Kates Journal

[Nick Radge]

Great to see you progressing Kate. 

[KateMoloney]

US TLT +3.1%

US MOC Long short: +4.78%
US MOC: -1.56%

US MR Long Short: +2.1%

Got another MR system in the works. 

[Nick Radge]

Nice action in the Long/Short!

[KateMoloney]

Thanks Nick.

Really loving the long/short combos.

[KateMoloney]

US TLT -3.7%

US MOC #1 -4.32%
US MOC Long / Short  -8.22%

US MR #1 -2.8%
US MR # 2 (newly launched) -1.53%

Reached new equity highs during the month … before 2 trading sessions changed that.

Finalising a WTT system, trying to decide if it suits my personality. Its been fun testing new ideas in a realm I haven’t explored much.

Happy trading for August.

[KateMoloney]

Still working on the results .. posting this for future reference. 

This last month has been a ride with many lessons learned.

When the volatility struck, I had a major family issue arise on the same day. My normal emotional coping ability was diminished, so I made the decision to exit the market until the personal volatility died down.

This ended up costing me missed profits on the MOC and exiting at the low in the MR and long term systems. 

A part of me was pissed about it, but it is part of my plan to scale back trading when there is personal & market volatility at the same time. I didn’t see sense in beating myself up for too long, rather getting back on the horse asap and learning from it.

Reading the forum, reading Nicks words helped … something along the lines of …. “I’ve been in this drawdown before, I’ve had worse than this drawdown before and I will keep trading and build back up again”

After getting back into the market, things started to move ….

1) The strategies started to claw back to DD, especially the MRs
2) I added a WTT system (diversification!)
3) Added US all weather (adding AU all weather once brokerage account is open)
4) Opening a SMSF for all weather strategies
5) We are building a home, build cost was finalized, which helped give me clarity as to capital allocation for trading and systems
6) Finally, Dad invested some $ into trading… he is well aware of my mistakes / learnings … and still wanted to put some money into trading. This means alot.

Ended the month up from the account low ….

Set some very solid boundaries with the family members that were a part of the emotional volatility. Brain tumors can be a very complicated illness and change peoples personalities. It takes a lot of emotional intelligence to navigate it. Taking all the lessons from it to apply to trading, learning to be stable within myself, trust my systems regardless of what is happening around me, and to think long term.

Onwards and upwards!

 

[JulianCohen]

I did exactly the same as you Kate. I have no idea why I over rode my strategies. I saw and email and got spooked, but I will never do that again.

[RichardKoziel]

I just wanted to send you some well wishes and some positive energy. From your previous post you sound like a strong person and I know you can get through this! Take care and be well.

All the best, Rick

[smurfki0808]

Hi Kate,
Agreed that the combination of market volatility and outside volatility is a heady mix.
But, you showed a great list of positive outcomes for the month.
All the best!

[KateMoloney]

August

MOC Long / Short + 1.02%
MOC #2 – put on hold due to deteroiating result especially on RUT, missing profitable trades skewing results (eg low of the day)

MR #1 -5.1%
MR #2 – 8.26%

US TLT -3.74%
US AW +1.5%

WTT +3.34%

 

[KateMoloney]

Thanks Sean, Julian and Rick for your replies.

The account was -0.72% below last month, so whilst it could have been in profit, the result isn’t too bad considering ….

I believe its important to understand why we do what we do, then we can improve as traders.

Family crisis seems to be the tipping point for me when there is market volatility. Will be mulling over ways I can handle this differently in the future and adjust the trading plan. Handled some volatility in July like a pro, and kept trading the systems, with no emotion.

The main difference betwen July & August volatilty was the family crisis, and I learned I’m pregnant which can really impact my thinking (baby brain is a thing). At least now I know so I can question my thinking. Having to triple check orders atm because my brain is somewhere off on Mars LOL.

[JulianCohen]

Good luck Kate. I’m sure we are all wishing you the best this time.

[ChrisThong]

It is going to be a long 9 months. All the best to you Kate!!

[smurfki0808]

Wishing you a smooth run with all you are juggling over the coming months Kate. One day at a time. Cheers 

[KateMoloney]

This last month has been insane, so will update the missing stats when I come up for air.

Between having a miscarriage and the health complications with it, to Mums health declining rapidly (shes now in pallitative care), and a new build, I’ve had a lot on my plate.
I’m lucky to have a good psychologist and doctor helping me through it all, and we have a very supportive family who flew inter state to be with us.

I’ve still been showing up every day to do my trades, because I still shower and brush my teeth even when life gets a bit rough … so I’ll still show up for the 15/20 minutes to do my trades. Literally just pressing buttons and letting the trades fall where they will. Theres a few system reviews and system developments on hold, but the market will always be there and can wait till things settle down.

The good thing about systematic trading is as long as you collect the daily data, you can catch up on EOM financials at a later date.

WTT + 5.33% (really happy with this system, mainly because of the minimal time commitment and diversification from US)

MOC Long Short + 4.40%

US TLT 
US All Weather

MR Long Short #1 – the shorts cost these systems money in September, although they are producing some nice 6% & 7% profit trades in the last 2-3 days
MR Long Short #2

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