There are two primary avenues in which an individual can make money in the modern world. The first and most common path is through earning an income by becoming a professional, which you already are, for yourself or another person or organization. Another way, which is usually neglected, is by growing your assets over time through investments. Ideally, you should be utilizing both of these avenues.
The interest in investing in financial markets has skyrocketed over the past year due to various factors. Among numerous iterations, this can most likely be attributed to spending more time indoors, growing threats of mass unemployment, or a mixture of both.
Investing offers a wide variety of choices like the stock market, cryptocurrencies, and mutual funds. Sometimes, this can prove to be a bit overwhelming for professionals However, one of the more overlooked financial markets that you should definitely consider entering into is the foreign exchange, or forex, market.
The Basics
The forex market is generally a global market for exchanging national currencies. Here, currencies are traded against each other as exchange rate pairs. There are two ways you could earn from the forex market. One is by profiting from changes in the exchange rate, while the other is done through the interest rate differential between currencies.
Traditionally, the currency market was reserved for multinational companies to allow them to conduct businesses in other countries. This financial market has since been opened to more average investors thanks to the growing sophistication of the internet and computer networks.
Entering into the forex market is fairly simpler than most people realize. Here are some necessary steps you need to know to help get you started.
Find a Broker
First off, you’ll have to find a broker that will serve as an intermediary between you and the forex market. There are offshore brokers and forex brokers for U.S. clients, the difference between them being the maximum leverage they will be able to offer.
You should be aware of countless scam brokers that prey on beginners entering the forex market. It should come as no surprise that you should choose a broker that’s reliable and regulated. These brokers will often provide you with a legitimate trading platform to accomplish your transactions on. Moreover, choose a broker that will surely help you achieve your financial goals.
Learn the Ropes
The next — and perhaps most necessary — step is to learn the basics of forex trading. Different trading platforms will usually allow you to set up a demo account to help you grasp the fundamentals of the market. Just like any other financial market, knowledge equates to power. Fortunately, there are also plenty of forex trading strategies you could experiment with before you get into the real thing.
Once you’ve had sufficient practice and feel confident enough, you can easily begin trading with real money. Just simply organize the amount of trading capital you want to invest, discuss with your broker, and you’ll be on your way.
The Market State
Understandably, it can be quite intimidating to enter into any sort of investment at the moment. The sudden outbreak of the global pandemic has had major impacts on various financial markets including forex.
While markets have been extremely volatile over the past year, experts have bullish yet optimistic outlooks for the forex industry. Aside from this, there are other reasons why it’s slowly becoming one of the best markets to trade into.
Easy-access
Compared to other financial markets, the forex industry is relatively much more accessible. The forex market doesn’t necessarily require huge deposits before you can start trading. Investors can begin with as low as $100.
Moreover, the forex market operates 24 hours a day since it does involve currencies all over the world. This essentially means that you don’t have to wait for it to open each day before you can trade. It also allows you to have more control over your time, easily balancing it with your profession and other responsibilities.
Profitable Engagements
Given its constant operation and sheer size, the forex market is also largely liquid. Approximately $2 trillion is traded every day within the market. Investors can easily enter or withdraw their investments without having to worry about being held in trade and losing a lot due to massive jumps in prices.
Initial investments have the potential to significantly multiply virtually overnight. Being a two-way market, you will still be able to make a profit even when your currency is going down as opposed to the stock market where profitability is largely dependent on your stock going up. However, it’s still important to note that trading — in any financial market — requires immense skill and making the right decisions.
Securing the Future
Investing is a necessary avenue that every professional should consider to increase their assets in the long run. Forex trading has attracted countless investors of varying skill levels over the past year. This is largely anchored in its promise of huge profits. So long as you do your due diligence of learning and understanding the fundamentals behind this financial market as well.
