First target met - Phase 1 Complete

Folks,

I finally met my first target on Phase 1, three weeks ahead of time as my plan was to make it in maximum 8 weeks.

If I was able to meet the initial 20% target I know it is possible to meet any target as long as I move without rushing, slowly but steadily, having patience to go through the bad days with confidence on the system and the discipline to follow its rules, any trader can definitely make his way to success.

On Monday we continue our challenge and start Phase 2, the next target is US$ 15,000, I will increase the size by 1 contract and will now trade ES (S&P500 e-minis) with 3 lots, expecting to meet next target by maximum November, the 8th.

The rules are clear when I reach the next target at 20 ES points (US$ 150.00 per point trading 3 lots) I will increase size again by 1 more lot, but if I lose and go back to US$ 10,000 then I would have to decrease back to 2 lots and start all over again.

"We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort." - Jesse Owens

Challenge update: Approaching First Target: US$ 12k

Hi folks!

After 3 weeks of hard work we still haven't reached the first target on the challenge! Wow!

So is trading... I tried to be conservative in the first week and ended up losing, made up the losses on the second one and now after 3 weeks I'm closer to our first target.

Just a quick reminder: I started trading a US$ 10,000 account on August, the 4th and now we are close to the first target of US$ 12,000, we have reached: US$ 11,506.46

I trade it live in our trading room and I think we will reach our first target next week (as I'm writing this post on Saturday).

If I am able to meet the first target, then for sure I will meet the last, no rush though, step by step.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Day 1 - Here we go!

This week we start trading our 1 Million Dollar Challenge, we're really excited about it as we know it is very doable and we will prove by doing it live in our trading room.

The main point is not the final target itself but the small intermediate targets we will meet along the way being the first one at US$ 12,000, or 20% of our initial investment, which will already be a very significant achievement, if we can reach the first target it means we can reach the last. The expected time to reach that initial target is from 1 to 2 months, but we do think we can make it much sooner than that.

The instrument we will use in our challenge is the ES (E-mini S&P500 futures) which is worth US$ 50/point, the average STOP out size is 2.50 points. When using the Diamond Setups System, by the experience we have using our system for four years now, we know that from 6 to 9 trades will work out of every 10 trades we take and that on every trade we can make from 3 to 10 points (or even more sometimes although it's much less often), although some of them will be closed at break-even level.

We also know that occasionally we might have some really bad days, once or twice every 3 to 5 months when we might get a sequence of losing trades, the infamous "losing streaks", when we could lose from 3 to 5 times in a row, so we are ready for tragedy, in case it happens we could lose up to 12.50 ES points or the equivalent of US$ 1,250.00 as we will start trading with 2 lots or US$ 100.00/point.

We do not know which setups will work so we will try to take them all during a trading day, it would be very unlucky if at the very beginning of our challenge we would start with a "real bad day" and have such a loss, but we'd ready for it if the market would play such a trick on us.

If everything goes as smoothly as expected, once we reach our first target of 20 points, or US$ 2,000.00, we will increase our trading size to 3 lots, so the risk will be totally off because then even if we get a "real bad day" we wouldn't lose any money, the worst thing if that happens once first target is met, would be to restart it all over again going back to the initial 2 lot size, we'll see, we're ready for both good or bad.

As I mentioned on our previous blog post I will post the results here on this blog on a weekly basis.

If you want to join us in the challenge and learn our system just sign up in our website: Diamond Setups.

We have traders from all over the world who will trade with us, for instance: USA, Canada, Australia, UK, Brazil, among some other countries, but the trading room is not crowded so I can give attention to everyone between trades and the calls I make are always ahead of time so that you can take them with me.

Best of luck!

Walking the talk: The Trading Business Plan

Hi traders!

After my previous blog post "The road map from US$ 5,000 to 1 M" I received several emails asking me if that was something really possible to achieve, yes, of course it is possible, but it's certainly not an easy task.

So, I decided to create a real trading business plan to show how we can go from US$ 10,000 to 1 M and we will execute it real time, me and the traders who trade together on a daily basis in our trading room, using our trading system, the Diamond Setups, to achieve the target that seems like a far away dream to most people, mainly with such a "small" amount of capital to start any business, if we think about it, what business would we be able to start with such capital?

With the experience we have in day trading, gathered in over 20,000 hours of screen time and day trading, and also from using the Diamond Setups system for more than 4 years now, I'm really positive we can reach that target in less than 2 years, but the worse expected scenario it could take around 40 months to complete our target of US$ 1 M.

Everything starts with an idea, a plan, and we will make it to powerful execution and results. The results will be posted weekly on this blog, the challenge starts on August, the 4th, 2014.

We will set targets and what we do when each target level is reached, and use a sound risk management methodology and proven day trading strategies is how we plan to reach our target in the least time possible.

Targets and trading sizes are calculated in such a way that even during the so-called "bad times"*, when we might get stopped out even 3 times in a row, we do not give all profits back and even if we do we would just scale down to the previous level, regroup and start over, it will not be an easy journey, but it will definitely be worth it. The hardest expected time is of course the beginning levels, but after we breakout 4th phase, the level of confidence will increase dramatically.

The instrument we've chosen to day trade is the ES (E-mini S&P500), each point on ES is equal to US$ 50.00 (fifty US dollars) below I outline the first part of the plan which is the 14 phases that separates us from our target, as each phase is finished we increase the size we trade, making it a safer way to cut time in our pursue by using compounded profits.

So here's the first part of the plan on our challenge:

The Diamond Setups Million Dollar Plan (Part 1: The Targets)

Phase 1 starts with: US$ 10,000 

Trade size: 2 lots

Target in US$: 12,000 – In ES points: 20

Time to reach target: 1-2 months

Phase 2 starts with: US$ 12,000

Trade size: 3 lots

Target in US$: 15,000 – In ES points: 20

Time to reach target: 1-2 months

Phase 3 starts with: US$ 15,000

Trade size: 4 lots

Target in US$: 20,000 – In ES points: 25

Time to reach target: 1-2 months

Phase 4 starts with: US$ 20,000

Trade size: 6 lots

Target in US$: 30,000 – In ES points: 35

Time to reach target: 2-3 months

Phase 5 starts with: US$ 30,000

Trade size: 10 lots

Target in US$: 50,000 – In ES points: 40

Time to reach target: 2-3 months

Phase 6 starts with: US$ 50,000

Trade size: 15 lots

Target in US$: 75,000 – In ES points: 35

Time to reach target: 2-3 months

Phase 7 starts with: US$ 75,000

Trade size: 20 lots

Target in US$: 100,000 – In ES points: 25

Time to reach target: 2-3 months

Phase 8 starts with: US$ 100,000

Trade size: 25 lots

Target in US$: 150,000 – In ES points: 40

Time to reach target: 2-3 months

Phase 9 starts with: US$ 150,000

Trade size: 30 lots

Target in US$: 200,000 – In ES points: 35

Time to reach target: 2-3 months

Phase 10 starts with: US$ 200,000

Trade size: 40 lots

Target in US$: 300,000 – In ES points: 50

Time to reach target: 2-3 months

Phase 11 starts with: US$ 300,000

Trade size: 50 lots

Target in US$: 400,000 – In ES points: 40

Time to reach target: 2-3 months

Phase 12 starts with: US$ 400,000

Trade size: 60 lots

Target in US$: 600,000 – In ES points: 65

Time to reach target: 4-5 months

Phase 13 starts with: US$ 600,000

Trade size: 80 lots

Target in US$: 800,000 – In ES points: 50

Time to reach target: 2-3 months

Phase 14 starts with: US$ 800,000

Trade size: 100 lots

Target in US$: 1.000,000 – In ES points: 40

Time to reach target: 2-3 months

*We know by experience that every couple of months market gets real tough for day traders, we need to be ready not to lose our shirts during those times, and, on the other hand, we need to make the best we can during the "good times".

Road map: from US$ 5,000 to US$ 1 Million in 13 months

The sky is the limit.

Yes, that's possible (not easy, but it can be done) by trading the ES (S&P500 e-minis, futures).

All you need to make is 2 to 3 points a day.

ES is worth US$ 50.00/point/lot.

Month #1 – Start US$ 5,000
Trade size: 1 lot
Target in US$: 8,000 – In ES points: 60

Month #2 – US$ 8,000
Trade size: 2 lots
Target in US$: 12,000 – In ES points: 40

Month #3 – US$ 12,000
Trade size: 4 lots
Target in US$: 20,000 – In ES points: 40

Month #4 – US$ 20,000
Trade size: 6 lots
Target in US$: 30,000 – In ES points: 35

Month #5 – US$ 30,000
Trade size: 8 lots
Target in US$: 50,000 – In ES points: 50

Month #6 – US$ 50,000
Trade size: 10 lots
Target in US$: 70,000 – In ES points: 40

Month #7 – US$ 70,000
Trade size: 15 lots
Target in US$: 100,000 – In ES points: 40

Month #8 – US$ 100,000
Trade size: 20 lots
Target in US$: 150,000 – In ES points: 50

Month #9 – US$ 150,000
Trade size: 30 lots
Target in US$: 200,000 – In ES points: 35

Month #10 – US$ 200,000
Trade size: 40 lots
Target in US$: 300,000 – In ES points: 50


Month #11 – US$ 300,000
Trade size: 60 lots
Target in US$: 500,000 – In ES points: 70


Month #12 – US$ 500,000
Trade size: 80 lots
Target in US$: 700,000 – In ES points: 50


Month #13 – US$ 700,000
Trade size: 100 lots
Target in US$: 1,000,000 – In ES points: 60

The secret is to have a plan with an edge and the desire to get there, the drive to do it over and over again on a daily basis like a bricklayer.

When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.

Best of luck!


“The greatest danger for most of us is not that we aim too high and we miss it, but we aim too low and reach it.” - Michelangelo

Statistics don't lie, play by the rules

We've been trading using the Diamond Setups system for nearly 4 years now, we know the the winning ratio ranges from 60 to 80%, market repeats patterns over and over again and we profit from that information, we take ALL setups that trigger according to our own trading style, be it scalping, day or swing trading.

OK. Now let's take a look at an example of a typical trading week on ES (S&P500 E-minis) using one of our day trading setups:

Day traders usually get at least 2 trades a day, sometimes 3 or even 4, but usually 2, so let's use an average of 2 as our example for a normal week.

One trading week would give us 10 trades, if we take them all we will be profitable on 6 to 8 of them but we'll use 6 here as our example.

We know that profits range from 3 to 7 points most of the time, sometimes we will see 10+ points trades, in our example let's use 5 points as our average on the winners.

On the losing side our max STOP is 3.50 points, but sometimes we use much less than that, so, as an average we'll use 3 points. Now let's do the math:

From the 10 trades on the week we would get:

6 winning trades at +5 each = +30 points

4 losing trades at -3 each = -12 points

On ES each point is equivalent to US$ 50.00 profit/loss, so 2 contracts would be US$ 100.00/point.

Result = +18 points on the week, if you trade 2 contracts, then you'd make: +US$ 1,800.00

If we play a little bit with the numbers, even if we make only 3 points instead of the 5 in the example above, which is the minimum we make on each winning trade, we would still be up +6 points on the week, or +US$ 600.00 if we trade just 2 contracts.

Trading is really not easy at all but if you apply a winning set of rules and follow them religiously, you will be profitable week in, week out.

Have a great trading week, best of luck.

In spite of your fear, do what you have to do. - Chin Ning Chu

The Diamond Setups: Setup #2

If I had to mention only one of the characteristics of the Diamond Setups I would definitely say: Simplicity.

Let's talk a bit about the Diamond Setup #2 for instance: it's based on 1 chart only (I can't say which chart here, part of our little secret) and once price closes twice above/below the "key levels" it's the signal we need to take a short or long trade, depending on the time of the day we will use the "trend in play" to make a decision on which side the chances would be bigger, for instance, in a trend down day we'd look for a short entry.

When using the DS system we always have a t least 2 different approaches as to entering trades and using STOPs: Conservative X Aggressive.

Once decided which style fits better your OWN personality then use same approach on ALL trades you take, and as we know as traders, sometimes we will get stopped out and lose some money, that's just part of the game, no problem, the setups are designed to be profitable in the long run, from every 10 trades (or 100 trades if you prefer) we will be wrong on 20 to 30%, but on the 70 to 80% of the time we'll be right we make up the losses and soooooo much more!

As an example of a trade on ES (S&P500 e-minis), depending on your style you will use a STOP order from 6 (conservative) to max 10 ticks (aggressive).

So, you take the trade and market gives you say 6 points, or 24 ticks in profits, now you'd have to be wrong 4 times in a row, if trading the conservative style, to give all profits back, and I'm giving an example of 6 points only, but lately, with the higher volatility, it gives much more than that on a single trade.

One of the biggest problems I see in struggling traders is the "fear to pull the trigger" that keeps them away from being successful in this business...

Now tell me, would you be afraid to pull the trigger after a winner as in the example above knowing that the worse that can happen to your trade now is to lose 10 ticks?

Rules profit, make sure you use a system that fits your personality and leave opinions/emotions out of your trading.

Best of luck.