Financial Tips

Why use MetaTrader?

When it comes to trading financial markets online, having confidence in the tools you use is crucial to being able to perform at your best. Traders and investors want to know that the platform they use is reliable and fast enough to ensure that their trading experience is an enjoyable one.

And with so many trading platforms on the web, many traders, and especially those new to trading online, struggle to find the best trading platform for their needs. Whether you’re looking into Forex trading, trading Stocks or even trading commodities, you want to know that the platform you’ve chosen meets your needs and offers you the best possible price and no lag or potential downtime.

So, why use MetaTrader? MetaTrader is one of the most popular names in online trading platforms and is used by beginners, experienced traders and professionals alike. Originally launched with the MetaTrader 4 (sometimes called MT4) platform in 2005, the MetaTrader platforms have gone from strength to strength ever since.

There is now a MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platform too, as well as mobile apps as part of the platform offering but the essentials that have made the name synonymous with trading online have remained the same. Traders primarily choose the MT4 or MT5 platform for:

• Reliability – Both platforms are reliable and easy to use and have a strong track record of success.
• Intuitive – Both platforms are intuitive and designed in a way that makes executing trades simple and efficient.
• Flexible – Both MT4 and MT5 are incredibly flexible and allow traders to execute advanced trading strategies, trade directly from charts and view extended timeframes
• Powerful Tools – The MetaTrader platforms come with interactive charts, advanced technical indicators, pre-built trading strategies, trading alerts, stop orders and more.

It is easy to see why plenty of traders around the world choose MetaTrader as their go-to platform. With both MT4 and MT5 supporting mobile trading on any device, they allow traders to stay on top of market movement and intelligently manage their positions in response to increased volatility.

With Stop Loss and Market Orders available too, the MetaTrader platforms offer risk management tools for responsible trading to ensure investors and traders close out their position at a set price if the market moves against them.

What is the difference between MT4 and MT5 and which is better?

We’ve seen a little of what makes the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms so popular with investors and online traders but what about the differences, and do these impact the actual trading experience? Let’s have a look at each platform’s features and differences.

MetaTrader 4 Features

MetaTrader 4 is the original MetaTrader platform, and while it has undergone updates since its launch, it remains reassuringly familiar. MT4 offers traders both market and pending order functionality as well as instant execution on trades.

Whether your purpose is Forex trading, trading Stocks or trading Commodities, you can trade directly from charts for greater clarity and responsiveness. The platform also offers key risk management tools like stop loss orders and trailing stops.

One of the more popular features of MetaTrader 4 is the ability to see a complete trading history, and this is a valuable tool in helping you refine your long term trading strategy. It is incredibly useful to see where and how your trades succeed or fail, and every responsible trader should be managing their performance and accessing their level of risk by keeping a close eye on their trading history.

MT4 is packed with technical tools to help analyse the markets too. Traders can get online quotes and view market movement over 9 periods to track price changes. With 23 analytical objects and 30 built-in technical indicators, traders and investors that use MetaTrader4 can quickly and easily view key price points and respond to both trading opportunities as they develop, and potential spikes in volatility which could increase risk.

MetaTrader4 also offers trading signals and algorithmic trading functionality for more experienced traders. Finally, MT4 is available on all mobile devices too, allowing traders to keep an eye on market movement whenever they want, and wherever they happen to travel.

MetaTrader 4 summary:

• 3 execution modes
• 2 market orders
• 4 pending orders
• 2 stop orders and a trailing stop
• 23 analytical objects
• 30 built-in technical indicators
• Interactive charts
• Trading signals and algorithmic trading
• Available on all mobile devices

MetaTrader 5 Features

MetaTrader 5 is the more advanced MetaTrader platform and markets itself as “a platform for Forex and Exchange markets.” This makes sense as the Meta platforms have always been highly popular with FX traders in particular, with their strong charting package and instant execution functionality.

While MetaTrader 5 is very popular with FX traders, it still offers a wide range of multi-asset class instruments and traders can choose from Indices, Commodities, Stocks and FX. MetaTrader 5 comes packed with more advanced features and suits professional and experienced traders well with its Market Depth and separate accounting system providing flexibility and speed.

MT5 supports every type of trade order imaginable with market, pending, stops and trailing stops all available. There are also four order execution options to support a wide range of trading strategies and these include Instant, Request, Market and Exchange execution.

The platform offers daily news and analysis of financial markets to help keep traders informed and identify trading opportunities. And with 30 technical indicators and 24 analytical objects including Gann, Fibonacci and Elliott tools, technical traders will have the powerful tools they need to track and trade on price movement.

Traders can trade directly from charts in MT5 with 9 timeframes available and three different chart types, including bars, Japanese candlesticks and broken line.

Like with MT4, traders get a full, comprehensive trading history to help build and develop their trading strategy while tracking performance.

As the more advanced trading platform, MT5 also offers complex automated and algorithmic trading as well as robot trading and access to the MetaTrader Market of trading apps. Traders can also make use of the professional MQL5 development environment for a more personalised trading experience.

MetaTrader 5 is available to download on desktop and Mac and is available across all mobile devices including iPad, iPhone and Android phone.

MetaTrader 5 summary:

• Interactive real-time price charts
• 30 popular technical indicators
• 24 analytical objects
• Tools like lines, channels, geometric shapes, as well as Gann, Fibonacci and Elliott tools
• 9 timeframes: M1, M5, M15, M30, H1, H4, D1, W1 and MN
• 3 types of charts including bars, Japanese candlesticks and broken line
• Full trading history
• Market, pending, stop losses and trailing stops all available
• 4 order execution options: Instant, Request, Market and Exchange execution
• Algorithmic trading and robot trading
• Professional MQL5 development environment
• MetaTrader Market of trading apps
• Available on mobile, iPad, iPhone, Android phone and tablet

MT4 vs MT5 Pros & Cons

Choosing between MT4 and MT5 largely depends on what you’re looking for in a trading platform, and how experienced you are. Both platforms are exceptionably capable and offer a wide range of trading tools to help support your chosen trading strategy.

The type of traders who may choose MT4 likely prefer its relative simplicity vs MT5 and the ability to trade directly from charts without clutter or information overkill. The market orders, risk tools, analytical objects and technical indicators offer technical traders solid tools for trading just about any market.

The platform doesn’t really have any negatives with everything in its correct place, instant execution for fast trades and an intuitive interface that makes everything from finding the right market to placing a trade simple and easy.

The type of traders who may feel MetaTrader 5 meets their needs better are likely the more experienced traders and/or professional traders. MT5 is built as a more advanced option with 9 timeframes, 3 types of charts, the professional MQL5 development environment and access to MetaTrader apps.

Instant, Request, Market and Exchange execution options offer pro traders greater flexibility in defining their trading strategy and with algorithmic trading and robot trading available there are plenty of options to trade intelligently.

MetraTrader5 has few cons but it is worth bearing in mind that the platform has been built for experienced traders and those newer to the markets may feel overwhelmed by the functionality on offer. The type of professional tools available in MT5 take a great deal of experience to master and if you’re a newer trader, MetaTrader 4 may be the better option.

Is there a better platform for trading?

As we’ve seen, the choice of trading platform is largely subjective and is often personal to a trader based on their likes, the type of market they trade and the functionality they refer and expect.

Both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 offer superb functionality and capabilities that will support both new and experienced traders to trade with confidence.

Eightcap offers both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 as well as EightCap WebTrader which comes packed with similar functionality and an outstanding charting package. For traders who enjoy trading via a web browser for easy access this may also be a strong option.

Conclusion

MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 are amongst the most popular and reliable trading platforms available online. With a wide range of features, risk protection tools and mobile functionality, they give traders the foundation and support they require to trade intelligently.

For newer traders, MT4 may be the best option with its intuitive interface and easy to use tools. The charting package available is also excellent and the uncluttered interface helps newer traders to focus on both market movement and technical price points of interest without distraction.

More experienced and professional traders are likely better off choosing MetaTrader 5 with its more advanced functionality and powerful charting package that offers a huge array of technical indicators and tools like Gann, Fibonacci and Elliott.

Both platforms are available on mobile for ease of use and this allows traders to stay in touch with the markets and monitor their positions whenever and wherever they want.

FAQs

Where can I trade on MT4 and MT5?

You can trade on both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 with a CFD trading account at Eightcap. Download the software or the app and use your account details to log in.

Can I trade MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 on mobile?

Yes – both MT4 and MT5 are available on mobile and you can download either app on Android or iOS and trade on both mobile and tablet.

I’m new to trading, which platform will suit me best?

If you’re newer to trading online, you may find that MetaTrader 4 suits you better. MT4 is a powerful trading platform but comes without the professional capabilities of MT5.

Does MT4 have a charting package?

Yes, MT4 comes with a strong charting package that features a wide range of technical indicators, trade direct from chart functionality and analytical objects to help ensure accurate, technical trading.

Is MetaTrader 5 a professional trading platform?

Yes – MT5 has been built for more experienced and professional traders and comes with trading capabilities and tools designed for more complex trading strategies. While newer traders can still use MT5, they may find some of the functionality overwhelming.

Do the MetaTrader platforms have risk protection tools?

Yes – both MT4 and MT4 trading platforms have stop loss protection and trailing stop loss protection available. These tools are an important part of a responsible trading strategy and can be used to limit losses if the market moves against you suddenly.

Does MetaTrader 4 have technical tools?

Yes – MetaTrader 4 has a total of 23 analytical objects as well as 30 built-in technical indicators.

Learn more about trading CFDs on MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5 in our Education Hub, or subscribe to Eightcap’s Week Ahead Newsletter for more trading insights, analysis and news. Or visit Eightcap’s platform pages for a full breakdown of platform functionality.

 

For all financial experts and advisors, one of the most commonly faced questions is that of which financial planning softwares to use. You may hear many different things about infinite banking, and it can be tough to decipher whether or not infinite banking software is worth considering among the many other banking software options.

This article will explore why an infinite banking calculator is a useful tool and how you can improve your client services by using one.

What is an Infinite Banking Calculator?

An infinite banking calculator helps show a client what they can expect in the future from an infinite banking plan. It takes into account the variables of their personal whole life insurance policy as well as market fluctuations to determine a reasonably accurate future cash value prediction, and how the client can borrow against their policy to improve their liquidity and cash flow in the process.

How does it give a 360 degree look into finances?

Did you know that an IBC calculator can give you a 360-degree look into your client’s finances? This means you can see all aspects of their financial situation, including their income, debts, assets, and expenses, in one place. It offers information that is invaluable when it comes to financial planning.

With this information, you can make informed decisions about allocating your client’s resources. You can also develop a financial plan tailored to their specific needs and goals.

For instance, if your client has a lot of debt, you can use a borrowing strategy calculator to see how much they can afford to pay each month. This will help you develop a debt repayment plan that is realistic and achievable.

If your client’s goal is to save for retirement, you can use the infinite banking calculator to see how much they need to save each month. This will help you develop a retirement savings plan that is right for them.

Why is it essential to have a solid financial plan in place?

In today’s world, it’s more important than ever to have a solid financial plan in place. With the cost of living on the rise and the economy in a state of flux, it’s crucial to have a plan to help you prepare for your future financial situation.

One of the best ways to create a solid financial plan is to use an infinite banking calculator. This innovative tool can help you determine how much money you need to save and invest and how much you need to set aside for unexpected expenses.

According to Money Under 30, an IBC calculator can help you “see the big picture of someone’s financial life and develop a plan to achieve their goals.” This is an invaluable tool for anyone who wants to get their finances on track.

The Bottom Line

If you’re unsure where to start, several providers of such software can help you get started. This software enables you to create a budget and track your client’s progress over time. And it can provide tips on saving money and making your money work harder for you.

It’s important to remember that no financial strategy is perfect, but a banking calculator can help build a strategy tailored to one’s unique needs and goals. With this tool in your arsenal, you’ll be well on your way to financial success. Start using it today and take a big step toward creating a bright career as an expert.

 

If you want your investments to align with your faith and biblical teachings, you need to look for Christian based financial advisors. Here are factors to consider before choosing any Christian-based financial service.

Biblical Worldview

The Christian-based financial advisor should operate with high standards of integrity. There are many verses in the Bible related to money and they give us God’s perfect wisdom for how we should handle our money. The Bible teaches that you should not be greedy for money and warns us that we cannot be devoted to both God and money (Matthew 6:24).

The financial advisor should follow the biblical teachings and use them as a guide to managing their client’s investments. He should help the client pursue a biblical view of their financial future that focuses on finding God’s Kingdom as a focal point for all investments. The finance professional should not have a secular view about investments that focus only or primarily on accumulating wealth.

Emphasis on Stewardship

Christian-based financial advisors are different from regular financial advisors. The finance professional should understand that everything in this world belongs to God and people are only managers of what God entrusts to them. The financial advisor should be aware of the biblical teachings about money and be faithful to follow these teachings as they help you to faithfully steward the money that God has entrusted to you. Stewardship is one of the most important teachings in Scripture and it emphasizes the duty of managing and utilizing resources provided by God for the welfare of people.

The financial advisor’s actions or decisions about investments should align with the Bible’s teachings about money and Stewardship.

Responsible Spending

The Christian financial advisor should guide the client toward responsible spending that avoids a wasteful lifestyle. The advisor should encourage clients to spend responsibly and avoid spending more than their earnings. Financial advice should focus on saving and investing and avoiding debt whenever possible.

Integrity

The financial advisor should maintain the highest level of integrity when interacting with clients. Besides having a firm commitment with each client, the financial advisor should also maintain confidential relationships with clients. Also, the financial advisor should put the client’s interests above themselves when making any financial decision for the client.

Professional Competency

The finance professional should have obtained proper education to provide financial services. In addition, the advisors should have years of experience as financial consultants and have a good track record of offering competent financial services to their clients.

The advisors should pursue ongoing education and development by taking additional courses to improve their knowledge and skills.

Good Reputation

A good reputation is a crucial trait when looking for a financial advisor. The advisors you choose should be held in high regard by their clients. Also, they should be considered leaders in their community.

You should consider these factors before choosing any Christian financial advisor.

 

So, you are interested in the idea of making money from home without needing to set up a business? Of course, there are plenty of ways to make money online, but one that seems particularly intriguing is trading. If you have no experience in this field, it’s not too late to learn how to trade foreign currencies and start investing in stocks for profit.

The first step when learning how to trade currencies is deciding if it suits your goals and skill set. The market can be very lucrative, but it can also be unstable at times. It’s an ever-changing system where even the most experienced traders cannot accurately predict what will happen next. It makes it difficult but exciting.

If you genuinely believe that you would like to start your journey into trading currencies, these five simple steps will help you on your way.

Step 1: Conduct a Self-Assessment.

Knowledge, abilities, and qualities are essential. Trading requires a combination of knowledge, skills, and traits and a dedication to a particular lifestyle. Are you comfortable with mathematical analysis, equipped with financial information, aware of behavioural psychology (both yours and others), and ready to take the plunge? Contrary to popular belief, trading necessitates:

• Harsh working hours.
• No leave.
• Self-learning without guidance.
• Abilities in risk-taking.
• Never-ending dedication to job duties is a necessary characteristic of a truck driver.

The most essential (and first) condition for becoming a trader is to have the proper mentality. Trading is not for everyone; unless you are ready to devote time, learn on your own, and be mentally prepared to take gambles and lose money, do not try it.

Step 2: Find Yourself a Platform.

There are plenty of options to choose from, all offering different features and fees. Do your research thoroughly before committing to one so you can find the best platform for your needs. Some standard features include charts, news feeds and technical indicators, which can aid traders in analysing.

Once you have chosen a platform, it is time to open an account with a broker. When doing this, do not rush into choosing just any broker – pick carefully! Many factors should influence your choice, including customer reviews, history and reputation. Compare several brokers online before settling on one because whichever company you choose will significantly influence how successful you are at foreign currency trading.

Step 3: Arrange Sufficient Capital.

It’s challenging to maintain a profit. Short-term and long-term losses characterise trading.

A trader must have a sufficient reserve of cash to manage these risks. Trading with only a tiny amount of money is an almost certain way to fail. Before quitting your job to trade full-time, Tharp recommends that you develop at least $100,000 in your trading account.

Depending on your selected trading strategy, the frequency of trading, and other expenses they incur, beginners may start with smaller amounts. It is necessary to maintain a $25,000 balance in your trading account to trade actively.

Step 4: Fund Your Account.

Before you can start investing, you need to have an account to deposit money into. There are several ways to fund your new account, including bank transfers and debit cards. As long as it is safe and simple for you, any method is suitable for starting trading currencies online.

Step 5: Start Trading.

As long as you have completed the first two steps, you are ready to begin your journey. This is when it becomes exciting and time for you to start making money from home! Don’t be discouraged if, at first, things do not go exactly the way you planned. It’s part of learning how to trade currencies successfully. Be patient, learn from your mistakes and keep trying until you get the hang of it.

Bottom Line.

Before deciding whether or not foreign currency trading is suitable for you, make sure that it matches your financial goals and strengths. If you are persistent, hardworking, and prefer flexibility, then forex trading is where your future lies! It might not seem easy at first, but the more you try, the faster you will learn to trade currencies successfully.

More often than not, students find themselves neck-deep in debt and unable to make their student loan payments. Out of the blues, a supposed debt relief company reaches out to help ease this loan burden or claims that the loan has been forgiven.

Their offer might sound tempting and too good to be true. Trust me, It probably is. This is one classical instance of student loan scams that is constantly on the rise and which every student must beware of.

The recent rise in incidences points out to the urgent need to inform students on how best to avoid these scams. For this reason, we had a sit-down with the directors of F.H. Cann and Associates. There, they shared various tips and pointers on how best students can avoid student loan scams.

• What was your reaction to the recent rise in student loan scams?

We initially underestimated the issue of student loan scams. We felt with time, it would die a natural death.

Shockingly, the reverse has been the case. As a result of this, we have decided to take steps to painstakingly enlighten people, most especially students, on how to identify scams when they suspect one, as well as what to do after being scammed.

• What are the best ways to spot a student loan scams?
  

For starters, We believe you should never underestimate or overate any circumstance revolving around loan payment. It’s best that you are alert and that you stay cautious every time. Having established this, some of the primary ways we feel you might be able to tell a scam is when;

-The supposed debt relief company promise that your loan would be forgiven or even make some promises that are too good to be true.

-Also, they may request that you give them your account details or some other sensitive credentials.

• How can you best avoid student loan scams?
  

Having established how you can identify a scam, we at F.H. Cann and Associates have come with some key steps you should follow to make sure that you avoid student loan scams at all costs. They include;

-Ensure that you verify the email address used in getting across to you. All you need do is head to the existing servicer’s website rather than clicking the link in the email. This way, you would be sure that the email address is legitimate.

-Furthermore, do not for any reason give out your account details or any other sensitive credentials. This is a widespread practice among scammers. Be at alert not to fall prey.

We've partnered with other student advocacy agencies to launch the national #DontBeFooled campaign with all the information you need to spot and avoid a scam that could cause you to lose money for services you can get for free.

Learn more today: https://t.co/KpM7oy3S6C pic.twitter.com/x2vbvCRGCS

— FH Cann & Associates (@fhcann) April 7, 2021

• What do you advise can be done after being scammed by debt relief companies?

For one, we would advise that once you discover that you had been scammed, make sure you change your account credentials, especially your FSA ID. This would revoke the access granted to the scammers.

Also, get in touch with your loan servicer and ensure that all external authorization to your loan service is revoked.

Most importantly, please report to the authorities in charge, so that they can take all necessary actions to stop the scammers.

• Do you have any additional information to give?

We certainly do! In all your dealings with student loan payment service, always bear in mind that you do not need to pay the federal body to help you with student loans. You can also visit https://studentaid.gov for more information about student loans.

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