I received this email recently: Hello. This is a retail level trader with almost 3 years of trading experience in s&p mini futures. During those grueling 3 years, I’ve suffered nearly 25k in losses, most during the 2008 crash where emotions got the best of me. Since then, I have learned the importance of risk management and now I am at a point where my … Read More
Traders Ask- the loss limit, resilience, and confusion
Hi Bella — I’ve been reading your book carefully and enjoying it very much.I live in Las Vegas; and would much rather trade stocks than play in the casinos. I’ve been an occasional end-of-day trader for over 10 years. Now, since last October, I’ve been endeavoring to teach myself how to day-trade. So far, I think your book is the … Read More
The unprofessional summer trader
This is the time when all the tweets and blogs start about hitting the links, or grabbing drinks early, or heading for the beach. If you have ever traded prop at a big firm you will see seats empty on Friday after 1pm. There will be many who do not come back from lunch on a Thursday. Missed Mondays and long … Read More
From the Prop Desk: Adjustments to Your Trading
One our new traders sent me this outline over weekend for his trading. Excellent work by him working on his game over the weekend (even if he is a Heat fan). Below are my comments to his adjustments. One of his suggestions is so cutting edge this is worth your review. Adjustment Plan for current environment Volume Decrease average trading volume … Read More
Traders Ask: Do You Ever Shut It Down for the Day After You Hit a Profit Target?
Hello Mike!I have a question about when to stop trading during day trading session and go home.You’ve traded many years. Can you say what is better in your opinion and what you prefer to do in your own day trading?Setting a goal to make max $500 each day and when achieve it, switch off the monitor and go home immediately It’s limiting … Read More
Traders Ask: Was this One Good Trade ($DV)?
Mike, I have a quick question today about a setup I was in… After a great run-up from this AM and yesterday the education stocks were starting to come back to life and making fresh intra-day lows (around 11AM)… I saw APOL, STRA and ESI making these intra-day lows (the spys were making lows as well)… while cycling through the … Read More
What do you need to fix first about yourself before you can become a better trader?
I was at dinner last night with a highly successful manager. She had just landed the top account at her multi-billiondollar financial firm. Over fettuccine noodles and chicken Pad Thai she continued that the firm contemporaneously placed her into a special training program for their star performers. Her boss warned that the program would be difficult, expose her weaknesses and uncover uncomfortable things about … Read More
Traders Ask: Why Can’t I Trade the Open Better?
Hi Mike, I’m a developing trader with a full-time job. Fortunately, I live on the west coast which affords me the first two to three hours of the day and my entire evening(!) to devote to trading and studying, respectively. Unfortunately, the setups I have the most success with often develop too late in the morning for me to see them … Read More