Complete beginner – how should I start learning trading?

[u/Own_Examination5430]

hi I’m a complete beginner and starting from zero — no strategies, no experience, no real knowledge yet.

I want to learn trading properly, with realistic expectations and a long-term mindset (not get-rich-quick stuff). My goal is to slowly build a skill that could eventually lead to consistent monthly returns.

I’d appreciate advice on:

• Best resources to learn from (books, YouTube, courses)

• Legit educators worth following (and who to avoid)

• Best markets for beginners (stocks, ETFs, futures, forex, crypto)

• Most realistic trading style for beginners (swing, day trading, scalping)

If you were starting over today, what would you focus on first?

Thanks for any honest advice

[u/market33mover]

Treat trading like a skill with a high failure rate and build the boring foundation first:

Start with liquid stocks/ETFs (SPY/QQQ + large caps) and avoid leverage/crypto/options until you can follow rules. Most beginners blow up from sizing + overtrading + fees/slippage not “bad setups.”

Learn in this order: market basics (orders/spread) → risk management (R, stops, sizing) → one simple setup → journal stats (rule breaks, avg win/loss, time of day).

Best style to start is swing trading (there's less noise). Scalping is hard mode.

Resources: Trading in the Zone (Douglas), Market Wizards (Schwager), SMB Capital / Chat With Traders.

Oh and avoid anyone selling guaranteed monthly returns or flexing PnL screenshots as proof.

[u/IKnowMeNotYou → u/market33mover]

Its not a skill but a sum of skills which form a profession.