Trading is a game of patience: get to know the trader, styles, and how to get started

More and more Brazilians are seeking quick opportunities in the financial market, and at the center of this movement is the trader — the professional who lives off price fluctuations, buying and selling assets over short periods. But what is the real difference between a trader and an ordinary investor? How does the stock exchange work in this context? And more importantly: do you have the right profile for it?

Trader: much more than buying and selling quickly

Literally translating, trader means “negotiator.” But in practice, it’s someone who not only monitors the market daily but also makes quick decisions based on analysis, not guesses.

Trading is characterized by short and very short-term operations on the Stock Exchange, forex market, indices, or commodities. The goal is simple: exploit price variations that happen in minutes, hours, days, or weeks. Unlike predictable fixed income, trading is part of variable income — your gains depend entirely on market behavior.

Execution happens 100% online, through platforms that offer agility and full control of operations. A trader monitors economic, political, and corporate factors, identifies trends, and acts when an opportunity arises. Success doesn’t depend on winning every trade but on controlling losses and making gains surpass losses consistently.

Trader vs. Investor: two opposing mentalities

This is a fundamental distinction. The trader operates with a focus on short-term movements, exploiting volatility to generate gains in agile operations. Their tool is technical analysis — charts, indicators, timing of entry and exit.

The traditional investor, on the other hand, thinks in medium and long term. They prioritize company fundamentals, economic quality, and wealth building over the years. Instead of reacting to daily fluctuations, they hold positions for months or years.

In reality, many people combine both approaches: trading for specific operations and investing for structured goals. But profiles are distinct — traders need risk tolerance and full-time availability; investors prefer less dynamic strategies.

The different profiles of operators

Not all traders are the same. The market hosts various types:

Institutional Trader: operates in banks, funds, and insurance companies, handling large volumes with advanced tools.

Executor Broker (Broker): executes client orders precisely, without defining their own strategy.

Sales Trader: combines execution with consulting, offering analysis and strategic support.

Independent Trader: operates with their own capital, independently, assuming all risks.

Operating styles: choose your timing

Day Trade

Opens and closes everything on the same day. Operations lasting minutes or hours, requiring high concentration and extreme emotional control.

Scalping

Works on timeframes of seconds to a few minutes, seeking small repeated gains. Very active, very stressful, and costly in brokerage fees.

Swing Trade

Holds positions for days to weeks, capturing larger movements. Less psychological pressure than day trading, suitable for beginners.

Position Trade

Positions lasting weeks, months, or even years. Operates in variable income but with a medium-term mindset.

High Frequency Trading (HFT)

Operations in fractions of a second using algorithms and robots. Reserved for professionals with heavy technology.

How does the trader really make money

The formula is simple: buy at one price, sell at a higher (or sell first and buy back cheaper). Profit is the difference between entry and exit, minus operational costs.

Practical example: a trader identifies a stock that tends to react at certain levels. They see signs of buying strength, enter at R$ 20.00. Hours later, when it reaches R$ 21.00 (planned target), they exit and realize the profit. Simple.

The same logic applies to sales: identify a decline, sell first, buy back cheaper later. The key point isn’t to win every trade — it’s consistency: gains larger than losses over time.

Who can become a trader

Anyone over the legal age can try. Minimum capital is also not a barrier on many platforms. But trading involves very high risk and requires:

• Solid financial organization
• Real market knowledge (not guesswork)
• True emotional control
• Access to a reliable platform
• Discipline — a lot of discipline

Steps to start (for real)

1. Test your risk profile — do a suitability test to see if you truly tolerate volatility.

2. Study before trading — courses, books, analysis. Build a solid, not superficial, foundation.

3. Choose your style — day trade, swing trade, or scalping? Each requires different skills.

4. Set goals and limits — stop loss (maximum loss) and stop gain (target profit) are not optional, they are mandatory.

5. Use a regulated and reliable platform — speed, stability, and analysis tools are essential. Test with a demo account first.

6. Manage risk obsessively — never put everything into one operation. Constantly monitor results.

What separates successful traders from failures

Continuous education, operational discipline, and emotional control. Successful traders understand that profit comes with time, practice, and learning — not with promises of quick gains (usually scams).

Failure often results from: lack of planning, trading without a clear strategy, inadequate risk management, and emotionally chasing losses.

Before trading with real money, test the demo account, understand how the market works, and calmly define your strategy. Choosing a regulated broker suitable for your profile is the first safe step into trading.