We held a traders Happy Hour last night for our proprietary trading firm. Some of the new hires having a blast asked how often we hold Happy Hours. And I thought, “What we don’t cover this during recruiting?” Note to HR. Rooming the room to check in on everyone a few trading lessons emerged: Traders were gathering and discussing new … Read More
Sometimes the best trades just come to you
Sometimes the best trades just come to you. Today was a perfect example in SUPN. During our 11AM mentoring session with our new class, we discussed this important trading lesson. Yes! we need to prepare before the open. Yes! we want to develop theses for trades. Yes! stock selection best for you is important before the market opens. But we … Read More
The real stop
A trader on the desk wrote this in his daily review: Took the train home with (redacted, Senior Trader at firm) today, we had a really good chat. Seeing how far he has come and how he views trades. Does Not trade price action so much. He focuses more on his overall idea and trades it loosely. Shorting rallies covering … Read More
When you are trading well…..try this
During a daily review one of the firm’s top traders observed this about this trading: I am feeling confident about my trades, seeing the markets well, and want to leverage this period here to trade aggressively as long as I am staying in sync. Dr. Steenbarger has taught us traders to study, study, study the trading periods when you are … Read More
What are you going to do about it?
Last night a trader sent me a review from a very poor trading day. He wrote: Little mad at myself for not taking 2 of my best setups in UVE below 18 and HCI at 32. Had the alerts go off but didn’t take the trade, and those trades played out to perfection. It definitely got under my skin most … Read More
An anecdote from a developing trader on the prop desk- sizing
One of our developing traders is consistently profitable. Undeniably, he trades with edge. This is a great position to be in. But for some traders it is not sufficient. They are making money, but they are not making enough. And when you are sitting next to and behind 7-figure traders it is not enough. So this trader sought to trade … Read More
What is working for YOU
When I receive emails from new and developing traders they often dwell on what is not working with their trading. They recite with precision exactly what they are doing poorly and with thoughtful reasons for this. Inevitably, they ask for help with these issues. My first response generally is to ask them what they do well. And we then build … Read More
When you are trading too big
When are you trading too big? Recently, while heading outside for a trading break, a developing trader stopped me near the elevator. He gave me a progress report on a new strategy that he was running. I love it. It is unique. He has backtested the strategy and it has edge. No one else on the desk is trading it. … Read More