week 4 april done.
month wrapping up.
staying disciplined.
week 4 trades (apr 22-26) #
monday 4/22: 2 trades, 2 wins. +$1,640
tuesday 4/23: 3 trades, 2 wins. +$1,220
wednesday 4/24: 2 trades, 1 win. +$580
thursday 4/25: 3 trades, 2 wins. +$1,380
friday 4/26: 2 trades, 2 wins. +$1,520
week total: 12 trades, 9 wins (75%). +$6,340
account status #
apr 19: $413,020
apr 26: $419,360
week 4: +$6,340
april final tally (preliminary) #
starting (apr 1): $395,900
ending (apr 26): $419,360
april gain: +$23,460 (+5.9%)
trades: 53
wins: 39
losses: 14
win rate: 74%
strong month.
comparing 4 weeks #
week 1: +$2,400 (69% wr, ramping size)
week 2: +$7,000 (69% wr, full size)
week 3: +$7,720 (83% wr, full size)
week 4: +$6,340 (75% wr, full size)
consistency.
every week profitable.
win rate 69-83%.
validated strategy.
risk management held #
position sizing: $1,500 all month (after week 1 ramp)
circuit breaker: never triggered
max losing streak: 2 losses (happened once)
filters: averaged 57% signal acceptance
discipline maintained.
didn’t get greedy when crushing.
didn’t panic on red days.
system followed.
market conditions perfect #
VIX april range: 14-19
avg VIX: 16.2 (low-medium vol)
regime stability: high (0.86 avg confidence)
correlation: low (0.44 avg)
this is my strategy’s sweet spot.
when VIX stays 14-19, adaptive mean reversion prints.
ytd tracking #
Q1 total: +$29,700 (8.1%)
april: +$23,460 (5.9%)
ytd: +$53,160 (14.5%)
strong performance.
annual pace reality check #
ytd: +14.5% in 4 months
annualized pace: ~43%
target: +15-18% annual
current trajectory: way above target
need correction Q2-Q4.
expect flat/losing months may-december.
april = strong like january.
comparing standout months #
january 2024: +$27,200 (+7.4%)
april 2024: +$23,460 (+5.9%)
both outliers.
2x notable months per year is realistic.
can’t expect this monthly.
may expectations #
after crushing april:
need to accept reality.
may could be:
- flat month (+0% to +1%)
- modest gain (+1% to +2%)
- losing month (-1% to -3%)
all acceptable.
april notable performance won’t repeat immediately.
mean reversion applies to trading performance too.
slippage final numbers #
april avg: 1.7 ticks per trade
march testing: 2.4 ticks
improvement: 0.7 ticks = ~$210/month saved
execution getting better.
limit orders with buffer working.
comparing to 2023 #
april 2023:
still learning.
testing strategies.
small size.
modest gains.
april 2024:
strategies proven.
adaptive approach validated.
full size execution.
crushing it.
1 year growth.
therapy insight (4/23) #
dr. r: “april crushing it. how do you feel?”
me: “good but cautious.”
dr. r: “cautious how?”
me: “january crushed. february struggled. march tested. april crushed again. pattern says correction coming.”
dr. r: “you’re managing expectations.”
me: “yeah. can’t expect 6% months consistently. need flat/losing months to balance.”
dr. r: “that’s realistic trading psychology. most traders can’t accept that.”
exactly.
what i learned april #
1. testing pays off
march tested adaptive strategy tiny size.
april executed full size with confidence.
patience = profit.
2. regime detection critical
intraday stability checks prevented false triggers.
filtered low-confidence setups.
quality > quantity.
3. execution matters
improved from 2.4 to 1.7 tick slippage.
small improvements compound.
$210/month = $2,520/year.
4. emotional control
big wins didn’t trigger overconfidence.
stayed disciplined.
maturity.
weekend plans #
saturday: rest, gym, review april performance
sunday: backtest updates, optimize parameters, prepare for may
no trading.
market closed.
monday begins may #
fresh month.
fresh mindset.
realistic expectations.
april crushed.
may might struggle.
both acceptable.
focus: execute system, preserve capital, stay disciplined.
tonight #
week 4 april.
+$6,340.
month total: +$23,460 (5.9%).
second impressive month 2024.
january +7.4%, april +5.9%.
ytd +14.5%.
strong but unsustainable pace.
may reality check expected.
2:36am saturday. week 4 april complete. +$6,340 (75% wr). month final: +$23,460 (5.9%). account $419,360. ytd +$53,160 (14.5%). second standout month 2024. annualized pace 43% unsustainable. expect correction may-december.
-AK