Normally 90% of funds I trade are in my 401k LLC, which means I can do much more than standard 401k.
http://www.sdretirementplans.com/self-directed-401k-basics/401k-faqs/#3
So all my real estate is in the 401k.
I started with stocks 1978 and most of my funds are long term "core"stock(must pay dividends) and dance options around them, secondary signals are 90% swing exit and keeping 10% to core positions. I do good amount of shorting of non dividend stocks or carefully watch when dividends are near and don't take those short signals. Regardless if trying to add to core by buying other core stocks or "swing" positions, the risk has always been the same, but given the great bull market been going for 8 years, less likely to find other stocks to buy long term. What has been truly amazing, the economy has sucked for 8 years, can you imagine if economy really got on board?
But the blunt of returns made are in futures both long term and scalping, mainly cause lower outlay of funds, so less funds in these accounts generate better ROR, but between the two of stocks and futures, complete opposite ways they are traded, in futures very long term of being in years of rollovers, automation is seeking of selling new contract high/buying new contract lows and always hedged. Scalping is more like averaging little, under $18 per based on weekly stats but increased size, by far scalping has the greatest risk, by far. Day trading, took me 30 years to find something I was happy to use. My goals have changed through the years from highest winning percentage to getting losing to lowest I can get, I will give up profits to get lower losing percentages and smoother equity curve, but been surprised by working on not losing, don't really make less, but it is often comes in one of three years where make bigger profits and two other years of threading water and making some on selling options and doing seasonal spreads.
I think people flock to futures more cause they are under financed, whereas stocks, you need it all. This is first year I been doing margin on purchases, never thought I would do so, but only taken me so long to feel confident to do so more safe, but in back of mind am really thinking the end is near, LOL. But you diversify well, less likely to wipe out.
I don't do breakouts in stocks, but many entries are chart based, more along the lines of "traps", to me it is like buying a one year old car, let others pay the price of getting in first and less risk on second bite of the apple. Very few times I don't get into some trades. I prefer to get into $8-25 stocks as they can offer bigger percentage moves. I will do higher priced stocks but generally for day trading/scalping. I have learned to allow core positions to turn into bigger priced stocks and keep getting the dividends, well after 8 years, done well getting those dividends. I also started something couple years ago, similar to dogs of the Dow, but sectors of the S&P500, I wait for 3 of 4 years being worst in bottom two based on percentages, most stocks won't stay that low forever and give very nice higher returns the next year, but of course checking the charts. You can to really learn charting, do a few years of doing by hand, I did that for twenty years, even after I bought computers, something about hand to brain on learning.
Anything I buy on systems over 59 minutes are done hedged, yes you make less or take small losses, but like in commodities I am right 5-15% of the time, and stocks seldom over 40% profitable trades, so my style I require to be hedged. But here is the bright spot, I don't have to be better than S&P Index percent for the year to beat the Index, just have smaller drawdowns and the say 25% the index made, add 25% to my less drawdown increases what the Index did. So if you can cut your drawdowns by at least a third of the index, less money you have to make up. I wish in my beginning I learned more about risk management first than how to profit, keep losing down as low as possible, you have much better chance of doing well will less sleepless nights.
I have designed systems looking pre-volatile occurrences and eventually find the nuances, some would call them HFT moves. But like in life, usually discover everything by accident, LOL.
Most people have trouble in trading cause they really have figured things in wrong ways, like trend, want indicators fast, when I use the slowest-fast usually means over trading and many false signals. Too often people want to be first to the party, where you learn that offers over trading and more losing trades. Luck of getting into GREAT trades don't occur enough, some say they get them most of time, I never seemed to have luck, you have to learn to have great patience and been very disciplined, time seldom on your side first getting in but after you get to better than breakeven stops, just leave them there, all backtests I have done show trailing stops robs me.
I always check monthly and weekly charts, half my signals come off weekly charts, and many credit spreads comes off weekly charts. Slow is better for me, consistency, slow turtle, LOL.
