I believe that, at least once, we have all had the temptation to invest. However, we do not always have the courage or knowledge to make good choices, and maybe fear stops us before we even start. If this is your case, or if you are a seasoned investor who wants to keep improving and studying, Memos from the Stock Trader's Notebook by Richard L. Smith is for you. Here, Smith clearly explains the steps you need to take. He does not just offer theoretical explanations but gives you a method and guides you in all the actions you need to take to reduce risks and prosper.

Investing is a topic that fascinates me, and I am always curious to find out more. Memos from the Stock Trader's Notebook satisfied my curiosity and lived up to my expectations. I loved that Richard L. Smith gives us a method to follow and that he does so by emphasizing the need for discipline and explaining things clearly. I also liked that he uses straightforward and very often witty language. I am sure it will enlighten those new to investing and those with experience because there is so much to think about and learn on these pages. I especially appreciated that Smith stresses how important emotions and stress are in the process. I recommend it to anyone looking for a proven method to follow for investing; here is everything you need to know.

I am bullish after reading Memos From the Stock Trader's Notebook by Richard L Smith. I dabbled in stock trading a few times in my younger years but did not do it successfully enough to call myself even an amateur. Reading Smith’s book identified my initial problem in the first few pages. My trading decisions were based on gut and emotion rather than data-driven decisions. I loved his rationale around buy and hold, like something magical would happen as stock is tanking and you are holding your breath. After reading Memos, I can look back and understand where I went wrong. Smith is the perfect advisor for those like me that want to get back into the share market despite its turbulence, without taking silly risks or flying blind. He says, “I don’t want you to risk a dime until you have built your self-confidence from personal testing and paper-trading experience.” When did a broker ever tell you that?

Memos from the Stock Trader’s Notebook gives novice and seasoned traders a clear path to follow with defined buy and sell triggers that even learner drivers like me understand. Partway through I realized how much noise there is in the trading game and why Smith’s advice could work. Reflecting on my past trading, I listened to the commentators and what was new in the market. Smith shares his reflections about the industry, pointing out how conflicting advice and old news cannot possibly beat your own tracking and observations. What good is it if advisors tell you to sell after the front page news reads Netflix nose-dived? I loved that Smith’s advice was built around simplicity. Fewer stocks, fewer trades, and better decisions.

In his wise guy’s tactical book, he shares his journey and pitfalls when deviating from his approach and introduces super helpful tech tools to help you track progress. Readers are asked to stop at specific points during the book to trial tools like Yahoo Finance. I dutifully downloaded it as the author instructed. It was easy to follow what he said and to practice before using real money. Smith is realistic about his offer. What it is: slow and steady. What it is not: a guaranteed get-rich-quick scheme. He goes toe to toe with critics and makes no apologies about removing the ‘dangers of feel-good investing’. His simple little system rests upon acting promptly and ‘just-following-the damn-dots’. Even I can do that. Grab a copy and learn more about the market and your psychology of trading with Memos From the Stock Trader’s Notebook. Your wallet will be glad you did.