Andy's Less Random Walk

A

andy.bands

I had a journal almost a decade back, alas it is currently untraceable. Maybe not losing the associated email address would have helped.

In between I worked at some places where having personal brokerage accounts was a big no-no, raised kids and was generally busy with the thick of thin things.

Started trading again about 4 years back with a small account. Trading started getting more complicated slowly and taking more hours each week.

Recently I read a few trading books, and keeping a Journal felt like a good habit.

I hope to add an entry every month, if not every week. Will start with a yearly entry for the last 3-4 years and a monthly entry for 2021.
 
2017 - Year 1

Code: 
Account Start:    $39,000  
Account End  :    $43,500

Cash In/Out  :    N/A (first year)

Change $     :    $4300
Change %     :    11.50%

S&P Return   :    18.74%

Opened an account in Feb 17. Moved Securities worth 34k and 5k of cash. Ended the year with 36k and 7k respectively.

Not much was done, held onto the securities and played around with some option trades.
 
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2018 - Year 2

Code: 
Account Start:    $43,500   (+32,000)
Account End  :    $72,700

Cash In/Out  :    32,000 (added)

Change $     :    $-2800
Change %     :    -3.70%

S&P Return   :    -6.59%

Started with securities worth 36K and 7k of cash. Ended the year with 64k and 9k respectively. Added some cash.

Started doing more option trades. Was almost positive for the year and then in the last month gave all of it away.
 
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2019 - Year 3

Code: 
Account Start:    $72,700   (+2000)
Account End  :   $121,700

Cash In/Out  :    2000 (added)

Change $     :    $47,000
Change %     :    62.90%

S&P Return   :    30.43%

Started with securities worth 64k and 9k of cash. Ended the year with 71k and 50k respectively. Added a little cash.

Trading size and frequency increased a lot. Finally a good year of trading :)
 
2020 - Year 4
Code: 
Account Start:    $121,700
Account End  :    $214,400

Cash In/Out  :    N/A

Change $     :    $92,700
Change %     :    76.17%

S&P Return   :    15.76%

Started with securities worth 71k and 50k of cash. Ended the year with 105k and 108k respectively.

Trading size and frequency further increased, position size also increased, and thanks a lot to TSLA, got the best year till now.
 
2021 - Year 5 - Months 1-6
Code: 
Account Start:    $214,400
Account End  :    $189,400 (-50,000)

Cash In/Out  :    -50,000 (removed)

Change $     :    $25,000
Change %     :    11.60%

S&P Return   :    14.40%

Started with securities worth 105k and 108k of cash. Started taking out cash from this account.

Lost a lot a money early in the year when tech had a mini crash, and due to overconfidence stops were tinkered with.
 
ValeryN said:
That's life and nice track record so far.
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Thank you Valery for looking through my posts. I hope I learn here and give back to other forum members.

Are you a discretionary trader?
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No, I have never worked as a trader. Although, I have worked in financial industry multiple times.
My interest in markets started with the gift of a few Mutual Funds Units from my Grandfather, which was almost 25 years back. Started tracking them daily and reading financial pages. Began investing once I got a stable job and then jumped into Option Trading about 10-12 years back.

Why kind of strategies are you using?
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I am a swing trader and mostly dabble in Option Trades. Some of the account is also invested in long term holdings.
Generally setup a delta risk for a security and then eat time decay and make small amounts when adjusting. Control position sizing, delta risk as well as gamma. Gamma explosion has caused my many bad days.
I do very boring trading and maybe considered a Tape Reader in old lingo.

What's your trading frequency?
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As multiple positions are open, rolls and adjustments cause almost daily trades. Mostly active in the first and last hour of trading day.
I have a full time day job.

What is your position size?
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Generally 5-10% of the account. Start getting concerned when it touches 12.5%, and really worried when it reaches 15%.
 
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