On the couch, wife out of town, a full container of perfectly ripe cantaloupe, what is a young man to do? I found a killer documentary, not via NFLX, The Back Nine that has left me with a day full of thoughts on trader performance. First should we teach traders to work through their psychological hurdles before we talk set ups? … Read More
Exploring Trading Education: Why Aren’t Universities Teaching Trading?
I just returned from Penn State for a talk with some future traders (perhaps). Some serious college traders inside of an investment club reached out for my visit. My charge? Discuss what it’s really like to be a profes-sional trader so that some might better understand what we do. In a recent New York Times article the rise of trading labs … Read More
If 1 Why Not 2?
One of our traders, The Original Jersey Shore, was long big at support in CEPH at 58.50 (Trade 1). He got stopped out. After the close he stopped into my office to discuss. He did not get long above the top of the range after consolidation above 58.57 (Trade 2). If you are in 1 why not 2? Shark was … Read More
Traders Ask- Why the Discrepancy? (Midday Trading)
Bella, I have a question about trading midday. The lecture on times of the day (Day 15) seems to recommend giving extra room on the downside and the upside during midday trading: In most trades you need to give your stock a bit of extra room to both the downside and the upside. Your mentality is to find plays that … Read More
I Had My Worst Day Ever
From time to time I get an email from a trader whose results were awful. They might say: Bella, I had my worst day ever. I sized up and got crushed. Or Bella, I had my worst day ever. I took my biggest rip ever. Or Bella, I had my worst day ever. I got stopped out on one trade. … Read More
A Path to 1k
Yesterday we challenged some new traders to review their day and create a path to 1k. Making more is about finding the set ups that make sense to you and trading them with more size and more often. This exercise guides the new trader to singularly focus on these trades and the mindset of doing better. One new trader sent … Read More
Expectations: A Conversation with New Traders
After the close I had this discussion with some new traders: Expectations are so important in skill endeavors. What would be a great day for you? Making more is really about finding the plays that make sense to you and trading more of these set ups and with more size. There is no secret formula to this. Each person must find … Read More
An Opening Dive, a Pullback and a Breakout (RL)
We had excellent news from RL this AM: Here are some trades you might consider making your own: 1) Opening Drive. If RL doesn’t tick down on the open and their is protection on the bid, then pay the offer and play the momentum. 2) The Pullback. So you missed the opening drive and still want in with this RL. … Read More