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election week - pause, conservative positioning

election nov 5.

pausing trading nov 4-5.

zero interest in election volatility gambling.

week 1 november update
#

nov 1 starting balance: $444,780

nov 1 (fri): +$420, 1 trade, 100% wr

nov 2 (sat-sun): weekend

nov 3 (mon): took weekend, reviewing

week 1 subtotal: +$420

current balance: $445,200

election positioning
#

monday nov 4: no trading

tuesday nov 5: no trading

wednesday nov 6: assess conditions, resume maybe

not interested in volatility lottery.

filters will be strict anyway.

regime confidence likely <0.50.

what makes election different
#

normal volatility:

VIX spikes happen.

my filters handle it.

election volatility:

binary outcome.

massive gap risk.

unpredictable correlation shifts.

can’t model this.

sitting out = smart risk management.

opportunity cost analysis
#

potential gain nov 4-5:

optimistic: $1,500-2,000

realistic: $500-1,000

potential loss nov 4-5:

gap risk: unlimited

stop loss ineffective on gaps.

risk/reward:

terrible.

decision: pause.

comparing to past events
#

covid march 2020:

wasn’t trading yet.

learned from others’ disasters.

2023 various spikes:

filters handled normal vol.

but binary events different.

this year so far:

avoided forcing trades in bad conditions.

august survival = example.

consistency > heroics.

ytd context
#

current ytd: +$79,200 (+21.7%)

annual target: +15-18%

exceeded by 3.7%.

missing 2 days?

doesn’t matter.

already above target.

protecting gains > chasing more.

circuit breaker readiness
#

if i trade wed nov 6:

circuit breaker active.

3 consecutive losses = stop.

-$1,500 single day = stop.

but ideally:

conditions normalized first.

regime confidence >0.65.

VIX <20.

patience.

personal update - engagement
#

oct 26: proposed to A.

she said yes.

planning: may 2025 wedding, small ceremony, san diego beach probably.

her parents: thrilled (told them oct 27).

this week:

looking at rings with her (she’s involved now).

venue research started.

wedding planning + election week = good excuse to pause trading.

tonight (nov 3, 2:14am)
#

week 1: +$420.

election nov 5 approaching.

pausing trading nov 4-5.

not interested in volatility gambling.

ytd +21.7% = zero pressure.

protecting gains > heroics.

wed nov 6 assessment.


2:14am sunday. week 1 november +$420 from friday trade only. election tuesday nov 5 = pause monday-tuesday. not interested in binary outcome volatility lottery. gap risk unlimited, stop losses ineffective. ytd +21.7% already above target. protecting gains matters more than forcing heroics. wed assessment.

-AK

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