I'm doing this to make a point and **finishing up with a question**. ANYONE can be profitable. Money Management is as close to the "Holy Grail" as you're going to get. Is it worth it? Why not find something better to do. Or at least not daytrade. I could have better spent my years of college worrying about how much I made or lost for the day. That could be part of the reason for my sometimes severe anxiety issues. I have never been this consistently profitable. Daytrading ruined me a while back. But I learned A TON. IMO that's one of the only ways you're going to get a handle on the market and true feel. Since the age of 15 I have been buying and selling this stuff. 3-4 years ago I began trading and just recently have become as profitable as I care to be (i'm 23) (it's all relative as far as $$$ is concerned. 100 is the same as 500 as long as I'm right.) Started with approx 800 (college student here). Alright, TA and FUNDAMENTALS...... 130% so far (drawn down from 180%) since sept. Drawdown was partly due to my effort to try and prove the Black-Scholes model incorrect (didn't work as planned...but still trying ). Still holding USO as a hedge for my gas to work. The biggest % return on a stock being DRYS (~100%) using nothing more than a few BASIC fundamental principles ( no technicals). Now the kicker: The funniest part is that I was pretty much "turned down" by HR @ RW Baird for a decent internship in equity research because they're looking for a 3.5 and I have a 3.3. Is this normal? ***My question is.....should I mention this performance to them? Not even sure how I present it to them. In a cover letter? Call up HR and let them know that my GPA and resume don't mean anything?
12/17/2008 12:28 PM Sold 1TEPLX@$0.55 $50.00 Executed Detail 12/16/2008 3:14 PM Sold 1TEPLX@$0.55 $50.00 Executed Detail 12/16/2008 2:15 PM Bought 1TEPLX@$0.25 $-30.00 Executed Detail 12/16/2008 2:14 PM Bought 1TEPXD@$0.35 $-40.00 Executed Detail 12/16/2008 12:29 PM Sold 1PRQXJ@$0.30 $25.00 Executed Detail 12/16/2008 11:39 AM Bought 1TEPLX@$0.25 $-30.00 Executed Detail 12/15/2008 12:59 PM Bought 10USO@$37.14 $-375.90 Executed Detail 12/15/2008 10:02 AM Sold 1TEPXW@$0.20 $15.00 Executed Detail 12/12/2008 3:59 PM Sold 1PRQXW@$0.15 $10.00 Executed Detail 12/12/2008 3:44 PM Covered 13COST@$53.40 $-698.70 Executed Detail 12/12/2008 10:59 AM Bought 1PRQXJ@$0.50 $-55.00 Executed Detail 12/12/2008 10:55 AM Bought 2PRQLB@$0.15 $-35.50 Executed Detail 12/12/2008 10:05 AM Bought 1TEPXD@$0.90 $-95.00 Executed Detail 12/12/2008 09:44 AM Bought 10USO@$36.79 $-372.40 Executed Detail 12/12/2008 09:37 AM Sold 1TEPXD@$1.20 $115.00 Executed Detail 12/11/2008 3:17 PM Covered 12COST@$51.76 $-625.62 Executed Detail 12/11/2008 2:41 PM Bought 1TEPXD@$0.75 $-80.00 Executed Detail 12/11/2008 2:10 PM Sold 2PRQXW@$0.40 $74.50 Executed Detail 12/11/2008 1:14 PM Sold 2PRQLB@$0.20 $34.50 Executed Detail 12/11/2008 1:14 PM Sold 1PRQLB@$0.20 $19.50 Executed Detail 12/11/2008 12:46 PM Sold 3USO@$38.97 $112.40 Executed Detail 12/11/2008 12:46 PM Sold 12USO@$38.97 $467.64 Executed Detail 12/11/2008 12:29 PM Shorted 25COST@$52.65 $1,311.74 Executed Detail 12/11/2008 10:19 AM Sold 1KQTXE@$0.50 $45.00 Executed Detail 12/11/2008 10:09 AM Bought 2PRQLB@$0.15 $-35.50 Executed Detail 12/11/2008 10:05 AM Bought 2PRQXW@$0.55 $-115.50 Executed Detail 12/10/2008 12:13 PM Bought 1KQTXE@$0.30 $-35.00 Executed Detail 12/10/2008 10:56 AM Bought 1PRQXI@$0.40 $-45.00 Executed Detail 12/10/2008 10:43 AM Bought 1PRQXW@$0.65 $-70.00 Executed Detail 12/10/2008 10:43 AM Bought 1PRQLB@$0.55 $-60.00 Executed Detail 12/09/2008 1:05 PM Sold 3USO@$35.16 $100.97 Executed Detail 12/09/2008 1:05 PM Sold 7USO@$35.16 $246.12 Executed Detail 12/09/2008 10:19 AM Sold 30DRYS@$9.23 $272.39 Executed Detail 12/08/2008 10:54 AM Bought 1TEPXW@$0.35 $-40.00 Executed Detail 12/08/2008 10:11 AM Sold 40DRYS@$6.82 $268.29 Executed Detail 12/08/2008 10:11 AM Sold 10DRYS@$6.82 $68.20 Executed Detail 12/05/2008 11:00 AM Bought 40DRYS@$4.42 $-181.30 Executed Detail 12/04/2008 3:44 PM Bought 40DRYS@$4.13 $-169.70 Executed Detail 12/04/2008 3:37 PM Sold 1TEPXC@$0.35 $30.00 Executed Detail 12/04/2008 3:37 PM Sold 1TEPXC@$0.35 $34.50 Executed Detail 12/04/2008 09:42 AM Sold 1TEPLX@$0.80 $75.00 Executed Detail 12/04/2008 09:42 AM Sold 2TEPLX@$0.80 $159.00 Executed Detail 12/03/2008 2:21 PM Bought 17USO@$37.89 $-648.63 Executed Detail 12/02/2008 1:58 PM Bought 2TEPXC@$0.70 $-145.50 Executed Detail 12/02/2008 1:55 PM Bought 2TEPLX@$0.25 $-55.50 Executed Detail 12/01/2008 11:00 AM Bought 1TEPXC@$0.65 $-70.00 Executed Detail 12/01/2008 10:55 AM Bought 1TEPLX@$0.40 $-45.00 Executed Detail 12/01/2008 10:37 AM Sold 7USO@$41.47 $285.78 Executed Detail 12/01/2008 10:37 AM Sold 5USO@$41.47 $207.35 Executed Detail 11/26/2008 3:51 PM Sold 50AMD@$2.1317 $102.075 Executed Detail 11/26/2008 3:50 PM Sold 20DRYS@$5.39 $103.29 Executed Detail 11/26/2008 2:55 PM Sold 25VOXX@$4.88 $117.49 Executed Detail 11/25/2008 3:16 PM Bought 10USO@$41.4593 $-419.093 Executed Detail 11/25/2008 12:03 PM Sold 35VOXX@$3.89 $131.64 Executed Detail 11/25/2008 11:44 AM Bought 1TEPXC@$0.75 $-80.00 Executed Detail 11/24/2008 10:03 AM Sold 30DRYS@$4.29 $124.19 Executed Detail 11/24/2008 09:41 AM Sold 50C@$5.61 $275.99 Executed Detail 11/21/2008 3:05 PM Bought 50C@$3.447 $-176.85 Executed Detail 11/21/2008 2:59 PM Bought 70AMD@$1.65 $-120.00 Executed Detail 11/21/2008 2:54 PM Bought 50DRYS@$3.20 $-164.50 Executed Detail 11/21/2008 2:10 PM Sold 40DRYS@$3.30 $127.49 Executed Detail 11/21/2008 12:04 PM Bought 8USO@$40.19 $-326.02 Executed Detail 11/21/2008 09:37 AM Bought 60VOXX@$3.30 $-202.50 Executed Detail 11/20/2008 11:33 AM Sold 1TEPWC@$0.35 $30.00 Executed Detail 11/20/2008 10:37 AM Bought 40DRYS@$4.13 $-169.70 Executed Detail 11/20/2008 10:37 AM Bought 7USO@$41.10 $-292.20 Executed Detail 11/14/2008 11:56 AM Sold 1ADMWX@$0.45 $40.00 Executed Detail 11/13/2008 3:28 PM Bought 1TEPWC@$0.30 $-35.00 Executed Detail 11/13/2008 12:59 PM Sold 2TEPWC@$0.75 $144.50 Executed Detail 11/13/2008 10:20 AM Bought 1ADMWX@$0.65 $-70.00 Executed Detail 11/13/2008 10:18 AM Sold 1ADMWX@$0.60 $55.00 Executed Detail 11/13/2008 10:17 AM Bought 1ADMWX@$0.65 $-70.00 Executed Detail 11/13/2008 09:46 AM Sold 10SSO@$24.81 $243.59 Executed Detail 11/12/2008 1:55 PM Sold 15SSO@$25.36 $375.89 Executed Detail 11/12/2008 1:55 PM Sold 5SSO@$25.36 $126.80 Executed Detail 11/12/2008 12:37 PM Bought 15SSO@$26.14 $-396.60 Executed Detail 11/12/2008 12:20 PM Bought 2TEPWC@$0.25 $-55.50 Executed Detail 11/12/2008 12:08 PM Bought 15SSO@$25.7187 $-390.2805 Executed Detail 11/11/2008 12:28 PM Sold 1YHQKP@$0.21 $16.00 Executed Detail 11/11/2008 12:28 PM Sold 1YHQKP@$0.21 $20.50 Executed Detail 11/11/2008 12:28 PM Sold 1YHQWL@$1.31 $126.00 Executed Detail 11/11/2008 12:28 PM Sold 1YHQWL@$1.31 $130.50 Executed Detail 11/07/2008 1:48 PM Bought 1YHQKP@$0.36 $-41.00 Executed Detail 11/07/2008 1:47 PM Bought 1YHQWL@$0.98 $-103.00 Executed Detail 11/06/2008 12:45 PM Bought 1YHQWL@$0.45 $-50.00 Executed Detail 11/04/2008 12:28 PM Bought 1YHQKP@$0.79 $-84.00 Executed Detail 10/31/2008 3:21 PM Sold 1YHQKC@$0.68 $68.00 Executed Detail 10/31/2008 1:44 PM Sold 30VOXX@$5.67 $170.09 Executed Detail 10/31/2008 12:16 PM Sold 30VOXX@$5.50 $164.99 Executed Detail 10/31/2008 12:02 PM Sold 10SSO@$31.7318 $317.308 Executed Detail 10/30/2008 3:04 PM Bought 60VOXX@$5.06 $-303.60 Executed Detail 10/30/2008 2:57 PM Sold 40VOXX@$5.06 $202.39 Executed Detail 10/30/2008 2:57 PM Sold 20VOXX@$5.06 $101.20 Executed Detail 10/30/2008 2:44 PM Bought 40VOXX@$5.06 $-202.40 Executed Detail 10/30/2008 2:23 PM Sold 20VOXX@$5.05 $100.99 Executed Detail 10/30/2008 2:13 PM Sold 1YHQKR@$0.40 $40.00 Executed Detail 10/30/2008 2:11 PM Bought 1YHQKC@$0.78 $-78.00 Executed Detail 10/30/2008 12:53 PM Sold 1YHQKC@$0.80 $80.00 Executed Detail 10/29/2008 10:58 AM Sold 5SSO@$29.6821 $148.4005 Executed Detail 10/29/2008 10:50 AM Sold 15SSO@$29.8001 $446.9915 Executed Detail 10/28/2008 11:04 AM Sold 1UUFKM@$0.30 $30.00 Executed Detail 10/28/2008 11:01 AM Bought 30SSO@$25.05 $-751.50 Executed Detail 10/28/2008 10:55 AM Sold 1AAKA@$0.22 $22.00 Executed Detail 10/28/2008 10:54 AM Sold 1ETNKJ@$0.35 $35.00 Executed Detail 10/27/2008 2:52 PM Sold 20SSO@$26.13 $522.59 Executed Detail
10/27/2008 1:47 PM Bought 1UUFKM@$0.45 $-45.00 Executed Detail 10/27/2008 1:18 PM Bought 20SSO@$27.08 $-541.60 Executed Detail 10/27/2008 1:08 PM Bought 40VOXX@$4.45 $-178.00 Executed Detail 10/27/2008 12:57 PM Bought 1AAKA@$0.33 $-33.00 Executed Detail 10/24/2008 3:59 PM Sold 1AAKA@$0.39 $39.00 Executed Detail 10/24/2008 10:51 AM Sold 1MSWC@$2.40 $240.00 Executed Detail 10/24/2008 09:54 AM Sold 1YHQWB@$0.61 $61.00 Executed Detail 10/24/2008 09:37 AM Sold 1GMWA@$1.05 $105.00 Executed Detail 10/24/2008 09:30 AM Sold 1UALWV@$3.22 $322.00 Executed Detail 10/23/2008 11:24 AM Bought 1AAKA@$0.41 $-41.00 Executed Detail 10/23/2008 10:21 AM Bought 1ETNKJ@$0.30 $-30.00 Executed Detail 10/22/2008 12:58 PM Bought 1YHQKC@$0.60 $-60.00 Executed Detail 10/22/2008 12:36 PM Bought 1UALWV@$1.45 $-145.00 Executed Detail 10/22/2008 12:17 PM Bought 1GMWA@$0.66 $-66.00 Executed Detail 10/22/2008 12:02 PM Bought 1MSWC@$1.05 $-105.00 Executed Detail 10/21/2008 1:16 PM Bought 1YHQWB@$0.65 $-65.00 Executed Detail 10/20/2008 09:36 AM Sold 1CKD@$0.30 $30.00 Executed Detail 10/17/2008 1:11 PM Bought 1YHQKR@$1.00 $-100.00 Executed Detail 10/17/2008 1:00 PM Bought 1CKD@$0.50 $-50.00 Executed Detail 10/16/2008 11:51 AM Sold 1AMRJP@$0.05 $5.00 Executed Detail 10/14/2008 12:34 PM Sold 1CJE@$0.03 $3.00 Executed Detail 10/14/2008 12:34 PM Sold 1CJE@$0.03 $3.00 Executed Detail 10/08/2008 10:59 AM Sold 1GMVR@$1.20 $120.00 Executed Detail 10/07/2008 2:16 PM Sold 1TEPVW@$0.45 $45.00 Executed Detail 10/07/2008 2:10 PM Sold 1GEWJX@$0.24 $24.00 Executed Detail 10/07/2008 2:10 PM Sold 1DRIVX@$0.40 $40.00 Executed Detail 10/07/2008 12:41 PM Sold 1GMVR@$0.72 $72.00 Executed Detail 10/07/2008 11:14 AM Sold 1DOCJX@$0.15 $15.00 Executed Detail 10/07/2008 10:37 AM Bought 1GEWJX@$0.41 $-41.00 Executed Detail 10/07/2008 10:35 AM Bought 1DOCJX@$0.40 $-40.00 Executed Detail 10/07/2008 09:39 AM Bought 1GMVR@$0.40 $-40.00 Executed Detail 10/06/2008 10:14 AM Bought 1TEPVW@$0.45 $-45.00 Executed Detail 10/06/2008 10:11 AM Sold 1MOJVX@$1.30 $130.00 Executed Detail 10/06/2008 10:08 AM Bought 1DRIVX@$0.40 $-40.00 Executed Detail 10/06/2008 10:03 AM Sold 1DRIVE@$1.00 $100.00 Executed Detail 10/06/2008 10:02 AM Sold 1TEPVD@$1.05 $105.00 Executed Detail 10/06/2008 09:58 AM Bought 1GMVR@$0.58 $-58.00 Executed Detail 10/06/2008 09:37 AM Sold 1TEPVD@$0.90 $90.00 Executed Detail 10/06/2008 09:34 AM Sold 1BACWE@$1.69 $169.00 Executed Detail 10/06/2008 09:33 AM Sold 1BACVF@$1.85 $185.00 Executed Detail 10/03/2008 3:17 PM Sold 1BACVD@$0.10 $10.00 Executed Detail 10/03/2008 1:23 PM Bought 1CJE@$0.44 $-44.00 Executed Detail 10/03/2008 1:13 PM Sold 1CJE@$0.45 $45.00 Executed Detail 10/03/2008 10:32 AM Sold 1GMVR@$0.42 $42.00 Executed Detail 10/03/2008 10:16 AM Bought 1USBJH@$0.40 $-40.00 Executed Detail 10/03/2008 10:07 AM Bought 1BACWE@$0.83 $-83.00 Executed Detail 10/03/2008 10:03 AM Bought 1MOJVX@$0.54 $-54.00 Executed Detail 10/03/2008 09:59 AM Sold 1GEWJY@$0.43 $43.00 Executed Detail 10/03/2008 09:59 AM Bought 1CJE@$0.35 $-35.00 Executed Detail 10/03/2008 09:53 AM Bought 1CJE@$0.38 $-38.00 Executed Detail 10/02/2008 1:46 PM Bought 1DRIVE@$0.45 $-45.00 Executed Detail 10/02/2008 12:20 PM Bought 1GEWJY@$0.48 $-48.00 Executed Detail 10/02/2008 12:05 PM Bought 1AMRJP@$0.35 $-35.00 Executed Detail 10/02/2008 11:25 AM Bought 1GMVR@$0.48 $-48.00 Executed Detail 10/02/2008 11:19 AM Bought 1BACVF@$0.68 $-68.00 Executed Detail 10/02/2008 11:10 AM Bought 1TEPVD@$0.35 $-35.00 Executed Detail 09/30/2008 3:59 PM Sold 1BACVE@$0.39 $34.00 Executed Detail 09/30/2008 11:51 AM Sold 1MCDVY@$0.90 $85.00 Executed Detail 09/30/2008 11:20 AM Bought 1TEPVD@$0.45 $-50.00 Executed Detail 09/30/2008 11:12 AM Bought 1BACVE@$0.60 $-65.00 Executed Detail 09/29/2008 3:40 PM Bought 1BACVD@$0.49 $-54.00 Executed Detail 09/29/2008 3:39 PM Sold 1MOJVX@$2.65 $260.00 Executed Detail 09/29/2008 3:35 PM Sold 1BACVF@$2.40 $235.00 Executed Detail 09/29/2008 1:56 PM Sold 1BACVA@$1.10 $105.00 Executed Detail 09/29/2008 11:43 AM Sold 1MOJVG@$1.15 $110.00 Executed Detail 09/26/2008 3:47 PM Sold 1MOJJF@$0.95 $90.00 Executed Detail 09/26/2008 11:17 AM Bought 1BACVA@$0.54 $-59.00 Executed Detail 09/26/2008 11:07 AM Bought 1MOJJF@$0.70 $-75.00 Executed Detail 09/26/2008 11:00 AM Bought 1BACVF@$0.81 $-86.00 Executed Detail 09/25/2008 10:54 AM Sold 1WMJH@$0.30 $24.99 Executed Detail 09/25/2008 10:36 AM Bought 1MOJVG@$0.63 $-68.00 Executed Detail 09/23/2008 3:06 PM Bought 1MCDVY@$0.55 $-60.00 Executed Detail 09/23/2008 12:18 PM Bought 1WMJH@$0.57 $-62.00 Executed Detail 09/22/2008 1:22 PM Sold 1WMJA@$0.38 $32.99 Executed Detail 09/22/2008 1:13 PM Bought 1MOJVX@$0.74 $-79.00 Executed Detail 09/19/2008 12:41 PM Bought 1WMJA@$0.55 $-60.00 Executed Detail 09/19/2008 12:03 PM Sold 1ADMJE@$0.70 $64.99 Executed Detail 09/18/2008 12:49 PM Sold 1CALUC@$0.25 $19.99 Executed Detail 09/18/2008 11:55 AM Bought 1ADMJE@$0.35 $-40.00 Executed Detail 09/18/2008 11:52 AM Sold 1COHUY@$0.60 $54.99 Executed Detail 09/17/2008 10:26 AM Sold 1COHUY@$0.50 $44.99 Executed Detail 09/17/2008 10:01 AM Sold 2GGIZ@$0.15 $24.49 Executed Detail 09/16/2008 1:52 PM Bought 2COHUY@$0.15 $-35.50 Executed Detail 09/16/2008 12:01 PM Sold 2JWNUF@$0.20 $34.49 Executed Detail 09/16/2008 11:05 AM Bought 3ADMIE@$0.10 $-36.00 Executed Detail 09/15/2008 3:59 PM Bought 2GGIZ@$0.15 $-35.50 Executed Detail 09/15/2008 3:15 PM Sold 2JWNUF@$0.30 $54.49 Executed Detail 09/12/2008 2:46 PM Bought 1CALUC@$0.25 $-30.00 Executed Detail 09/12/2008 09:48 AM Sold 1WMIU@$0.40 $34.99 Executed Detail 09/11/2008 1:28 PM Bought 1WMIU@$0.18 $-23.00 Executed Detail 09/10/2008 3:23 PM Bought 2JWNUF@$0.10 $-25.50 Executed Detail 09/09/2008 3:36 PM Bought 2JWNUF@$0.20 $-45.50 Executed Detail
Generally speaking, the corporate world doesn't give 2 shits about you, only what you can do for them. They will sell you on the warm and fuzzy, but the bottom line is what counts. Not sure? Ask the people at Lehmann, Lynch, Citi, etc. If you can be successful on your own, do it. You'll be stronger in the long run, and you'll have greater self-respect.
Any firm who REQUIRES a certain GPA and then is unwilling to bend if they find someone who meets or exceeds their other criteria is not worth working for, since that reflects a closed mind and inflexible work philosophy. That tells me they want unconventional talent but go about looking for it by conventional (ie arbitrary) standards. What if you had a 2.0 in college but had netted a company $50M via your super-awesome quant programming skills and market savvy and were WELL KNOWN in the industry for your expertise at such a young age? Would this firm still have turned you away? If yes, they're idiots. If no, they're hypocrites.
Rick and David. Thanks guys. I appreciate it. I agree 100%. They're gonna screw me over with money being their only motive. On top of that I never thought of the conventional wisdom thing. That is pretty crazy. I was thinking about writing them a letter regarding that concept and LTCM hah. As for my stops. I use a fixed % stop on options (varies slighlty depending upon the premium). I also use either a fixed % or simple S&R points for stocks depending upon how I trade them. I sometimes use a $$ value. It will vary depending upon what type of risk I feel i'm taking (meaning whether i attempt to pick a bottom or not). I'll then slide the stop up after averaging up. haha nothing puts me in a better mood than doing that for the day even if I do get hit. Did you plug the treads into excel and graph them? I think the biggest drawdown was 10% up until this oil hedge and the Black Scholes trade. I'm trying to get an equity curve but Zecco doesn't have one I don't think.