I want to make rules, not follow them

A devastating medical condition set Louise Bedford, author of five books on the stockmarket, podcaster and behavioural finance expert, on a new wealth-creating path

It all started for me around 30 years ago. I went to a seminar about the share market and I thought to myself, “It’s about time I took control.” I was flying high as a national manager for a large multinational company. I started to trade alongside my job and then the unexpected happened: I lost the use of my arms through an unexplained tendon condition.

Even simple tasks such as opening doors were a painful daily struggle. I had to quit my terrific job and told my accountant that I was going to trade full-time.

He laughed in my face and told me that barely anyone makes it as a full-time trader. I got angry ... really angry. And then I learned how to type with a pen in my mouth. It opened up a whole new world for me. I could trade shares online and email my friends. It meant freedom.

I’ve regained the use of my arms and set up a podcast and a mentor program with my business partner to teach other people how to trade the markets.

Trading and investing is where you buy and sell stocks and aim to make money on price changes. This can be over a longer term, where investors buy stocks and wait for the prices to go up. Or you can make money following the short-term trends.