QUESTION - Thank you for taking the time to participate in the Q & A session. Would you like to share with everyone who you are, your background (current and previous career, education, etc).
MARINA - Hi everyone, thank you for having me.
As a Russian refugee during the Cold War I arrived in New York City with my parents when I was 6 years old. 20 years later I took off on a backpacking journey with no end in mind. While camping in the Tikal Mayan Ruins of Guatemala, I met my future husband, the first Guatemalan I ever met, who was camping in the next tent over. We’ve been married for over 19 years, living in Central America raising our 2 trilingual sons.I have been an entrepreneur for over 25 years. Starting out as a top fitness instructor in NYC gyms with a wanderlust, I became a travel writer (and still host a popular travel blog today). Combining my love of entrepreneurialism and social justice I took on the monumental project of becoming a TEDx organizer (one of the few that included teens in an outdoor venue). How do I do it all? I credit my simple “no fluff” Day Trading strategies as a professional day trader. Today, I am a sought after speaker and mentor to aspiring and seasoned traders. I stand out in the industry amongst the guru’s as one who embraces the spirituality of Day Trading and works hard to help others transform their lives one trade at a time! I specialize in helping the true beginners to Day Trade with confidence and ease. For anyone who has a desire to learn Day Trading but has no idea where to start. I show you the best way to go from newbie to pro (trader) fast while avoiding the mistakes I made.
QUESTION - For our readers who may not know, your are known as the "Trader Chick" on Twitter. Can you explain the story behind behind this moniker?
MARINA - Day Trading has a lot of 'experts' , a lot of people that come for financial backgrounds, math and economic backgrounds. Which is great. However, the reality is listening to them can be intimidating, and complicated. Most of the time people get turned off by all this type of talk.
I personally did in the beginning. I was struggling for years, because of the complexities that went behind it all.
And after losing all my money several times, I had to step away. But day trading kept calling me, and I decided to erase all my charts and indicators and everything that I was being taught, and go back to the basics and simplify it. And that's when I realized day trading isn't complicated at all, and if explained in a fun way it can be accessible to everyone.
I was a fitness instructor before a day trader and a travel writer, without any financial and math background.
Being a Trader Chick allows people to see that it's fun, and they too can do it. My monitor goes exactly with how I look at trading. And this allows so many people to also get into trading.
QUESTION - How long have you been trading. And are you more of a day trader, swing trader or longer term investor? What have been your biggest challenges to date?
MARINA - I've been interested in financial markets for over 30 years. However, day trading has been my passion for 10 years. I am a scalper. Which means I go in and out of trade positions within a few minutes. It's quick and fun and doesn't stress me out as long term holds for the day.
I've been interested in financial markets for over 30 years. However, day trading has been my passion for 10 years. I am a scalper. Which means I go in and out of trade positions within a few minutes. It's quick and fun and doesn't stress me out as long term holds for the day.
QUESTION- What personal or professional failure/setback have you experienced in trading AND your life that has set you up for later success?
MARINA - Day trading is one of the most in your face conflicting things you can do. It's the only one that will make you face your demons constantly. It humbles you and really makes you view the world differently.
It shows you you either get your shit together mentally or continue living where your demons take over.
After many losses and blaming the market, I realized that it has nothing to do with the market and it's all me. And when I decided to look at myself and work on myself everything started to change.
I always say, Day Trading has been my greatest Master Teacher of my life.
And when I started to work on bettering myself, mindfully, mentally I discovered a spiritualness to trading that has made me a better trader and person.
QUESTION : This is becoming a favorite question for many - plus readers get some good gift ideas from it. What purchase of less than $100 have you made in the past year that you simple could not live without now?
MARINA - Oh that's a great question! A journal. This is my place to get out all my thoughts, frustrations, it's also a place where I write my goals and schedule.
I refer to it several times a day and really am lost without it.
QUESTION - If you could choose three dinner guests dead or alive, who would they be and why?
MARINA - Madonna - she was literally my (virtual) mentor from 11 years old to my mid 20's. Getting to the top and staying there is pure grit and I would love to learn from the source.
Byron Katie - Her book 'Loving What Is' changed my life. She is the only person that I would really love to do a workshop with or sit down and have a genuine chat with. And, interestingly enough right as COVID began, I was signed up for one of her intimate workshops and - of course we all know how things happened. It was canceled.
Sara Blakely - She simply is a friend goal of mine. How she runs her family, business, life. She just seems like a person I'd love to hang out with.
QUESTION - What are your trading goals - Do you always want to trade or branch out into other directions in your life?
MARINA -Trading if done properly can be fun. HOwever, when I first began I was obsessed sitting in front of my charts for 8 - 12 hours a day, totally unsustainable.
Today I trade 30 minutes - 1 hour a day, not even everyday, but when I feel like it. Because I'm so much more than just that. The goal always was to spend more time with my kids, start fun businesses that I love. Today I'm doing that. SO in a way, my trading goals are realized.
QUESTION - What advice would you give to your younger self and to someone just coming out of school (college or high school)
Learn work ethic. I don't care what your interests are in, without work ethic and structure you will really suffer.
Nothing will ever beat work ethic. And unfortunately today, judging from my own kids schooling (and they go to a 'good' private school) this is something that is not taught. So go out of your way to learn this. And the rest will work out.
QUESTION - What are your thoughts on cryptocurrency - including NFT's & the Metaverse?
MARINA - I just got into crypto last year. It took me a while to stop resisting. I believe there is no way around this, it's here and I'm still at the point of learning myself.
NFT's and Metaverse is totally new to me, and actually my kids and I are signed up for classes to learn.
So my thoughts are, learn what this is, teach your kids about it. And then have fun with it.
QUESTION - If you could have a big billboard with your favorite saying or message on it, what would it be.
Make Every Day An Adventure - there is no 'one day' make today day ONE.
Thank you for taking the time for this interview. How can our readers contact you, including on social media. And is there anything else you like for our readers to know about you?
MARINA - Thank you for having me. The best way to contact me would be via my website - https://thetraderchick.com-- Beyond The Trades Interview Series is Sponsored by --
https://microefutures.com/ - https://equitiesetc.com/
Beyond The Trades 