How Long Does It Take to Become a Trader

There’s no set timeline for becoming a profitable trader, it depends on several factors including your learning approach, amount of time you dedicate, your trading style, financial stability, starting capital, and when you’re ready.

Learning Approach

Your learning approach is likely to be the biggest factor behind the speed you can become profitable. 

In retail trading, there's a lot of outdated advice that gets passed around as fact, often from traders who learned decades ago. Unfortunately, most people don’t question or test this information, even though modern research shows it’s often wrong. The same goes for how many traders think you should learn, they’ll tell you to just start trading and learn by doing. But that approach doesn’t work for complex skills like trading, which is why so many people fail.

Instead, you should rely on proven methods from experts in skill development, as we do in our program. Methods that show how people actually learn and improve, especially when it comes to trading.

At the core of this is something called the Pyramid of Skill Mastery, developed by James Zull, a professor and expert in how the brain learns. This pyramid illustrates the process your brain goes through when learning a new skill. Starting broad and complex, and gradually narrowing down until things become automatic.

Think of learning as a pyramid, not a straight line. At first, everything seems complicated and overwhelming. But as you practice and learn, your brain starts to simplify things, making them easier over time. The difficult concepts you struggle with today will eventually feel natural.

We break things into a three-phase approach based on this idea:

• In phase one, you’ll focus on building a solid foundation by learning the essential tools, concepts, and techniques. This isn’t just about understanding things once and moving on,  it’s about repetition until those skills become second nature.
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• Once you've mastered the basics, phase two brings everything together. Here, you’ll begin strategising in the markets, applying what you’ve learned without having to think consciously about every step. Just like Michael Jordan practiced the basics until they became effortless, you’ll be able to approach trading situations with ease because your core skills are solid.
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• Finally, phase three is all about taking your consistency and moving towards profitability. You'll optimise your performance and get comfortable managing real money, with guidance on how to pursue opportunities like prop trading firm funding.

Learning in this way matters because trading is a skill that takes time to develop. It's not just about jumping in and hoping for the best. By following this structured approach, you're not only learning faster, but you’re learning in a way that sticks.

Time Commitment

Trading is not a one-size-fits-all. Everyone approaches it differently, and that's perfectly fine. If you're the kind of person who wants to work every hour under the sun learning and trading, then you’ll likely progress faster. 

More time spent learning, practicing, and trading means you’ll hit your goals quicker. On the other hand, if you prefer a more balanced or part-time approach, your progress will naturally take longer.

Neither path is wrong, it’s about what’s right for you. It’s about how much time you can and want to dedicate to it. But with both approaches, you’ll also progress much faster if you follow a proper development plan rather than just following the markets. It’s not just the amount of time you dedicate, but also what you do in that time.

Trading Style

Your skill set and trading style also play a role. Some people thrive under pressure and love being more active, making fast decisions, and working with high intensity. Others prefer a more methodical approach, analysing everything carefully before making moves. Both approaches are fine, but the timelines will differ.

For example, if you like to trade with a long-term perspective, think Warren Buffett, you might hold positions for years, letting dividends and compounding returns do the heavy lifting. This is obviously a slower route, but the success potential is enormous. Buffett, one of the richest men in the world, is a prime example of that long-term approach paying off.

The takeaway here is that there is no one "right" way to trade. The important part is mastering your chosen approach and committing to learning everything you need to succeed.

Financial Stability

Transitioning from part-time trading to full-time trading is another milestone for many. But there’s never a “perfect” time. It’s highly individual and depends on several factors, most importantly your financial situation.

Ask yourself, how much money do you need to live comfortably without relying solely on trading income? This matters because trading income can fluctuate month to month, and some months you may not earn any profits at all. 

Having that pressure on your shoulders is a recipe for disaster. You need to ensure that you have enough savings or other sources of income to cover your living expenses before you decide to become full-time. .

For some, this safety net might be half a million dollars; for others, it could be $100,000 or even $30,000. It depends entirely on your personal situation.

Starting Capital

The amount of money you start with also affects how long it will take you to reach your trading goals. Trading works on percentages. If you make a 10% return on $100,000, that’s $10,000. If you make the same 10% on $1,000, that’s only $100. The difference is huge.

That being said, it’s absolutely possible to grow a small account, like $1,000 into something significant. However, these days there are also alternative ways to gain funding, like through a funded account which can make this step more accessible.

How Quickly Can You Become Profitable?

Some people manage to go from knowing nothing about trading to being profitable in under a year. But let’s be honest, this is the exception, not the rule. Most traders take significantly longer, and some can even trade for 10, 15 years and still struggle to make consistent profits.

But don’t rush the process. There’s no need to quickly move from a demo account to live trading. You’ll know when you’re ready, and when that time comes, it’s about taking a leap of faith, but at your pace.

So, how long will it take you to become a trader? There’s no single answer. It all depends on factors like your time commitment, your trading style, your starting capital, and your financial situation. However, one thing is clear, it requires patience, dedication, and learning.

It’s important not to rush. Focus on developing your skills and optimising your system and strategies. Remember, trading is a marathon, not a sprint. Take the time you need, follow a development plan, and success will follow.