Been trading for about 8 months now and my results are all over the place. Some months I’m up 15%, others I’m down 8%.
Started wondering what kind of monthly returns experienced traders actually pull consistently. Not the flashy Instagram stuff, just real numbers from people actually doing this.
I usually aim for 3-4% monthly but some months are flat or negative. Been trading 2 years and still get surprised by bad streaks.
Two percent monthly keeps me profitable long term.
Your swings are normal for someone still learning. Most profitable traders I work with target 3-8% monthly gains after they find their groove.
The key shift happens when you stop chasing percentage returns and start focusing on risk per trade. Good traders risk 1-2% of their account per position and let consistency build over time.
After 8 months, you should be identifying what setups actually work for you. Track which trades make money and which lose. Most traders need 12-18 months to develop real consistency.
Monthly returns really depend on your risk tolerance and account size. Most consistent traders I know aim for 2-5% per month rather than chasing big wins.
The traders who survive long term focus more on not losing money than making huge gains. Your results sound pretty normal for someone still figuring out their strategy.
Consistency comes with time and sticking to rules that actually work for your trading style.