You're correct, I do not know his trading plan. But you're going to have to explain to me how that's relevant because assuming he did trade his plan perfectly, he still underperformed the total return of the NQ. If you can explain how trading a plan perfectly that doesn't perform well is more important than performing well, I'd love to hear it.
He's doing a combine and its a simulator...that in itself implies he's using something new because if he was an experience trader and experience at using this trade method...he wouldn't be on a simulator and would try trading on his own with his own money. That's logical.
My discussion with you is not about his performance in comparison to the total return of the Nasdaq Emini NQ futures considering such is not the goal of the combine he's doing. Yet, if the combine rules involved comparison to the total return of the Emini NQ futures...your comments will then have merit.
Performing well is a perspective. For example, if someone has a trading plan that's suppose to net him +200 Emini NQ points per week but he only gets +45 points...
Yes, he's under-performing the benchmark of his trading plan and under-performing any other benchmark outside of his trading plan but only in
hindsight...but he's profitable now and will most likely (in theory) improve his profitability as he gains more trading experience. Yet, reality is this, you do
not know his trading plan...you do
not know the benchmark rules of the combine he's trading within. If you did know the rules of his combine...you would be then be using the benchmark rules they've given him. Guess what, it does
not involve the total return of the Emini NQ futures. However, I do understand
your benchmark is the total return of the Emini NQ futures.
By the way, I myself do not know his trading plan but I do know the trade method that's being used within whatever trading plan he's applying. I also understand the combine rules he's trading within...the
real benchmark. His success or failure in the combine will ultimately determine his trading plan performance in comparison.
Best wishes to him in trying to meet or exceed the benchmark given to him by the combine rules.