Hi Mike, I haven’t hit you up for a trading question in awhile, hoping you have a couple minutes to share your thoughts on a trading issue I’m wrestling with. I am trading only 100 share positions, trying to gain consistency in my day to day efforts before increasing size. I’m wondering how you teach your new traders to manage … Read More
The Trader’s Journey: How Long Before You Feel Comfortable and Competent?
I just watched Mike’s presentation in Georgia Tech and I have a question that I hope Mike could answer. He was talking about how he would feel at ease practicing basketball. I played competitively for 12 years and I know exactly what he is talking about. The court is like my home and I feel an inner peace and happiness whenever … Read More
This is How You Make More Money
I tweeted on the open: A pattern to master for the open: The Opening Drive. See STX in the first ten minutes this am. My inbox is dominated with trading reviews of SMB Traders thirsting to make more, blog readers the same, and new traders looking for the path. Well here it is. The clean, trending STX. I traded it on the … Read More
From the prop desk- A woman’s perspective
Hi Bella, I finished your book and it was so wonderful and inspiring. As a female trader (back in the game after a year and a half away, used to trade on a prop desk), I loved that you addressed the issue of women in trading, you sound like a great guy to work for. I would like to share … Read More
The Lens Matters (2)
Last week I wrote a column talking about how I had moved towards using 15 minute charts more often intraday to keep me focused on a stock’s most relevant trend. I still use lower time frames and the tape to identify the best entries but the higher time frame view will inform whether I am short or long. I thought … Read More
The Language of the Successful Trader
Trader A has overperformed since his start at SMB relative to his experience and peers. Trader B has underperformed relative to his experience with us. Trader A went to a middle of the road school. Trader B has a very impressive educational background. Both love trading. Both are guys you build a firm around. So what separates the two? Their … Read More
An Argument for Why Not Trading Much Makes No Sense
So I work with a trader who started very well. I was very happy with his progress. He was consistent with his results. Steve frequently would remark at his over-performance given his experience. And then recently he has not traded well. So much so that yesterday I wrote him this email: Hey, what is going on w u? Something bothering … Read More
Is this a tape reading play that you make?
Mike/Bella/Mr. Bellafiore, First, I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for the trading community. I’ve learned orders of magnitude more from the fruits of your efforts than from any other single source since I’ve started trading. You’re doing great things. My question is about tape reading. How would you describe the difference between tape action that signals a … Read More