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One of the most popular discussions in trading forums is how much a trader should risk per trade.

Beginners and more conservative traders go by the standard 1% to 2% while more aggressive ones sometimes recommend risking as much as 5%.

What you need to understand is that risk tolerance is not a one-dimensional pursuit. Sure there are basic rules to follow, but it’s still more profitable in the long run to factor in your personal preferences.

Risk tolerance is basically how comfortable you are with possibly losing money in exchange for potential profits.

Those who have stable income or experience in financial markets tend to be more aggressive, while those who have other financial obligations and limited trading experience usually take the less risky road to profitability.

Unfortunately, this is not always the case for forex traders.

Too many newbies are lured by the prospect of quick, easy profits and, because they have limited trading experience, they usually end up taking on more risk than they can handle.

The problem with risking more money than you’re comfortable with is that the prospect of losing will ruin your trading mindset and keep you from making the right trading decisions. You’ll end up basing your decisions on your account balance rather than your training.

So how do you know how aggressive you should be with each trade? Here are five factors to consider:

1. Lifestyle

Do you have a stable income source? If you’re expecting regular paychecks, then you won’t mind a loss here and there and you can concentrate on your trading skills.

But if you expect your trading profits to become your only source of income or pay your debts and other financial obligations, then you’ll likely have tons of fear/greed-based decisions and should stick to smaller position sizes .

2. Trading capital

How much have you invested on your trading business ? A larger trading account can survive bigger positions per trade.

Consequently, traders who have small accounts shouldn’t trade standard or even mini lots that would trigger a margin call at the smallest volatility.

3. Time frame

How long are you planning to keep your trade open? Position sizes are generally smaller for longer-term trades , as they need to withstand more volatility.

If you’re into day or swing trades though, then you can probably level up your average position sizes a bit.

4. Experience

If you’ve been trading long enough, then you’ll have more confidence in your trading instincts and decisions.

In fact, upping your position size might be your next step in improving your trading game .

But if you’re new to the hood and you’re still making decisions based on emotions, then trading smaller position sizes might be a better option.

5. Trading confidence

Even if you’ve already clocked in months or years of trading experience, there will always be days when you’re not feeling in sync with the markets .

For instance, you might be stuck in a trading rut or in the middle of a losing streak, and you’d rather take it easy until you get your mojo back.

From there, you can gradually increase your average position size as you get your trading groove back.

Find a happy balance that would make significant enough changes in your account and enable you to focus on improving your trading skill at the same time and you’ll eventually find your way to consistent profitability.

Remember that there’s no single formula for risk-taking. You can read different books and blogs and ask other traders in forums, but at the end of the day, how much you risk per trade depends on your own risk tolerance.