Compliance

Since I've now begun to expropriate other peoples blogs with trading thoughts I guess I should just grow up and return to an open discussion in this blog.

That includes trading.

Either that or just delete the whole thing and go away.

Na.

What has got me talking you may ask?

Since I quit talking about trading roughly 3 months ago I have come to one very important conclusion about this business. It's nothing new or revolutionary, it is a very common issue known by all traders.

Compliance.

"In general, compliance means conforming to a rule, such as a specification, policy, standard or law." Wikipedia

We all know that you cannot trade without a plan. So we make a plan. Then we do not comply with our plan.

Why?

Why indeed.

Jules got me thinking about my Myers Briggs personality type again, and LW got me thinking about my identity as a trader.

These thoughts took me back to my very rational thoughts that should have insured my compliance issues were all taken care of. I wrote about them, therefore they must be "handled".

Know Thyself

Whose Game are You Playing?

Well, they're not "handled".

How do I know this?

I track the trade results of all valid patterns.

IB tracks the trade results of all the "patterns".

In May there was a 91 tick difference between IB's statement and my "statement".

I don't need to tell you that my "statement" was the one with the 91 extra ticks.

So being a rational INTJer I made note of this, I stated this is unacceptable, these are not the actions of a professional trader, this is amateur stuff.

I was going to make this note to self a note to you in a blog at the end of May. State publicly my disgrace and ask you to hold me accountable for the month of June.

Accountable to the plan.

Or

In compliance.

But I didn't write the post, instead I told myself to just do it. Stop being an idiot and only take valid patterns. How hard can that be? Just do it. The math is right in front of you, you are not smarter than the market, you are not smarter than the plan, you made the plan, you traded full time for 3 years building the plan, the plan works, trade the plan.

Right.

June 1.

Traded the plan. I am in compliance. Go eat ice cream.

Good boy.

June 2.

Took non valid trade.

CAN'T EVEN DO TWO BLOODY DAYS!

So, here we are. Once you enter the world of non compliance you lose all sense of right and wrong. You are now an outlaw, living on the edge, all the cool guys in movies live out here, no rules, take no prisoners, go ahead... make my day.

Today is June 5th, we've had 4 days of trading in June, my June IB statement has 21 ticks profit. My valid patterns only statement has 82 ticks profit. Those 82 ticks look nice, but we can't eat them.

My name is Solfest and I'm not in compliance.

I lie here under my desk waiting for the surprise audit. (old bankers joke)

I tell myself I'm an outlaw, women love outlaws, rules, we don't need no stinkin rules.

Except I'm not an outlaw. I'm a trader. Traders have a risk management department and a compliance department. Both are very angry with me.

There is now a letter in my file. I'm on notice, shape up or ship out.