Work Invest Spend (WIS) is a personal trading and investing blog where I share lessons from 17+ years of experience. The name reflects a core philosophy: Work to earn money, Invest that money, then Spend only the returns while keeping your principal intact.

I’m a retail trader who has been in the markets since 2007. I’ve traded stocks, forex, options, crypto, and futures. I’ve made money, lost money, blown accounts, and learned expensive lessons. This site shares those experiences honestly. Read more about me.

No. I don’t sell courses, signals, or trading systems. This site exists to share knowledge freely. I’m not trying to profit from your education – I’m sharing what I wish someone had told me when I started.

Start with the Your Journey page for a structured learning path. If you’re completely new, begin with A Giant Casino to understand what you’re getting into.

Yes, but the odds are against you. Studies consistently show 70-90% of retail traders lose money. Success requires proper education, emotional discipline, risk management, and years of experience. Most people underestimate how difficult it is.

You can start with as little as $100-500 for forex or crypto. For stocks, many brokers have no minimums. However, never risk money you can’t afford to lose. Start small, learn the basics, and only increase size when consistently profitable.

Start with what interests you, but understand each has different characteristics. Stocks are simpler for beginners. Forex operates 24/5 with high leverage. Crypto is 24/7 but highly volatile. Options have complexity but offer defined risk. I trade all of them for different purposes.

There is no “best” strategy – only what works for your personality, schedule, and risk tolerance. The best strategy is one you can execute consistently without emotional breakdown. Focus on risk management first, strategy second.

Common reasons: overleveraging, no risk management, emotional trading, lack of education, unrealistic expectations, and treating it like gambling rather than a business. Read Your Internal Enemies for more on trading psychology.

It depends on what you’re trading and where you live. I share the brokers I personally use on the Brokers I’m Using page. Always check regulation, fees, and platform features before choosing.

A-Book (ECN/STP): Passes your orders to liquidity providers. They profit from spreads/commissions – no conflict of interest.

B-Book (Market Maker): Takes the opposite side of your trade. They profit when you lose – potential conflict of interest.

For forex, I prefer A-Book brokers. See my Forex Broker Checklist.

Choose regulated brokers in reputable jurisdictions (FCA, ASIC, MAS, CFTC/NFA). Check segregated client funds requirements. Never deposit more than you can afford to lose. Spread funds across multiple brokers for large accounts.

It’s a wealth-building philosophy: Earn $100, invest it to generate returns (say 10%), spend only the $10 return, and keep the $100 principal. Your money works for you, and you only spend what it earns. Learn the full philosophy.

Your Freedom Number is how much invested capital you need for returns to cover expenses. If you spend $3,000/month ($36,000/year) and expect 10% returns, you need $360,000 invested. The WIS Philosophy page has a calculator.