If you're a trader, you know how important a trader’s workstation is when it comes to focus and overall productivity. Do you ever wonder how others organize their trading desks?
We did, so we asked for traders to share photos of their setups. From multiple monitors to creative home trading desk furniture, we saw it all.
Here are a few tips for maximizing your own trading desk environment, whether you are a day trader, swing trader or self-directed active investor:
You may get some great ideas for setting up your ideal trading desk by checking out photos of some of the impressive trading workspaces we received. Here are trading desk setups from traders and investors around the world:
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Charles Lewis
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Ryan Herron
My humble desk.
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Donald B. Cummings, Jr.
I trade mostly cash bonds so I have a few different feeds because there are very few centralized markets for corporates or
munis. Good transparency, but very little centralized trading. I can also survive on a more minimalist system, which
was my office setup in Buenos Aires this past January. One laptop and one iPad. When the
polar vortex hit Illinois, I got out of town for a month. Next remote location? Probably Paris.
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Tony G.
4 monitors, 4 Brokers, 4 commodity pairs
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Hugh Kimura
I believe in simplicity and portability. I like my external monitor when I am at home, but my laptop alone suits me fine.
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Remzi Bajrami
With a focus on day trading stocks, I like to keep things simple. Here is my 2 iMac setup (a 27" and 24"). I can easily
trade for just one laptop or up to 3 computers; more is probably too much.
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Richard
Understanding the bigger picture - Less is more with one or two monitors!
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Alan Farley
My workstation is beat up from 15+ years of market madness. It has that "lived in" look because I live in that chair. Also notice
how few charts I watch, despite my reputation as a chart guy.
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Phillip Ruffolo
High in the Andes Mountains of Central Ecuador. Twin 24-inch monitors on a dedicated trading computer, a third monitor shared
through a KVM with 2 laptops and a desktop each with their own purpose and network.
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Gordon Eckler
I used to sit in front of a huge array of monitors and then read reports about the diminishing returns of more than
2 monitors. So much of my trading has become automated and co-located, I really only need one screen and a remote desktop connection.
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Charles Kirk
Charles E. Kirk has been investing and trading for over 20 years.
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John Carter
The trading desks of John Carter.
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Hrishikesh Prabhavalkar
Learning the ongoing process of the Art of Making Money
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Marcello Arrambide
Marcello uses just one laptop to day trade and travel around the world. This was his office for 6 months in Rio De Janeiro
overlooking the sugar loaf mountain.
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Brian Lund
Ever hear of "do what I say, not as I do?" Well this setup is a great representation of that. The FEWER screens you can
use in your trading the better. I just got in the habit of having multiple screens before I knew what I was doing, and now I am stuck with
them, but simpler is always better.
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Blain Reinkensmeyer
When not blogging or reviewing financial products, you'll find Blain monitoring the market action with his triple
24" LED monitor trading rig. In Blain's eyes: "You can never have enough screens. I am currently aching to buy three more to serve as a second row."
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Neil Davis
Neil says: "Basic in comparison, but I enjoy the view."
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Keith Hetherington
From Keith: "2 traders, 3 computers, 20 monitors."
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Joseph Meth
Joseph says: "Messy but trying to follow the "K.I.S.S." principal...Simple but it works for trading and writing blog posts."
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Joann Farley
From Joann: "Three computers… yes I drive a mouse with both left hand and right!"
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Debbie Hague
Debbie calls her trading desk "The Pirate's Helm." She means business!
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Dan Sugar
Dan has several years experience as a floor trader but decided to change paths and began trading Stocks, Futures, Options and Forex Currencies from the screen. Here's where the trading happens.
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Merlin Rothfeld
Here's Merlin at one of the trading setups at the Online Trading Academy corporate office. Merlin says: "It's very fun to work with! Especially with the virtual labs!"
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Louise Carr
Louise's trading desk is sleek and organized. She says trading has given her the ability to enjoy life without being tied down to a full-time corporate day job.
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Steve Bobbitt
In regards to his trading desk and life in general, Steve says: "Why be normal? Think differently!"
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Tillie Allison
Laptop, tablet, multiple monitors… Tillie is covering all the bases! When she's not teaching courses at Online Trading Academy, here is her home trading desk setup.