Forex is for anyone, but not for everyone
Joe Dinapoli describes traders that have a special indicator or combination of them that tells them to buy or sell. They are wildly successful for 6 months to at best 10 years. Then they go down in a ball of fire and go work at Kinko's or ask dad for more money. Raghee Horner says something similar. "No, buy when the indicator makes this little squiggle, not that little squiggle." Poof - poverty.
I might add to that:
1. Traders that do whatever somebody else tells them they should do.
2. Traders that let EA's trade for them.
3. Probably anyone that isn't disciplined enough to have learned how to do anything else well, won't have the discipline to learn to trade well. If you're not a disciplined person, Forex probably isn't a good place to learn that quality.
4. Naturally fearful, indecisive people. I think these get wrecked in forex.
It seems the best long term successful traders are intelligent, naturally curious, tech savvy, determined people who really enjoy sitting behind a computer for hours a day and who enjoy keeping up with the market. They tend to be type A personalities who are decision makers. Arrogant enough to think they know where the market is going, humble enough to admit they were wrong and wise enough to not risk much. All successful traders are consistent.
I suppose anyone can be a trader. Successful trader? If you hate blood and poo, will you be a good nurse? If you like and 8-5 job, will you be a good novelist? We can all do it but most of us should just watch TV as a hobby. It would be a lot less expensive.