One of the Most Important Trading Skills You Need to Develop

smbcapitalGeneral Comments

This coming Wednesday, after the market close, Bella is going to teach a trading class about one of the most important trading skills that many traders don’t understand. Tape reading is a crucial skill for all types of traders. Not just intraday or short term traders. Tape reading skills add value to trades that are held for swing, intraday and … Read More

The End of Volatility

sspencerSteven Spencer (Steve's) Blogs

During the first three years of my trading career I participated in a stock market that seemed to move 1%+ almost every day. That market was built for short term traders. But during that same time period regulators pushed through a series of market structure changes that I believe laid the foundation for a long term decline in stock market … Read More

Impatience is a major enemy of beginner options traders

smbcapitalFree Daily Trading Video

In this video, Seth Freudberg details the problems of raising capital level too quickly and suggests an alternative way to structure your growth process as an options trader. After experiencing some success over a small time period, they decide that they can trade much larger without understanding the tragic ramifications of increasing your capital level too quickly.

See the Hypos

Merritt BlackFree Daily Trading Video, Futures

Today we’re looking at creating premarket if/then statements. There’s a powerful list of benefits associated with adding this to your routine. I hope that is helpful to your own trading. Merritt Black *No relevant positions Important Disclosures  

The danger of the overconfident trader

BellaGeneral Comments

Yesterday I wrote about a trader struggling with added size and risk.  In seeking a solution for this trader one possible area of focus was overconfidence.  How does it happen?  Why is it dangerous?  What can we do to combat overconfidence? You trade well.  You are seeing screens well and the market is trading in a way that allows your … Read More

A trader struggles with added risk

BellaGeneral Comments

Here is an anecdote from our proprietary trading desk in NYC. A consistently profitable trader (CPT) shot me an email this week to chat about struggling with a recent bump in share size and risk.  He felt he had taken a step back with his trading after being given the opportunity by the firm to take a few steps forward … Read More

A loud coaching session on the desk

BellaGeneral Comments

Yesterday we had a loud, unscheduled coaching session with the newest traders on our desk.  There were raised voices and language not suitable for network TV. By my count this was the third time these newest traders did not meet an acceptable level of AM preparation.  I am not suggesting they did not prepare.  I am not suggesting they did … Read More

A solution to improve your patience as a trader

BellaGeneral Comments

Dr. Brett Steenbarger, the Coach K of trading coaches, generously visited our firm today and spoke with our traders.  I asked him to tackle four issues during his discussion: I want to take my trading to the next level If I could just wait for my setups If I could just stop taking lesser trades Define the competitive trader I … Read More