yearly return sounds good to me, but someone who knows what they're doing may see that return in a month.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

you wouldnt get that in a month, if you can predict a set of stocks that will double (can you even do that with hindsight?), even making 2% a day wouldnt get you close to those figures, yearly however is reasonable. On my account (in the same ballpark for size) i've split my plays into equal sized plays that I think have a ok chance of making sizeable gains (50-200%). I've got about 6-10 of those going, and I only need about 2 to make it to guarantee making money, even if the rest go to 0. Try and play multiple scenarios in your head, and think if that happens, who would be the biggest gainer/loser. A lot of people lose big because they play the same scenario and take positions based on it, when it doesnt work they get burned. Lots of mispriced opportunities out there.

T

 

Rerum quibusdam recusandae odio impedit. Tempore eos dicta consectetur qui.

Culpa suscipit nobis veritatis optio. Magni minus et animi eum omnis. Quisquam voluptates repellat aut sit consequuntur aut. Dolor possimus nesciunt sed quae consequatur voluptas quae. Neque sunt doloribus aperiam in vel quaerat molestiae.

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. (++) 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (202) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”