2024 complete.
transformation year.
looking back, looking forward.
the numbers - 2024 annual #
starting balance (jan 1): $366,200
ending balance (dec 31): $437,800
annual gain: +$71,600 (+19.55%)
annual target: +15-18%
result: exceeded by +1.55%
total trades: 312
winning trades: 221
losing trades: 91
win rate: 71%
max monthly gain: +$27,200 (jan, +7.4%)
max monthly loss: -$8,300 (dec, -1.86%)
best month: april (+$23,460, +5.9%)
worst month: december (-$8,300, -1.86%)
circuit breaker triggers: 0
2024 monthly breakdown #
impressive months (2):
january: +$27,200 (+7.4%)
april: +$23,460 (+5.9%)
combined: +$50,660 (71% of annual gains)
modest/normal months (7):
february: +$1,400 (+0.36%)
march: +$1,100 (+0.28%)
may: +$3,500 (+0.83%)
june: +$8,320 (+1.97%)
july: +$2,720 (+0.63%)
october: +$3,120 (+0.71%)
november: +$1,320 (+0.30%)
combined: +$21,480 (30% of annual gains)
survival month (1):
august: +$900 (+0.21%)
losing month (1):
december: -$8,300 (-1.86%)
pattern:
2 notable months carried year.
7 modest months added steady gains.
1 survival month preserved capital.
1 losing month demonstrated variance.
sustainable and realistic.
comparing 2023 vs 2024 #
2023 - learning year:
started: $400,000 (inheritance post-parents death)
ended: $366,200
result: -$34,000 (-8.5%)
paid $180k total tuition learning.
emotional trading.
no circuit breaker.
small position sizes.
didn’t understand seasonality.
2024 - transformation year:
started: $366,200
ended: $437,800
result: +$71,600 (+19.55%)
disciplined execution.
circuit breaker active (never triggered).
full position sizes.
filters adapted to conditions.
$105,600 swing (+19.55% vs -8.5%).
transformation complete.
what changed - trading #
2023 mistakes:
forced trades in bad conditions.
revenge trading after losses.
no risk management.
emotional decisions.
2024 improvements:
selective execution (filters working).
circuit breaker philosophy (preventive).
position sizing consistent.
emotional control.
system validated.
what changed - personal #
2023:
parents died december 31, 2022.
inheritance $2M received january 2023.
alone most of year.
met A. june 2023 (casual at first).
2024:
living with A. (moved in nov 1, 2023).
exclusive relationship (sept 2023).
said “i love you” (oct 2023).
proposed october 26, 2024.
wedding may 2025 booked.
first relationship thinking permanent.
system performance analysis #
win rate by month:
jan-apr: 76% avg (strong conditions)
may-aug: 68% avg (normal conditions)
sep-nov: 74% avg (solid conditions)
december: 28% (variance)
annual average: 71%
target: 65-75%
right in middle of range.
slippage performance:
best (april): 1.7 ticks avg
worst (december): 2.5 ticks avg
annual avg: 2.1 ticks
chicago colocation roi validated.
without colo: estimated 3.5+ ticks avg.
$450-600/month colo cost = saved $3,000+ annually.
filter acceptance:
highest (june): 64% acceptance
lowest (august): 39% acceptance
annual avg: 56% acceptance
filters correctly adapted to seasonal conditions.
circuit breaker analysis 2024 #
philosophy:
preventive not reactive.
filters + voluntary pauses.
performance:
triggers: 0
close calls: 3
-
may week 3: -$1,420 (within $80)
-
october week 2: -$1,240 (within $260)
-
december week 2: -$1,280 (within $220)
all 3 stopped correctly before threshold.
max single day loss: -$1,700 (dec 31)
threshold: -$1,500 (came within $200)
preventive philosophy working.
filters preventing disasters.
voluntary pauses preserving capital.
never let losses spiral.
seasonal patterns discovered #
strong months:
january (post-holiday volume return): +7.4%
april (optimal conditions): +5.9%
september (post-labor day): +1.58%
weak months:
august (summer doldrums): +0.21%
december (holiday): -1.86%
pattern:
avoid forcing trades august/december.
capitalize jan/apr/sep opportunities.
predictable seasonality.
portfolio evolution 2024 #
allocation changes:
january: 60% options, 10% futures, 30% crypto
december: 65% options, 10% futures, 25% crypto
reasoning:
crypto correlation increasing.
volatility exhausting.
options more predictable.
2025 target: maintain 65/10/25.
relationship transformation #
june 2023: met A. at coffee shop
september 2023: exclusive
october 2023: “i love you”
november 2023: moved in together
october 2024: proposed
may 2025: wedding booked
progression:
player lifestyle (multiple girlfriends, none >6 months).
→ serious relationship (14+ months exclusive).
→ living together (13+ months).
→ engaged (2+ months).
→ marriage ahead (4 months).
first relationship no exit strategy.
therapy insights 2024 #
dr. r key observations:
“you’re choosing boring over exciting” (portfolio rebalance).
“priorities shifted” (family > forced trades).
“that’s growth” (wedding planning calm vs trading calm).
“you’re not spiraling” (december losses accepted).
major breakthrough:
christmas 2023: alone, traded to avoid feeling, lost $1,200.
christmas 2024: with A’s family, paused trading, lost -$8,300 total month but chose family time.
priorities changed.
growth.
places list 2024 update #
started year: ~10 places
ended year: 30 places
notable additions:
mall parking garage (christmas shopping).
wedding venue storage room (checking setup).
her parents’ guest room (christmas).
balcony new year’s countdown.
sex life:
best either of us have had.
open communication about fantasies/limits.
frequency up 40% since engagement (wedding stress).
relationship:
kinky, adventurous, trusting.
bondage, dom/sub (switch), toys, public play.
total openness.
lessons learned 2024 #
1. notable months carry the year
jan +7.4% + apr +5.9% = 71% of annual gains.
don’t need every month strong.
2. modest months compound
7 modest months averaging +1% each.
+1% × 12 months = 12% annual.
boring but sustainable.
3. losing months acceptable
december -1.86% didn’t break year.
annual still +19.55%.
variance is normal.
4. circuit breaker philosophy works
never triggered but prevented disasters.
filters + voluntary pauses.
preventive > reactive.
5. seasonal patterns real
august/december weak.
jan/apr/sep strong.
plan so.
6. family > trading
paused 5 days christmas/new year’s.
chose A’s family time.
priorities shifted.
growth.
mistakes made 2024 #
1. december forced some trades
25 trades vs optimal 15-20.
could’ve paused more days.
lesson: be even more selective holidays.
2. crypto rebalance delayed
should’ve reduced july-august.
waited until december.
lesson: execute rebalances faster.
3. slippage acceptance
2.5 ticks december = too high.
should’ve paused more.
lesson: zero edge = don’t trade.
what i’m proud of 2024 #
trading:
+19.55% annual exceeded target.
circuit breaker never triggered.
disciplined execution maintained.
seasonal patterns learned.
personal:
proposed to A.
wedding may 2025 booked.
christmas with her family (first since parents died).
chose family over trading multiple times.
growth:
emotional control improved.
priorities shifted.
thinking long-term not short-term.
transformation complete.
looking ahead - 2025 targets #
trading:
annual target: +15-18% (same as 2024)
maintain 65/10/25 allocation
selective execution (quality > quantity)
continue circuit breaker philosophy
personal:
wedding may 2025
honeymoon planning
continue therapy weekly
relationship:
marriage ahead
A. becomes wife
her family becomes my family officially
realistic expectations:
2024 +19.55% was strong.
2025 target +15-18% more sustainable.
occasional losing months acceptable.
focus on long-term consistency.
final thoughts - 2 years transformation #
december 31, 2022:
parents killed in car crash.
received $2M inheritance.
age 19, alone, grieving.
december 31, 2023:
lost $180k learning to trade.
met A. june 2023 (casual).
age 20, hopeful but uncertain.
december 31, 2024:
+$71,600 trading profit.
engaged to A.
age 21, certain about future.
wedding may 2025.
2 years:
from grief to growth.
from loss to profit.
from alone to engaged.
from uncertain to certain.
transformation complete.
tonight (january 1, 2:34am) #
2024 done.
+$71,600 (+19.55%).
312 trades, 71% win rate.
circuit breaker never triggered.
2 significant months carried year.
7 modest months compounded.
1 survival month preserved capital.
1 losing month demonstrated variance.
engaged to A.
wedding may 2025.
christmas with her family (first since parents died).
priorities shifted:
family > trading.
relationship > career.
long-term > short-term.
2025 begins.
realistic targets.
sustainable approach.
wedding ahead.
transformation complete.
2:34am wednesday. 2024 year-end review. annual +$71,600 (19.55%) exceeded 15-18% target. 312 trades, 71% win rate, 0 circuit breaker triggers. 2 strong months (jan +7.4%, apr +5.9%) carried 71% of gains. 7 modest months compounded. 1 losing month (dec -1.86%) demonstrated variance. engaged october 26, wedding may 2025 booked. christmas with A’s family (first real christmas since parents died). 2 years transformation: from $400k inheritance to $438k account, from grief to engaged, from alone to family. priorities shifted: chose family over forced trades december. 2025 target 15-18% annual, maintain discipline, wedding ahead. transformation complete.
-AK