Last night Team SWang, a collection of traders with unique skill sets that trade for firm, met for drinks and food to discuss ways that they could improve. They are one of the top teams at our firm, based on PnL and improvement. Their team leader, SWang, encapsulated how Team Trading can help traders: “I didn’t know a team … Read More
Build trades around the direction of the real trade
In a monthly review, a promising trader found an important area of improvement: build trades around the direction of the real trade. The trader in his monthly review wrote: Before the Open yesterday, our top trader was fielding trade ideas from junior traders on his desk. One junior trader offered an idea that was dismissed by the top trader. He … Read More
I want my business judged on MY trades!
I have been mentoring a futures trader recently. In a daily review (below), he provided feedback that mentoring encouraging him to focus on his best trades was powerful. I am working with a developing equities trader, who is very profitable when he focuses on his trade. He can tell you what it is. He writes in his reviews that … Read More
7 ideas for improving your trading consistency
I was recently a guest lecturer at Stony Brook University sharing my knowledge of trading and trader development with interested students. At the end of my lecture, a student approached and asked, “How can I improve my trading consistency?” We have polled our trading community for the top trading issues they would like to solve, and trading consistency consistently makes … Read More
5 ways our top traders are working to improve
I was on the West Coast last month to present to the Scottsdale (Phoenix) Traders and Investors Meetup Group. After my presentation, an astute and succeeding retail trader approached and asked, “What do your top traders do to improve?” At SMB, our top traders have been homegrown. We hired them. Trained them from scratch. Provided capital, technology, coaching and … Read More
Bring a consistent you to markets to improve your trading
Trader wants to improve his trading consistency. (Please assume Trader has some edge in markets.) Trader might double down on their efforts to perform better during market hours. If I just focus better. If I just take only A+ trades. If I just wait for my trades more patiently. If I just use this indicator. If I just size … Read More
The danger of the overconfident trader
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
SMB at The TradersExpo New York 2017
SMB will present at The TradersExpo New York 2017. You can sign up to ATTEND FREE. Mike Bellafiore will present February 27: Seth Freudberg, who runs our Options Desk, will present as well. Last year Mike presented and then stuck around to answer questions. We hope to see you at The TradersExpo NYC 2017. *no relevant positions