I've been a member since 2016 I think. Which means I probably started trading a year or so before that. (I know I could afford to trade the ES, whenever that was) I've used multiple platforms, traded multiple products (never crypto or forex), multiple brokers, with multiple different strategies. I've never really blown up an account. (mostly because I've reloaded before it got there)I don't have the guts to actually see how much money I've given to the market over the years, but it's significant. New Car?
Anyway, I have used all the automatic Trading Journal Software, hand written, spread sheets, Templates, etc. to try and keep a journal. But I failed at all of them. Last month September 2023 I decided that keeping a journal was going to be more important than my trades. At least for the month, then I could do whatever I wanted after that! Went over all my rules...flexible...but gave me something to start with. Max Risk, Max Gain, Max trades, Max days, Max hours, etc. etc. Decided to just use MES because it couldn't hurt me too bad. Came up with morning routine. Made an excel spreadsheet, to input my notes and trades after I have usually scribbled them on the electric bill envelope.
Traded nearly everyday and lost almost 60pts in September! Plus another $100 or so in comm. Platform fees. Subscriptions. Etc.
BUT at the end something happened. I'm not sure what. But so far I've been positive every week in October. I've never been positive for a week while trading everyday.
So if I can figure out the posting of the forum. I'll post a summary of September and my daily trades for October.
I use TOS for most of my charting and swing trading. I use Quantower & AMP for charting and my mini trades (low commission). Use Trading View to post stuff or share charts.
I mostly draw simple 0 - 50% - 100% Ranges on Daily, 4Hr, 1Hr, 15min, 3min. in Quantower
Larger ranges on the Daily can be 0 - 25% - 50%-75%-100%
I use TOS (Opening Range Indicator) on 3200tick, 3min, 5min a lot! Use tick at open, 3min after hour or so, 5 min on days with bigger swings. I have customized it a bit. But on open and rangy days its spooky good. However when price blast above and below it I tend to move to the Ranges drawn in Quantower.
I look for trades that test S/R levels of those ranges and how one timeframe interacts with the other. I try to keep in mind that stops will get hunted. I don't know if its nefarious, algos, ai, or aliens, but i know price with move through an area above and below S/R levels before reversing and resuming the predominate trend. I've been stopped out by less than a point so many times that I could of been chairman of the "The markets are rigged" board. However, I went with the "if you can't beat them join them mentality". So often times I will look at a chart and say to myself..."Wish I could go get all those stops" If it seems like the market is heading that way, I'll jump on board. I also use it as a place that pullbacks may settle before continuing on. My worse days are trending days because of this. I will consistently counter trade and get slowly beat up. I use to add to my losses in this situation but I'm in recovery now.
I have multiple accounts at TDA, Fidelity, Dorman, AMP, Robinhood, Acorns that I can manage. My guess is I have other accounts that I have forgotten about with small balances as well. The majority of any wealth I have is out of my control, until I'm convince I can manage it better.. The reason I do this is I know I have a propensity to risk it all, at my worse. Therefore I limit my access "to it all" at any given time. Lucky for me I did not have to lose it all to figure this out. Just have to watch me destroy a boxes of girl scouts cookies. While it may make for a less than exciting life I limit my access to things that must be done in moderation and/or have I degree of risk. I first made this decision when I got married and doubled down when I had kids. This carried into my trading …