I noticed that many people still confuse what a trader really is. People often think it's just someone who buys and sells on the markets, but it's much more nuanced than that.

So, let's start with the basics. The word trader comes from the English "to trade," literally "to exchange." In finance, it's a person who negotiates financial products—currencies, stocks, bonds, derivatives, you get the idea. Their job is to anticipate price movements to profit from them. When the price seems attractive to them, they enter a position. They then exit when they believe they've maximized their gain. Hence the nickname of speculator, which isn't always flattering, by the way.

But here’s the thing, there isn't just one definition of a trader. There are actually several profiles depending on their context and roles. Some traders work for financial institutions, with all the advantages and constraints that entails. Others, on the other hand, are completely independent—they invest on the markets for their own account, entirely autonomous.

What strikes about independent traders is precisely this autonomy. They have to manage their trades alone, without any institutional safety net. This requires iron discipline, especially in terms of money management. The idea is not to lose all their capital at once. Every decision must be calculated based on the best risk/reward ratio possible.

Many of these independent traders specialize in a market or a product they truly master—cryptocurrencies, commodities, stock indices. Some even work with CFDs to take advantage of leverage and amplify their investment capacity.

There are also flow traders. They don't work for their own account but for their clients. Their role is to help companies or individuals manage their investments. They need to be good at trading and good at client relations.

To be a good trader, whatever your category, you need solid market knowledge. The ability to predict fluctuations is your key skill. And that means staying connected constantly—geopolitical contexts can have a huge impact on prices. Many traders do part of their activity on mobile precisely to stay responsive 24/7. It has become almost essential in this profession.