Period Update 07/01/2017 - 09/30/2017 ---------- Continued recovery. 3/3 positive months for the quarter. It feels good to have this positive streak, each month confirming that it was a good decision to scale back, adjust expectations, confine trading to rules, and keep sticking to them. I keep developing/testing new trade ideas, and refining existing ones. The common theme is there are rules around any strategy, and those are being enforced by my system. With continued good performance it becomes so much easier to want to stick to rules. At the appropriate time, size will be increased in accordance with a predefined formula. With the exception of the first month (which I consider an extension of the bad habits of last year), it has been a good streak, and I would like to keep it so. Code: For 2017 Starting Balance: 123,137 Start Date End Date P/L Withdrawal Closing Balance 2017-01-01 2017-02-04 -20950 -6500 95,687 2017-02-04 2017-03-04 12058 -3000 104,745 2017-03-04 2017-04-01 7159 0 111,904 2017-04-01 2017-05-06 14812 -2500 124,216 2017-05-06 2017-06-03 -1994 0 122,222 2017-06-03 2017-07-01 -823 -2500 118,899 2017-07-01 2017-08-05 5391 0 124,290 2017-08-05 2017-09-02 19134 -7000 136,424 2017-09-02 2017-09-30 21107 0 157,531 Next update will be in 3 months.
Period Update 09/30/2017 - 12/30/2017 ---------- Good three months (+22.4K). One huge positive month of Nov, and smaller losses in Oct and Dec. For the year the P/L is 78,386 (up 64%). It has certainly been a stabilizing year for me as I continue perfecting the man-machine partnership with rigid rules. In the coming year, I will size up gradually according to a set of acceleration rules. Hopefully it translates to more returns without scary draw-downs. Code: For 2017 Starting Balance: 123,137 Start Date End Date P/L Withrawal Closing Balance 2017-01-01 2017-02-04 -20950 -6500 95,687 2017-02-04 2017-03-04 12058 -3000 104,745 2017-03-04 2017-04-01 7159 0 111,904 2017-04-01 2017-05-06 14812 -2500 124,216 2017-05-06 2017-06-03 -1994 0 122,222 2017-06-03 2017-07-01 -823 -2500 118,899 2017-07-01 2017-08-05 5391 0 124,290 2017-08-05 2017-09-02 19134 -7000 136,424 2017-09-02 2017-09-30 21107 0 157,531 2017-09-30 2017-11-05 -4034 -3000 150,497 2017-11-05 2017-12-03 32348 0 182,845 2017-12-03 2017-12-31 -5822 -5000 172,023 Next update will be in 3 months.
Thanks for your honesty. Keep the money in your pocket for the new year Neke. Stick to your rules or do what you gotta do. You could become a millionaire and retire!
How much time I need ? Probably 2 hours outside regular trading hours (4pm - 930am). Those two hours for review of the day/research/preparation and writing down my plan for the coming trading day. Once the trading day starts my automation takes over implementing my plan, and I am not supposed to interfere. How much time do I actually take? Well a whole lot more. Once the trading day starts, I am mostly watching - but I spend much time doing it. Right now, my system does not allow me to enter positions manually once the trading day starts, but I can close positions manually. There is no proof my discretionary exits improves performance, but I still do it. Otherwise the rest is just watching - I probably gain insight that improves my trading by watching.
The initial plan was to suspend monthly update until my account balance (after withdrawals) comes above 200K (the poverty line). That is still the plan, unless I feel it is too much to go back to monthly updates.