The number of people exploring online trading continues to grow, for good reason.  

Online trading provides an opportunity for buying and selling stocks, currencies, commodities, and other financial instruments through a trading platform easily accessible via the internet. It is a viable means to create an additional income stream and build generational wealth. 

But because online trading involves risks and investing hard-earned money, one must also invest in self-education. Every online trader’s journey needs to start with knowing the risks and benefits of the trade.

In learning about online trading, it is crucial to find the right resource—quite a challenge given the amount of information available on the web. It is imperative to have a trustworthy learning partner, such as a reputable organization backed by industry experts.

SmarTrade, the education partner in the Philippines of the global broker ATFX, has helped more than 22,000 Filipinos in their online trading journey through workshops, learning sessions, and one-on-one coaching offered for free. The only investment required is time and effort, plus the willingness to learn and to continue adding to one’s knowledge of online trading.

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Financial literacy

Joyce Mayo, president and CEO of SmarTrade, says its goal is “to promote financial literacy among the Filipino community.” 

“We believe that sound financial management is one of the ways to a more secure and better future for generations to come,” Mayo says. “SmarTrade’s free resources, learning sessions, and one-on-one coaching are a testament to our commitment to this goal.” 

Edwin Saguibo, head of learning and development at SmarTrade, encourages novice traders to start by educating themselves, and explains why this is a necessary investment:

“Online trading or forex trading is a risky business. Knowing how it works will help you avoid falling victim to scams and frauds which are present in the industry.

“Educating yourself can help you analyze data and make informed decisions. Gold, forex, crypto, and other financial instruments can be volatile; their prices fluctuate quickly.  If you don’t know the basics, you are more likely to make poor decisions and be easily swayed by misinformation, or even make decisions based on emotions rather than logic.”

Risk management

Another benefit of having the right knowledge and understanding of the market is that it enables interested parties to develop a strategy to help minimize their losses.  

Says Saguibo: “At SmarTrade, we conduct learning sessions on risk management to familiarize you with the fundamentals of trading and help you implement effective risk management techniques. Lack of knowledge can lead to heavy losses in online trading.  Even experienced traders lose money when they dive into trading blindly.” 

“Education also builds your confidence,” he adds.  “As you expand your knowledge, you become more confident about your decisions. Your knowledge helps you to build your own trading strategy based on your skills and, most importantly, your risk tolerances.”

Online trading can be a great way to earn money, but it doesn’t come without risks. Educating oneself in market trends, techniques, and risk management beforehand is essential. One should invest one’s time in learning the ropes and improving one’s skills to achieve long-term financial success. 

For details on how to join SmarTrade’s free learning and coaching sessions, visit www.smartradeph.com.