TL;DR: It's possible for a small number of people, but the account you need is much bigger than most expect, and income is lumpy. For most traders, a part-time approach with a job is the better plan.
Start with the maths
Suppose you want 40,000 a year from trading after tax.
| Annual return (before tax) | Account needed for about 50,000 a year |
|---|---|
| 10% | 500,000 |
| 20% | 250,000 |
| 50% | 100,000 |
A consistent 20% a year would be an excellent result for a professional. Promises of 10% a month belong with scam red flags, not with plans.
Income is lumpy
Even with a real edge, months alternate between gains and losses. A trader who needs a fixed monthly income often:
- Takes trades they shouldn't to "hit the number".
- Increases size after losses.
- Withdraws in losing months, shrinking the account that produces the income.
That pressure is the most common reason people who were profitable part-time struggle full-time.
Drawdowns are part of the job
A method that makes 20% a year can easily have a 15% to 25% drawdown along the way. On a 250,000 account, that is tens of thousands lost on paper while still needing to pay rent. The compound interest calculator shows growth; it doesn't show the path.
What to have before considering it
- At least a year, ideally two, of live, journaled results with a positive expectancy after costs.
- Savings to cover a year or more of living costs outside the trading account.
- An account large enough that your target return is realistic.
- A plan for taxes in your country.
- A rule for when you would stop and go back to work.
The alternatives
- Trade part-time with a job. You keep income stability and can trade only the best setups; see trading gold with a full-time job.
- Prop firm capital, with its own rules and risks; see prop firm gold challenges.
- Grow the account first, then decide.
Questions traders ask
How much do full-time traders make? It varies hugely, and the people who share results publicly are not a representative sample.
Can I start with 1,000 and grow it? You can practise and build a record with 1,000. Growing it to a living-sized account by trading alone would need returns that come with very high risk.
Is gold a good market to trade full-time? It is liquid and moves enough to offer opportunities, but it is also volatile, which magnifies the drawdown problem.