A Bird in The Hand

Gold… Silver… Platinum… Copper…

One after another, these metals were hitting new all-time highs recently.

Investors who already hold these metals are likely sitting on large unrealized gains.

If that’s you, congratulations. You made a good decision at the right time. Most investors never get to this point.

Now comes the next step: having an exit strategy. Knowing when to sell is just as important as knowing when to buy.

Your gains are only real once you lock them in.

For many investors, this is the hardest part.

That’s why we’re here. We’ll walk through the decision-making process and the tools that can help you turn paper profits into real-life wealth.

If you’re new to investing, this article will hopefully serve as a useful guide. Save it and revisit it before placing your next order.

Investment Discipline

Investing requires patience, consistency, and discipline.

The main goal is simple: buy low and sell high. That’s the foundation of a well-executed trade. What you want to avoid is buying high and hoping to sell even higher.

Many investors fail because they react to news that has nothing to do with their investment thesis. So, it’s important to separate material news from market noise.

If you don’t follow this discipline, you may exit too early or too late. Both mistakes can lead to losses.

A realistic time frame is also essential.

You need enough time for your investment to play out. If your time horizon is too short, investing may not be the right fit for you at this stage. You can’t get rich quick without getting extraordinarily lucky. But luck is unreliable.

In the resource sector, a one- to two-year window is often a reasonable timespan to enter and exit a position.

If you can handle volatility for longer, that’s even better. If a year feels too long, you may need different strategies. But those usually carry higher risk, and we’re not recommending them here.

Another key factor is the amount you invest. Never put all your money into a single asset, stock, or sector. Diversification is one of the most reliable ways to protect your portfolio.

Setting a fixed amount for each trade is a good habit. Still, it’s often better to build your position slowly. This can include averaging down—buying more on a dip or a weakness—or adding more when you have extra cash.

Always consider the risk. Markets can be irrational or too smart for their own good. Unexpected events can cause sudden losses. You should never risk so much that a total loss would cancel your major financial goals.

This also means avoiding borrowed money. Using loans to invest multiplies the risk and can lead to serious problems.

Investment Tools

Modern trading platforms offer many tools to help investors.

If you want to enter a position at a specific price, you can use a limit order. This lets you set the price you’re willing to pay. You can also choose how long the order stays active. We suggest keeping it reasonable—two weeks to a month—then reviewing or updating it.

For example, if you want to buy a stock at $10 per share but can’t catch that price during the day, you can place a limit order. The platform will buy the shares at $10 or lower within your chosen time frame.

Avoid setting limit orders that last for years. You may forget about them, and your investment thesis may change long before the order triggers.

If you already own a stock and want a good exit point, a stop loss order can help.

A stop loss order liquidates your position once the price falls to a level you choose.

For example, if your stock trades at $10 and you want to protect yourself from a sudden drop, you can set a stop order at $9. If the price falls to $9, the platform will sell your shares at $9 or better, assuming buyers are available. If the price rises, nothing happens.

Another tool is the trailing stop order. Not all platforms offer it, but some do. (Check with your brokerage.) A trailing stop uses a percentage drop instead of a fixed price.

For example, if you set a 10% trailing stop on a $10 stock, the order triggers if the price falls to $9. If the stock rises to $20, the stop adjusts upward. A 10% drop from $20 would trigger a sale at $18—locking an 80% profit.

The key difference is that the trailing stop moves with the price. It protects gains while limiting losses.

These tools are optional, but they can be very helpful—especially for new investors navigating unfamiliar territory.

Takeaway

Investing is not easy but it’s important to not overcomplicate it. There are challenges, of course. Getting in at the right time is one. Getting out at the right time is another.

Achieving steady, repeatable performance adds even more complexity. Mostly because of how human nature works.

Managing your emotions and stress while investing is a skill on its own. Most people have families, jobs, and many other responsibilities. It’s not easy to stay calm when markets move fast.

That’s why here at Canadian Mining Report, we aim to educate our readers and offer support whenever possible. But if you want to take your skills to a higher level and learn from someone with a proven track record, you may want to explore specialized services.

Mining expert Rob Bruggeman recently launched The Wealthy Miner, a service designed for investors at all levels. It includes educational materials for beginners and advanced insights for experienced investors. Rob also provides deep analysis of the mining sector, covering metals of all kinds and companies of all sizes—from microcap explorers to major producers.

Until recently, Rob served as chairman of AbraSilver, where he created massive value for the company’s shareholders. The company grew from about $5 million to a $2 billion market cap.

After stepping down from his leadership role, Rob is now focused on sharing his knowledge with investors interested in the mining sector. His disciplined approach reflects the principles discussed above. It aims to reduce risk and maximize reward by following the core rule of investing: buy low and sell high.

You can learn more about Rob Bruggeman’s The Wealthy Miner here: https://www.thewealthyminer.com/elite-investment-club