Quant vs. trader?

[doctorwes]

Two comments.



First, it's rather hard to describe what it is that makes a good trader, but it seems to correspond to what military types refer to as Fingerspitzengefühl (which I guess is what entaroadun was talking about). It's difficult to explain, but in my experience it's quite real, and quite different from the kind of consciously reflective, analytical thinking that quants are familiar with; in fact, there's some evidence that the distinction has a neurological basis. Sounds like a fascinating topic.



Second, there are lots of different kinds of traders, who do very different things. What is it that you really want? I imagine the vast majority of traders are basically flow traders. I've never had the slightest desire to do that for a living. Whereas being a quant turns out to be a pretty good job, all in all, if you can survive the first couple of years.

[omd]

Fingerspitzengefühl - playing some poker should help with this if you lack it. Play against people at a casino - not your buddies.  Online might be good too, but I have not done that much.

[doctorwes]

By the way, this article is also thought-provoking (though nothing new to some folk around here).

[NorthernJohn]

Entaroadun said "He said he wanted to learn math and C++ to become a quant (" 'cause that's where the money's at")"



This sounds very strange. Quants are well paid, but I think that it would be very, very hard for a trader to come to the conclusion that the quant world is "where the money's at".



I wonder if maybe you came across sommeone who works for a bucket shop, or similar, as opposed to sommeone who really runs a trading book. Too much seems wrong about your guy's attitude and, especially, recruitment preferences.



And I have never, ever, heard of someone wanting to be a trader to become a quant. This all seems pretty mixed up.

[gunboatdiplomat]

N/A