A Walk in Boston with 3 Experienced Traders Giving Back

Let me share a video jam-packed with trading advice and wisdom for developing and experienced traders.  Three experienced traders are interviewed for this video, who have experience both as professional traders, but also mentoring traders.  I make this distinction because the addition of their experience mentoring traders means they have spent significant time thinking of how best to communicate important … Read More

10 Key Takeaways from March Trading (from the Prop Desk)

1. Gchat an accountability partner to help you trade bigger. One junior trader had a breakout month in March.  During his Team monthly review, this junior trader attributed the below as a big reason for this success:  During the 5-6 biggest opportunities of the month, he sent a Gchat to an accountability partner, outlined why the opportunity was worthy of … Read More

Elite Trading Requires Setting Time To Have Fun

This tweet was inspired by an independent trader struggling to balance his personal life with his trading.  He reached out for help.  He wrote: I want to consult with you about a certain thing that I have not been able to change for two years, since I started trading and it bothers me a lot. I can not balance my … Read More

The Optimal Mindset for Elite Trading (Trader Psychology)

A former SMB DNA student reached out to me for feedback on his trader psychology.  He posed an important question.  That question is: what is the optimal mindset for elite trading. This trader’s specific query was: Curious how my mindset during my best trading days compares to elite traders at your firm during their best trading days? My best trading … Read More

I want to be the best trader at the prop firm

The proper focus for a trader Focus on being your best trader.  Focusing on anything different may cause you to fall short of  your potential.  At our prop firm, falling short of your potential is NOT acceptable. This game is about being your best.  Yet, it is common for traders to strive to be better than another trader(s).  Have you … Read More

When you have to start making real money as a trader (now!)

  It is not uncommon for a trader to have to start making real money.  Perhaps the trader is running out of money.  Or if he at a firm, where he is being paid like SMB Capital, and the firm needs to see him start to make progress. The trader has his back up against the wall.  The trader needs … Read More

Trading Psychology: How to Handle FOMO (Dr. Steenbarger)

Do you feel that FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is crushing your trading PnL? That if you could just get a handle on FOMO you could become the trader you deserve to be. That FOMO is keeping you from a career as a trader and all of the rewards that come with it. Dr. Steenbarger presents in the video below, … Read More

How you can develop a trading hot streak

At SMB, our prop firm, we think a great deal about the best way to train new traders.  Our core business is training new traders into consistently profitable and then elite traders.  Since 2005, this has been our focus for our work. New traders go through an extensive training program before they ever trade firm capital.  We would never allow … Read More