My guess is when people saw the title of this journal, most reactions fell into one of two categories:
1. Sweet! Another TST journal :clap2: or
2. Sweet! YAF TST journal :rolleyes:
Hopefully more of the former than the latter :becky:
Several months ago, I came across TopStep Trader ( and was immediately intrigued. For starters, it incorporated several key elements I scribbled down on my list things I'd do if given the chance to start a trading group. I dug around a bit and decided to give it a go. I did the 2-week Training and two Combines with TST in the spring. I did a 3rd Combine in September; it was mostly experimental. Still, had it gone well I'd have taken credit for it :)
This marks my 4th Combine, and I gotta say up front I'm not exactly in love with how I started. "How so? Isn't this your first day?" The gaffe was signing up as early as I did. I committed to an Oct 22nd start date, but had several personal things outside of trading that successfully competed for my energy and attention. Since I have yet to place a trade during this combine, I asked if I could basically reset my start date. Unfortunately, TST was unable to grant my request. I still have more than 20 trading sessions available before this combine concludes, but I figured I'd never know if I didn't at least ask. No worries :)
The way I view the market really has not changed much over the last several months. If I had to label it, I'd have to say I rely heavily on Volume Profile and Market Profile. Really what I'm looking at is acceptance and rejection. Participation and abandonment. Acceleration and deceleration. And I'm trying to do business in areas I read as favorable turning points. A turning point is often a reversion scenario but I'm also fully open to breakout scenarios.
I have a bunch of ideas about what I want to do with this journal, so it's gonna be kind of a work in progress. I'm also working on several different tools I hope to share along the way. I'm more into ideas than tool-making, so what I cobble together may appear more like a rock tied to a stick than an Estwing :becky:
Also, I will update and add to the Quick Summary. Eventually :D