- PROS
- First trade started well, using 2 contracts
- next was major loss and was a consideration to stop trading due to loss level. however, as part of trying not to dwell on past trades, I persisted.
- Roller coaster ride from there. Market essentially was hovering at an X-5 level and very choppy.
- One rule aimed for was to stop trading at session's noon-end
- Quandary came when recouped losses past $100+, in essence making over $500 to recoup
- Contract size was also dropped as made gains
- X-5 rules were essentially adhered to by price and eventually (after session) totally dropped off as anticipated.
- ended gain $155.00, 2 - 4 contracts, X5, Blueprint
- CONS
- getting too much tunnel-vision was an issue
- over-trading needs to be worked on, although recouped
- need consider contract sizes. NQ @ 4 still equal to ES @ 2.
- need consider decreasing risk percentage since losses were over $200 not obeying prove-it stop rules
- although was not very emotional, still need to work on stops
- entry executions seem fair considering loss in beginnings
- Once losses entered into, began trading on 1 min. scalping level until recouped
Sunday, December 29, 2013
10-15-13 US Replay, NQ, fine-tuning risk exposure focus and entry execution, X5, $155.00
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Diagonal - Trading indicators, free - NinjaTrader, eSignal - trend, average
Useful Tools For Traders by eMiniMind
Useful Tools for Traders
Charting and Execution Platforms
Trading Journals
Must Read Books for Every Trader
The following list of books and audio books are some of the most highly recognized among all great traders and should be read and reread.
Reminiscences of A Stock Operator by Edwin Lefevre
Trade Your Way to Financial Freedom by Van Tharp
Trading in the Zone by Mark Douglas
Pit Bull by Marty "Buzzy" Schwartz
Market Wizards by Jack D. Schwager
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques by Steve Nison
Mastering the Trade by John Carter
How I Made $2,000,000 in the Stock Market by Nicolas Darvas
The Tax Guide for Traders by Robert Green
Way of the Turtle by Curtis Faith
Daily News Sources
Stock Screener
Podcasts
Other Blogs Worth Reading
EminiMind (Tim Racette) in the Media
SFO Magazine – Succeed at Market Extremes with the Tick
Active Trader Magazine – Heikin Ashi Chart Basics
My Interview for TraderInterviews.com
My Interview for the Money Show
My Money Show Video Interviews
Semi-finalist of the 2011 Infinity Trading Challenge
Winner of the 2012 Infinity Trading Challenge
Speaker at Las Vegas Trader's Expo 2009
Speaker at Las Vegas Trader's Expo 2011
Speaker at New York Trader's Expo 2013
The Best of eMiniMind - A definite nugget on the net ….
The BEST of EminiMind
Welcome to the BEST posts, videos, and tools on the EminiMind blog.
I've created over 100 EminiMind posts and videos to help you in your trading. Sorting through all that information can be a little overwhelming so I went through and organized my BEST content for you.
Find the topic or topics that interest you the most, and enjoy!
Note: All the EminiMind posts can be found in the Archives.
The Basics
Do you really know how the futures market works? If the answer is anything but yes, make sure to review the following two articles outlining some of the basics. Trading successfully begins with a sound understanding of the fundamentals.
On a broader scale, here is a little story about WHY in our quest for success?
Goal Setting
I like to take a top down approach and begin by looking at the bigger picture. Trading is just a small piece of the pie. It's important to put together a long term plan that includes investments for retirement. Here are some tips and exercises to get started.
Initial Setup: Computer Requirements and Trading Software
Once you setup an environment for your trading, a reliable charting package and order execution platform are the two pieces of software you will need. Here are some posts to help you setup your trading office and a review about the platform I use, Infinity Futures. For charts I use the Thinkorswim platform.
Setting Up Your Trading Screen
Once you're up and running, the next step is to setup your trading screen. Setup your screen with the indicators and tools which you need to make trading decisions. I challenge you to remove anything that does not directly relate to your trading system as this can distract and cause you to hesitate when it comes time to pull the trigger.
Trader Interviews, Stories, and Other Insights from Top Traders
Learn by emulating. Those who have experience in our field of expertise can act as great resources. I myself have learned great deal from the successes and failures of other traders, especially those talked about in the Market Wizards series. In this group of posts you can read about my story, and learn from other great traders.
- Architect Turn Trader — My Story
- My Daily Trading Routine
- Before I Started Trading I Wish I Knew…
- Listen to My Trader Interview with Tim Bourquin
- The 10 Top Traders Who Have Influenced Me the Most
Developing a Trading Strategy
As I progressed through my trading career I found myself pulling various methods and tidbits from other traders. Here is a two part series I put together on how you can develop a profitable trading strategy.
- Developing a Profitable Trading Strategy Step by Step: Part 1
- Developing a Profitable Trading Strategy Step by Step: Part 2
Market Internals: The Foundation of a Great Trader
Understanding market internals acts as the foundation of great trading. In this 5 part series I address each market internal (Breadth, A/D Line, Trin, and Tick) and help you better understand how to incorporate them into your own trading.
- Market Internals 001 – Introduction
- Market Internals 002 – Breadth
- Market Internals 003 – Advance Decline Line
- Market Internals 004 – Trin
- Market Internals 005 – Tick
I've created a video on how to setup your market internals in Thinkorswim the same way I do, that video can be found here:
Learn From Your Mistakes (And the Mistakes of Others)
In 2011 I had the pleasure to speak at the Trader's Expo in Las Vegas (for the 2nd time). The topic for my talk revealed common mistakes that trader's (including myself) make and techniques you can use to avoid them.
The Mental Game: Trading Psychology
Trading I feel is made up of a mental aspect, mindset, and the physical aspect, execution. The mental game is the harder part to master and is what most traders' lack. I believe trading is 90% mental and 10% execution. While you certainly need that 10% to make money, in order to execute effectively you must have the right mindset.
The following posts are my best pieces to help with your trading psychology.
- 6 Simple Ways to Construct a Better Trading Mindset
- Think Like a Trader: 7 Principles of Consistency
- 12 Characteristics of Highly Successful Traders
- 5 Exercises to Help Control Your Emotions During a Trade
- 38 Steps to Becoming a Successful Trader
- 10 Steps to Developing a Winning Trader's Mindset
I couldn't finish this section off without talking about Trading in the Zone by Mark Douglas. This is a fantastic book which took my trading to another level after I read it.
Indicators
Deciding which tools or indicators to use and which to disregard is an iterative process. Given so many options, here are a select few indicators which I have honed in on over the years. You may find them useful in your trading or, you may not.
- Top 3 Indicators for Trading Futures
- 5 Methods for Identifying and Entering the Trend
- Day Trading with Pivot Points
- Heikin Ashi Candlestick Charts
- The Complete Tick Chart Guide
Tools for Building a Successful Trading Journal
Analyzing your trades after the market is closed is a crucial step to improvement. You will need an organized way to categorize, analyze, and reflect on your trades.
The trading journals that I use are:
Here are a few posts on how you can build your own personal trading journal and a short market homework assignment for you to add to your nightly routine.
- Ideas for Building Your Personal Trading Journal
- Your Market Homework Assignment and the 10,000 Hour Rule
Motivational Videos
We call go through rough periods in our trading. I put together a collection of videos that I found particularly motivating. You can watch those in this video tribute post.
Taxes, Benefits, and Legalities
If you are actively trading the markets then it is wise to think about creating an entity for your trading. Whether you plan to trade full-time or part-time, there are many tax laws which can benefit you as a trader. I talk about some of them in this article and reference a few places you can go to find out more information.
Other Can't Miss Items
My Resource Page – Additional tools and books that I use every day in my trading.
My Trading Rules – Specific setups, defined rules, and methods for developing a winning mindset.
Futures Trading Newsletter– Subscribe to the EminiMind newsletter and join over 1,100 traders benefiting from weekly insights from a full-time futures trader, completely free!
Advanced Trading Techniques – Continue growing as a trader with this monthly membership feature with exclusive webinars, videos, trading documentaries, and other bonus items.
All the EminiMind posts can be found in the Archives.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Proverb: "Give A Man A Fish ...."
I must now pass it on not to only to my own future generation, but anyone else who is willing to learn.
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Monday, December 23, 2013
Good Reads - The new market wizards : conversations with America's top traders / Jack D. Schwager.-
Prologue