The psychology of trading and investing is the most difficult aspect to master and yet to ignore it is to almost certainly guarantee your under-achievement or complete failure. The following questions will be answered in this course: Why do so many fail? How do beliefs affect us in the financial markets? How can I overcome the herd mentality? What are fear, greed, hope and regret and how can I overcome them? What do the professionals know and do? How can we minimise and overcome our psychological shortfalls? No prior experience required but please bring your brain. **Please note your email address will be shared with the Tutor**

Your Tutor is Dennis Keillor

Dennis Keillor BAppSci (Physics), DipEd has been teaching at WEA since 2007. 

As a ‘Cycologist’ Dennis has been a successful financial market forecaster, trader and educator since 1997.

As a ‘Fizzacist’ Dennis has been producing homemade brew since Adam was a boy!

Course Description

Success in the markets isn't just about knowledge or strategy – it's about mastering your own mind. 

The Psychology of Trading and Investing explores the emotional and cognitive factors that often sabotage traders and investors, no matter how good their technical skills. 

This beginner-friendly course digs into the core mental challenges – fear, greed, hope, regret – and explains how they impact decision-making and performance. 

You'll learn how to spot self-defeating patterns, understand the traps of herd behaviour, and begin building the mindset of a disciplined, independent trader.

The course also draws from what professionals do differently: how they reflect, journal, and plan to stay consistent and emotionally detached. 

You'll walk away with practical tools to manage stress, challenge limiting beliefs, and take ownership of your results. 

Whether you're just getting started or already active in the markets, this course will help you build a stronger, smarter psychological foundation for long-term success.

Course Structure

This course is delivered in a structured lecture format, broken down into key topic areas that build foundational knowledge while allowing for real-time questions and interactive discussion. 

• Why mindset matters more than method in trading and investing
• How fear, greed, hope, and regret influence your behaviour
• The power of beliefs, bias, and perception filters
• Risk management and its psychological effects
• The dangers of herd behaviour and crowd thinking
• What professionals do differently (habits, attitudes, routines)
• Tools for emotional control: relaxation, reappraisal, desensitisation
• Journaling and reflection for ongoing personal growth
• Designing a trading plan to support discipline and reduce emotion
• Embracing continuous improvement and psychological ownership.

Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand how emotional and psychological factors impact trading and investing success
• Identify and manage the effects of fear, greed, hope, and regret
• Recognise how beliefs and biases shape market decisions and lead to self-sabotage
• Apply basic risk management principles with psychological awareness
• Resist herd mentality and strengthen independent thinking
• Use trade journaling and reflection to learn from experience and maintain discipline
• Apply simple techniques to manage stress and emotional reactivity
• Create a personal trading plan to guide rational and consistent decision-making
• Take responsibility for outcomes and adopt a mindset of ongoing improvement
• Understand the behavioural differences between amateurs and professionals and begin to close the gap