“If you have a question or need help, do not suffer in silence.” @the_rook
In Members in Profile, we interview stand-out members that show strong aptitude and work ethic. Our goal is to highlight different folks so that you can see the effort that our members are putting into their trading and hopefully learn from their experiences of the Convergent Trading Community.
We hope you enjoy hearing what @the_rook has to say!
What brought you into trading?
A friend of mine got me into trading over a year ago. The things that initially drew me in were the clear upside potential and flexibility. Having come from a corporate background, I also grew to quickly appreciate how trading differs from my corporate job in that the bulk of my stress is consolidated to my hours trading which frees up my mind outside of trading to focus 100% on family and personal life.
What do you like most about Convergent?
- Nobody…literally NOBODY talks about P/L! Not only is it refreshing that nobody at Convergent is posting pictures with their supercars, but it also is a clear indication of the focus of this community which is how to “do the work”.
- Focus on how to “do the work” of a professional trader including risk management, process development, creating a trading plan, tracking trades and errors, etc.
- The head traders including FT are approachable and accessible to help overcome issues and answer questions.
- Knowledge sharing community. Chat rooms, forums, and group mentoring sessions help to gain experience and knowledge more quickly by leveraging the hive mind.
- The statistical approach to trading. Not only does CT provide me with data which would be challenging to get and maintain on my own, but they champion a statistical, data driven approach to trading which helps me better understand market movement (historically :)), and a foundation for the overall trading approach which aligns well with how I think and approach the market.
How have these aspects helped you grow as a trader?
For someone like me that is coming into trading from scratch and wanting to establish a professional mindset, toolset, and approach to trading the Convergent Trading community has everything I need. The head traders and FT71 are a wealth of knowledge and go out of their way to invest their time in community members to help us on our respective journeys. Additionally, Convergent brings together like minded people, so by participating in the community I have surrounded myself with people that have a similar set of values and approach to trading which provides additional support.
Do you have a favorite community quote or webinar?
There are quite a few favorites, but the most impactful thing for me, is the combination of webinars that outline how to size trades for optimal risk management and longevity. I believe it is two different webinars, but one goes over the risk management approach and how it is beneficial, and the other runs through a trade simulator that demonstrates the relationship between win-rate, R factor and long-term success. The impact of these two webinars on my trading has been huge.
Do you have any advice for new members?
If you have a question or need help, do not suffer in silence. In my experience so far the Convergent community is an extremely supportive group, and if you are struggling don’t hesitate to sign up for a GMS, submit an AMA question, ask a head trader, or reach out to a peer with a question.
What is your favorite non-trading activity/hobby?
I have always enjoyed competitive sports which as an adult with two small kids has led me to running. I’ve done several long-distance relay races, half marathons, and I am currently training for my first triathlon. In between I try to squeeze in as much time wake foiling and backcountry hunting as possible.
Have you participated in the #TradeRight program/challenges? What discoveries have you made?
Yes! The trade right program was a game changer for me. The focus on doing daily plans and scenarios improved my trading dramatically. I started tracking my planned trades and my win rate and expectancy have greatly improved. Oddly enough, it also helped me realize that listening to the ‘Trader Bite” or John471’s morning plans was negatively influencing my trading as opposed to when I focused more effort on my own research and plans. The slight shift for me was to start reviewing these resources at the end of every day and comparing them to my own scenarios and plans as a learning tool. This helped me avoid being influenced prior to my trading session but allowed me to continue to leverage them to improve.