Hi there...time to get serious?

sven

sven

Well-Known Member
Hi peeps friends call me Sven.
My background is the classic tale and it started a long long time ago, some 15+ years and looks a little like this...

Software dev working for investment banks(back office) gets excited about trading..
Thinks how hard can it be?
Builds a few million indicators, chases all the indictors, systems, wastes his life chasing the wrong aspects.
Thinks systems just can't work...
... tries discretionary trading for a bit..
Not so bad, lose a bit, make a bit, survive some stupid behaviour.
...blows up smallish account through the classics, average down now stops etc.

Time passes.

Come back to it a little wiser and a little smarter.
Basically repeat the above lol.

time passes.

repeat.

You get the idea.

So here I am years on dipping in and out getting closer but just lack the mental focus or skills for sure. At work I'm able to complete things... Forex / algo and discretionary trading are things I just can't seem to let it go of but at the same time I know I'm not treating them like work and have a long way to go mentally.. I'm not focussed on meeting my goals.

Its not all bad.
Discretionary wise, I like to trade PA with an occasional SMA using S/R and S/D on 1h/4h. Tend to be MTF I can probably pull a chart up on most timeframes D-> 1m and eek out something but just can'y get into a routine. Can stick to a timeframe etc.. I can't get the confidence to trade regular and up my size. Maybe if the size was bigger it would be easier to focus.. :shrug

Algos wise. I've evolved from thinking the next indicator or system will solve it. I'm working toward a portfolio of simple uncorrelated TF systems across multiple instruments to try and build a smooth eqty curve. Along side that I've got a few ideas in the works for more traditional things that buy/sell and manage stops that are allowed more complexity.

I have a basic interest in ML and such and cut my teeth 20yrs ago on Genetic algos and Evolutionary Programming before it was cool lol. I'm not big on maths but I've forced myself to learn more about basic stats to try and make sure I know my risks.

I'm here because FF is a shitshow and I don't need more indicators. I need to work on my head and professionalism. Thats my goal.

So thats my intro.. usual bollocks and I'll probably disappear without achieving anything lol but I'm getting to the point I need to crack on or just give up.

If you are still ready wow.. and hi.
 
Hello and welcome!

sven said:
So here I am years on dipping in and out getting closer but just lack the mental focus or skills for sure. At work I'm able to complete things... Forex / algo and discretionary trading are things I just can't seem to let it go of but at the same time I know I'm not treating them like work and have a long way to go mentally.. I'm not focussed on meeting my goals.
Click to expand...

Are you only trading FX? If you have a dev background and worked in the banking, what sort of industry insights have you taken into your trading?

What separates you from the unwashed retail masses tossing themselves into the meat grinder that is the market?

Or, put another way, if 95%+ of retailers fail at trading in the long run, what are you doing different than the rest?

Normal doesn't work in the market. The market is designed to extract value and profit from the 'normal' out there.
 
jack said:
Hello and welcome!



Are you only trading FX? If you have a dev background and worked in the banking, what sort of industry insights have you taken into your trading?

What separates you from the unwashed retail masses tossing themselves into the meat grinder that is the market?

Or, put another way, if 95%+ of retailers fail at trading in the long run, what are you doing different than the rest?

Normal doesn't work in the market. The market is designed to extract value and profit from the 'normal' out there.
Click to expand...

Hi jack.
Yes only trading FX. Unfortunately employer makes it near impossible to trade anything listed or futures. Holding periods, pre authorisation Etc. Makes active trading impossible.

Forex is the only thing that I can trade without restrictions.

Yes dev background. C++/c and these days python /c# linux.

As for industry trading insights I’m going to say I have none. Seems to me that money is made from commissions in investment banking ;)

As to what makes me different. Wow straight to the point.
I’ve always been a problem solver and creative in my solutions. I’m pragmatic and open minded. I’m pretty aware of my weaknesses and strengths...
...but most of all I love a challenge.

Sure they all say something similar. I get that. I know this is a stacked game.

We all have skills and strengths
We all have weaknesses and blind spots.

I know the tech stuff is easy for me and yet I don’t have automated systems running!
I’ve built and tested many that look profitable, perform well in forward testing and yet and I don’t have any running!
So even I can see something is wrong with this. I think I can definitely be accused of making it a mental exercise “for fun”.

That needs to stop and I need to get up and running.

I truly believe in eating your own dog food. So along side my long term goal of automation I want to be able to trade discretionary.
Yes I know not everyone is cut out for that and I know only too well that it’s probably something that will rely on consistency. Something I’m always short on.

So as to why I should succeed? There is no reason why I should, only that I want to and I’ve committed the next 12 months focus.

The plan is 2 fold.
1. to get serious and deploy a portfolio of systems across multiple pairs and timeframes. To try and make diversification work for me and get a reasonably stable curve. I won’t be distracted by making my own framework or building the next tool.
I’ll make a mini project plan to keep me honest. Part of that will Ben choosing a framework(loathed to use MT4/5. May trial ctrader or just double down with python and backtrader) but I’ll decide soon and that’s it. Idea is to get a system up and running first live then add to portfolio when diversification would improve. This time I’m going avoid trying to perfect everything and release early.

2. I want to be a decent discretionary trader. I naturally gravitate toward 4hr or 1 min lol so that’s not ideal. I need to find the consistency and confidence from knowing what my system is. So despite avoiding it for ever I will try to formulate a plan and journal thoughts etc. All this in parallel with the algo stuff.


Long term I would rather be trading futures or atleast CFDs across multiple asset classes in a portfolio of systems. At the moment that is not possible due to work and other reasons.

I know forex is one of the toughest nuts to crack so I’m probably on an uphill struggle but that’s just the way it is and I need to make the most of it.

Wow. I could have just told some porky pies that I’m awesome but I’m here to move forward.

Cheers
 
Being honest with yourself and others about where you're at is a strong step toward improving yourself. Ego gets in the way and stops us from making the changes we need to make to get better (why change if you're already "awesome" after all? :p) Keep it up, you're on the right path.
 
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