Paper trading is a necessity for any options trader to be successful.

What is paper trading?

Paper trading is a great way to learn about options without putting any money at risk. Paper trading involves buying and selling options contracts in a simulated account without exchanging real money. 

Paper trading allows you to practice options trading without worrying about the financial risks associated with real-world trading.

Paper trading is an excellent way to learn the basics of options trading, and you can also use it to test new strategies without the risk of financial losses.

Why do I need to paper trade?

Paper trading is a simulated process in which investors buy and sell securities, such as stocks or options, without using real money. This allows you to test investment strategies and assess their performance before investing any actual capital. 

Paper trading also enables you to practice your decision-making skills and better understand how the markets work.

Many paper trading platforms are available online, and some brokerages offer paper trading accounts to their clients. 

Paper trading can be an invaluable tool for new and experienced investors as a “test kitchen” for new strategies and markets.

Two problems with paper trading

Paper trading is a great way to learn about the stock market and hone your investing skills. However, there are some limitations to paper trading.

One issue is that simulated fill prices may not accurately reflect real-world conditions. 

While some paper trading platforms use live market pricing, incorporating the current bid-ask spread in pricing decisions, precise order fill levels can only be known in a live trading account. This means that you may not get an accurate picture of how your positions would perform.

Another issue is that you may be tempted to place trades beyond what you could afford with real money. If you would typically trade $500 positions in a $10,000 account, paper trading hundreds of thousands of dollars may distort your perception of a strategy’s performance. This can lead to allocation issues and create unrealistic expectations.

It's also important to understand certain regulations that may impact live trading accounts. For example, you should be aware of the pattern day trader rule if planning to trade actively with an account under $25,000.

You have to put "skin in the game" eventually

Paper trading is a great way to learn the ropes of the stock market without risking real money. However, you’ll want (and need) to transition to live trading at some point if you are going to progress as a trader. There are a few things to keep in mind when making this transition.

First, you'll need to open a brokerage account. This is different from a paper trading account, as it allows you to buy and sell actual stocks, options, or other securities.

You'll also need to choose a trading platform. This is the software you'll use to place trades and track your portfolio. There are many different platforms available, so be sure to do your research before deciding.

Finally, remember that paper trading is all about learning and experimentation. Don't be afraid to make mistakes - that's how you'll learn and become a successful trader in the long run!