Trading Pro Q&A: What is your most embarrassing trading mistake?
Even the pros have had their cringeworthy trading moments. Three seasoned market strategists share the mistakes they wish they could undo and the hard-earned lessons that followed.
No trader is immune to the occasional blunder—some just come with a bigger sting (and a better story) than others. In this edition, three experienced market strategists open up about their most embarrassing trading mistakes, from costly execution errors to ignoring key market signals.
Whether it’s entering the wrong position size in a moment of fatigue, holding onto a losing trade out of stubbornness, or going against the trend without a clear plan, these slip-ups highlight how quickly things can spiral in the markets. The common thread? Small mistakes can snowball when discipline, awareness, and risk management take a back seat. Let’s dive into these candid confessions—and the lessons every trader can take from them.
What’s your most embarrassing trading mistake?
Quoc Dat Tong
Senior Financial Market Strategist
Years ago, exhausted from night trading, I accidentally entered a gold position at 10x my intended size. Instead of cutting it immediately, I froze, hoping the market would bail me out. It didn't. The loss was painful, but the lesson was permanent: never hesitate to fix a mistake the moment you see it.
Tip for traders: Always double-check your order size before executing. Fatigue is your worst enemy. When you make a mistake, cut it immediately; the market never rewards hesitation.
Terence Hove
Senior Financial Market Strategist
I traded against the market trend, which led me to hold a losing position longer than I should have. This highlights the need to understand market dynamics, what is moving the financial markets, and a particular instrument. Keep a pulse on the price drivers of a particular instrument.
Tip for traders: Setting a stop loss is not only good risk management practice, but also a signal that the market has turned, and the trader needs to reassess their position in the market.
Eric Chia
Financial Markets Strategist
I held onto a stubborn short position while ignoring economic data, earnings momentum, and previous sentiment, fully digested. I kept averaging down like a genius until the market squeezed me out. This might’ve worked later, but my account never survived to see it.
Tip for traders: If you ignore macro and news, you’re trading blind. Price moves for a reason—respect it or pay for it.
Key takeaways
- Even seasoned traders experience embarrassing and costly mistakes.
- Execution errors—like entering the wrong position size—can have serious consequences.
- Hesitating to cut losses often leads to bigger drawdowns.
- Ignoring macroeconomic data and market sentiment can leave traders exposed.
- Trading against the trend without clear reasoning increases risk.
- Fatigue and emotional decision-making are major contributors to poor trades.
- Strong risk management—especially stop loss placement and discipline—is essential for long-term survival.
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