IAN That's correct. Couldn't have said it better. Implementation and proper resource utilization is key. Doesn't matter if you're running a Bloomberg subscription, super data feed, and 20 monitors. A well seasoned trader with IB Data, single monitor, and slowest computer on the block will empty some pockets
I think newer traders should backtest manually so they can see the charts and learn the patterns. Yes, this requires work. I learned the hard way, that you have to work for your money in this business.
d08 What instruments and timeframes do you trade that allow you to optimize 3-4 times per year? Are you factoring in volatility/ranges?
@profitlocker equities and ETFs. The idea was to only optimize once per 3-4 years but that's not how it went. Volatility adjustments aren't manual, I adjust what type of signals to take and try to optimize the profit factor in the process.
I did a lot of backtesting and got fed up with it all. I take trades now that have a reason for existing, whether price action or news, not just some theoretical matchup with some mathy stuff... I don't do anything that wasn't known and understood decades ago, it's just tech-enhanced. If I found something newer that works I'd employ it but so far, not much. The biggest struggle I have is taking what I see on a chart and breaking it down into terms that a computer can work with! I have a real appreciation for the idea that the best computers on earth are the ones between our ears after all this effort.