may done.
first month married.
modest gains given pause.
may final numbers #
starting (may 1): $456,420
ending (may 31): $460,260
may gain: +$3,840 (+0.84%)
trades: 21
wins: 18
losses: 3
win rate: 86%
trading days: 9 (vs typical 21)
pause days: 12 (wedding + honeymoon)
Figure 1: May performance with 12-day wedding/honeymoon pause. May 1-19: zero trading (wedding prep, ceremony, honeymoon). May 20-25 (week 1 return): +$2,340 across 13 trades, 85% win rate, gradual size ramp 50%→75%→100%. May 27-31 (week 2+): +$1,500 across 8 trades, 88% win rate, full size operations. Total +$3,840 (+0.84%) in just 9 trading days. Effective daily rate +$427/day (vs typical +$380/day). Higher efficiency during limited trading window.
weekly breakdown #
week 1-2 (may 1-18): $0 (paused - wedding/honeymoon)
week 3 (may 19-25): +$2,340, 85% wr, 13 trades
week 4 (may 26-31): +$1,500, 88% wr, 8 trades
all active weeks profitable.
higher efficiency when trading.
the pause impact #
opportunity cost analysis:
typical may performance: +$7,000-$9,000 (full month)
actual may performance: +$3,840 (9 days)
opportunity cost: ~$4,000-$5,000
worth it?
got married.
honeymoon in maui.
places list +5.
absolutely.
comparing to target #
may realistic outcomes (with 12-day pause):
pause-heavy month: -0.5% to +1.0%
may actual: +0.84%
result: mid-range hit
right where expected given pause.
Figure 2: May vs April comparison showing pause impact. April: full month, 24 trades, +$9,732 (+2.18%). May: 9 days active, 21 trades, +$3,840 (+0.84%). Daily avg: April $405/day vs May $427/day (May higher efficiency). Win rate: April 83% vs May 86% (May higher selectivity). VIX: April avg 16.7 vs May avg 15.8 (May slightly better). Correlation: April 0.60 vs May 0.59 (May slightly better). May conditions favorable but limited trading window.
market conditions may #
avg VIX: 15.8 (excellent, optimal 13-18)
avg correlation: 0.59 (excellent <0.65)
avg volume: 3.5M contracts (normal)
avg regime stability: 0.76 (very stable)
slippage: 2.0 ticks (unchanged from april)
conditions favorable entire month.
irony: best conditions during pause period.
trade distribution #
options: 15 trades, +$2,820 (73% of gains)
SPX: 10 trades, +$1,840
QQQ: 5 trades, +$980
crypto: 6 trades, +$1,020 (27% of gains)
BTC: 4 trades, +$680
ETH: 2 trades, +$340
futures: 0 trades (memorial day thin volume skip)
allocation: 73% options, 27% crypto, 0% futures
efficiency analysis #
trades per active day: 2.3 (vs typical 1.5)
gain per active day: $427 (vs typical $380)
win rate: 86% (vs ytd avg 78%)
more selective = more efficient.
fewer opportunities → better setup selection.
circuit breaker performance #
triggered: 0 times
close calls: 0 times
largest loss: -$280 (may 28 QQQ)
capital preservation: excellent
no issues during return ramp.
ytd performance update #
jan: +$9,550 (+2.18%)
feb: +$8,920 (+1.99%)
mar: -$9,582 (-2.10%)
apr: +$9,732 (+2.18%)
may: +$3,840 (+0.84%)
ytd total: +$22,460 (+5.13%)
annual pace: 12.3%
vs target: 15-18%
Figure 3: YTD 2025 performance trajectory through May. January +2.18% (strong start). February +1.99% (sustained). March -2.10% (regime shift losing month). April +2.18% (full recovery). May +0.84% (wedding pause, limited days). Cumulative YTD +5.13%. Annual pace 12.3% (below 15-18% target). Pattern: 4 winning months, 1 losing month = 80% monthly win rate. May drag expected due to wedding. June full month should restore pace. Account $460,260. Started year $437,800.
lessons from may #
1. planned pause = smart pause
proactive shutdown may 1.
capital protected during wedding/honeymoon.
no monitoring stress during life events.
2. gradual ramp works
50% → 75% → 100% over 4 days.
no surprises after 19-day break.
system validated before full size.
3. selectivity improves efficiency
fewer days → more selective.
86% win rate (highest month).
quality > quantity.
4. marriage didn’t affect trading
same routine post-honeymoon.
same performance metrics.
relationship and trading both sustainable.
5. opportunity cost acceptable
$4-5k missed gains vs wedding + honeymoon.
no regrets.
life events > trading sometimes.
life update - married month 1 #
wedding may 10: best day ever
honeymoon may 11-18: maui, 7 days, places list +5
places list total: 52
routine established:
breakfast 10am.
work together (she codes, i trade).
gym 6pm (3x/week).
dinner 7pm.
marriage adjustment:
nothing changed, everything changed.
permanent settledness.
anxiety gone.
june preview #
trading:
full month (no pauses planned).
conditions favorable (VIX stable).
realistic june outcomes:
normal month: +1.5% to +2.5% ($6,900 to $11,500)
flat month: +0.5% to +1.0% ($2,300 to $4,600)
target: +1.8% to +2.2%
personal:
first full month married.
routine locked.
A’s birthday june 18 (planning surprise).
tonight (may 31, 11:52pm) #
may done.
+$3,840 (+0.84%).
86% win rate across 21 trades.
12 days paused (wedding + honeymoon).
9 trading days, $427/day efficiency.
options +$2,820, crypto +$1,020.
VIX 15.8 avg, correlation 0.59 (excellent conditions).
ytd +$22,460 (+5.13%), annual pace 12.3%.
account $460,260.
first month married.
routine established.
no regrets about pause.
11:52pm saturday. may wrap. +$3,840 (+0.84%) across 21 trades, 86% win rate. 12 days paused (wedding may 10, honeymoon may 11-18). 9 trading days only. week 3 return +$2,340, week 4 +$1,500. efficiency $427/day (vs typical $380). options +$2,820, crypto +$1,020. conditions excellent (VIX 15.8, corr 0.59). ytd +$22,460 (+5.13%), annual pace 12.3%. account $460,260. first month married, routine established, places list 52. june target +1.8-2.2% full month.
-AK