It is a simple matter of the natural order of things to become an investor first, before trying to become a trader. If you try to do it backwards, you'll get eaten by the sharks. Relying on luck, like a gambler, is not a strategy or good plan. The software, or trading platform, will be supplied by the broker you choose. Developing a trade plan is the first step to becoming a trader. Without it, you have no specifics, and no idea where you're going or how you're going to get there, or even what you need in a trading platform. This plan will force you to define terms and focus on specifics and the intricacies and strategies of trading, rather than economics or the "why" of everything, for example. You are looking for actionable concepts, not opinion. Second, test your plan on a simulator in both up and down markets for several months. If you can make simulator profits, you may be ready to trade with real money. If not, revise the plan. Without a plan, you're just playing another video game. To develop a trade plan, read the book, Rules of the Trade, by David Nassar, available through your local library. If you're starting with less than $5,000, the odds are against you and you will not be "independent" for quite some time. Even though you're trying to make money, your focus should be on risk, not profits. You must develop excellent money management skills and become consistent. Books "Which Is Better, Buy-and-Hold or Market Timing?" "Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Market Timer Droke, Clif - Technical Analysis Simplified Kahn, Michael N. - Tech. Anal. Plain & Simple Kamich, Bruce M.- How Technical Analysis Works Lefevre, Edwin - Reminiscences of a Stock Operator Lofton, Todd - Getting Started in Futures