How To Start Trading As A Beginner In 2026 (Step-by-Step)
Video Overview & Insights
I made over $70K this month from day trading, and 5 years ago I started with $1,400 and zero clue what I was doing. If you're brand new and you don't even know where to start, this is the only video you need to watch first. 👇
i knew you were from chicago 💚
About this video: I taught myself how to trade off Twitter and Reddit when I was 18. No finance degree, no Wall Street background, no rich uncle... just a girl from Chicago with $1,400 and a willingness to learn. Now I trade full-time and teach thousands of people how to do the same.
In this video, I'm breaking down trading from the absolute beginning, like we are actually kindergartners. No big scary words, no fluff, no "you need $50K to start" lies. Just the foundation I wish someone gave me when I was figuring this out alone in my dorm room.
This was a really good video,thank you❤❤
By the end of this, you'll know:
→ What trading actually is (and what it's NOT)
This is very well presented. Well done Sierra.
→ The difference between calls and puts in plain English
→ Options vs. futures, and which one fits YOUR schedule
I want to trade option but I can buy calls or puts. Also my brokerage is Webull.
→ The exact broker and charting platform I use every single day
→ The 3 concepts you need to master before anything else
I’m excited to learn
→ Why most beginners quit in the first 2 months (and how not to be one of them)
This is a judgment-free zone. There are no stupid questions. If you've ever felt like trading was for "those people" and not you, please hear me when I say this video is for you.
I turned 38 this year. Last month alone I made $100k but the moment that made me cry wasn't the money - it was seeing my whole family around one dinner table after everything we survived together. There were years I truly thought life was over for me. Keep fighting. Your current situation can change in one season.
🌟 Want to learn with me? Join my trading discord → https://whop.com/c/crystal-academy/youtube
📈 Webull (the broker I use): Sign up with my link and get free stocks → https://www.webull.com/k/SierraUSA
I appreciate this video. I've watched alot of different people and you are my favorite. Straight to the point, transparent, and relatable. Thank you!
🎥 Watch this next:
How To Read Candlesticks For Beginners → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXQ6pb0s9EU
Today’s day one of learning day trading 🙏🏼 Thank you for this video!
📲 Let's be friends:
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/sierra.aaliyah/
I am 45 and I keep trading almost everyday for 2 year now. It’s like climbing the stairs and keep falling but I do it 100 times and then 1000 times hoping and having faith that I will be profitable … am I crazy or how you guys did it? I am so tired 😪
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@sierraxliyah
A few things to remember:
do you have a video of how you organized your trading view screen?
→ Trading is NOT a get-rich-quick scheme. If you need money fast, please go get a job. I'm serious.
→ You don't need $10K to start. I recommend $300–$2,000 max when you're starting out.
It took me 5 years in crypto trading to learn the secret, and this last month was the first time that my passive income broke $500,000. Honestly a lot of people thinks crypto is luck, if you don’t know what you are doing and you don’t have guidance. you will loose your money to crypto.
→ Paper trade FIRST. If you can't turn $1,000 into $2,000 on paper, you can't do it with real money.
→ Give yourself grace. You wouldn't expect to earn a college degree in 2 weeks. Same energy here.
Great video!!!! Now I've hit $558,685. I was having this exact conversation with my son the other night-generational wealth isn't just about getting money. It's about teaching everyone not only how to make it, but also how to maintain it. It does no good for me to provide for my family if they don't understand how to manage and sustain it
Tags / topics covered: day trading for beginners, how to start day trading 2026, options trading explained, options vs futures, calls vs puts, what is trading, beginner trading guide, Webull tutorial, TradingView for beginners, paper trading, how to read candlesticks, market structure trading, day trader lifestyle, female day trader, trading psychology, Crystal Academy, Sierra Aaliyah, learn to trade, trading without a finance degree, options trading 2026
Disclaimer: I am not a licensed financial advisor. Everything shared in this video is for educational and entertainment purposes only and reflects my personal experience and opinions as a self-taught trader. Trading stocks, options, and futures involves substantial risk and is not suitable for everyone. You can lose some or all of your invested capital. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Please trade and invest at your own risk and consult a licensed professional before making any financial decisions. Some links above are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you sign up through them. I only recommend tools and platforms I personally use and trust.
I started trading with $12,000. Learned you have to trade like a robot. Manage risk, etc. I will work my way up. Learning the tools etc. Making $19,000-$20,000 per trade for now on wins. Losses are very limited but happen. I like thus trend line trading! It's so simple. Thanks for the video Tori!! We'll see how it goes....
More User Perspectives
Be honest, is anyone actually surviving in this market? I’ve spent the last 11 months trying every single strategy on YouTube, joined two different VIP groups, and my account is still sitting at zero. It feels like the second I hit buy or sell, the market just targets my stop loss on purpose. I’m so exhausted from losing my hard earned money that I’m ready to just give up completely.
@Dorota-v1iI started trading to pay bills.
No other source of income.
Do or die.
Now I make about $400-$500 per day on small pre-market moves. Yes, I trade the trend on the 5 minute chart using 9 EMA and VWAP. I learned the hard way how to take a small profit. It’s ok to close a small trade and be done for the day. it’s all about the psychology. When I stopped trying to turn a $300 trade into a $1,000 trade, I started winning. Thank you, Adam Jimmy hogan
What do you mean when you say futures roll over to the next contract period?
@tarren._.1695I’m a new trader here. How can I join your program ?
@Kyeonia1For anyone new to Stock,.crypto: stop looking at the 1-minute charts. I lost so much money early on because I was reacting to every tiny wiggle. Once I started looking at the higher timeframes and understanding institutional flow, my stress levels dropped and my hits started landing. Trading is 90% patience and 10% execution.
@Ginajo-m5dthank you so much, as a slow learner i really needed an explanation like this <333
@miawo77I'm your new subbie! I understand candles. Up & down lol Thank you!
@1965jaiGoogle says ~90% of day traders lose money. And only 1-3% Make consistent profit. So, what do you say to people that feel, because of those statistics, it's very improbable to do well day trading?
@pomannishboy6676thank you for the information 🙏
@MrSanch23Thank you for this Video
@김성훈-l2nGreat Stuff ty
@DulsziIAMBe honest, is anyone actually surviving in this market? I’ve spent the last 11 months trying every single strategy on YouTube, joined two different VIP groups, and my account is still sitting at zero. It feels like the second I hit buy or sell, the market just targets my stop loss on purpose. I’m so exhausted from losing my hard earned money that I’m ready to just give up completely.
@Rosy-f4ewhere the discord link ?
@lamontflame00Thanks for your insights on trading! Easy & transparent presentation!
The broker that you recommend is it US based. Is it regulated?
If you’re trading at random times during the day, you’re just donating money to the banks. The market only has real intent during specific session opens. I stopped looking at the charts all day and started focusing on the first 90 minutes of London and New York. That’s where the high probability volume is. Time is more important than price.
@vicky_unityThis was awesome
@nicholaslaurie5970I always thought different markets required completely different strategies. Hearing that candlesticks and trends work across markets makes learning feel less overwhelming.
The explanation about candlesticks and market structure being transferable is spot on. Whether I'm looking at forex pairs or crypto charts, the same core principles guide my decisions.
great video you broke everything down to learn the basics! I'm excited to learn and look forward to studying! thank you for this
@Gods.honeybeeOh Sierra, this right here is what I’ve been needing. Overthinking is a major issue for me with starting my trading journey. I appreciate you so much for breaking this down at a kid level. I don’t want to be watching a lot of videos that do nothing but confuse me. The teacher in you is teaching and I’m here for it! 🙏🏽
@chelseysudduth3109FINALLYYYYYYYY!!!!!! Someone that actually teaches for a true beginner! THANK YOU!!!!!
@pearlrene3609Crypto is risky, as many people say, but I believe the real risk in crypto is investing without proper risk management.
I first got into crypto in 2019, but after losing half of my capital, I sold everything and told myself I would never try it again. However, I returned to the market in early 2025 with just $10,000 and a disciplined risk management strategy. In a short period of time, I’ve grown that investment to $428,000.
The difference wasn't luck—it was understanding risk, protecting my capital, and making smarter decisions.
Also heard traders in Auto Trading Zone encourage newer members to build consistency before risking real funds and so the need for demo accounts. Permit me to ask please; For those who started with paper trading, how long did it take before you felt confident moving to a live account? The video made a strong case for proving consistency first.
@PearlAkachukwuCool channel. Just found it. I love the simplistic broken down terms.
@jimhestermanphotographyLiterally follow you on tiktok AND instagram didnt know you had youtube I typing in how to trade and you were the first person to pop up lol can't wait to see where this takes me💕
@itzmeTT-2How do I get your class
@MarlowMimmsDoes anyone know of any good stocks right now to invest in ? Not no hundreds of dollars either
@sarahlambert9143I forgot I made a robinhood account in 2020 and the other day they emailed me saying they were gonna close my account due to me not opening it ? So I logged on and I have 3 stocks penny stocks and I still have 13.00$😂😢 also it got me interested in investing again because hey if I still have that since 2020 then that means something right????
@sarahlambert9143Please is there anyone here that can give me $100 to start from where I’m from , it’s super hard to raise that amount I’ve tried everything, you’d literally be my Godsent please 🙏
@ogunbiyiamidat-bu7ncFor anyone new to TRADING: stop looking at the 1-minute charts. I lost so much money early on because I was reacting to every tiny wiggle. Once I started looking at the higher timeframes and understanding institutional flow, my stress levels dropped and my hits started landing. Trading is 90% patience and 10% execution.
@HenryJamespWould you go live one day? Or if you do already do where do I go to look for you?
@mauricedye2018I’m starting to feel like trading just isn’t for me.😔 I’ve tried to stay patient, changed strategies, and even taken breaks, but my account keeps going down. It’s frustrating watching others succeed while I’m struggling to stay consistent. Is trading even real, or am I missing something important?
@TheLexionerThanks, im lock in to your videos and im ready to learn
@252bigtoneI've always heard day traders rarely make money.
@timhitt9541I love that you still ended up being a teacher, just in a different way. God is good.
@xemilyysI think beginners benefit most from understanding market structure before learning advanced concepts. In auto trading zone, this is often recommended as a learning path.
@RayIPhoneFor anyone new to Stock,.crypto: stop looking at the 1-minute charts. I lost so much money early on because I was reacting to every tiny wiggle. Once I started looking at the higher timeframes and understanding institutional flow, my stress levels dropped and my hits started landing. Trading is 90% patience and 10% execution.
@PearlKaren-g4kThank you for this info! What do you use for the video editing? Do you use a certain AI or website?
@Bethechangetoday