After years of trading, I've watched hundreds of beginners blow up their accounts for the same three reasons. Every. Single. Time.

1. Trading without a plan

You wouldn't drive blindfolded, so why are you entering positions without a clear entry, stop loss, and target? Before every trade, write down: why you're entering, where you're getting out if you're wrong, and where you're taking profit.

2. Oversizing positions

The fastest way to zero is risking 10-20% of your account on a single trade. Keep risk at 1-2% per trade. Boring? Maybe. But you'll still be in the game a year from now.

3. Chasing after the move already happened

If a stock just ran 40% and you're FOMO buying, you're the exit liquidity. The best trades are the ones you plan in advance, not the ones you panic into.

Master these three things and you're already ahead of 90% of retail traders. This is exactly what we focus on inside Nordic Capital — disciplined setups, risk management, and patience.