Best female traders in the world

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Best female traders in the world:

Kathy Lien — is a well-known Forex market analyst and expert based in New York;
Linda Bradford Raschke — is a professional trader with a career over 40 years;
Raghee Horner — she is well-known for developing the GRaB and Wave Premium Indicator;
Jennifer Fan — is a well-known trader with a particular focus on commodities;
Lauren Simmons — youngest and only female trader at the NYSE at the age of 23.

The world of trading has long been dominated by men, but that is beginning to change. More and more women are making their mark in the financial markets and proving they have what it takes to be successful traders. In this article, we highlight 10 of the top female traders who are at the forefront of this shift. From legends like Linda Bradford Raschke, who got her start trading futures in the 1980s, to rising stars like Lauren Simmons, these women demonstrate that skill, determination, and emotional control are the keys to trading success, regardless of gender. Their accomplishments and insights show that women have an important perspective to bring to trading and offer encouragement to aspiring female traders worldwide. Whether trend followers, swing traders, or day traders, these exceptional women have mastered their craft and serve as role models in the industry.

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Best Female Traders

In this section, the experts have briefly discussed the top 10 best female traders in the world. These women have demonstrated exceptional skills in trading and have achieved considerable success in the financial markets. Let's dive in and explore their trading careers, strategies, and what beginner traders can learn from them.

According to Traders Union’s experts, some of the most successful female traders in the world include:

Kathy Lien
Linda Bradford Raschke
Jennifer Fan
Raghee Horner
Lucy Baldwin
Lauren Simmons
Nelisiwe Masango
Shay (Humbled Trader)
Mandi Pour Rafsendjani
Stephanie Link

Kathy Lien

Kathy Lien. Source: Schwab Trading

Kathy Lien is a well-known Forex market analyst and expert based in New York. She graduated from New York University's Stern School of Business and began her Wall Street career at the young age of 18. She worked for JP Morgan Chase, specializing in the currency market, and later joined FXCM and specialized FX websites. Lien has extensive experience in developing trading strategies and has been featured in various financial media outlets such as The WSJ, Bloomberg, and CNBC. She co-founded BKForex.com and is the Managing Director of FX Strategy for BK Asset Management. At 21, Lien launched DailyFX.com, where she focused on G20 currencies.

Linda Bradford Raschke

Linda Bradford Raschke.Source: Market Bulls

Linda Bradford Raschke is a professional trader based in Chicago with a career spanning over 40 years. She began her trading journey in 1981 and has since become one of the best commodities and futures traders in the world. Since the early 1990s, she has also assumed the role of a Commodity Trading Advisor.

Raschke is an exchange member of the Pacific Coast Exchange and Philidelphia Exchange. She is known for her ability to identify and act on trading patterns and her consistent and long-term approach to trading. Beginner traders can learn from her expertise in trading futures and equities markets and her consistency in trading.

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Raghee Horner

Raghee Horner. Source: X.com

Horner has experience trading futures, equities, options, and spot currencies over a range of time periods. She is well-known for developing the GRaB and Wave Premium Indicator. Her methodical, process-driven trading approach is founded on technical and fundamental analysis as well as price action.

Horner is the Managing Director of Futures Trading and contributes to Simpler Trading's content.

Jennifer Fan

Jennifer Fan. Source: simons-rock

Jennifer Fan is a well-known trader in the US with a particular focus on commodities. After graduating from New York University's Stern School of Business at 19, Fan worked for various big names on Wall Street before founding her own hedge fund, Arbalet Capital, which focused on commodities trading. She later joined Millennium Management as a portfolio manager and is currently the CEO of Family Office, a private wealth and asset management firm.

Fan's belief that commodities are essential to people and society informs her trading strategy, and she was recognized for her success in finance by being included in Forbes' 30 Under 30: Finance in 2012.

Lauren Simmons

Lauren Simmons. Source: CNBC

Lauren Simmons is a remarkable female trader who made history as the youngest and only full-time female trader at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) at the age of 23. She is also the second African American woman to work on Wall Street in over 226 years. Despite her background in genetics, Simmons pursued a career in finance and trading stocks for Rosenblatt Securities. Her success has made her an inspiration for women in a male-dominated industry.

Simmons is also a published author, a speaker, and a TV and film director. She is active on social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, where she encourages others to believe in themselves and reject limiting beliefs.

Lucy Baldwin

Lucy Baldwin. Source: The Australian

Lucy Baldwin is a successful female trader who was featured on Forbes' "30 Under 30 in Finance" list for two years in a row. She has held top positions at prominent banks such as Goldman Sachs and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where she traded European equities. Baldwin is currently the Global Head of Sales at Credit Suisse, a global wealth management company.

In addition to her impressive resume, Baldwin believes that a trader's success requires both a strong IQ and emotional intelligence. She suggests that emotional intelligence can aid in discipline, which is an essential quality for successful trading.

Nelisiwe Masango

Nelisiwe Masango. Source: Greenfuture

Nelisiwe Masango is a successful Forex trader from South Africa who transitioned from aspiring to become a neurosurgeon to discovering her love for finance and investment. She dropped out of her entrepreneurial management course to pursue trading, which turned out to be a wise decision. Despite the risks involved, Nelisiwe has made a name for herself in the industry and is now considered one of the most successful Forex traders in her country.

She is the CEO and founder of Bear Run Investments, a company that aims to provide affordable financial programs and packages to promote financial growth within the community.

Shay (Humbled Trader)

Shay. Source: chatwithtraders.com

Shay, also known as the Humbled trader, is a self-taught stock trader who previously worked in the VFX industry. When she first started trading in 2014, she followed the advice of "chat room gurus" and lost over $20,000. She learned from her mistakes and developed her trading strategy, now focusing on price action and risk management.

Shay founded the Humbled Trader Academy to help others learn from her experiences, and she has a popular YouTube channel with over 850,000 subscribers. Her channel offers a range of day trading-related content, including SEC filings, trading strategies, market recaps, and educational material. Shay stresses the importance of adapting trading methods and styles to the markets, and encourages traders to analyze charts, journal their trades, and develop concrete strategies for success.

Mandi Pour Rafsendjani

Mandi Pour Rafsendjani. Source: YouTube

Mandi Pour Rafsendjani is an experienced trader and coach who has been active in the financial markets for more than 15 years. She is based in Germany but is originally from Australia. Rafsendjani specializes in German DAX and Forex trading but also trades other assets such as stocks, indices, and commodities such as Futures and CFDs. Besides trading, she also coaches traders of all levels, including retail, professional, and institutional investors, on improving their trading performance, strategy, and psychology. Rafsendjani incorporates various approaches from fields such as Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Neuro-Science, and Behavioral Finance.

Stephanie Link

Stephanie Link is a prominent trader in the US who currently serves as the chief investment strategist and portfolio manager at Hightower Advisors. She graduated from Boston College's Carroll School of Management and has over 28 years of experience in the financial industry. Link is highly skilled in securities, investment advisory, mutual funds, trading, and fundamental analysis. She is also a regular contributor to CNBC and has a strong social media presence on both LinkedIn and Twitter.

Where to start your trading career?

To start your trading career, it is beneficial to have a broker that offers a wide selection of stocks and currency pairs, as well as options for beginners, such as demo accounts for testing strategies and cent accounts for practicing with real money but with lower risk. Additionally, the broker should be well-regulated. With copy trading, you can follow and replicate the strategies of experienced traders, allowing you to learn from their expertise and potentially achieve better trading results.

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How many female traders are there?

According to statistics from Zippia, in 2021, women represent only 15.5% of stock traders while men represent 84.5% in the US. This indicates a significant gender gap in the industry. Additionally, women in the industry earn only 90 cents for every dollar earned by men, highlighting a gender pay gap as well.

This lack of gender diversity in trading may be due to various factors, such as gender stereotypes, the perception that trading is a high-risk activity, and the lack of female role models in the industry.

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Do males and females trade differently?

Davis and Berkeley, academics from the University of California and the University of California respectively, found that men trade with a 45% higher frequency than women but have a 2.65% reduction in net returns per annum.

The overconfidence factor leads to higher frequency trading by men, who tend to take greater risks impulsively without analyzing the bigger picture, while women take less optimal setups less frequently and tend to have a higher winning percentage. In fact, female traders tend to outperform male traders and are more prone to trade at extremes. In a sample, the best and worst performers at any given time were more likely to be male than female.

Other key observations include:

Women tend to invest less frequently, hold positions for longer, and deliberate before placing a trade, which creates greater financial returns.
Women tend to admit their mistakes quickly, ask questions to understand better, adhere more strictly to their strategy and cut losses better.
On volatile days, women tend to act more sensibly, while men tend to panic and sell positions.
Women tend to be more risk-averse and execute less extreme strategies, but being too conservative can result in lower returns.
Women tend to have smaller, concentrated portfolios, which allows for better management of trades.

The take-home message is to take fewer high-quality trades, not hold onto losing positions, and have a trading plan that is strictly adhered to.

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What can I learn from professional female traders?

Although all professional traders can be idolized irrespective of their gender, research suggests that female traders have an edge over male traders in certain aspects. So, experts have highlighted the following qualities to be learned from professional female traders:

Discipline: Professional female traders are disciplined in their approach to trading. They have a well-defined strategy, follow risk management rules, and adhere to their trading plan.
Patience: Female traders tend to be more patient than male traders. They are willing to wait for the right opportunity and do not rush into trades without proper analysis.
Adaptability: Successful female traders are adaptable and can quickly adjust to changes in the market. They are aware of market trends and can make informed decisions to stay ahead of the curve. For example, there are a large number of successful female Forex traders on Instagram.
Emotional control: Female traders tend to be less emotional than male traders. They are able to control their emotions and make rational decisions based on market data.
Attention to detail: Female traders pay close attention to details and are meticulous in their analysis of market trends. They use this information to make informed decisions and minimize risks.
Continuous learning: Professional female traders are constantly learning and improving their skills. They stay up-to-date with market trends and seek out opportunities to expand their knowledge.
Networking: Successful female traders understand the value of networking. They form relationships with other traders and professionals in the industry, which helps them stay informed and learn from others' experiences.

In conclusion, learning from professional female traders can provide valuable insights into the qualities required to be a successful trader. These qualities include discipline, patience, adaptability, emotional control, attention to detail, continuous learning, and networking. By developing these skills, traders can improve their chances of success in the financial markets.

FAQs

Who is the best female trader?

There are many successful female traders in the world, and it is difficult to pinpoint one as the "best." However, some of the most well-known and respected female traders include Linda Bradford Raschke, Kathy Lien, and Lucy Baldwin

Who is the richest female trader in the world?

The richest female trader in the world is Kathy Lien, a successful currency trader and the author of several books on Forex trading.

Are there successful female traders?

Yes, there are many successful female traders in various markets, including stocks, Forex, and commodities. Some of the most successful traders in history have been women, such as Nelisiwe Masango and Kathy Lien.

Can I become a millionaire trading female?

Gender does not determine whether one can become a millionaire trader. Success in trading is based on a combination of knowledge, skills, experience, and discipline, regardless of gender. Becoming a millionaire trader requires dedication, hard work, and a solid trading strategy, and anyone, irrespective of their gender, can achieve this with the right mindset and approach.

Team that worked on the article

Parshwa is a content expert and finance professional possessing deep knowledge of stock and options trading, technical and fundamental analysis, and equity research. As a Chartered Accountant Finalist, Parshwa also has expertise in Forex, crypto trading, and personal taxation. His experience is showcased by a prolific body of over 100 articles on Forex, crypto, equity, and personal finance, alongside personalized advisory roles in tax consultation.

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Chinmay Soni is a financial analyst with more than 5 years of experience in working with stocks, Forex, derivatives, and other assets. As a founder of a boutique research firm and an active researcher, he covers various industries and fields, providing insights backed by statistical data. He is also an educator in the field of finance and technology.

As an author for Traders Union, he contributes his deep analytical insights on various topics, taking into account various aspects.

Mirjan Hipolito is a journalist and news editor at Traders Union. She is an expert crypto writer with five years of experience in the financial markets. Her specialties are daily market news, price predictions, and Initial Coin Offerings (ICO).

Options trading

Options trading is a financial derivative strategy that involves the buying and selling of options contracts, which give traders the right (but not the obligation) to buy or sell an underlying asset at a specified price, known as the strike price, before or on a predetermined expiration date. There are two main types of options: call options, which allow the holder to buy the underlying asset, and put options, which allow the holder to sell the underlying asset.

CFD

CFD is a contract between an investor/trader and seller that demonstrates that the trader will need to pay the price difference between the current value of the asset and its value at the time of contract to the seller.

Fundamental Analysis

Fundamental analysis is a method or tool that investors use that seeks to determine the intrinsic value of a security by examining economic and financial factors. It considers macroeconomic factors such as the state of the economy and industry conditions.

Copy trading

Copy trading is an investing tactic where traders replicate the trading strategies of more experienced traders, automatically mirroring their trades in their own accounts to potentially achieve similar results.

Day trading

Day trading involves buying and selling financial assets within the same trading day, with the goal of profiting from short-term price fluctuations, and positions are typically not held overnight.