4/8/25 Funded Trader Status - Accounts & Balances: Combine 3($40.54)

 

So it's been a minute since I updated everyone. Everyone pays "tuition" to learn and I am no different. I thought I was "cool" and had a winning strategy. In reality, I was lucky for a couple of days and ignored most, or all, of the rules I keep talking about.

Not counting my previous expenses, here is what I have "paid" in the last couple of weeks:

• Ultimate A.I. (3 month license)                   $297   Loving it!!!
• Back to the Future Trading (10 day trial)    $250   Complex and still evaluating
• Topstep Combine #1                                    $49    Passed
• Topstep XFA #1                                           $149  Failed
• Topstep Combine #2                                    $49    Failed
• Topstep Combine #3                                    $49    In Progress

Im over it now and in to success. Sunday I paper traded to get my mind right. Monday the plan was 1 micro and stopping at $200 in the green. The price action was choppy and I didn't take many trades. I was $85 down at one point but a couple more scalps later, being patient and not greedy, I was $40 in the green. I called it a good day. Today, Tuesday, price action was mostly sideways and I didn't take any trades practicing patience and waiting for a good setup. I'll call that a victory. 

Saturday I'll post a weekly update with my trading logs and some screenshot.

As always, feel free to comment or shoot me note. If you think someone else may benefit from my journey, feel free to share this. 

Peace!~

3/28/25 Funded Trader Status - Accounts & Balances: Combine 1(Passed); XFA 1(-$2000); Combine 2(-$2000); Combine 3($0)

 

So lets start with this right here from Tuesday, March 25th!!!

What a great feeling of accomplishment. I had, what I thought, a perfect strategy to reap in millions! LOL. Once I started trading this strategy I passed in 2 days. I was on my way!!

I immediately paid my $149 fee and received my first Express Funded Account(XFA1). I paid $49 more for a second combine(Combine 2). How could I lose?? I was already thinking about paying off my bills and buying a truck. If you follow this blog (Do I have any followers?) for the chance to learn from my mistakes and make fun of my misfortune...TODAY IS YOUR DAY!

• You know what? I am active several Facebook groups where I see new traders blowing account after account. Making the same mistakes over and over again. Trading without a plan or strategy. I always laughed because that could never be me. Hhhmmm???
  
  
• Wednesday, 3/26: I was excited all day at work and could not wait to get home to trade. I got home, walked Hardy and then sat down at the computer. At this point I have 2 accounts. One XFA and one new Combine with Rithmic copy trading set up. I jumped right in.
  
  
• I had 15 minute charts up from previous testing. I like to trade in the 5 minute chart. STRIKE 1!
• I didn't have Stop Loss or Take Profit parameters set for when I finally enter a trade. STRIKE 2!
• I disregarded all of the rules to my strategy AND all the rules for using the Ultimate A.I. indicator, which I also paid $297 for. STRIKE 3!
  Well this ain't baseball my friends but you can guess what happened. It wasn't long before I was $1000 in the red on both accounts. Dumb, dumb, dumb! Do you like apples? Well wow do you like them apples!!!
  
  
• Thursday, 3/27: I spent the entire day at work going over how I made so many mistakes and, more importantly, how I was going to rectify the situation.
• Wait for the right setup, follow the "rules". Trade smart!
• Play small ball. Take smaller profits and bank the money. Trade again. I lost $1000 in a day, but nothing said I had to get it all back in 1 day. I'm a grinder and happy to grind it out for the long haul. I wish I was as "tight" in my trading game as I am as a poker player!
• I ended up $450 to the good in each account! A good start to recovery and I was happy with my progress.
  
  
• Friday, 3/28: I was excited about trading when I got home from work, but has to work until 3pm so I would probably have to wait until Sunday at 1700 CT to trade. As chance would have it, I finished inventory work early and was home by 1400. Took Hardy for a quick walk and sat down at the computer. 
• Now for those of you that may be newer to trading, Fridays are not usually recommended. And the last hour of the trading day, regardless the day of the week, is almost always NOT RECCOMENDED! The volatility can be crazy and it's easy to get whip sawed on any given trade. I was quick, I was smart and I was lucky so within maybe 30 minutes, I was soon $1200+ to the good on BOTH accounts! You gotta love copy trading! 
• I had an ATM in place to place both a Stop Loss order and a Take Profit order for each trade. Now the ATM I was using was new to me and I didn't quite like everything it was doing. I told Hardy I was winning but with a tool I didn't 100% understand. I took him for a quick walk to settle down and breathe. Trading is a rush when you're winning. You should always have a number in mind that is your walk away number to stop trading. ALWAYS!! I, on the other hand, did not.
• I sat back down after the walk for the last 30 minutes of the market. Long story short, I ended up $2000 down in both accounts and blew them both. BACK TO SQUARE 1!

So here we are on Friday night, Back at the start. I ponied up another $49 for a Combine and Sunday at 1700 I can trade. Did I learn anything? I think so. Will I make the changes necessary to stay solvent in the long run? I think/hope so!!!

HAVE A PROFIT TARGET FOR THE DAY. SET IT AND LIVE BY IT. AS YOU GAIN EXPERIENCE, YOU CAN RAISE THE NUMBER. THIS IS A MARATHON AND NOT A SPRINT.

MAINTAIN TRADING DISCIPLINE. SET HARD STOP LOSSES AND STAY WITH THEM. DON'T MOVE THEM!

DON'T BE GREEDY! BE SMART AND LIVE TO TRADE ANOTHER DAY!

Well, I think that's out of my system now. I'll feel sorry for myself tonight and then tomorrow, it's in the past with a couple of valuable lessons learned.

As always feel free to comment, shoot me a note and pass this blog along to anyone else who you might think will enjoy it or maybe get benefit from it. See ya all on Sunday!

Peace!~

Topstep $50k Trading Combine Day 14 (Margin Goal $3000/Current Margin Bal. @ $3123.14)

 

Another GREAT day! $930 in margin. I think I passed my first combine today! I am so pumped. There is a small chance that I earned to much, but I'll know tomorrow.

Ultimate A.I. and watching price action. It's too easy!! I'll let you all know for sure tomorrow.

As always, feel free to comment, shoot me a message and share my blog if you like it.

Peace!~

Topstep $50k Trading Combine Day 13 (Margin Goal $3000/Current Margin Bal. @ $2284.70)

I didn't post much last week and made a few bucks. Tonight at 5pm CT I jumped into the market. Made a couple of bucks "Un-Scalping", ask me and I'll tell you how, the MNQ with 5 contracts. Then I went to the NQ and 3 contracts and more "Un-Scalping". Total today was $1656.50 in margin!!!!!

I had to stop, I had to step away. It's too easy. If you're not using the tools, i.e. Ultimate A.I. 2, from Ultimate Scalper by Reece Cadaval then you're LOSING money! $1600+ is HUGE!! I could have made a lot more, but that doesn't do me any good in a Combine account. I have to hit $3000 in margin, pay my activation fee and then I will have XFA #1 active and I can make profit and take withdrawals. 

I expect to hit the $3000 goal Monday or Tuesday and then the real fun begins. I will pay my $149 activation, buy another combine and then copy trade from XFA #1 to Combine #2. Wash, rinse and repeat!!

I will still have my script running during the day. As a reminder, these profits have all been made in after hours trading where volatility is far lower. IT'S FREE MONEY!!! I am excited for the progression and what the future holds! Stay tuned. As always you are welcome to comment or shoot me a message. If you like with you read forward to someone else that might want to watch the journey. Good night and HAPPY TRADING!

Peace!~

Topstep $50k Trading Combine Day 8 (Margin Goal $3000/Current Margin Bal. @ $367.70)

 

It's about 1932 CT on Monday. No trades taken today so PATIENCE is the watch word today. 

The daily chart was showing a pretty solid down trend, but now there appears to be a bit of a bounce.

My 15min chart, against which my strategy runs, shows the FASTMA moving downward towards the SLOWMA. I am hoping we pick up speed there and maybe we'll get a short trade overnight. I know this works, but waiting is killing me.

If I run a back test from Jan 1 thru today, it shows 41 trades for $17k+ in margin. So on average it would have taken less that 15 trades per months, so wait I must.

I am in a bit of a quandary right now. I can get a 10 day trial of the TachEonTimeWarp tool from Back to the Future Trading for $250. Advertised learning curve is 7 to 10 days to be comfortable using it. Alternately, I can get 3 months of the Ultimate A.I. from Ultimate Scalper for $300. 

During the eval, neither tool can generate revenue that I can realize as that won't happen until I pass the eval. Both tools can help me pass the eval faster. If I get TachEonTimeWarp, my license will be expired when I pass the combine and could not be used in the XFA account to generate revenue unless I buy a license for it. On the flip side, I could use Ultimate A.I. tool 8-10 more weeks to generate revenue. The Ultimate A.I. tool is $99/month after my 3 month trial. I suspect that the TachEonTimeWarp license is SIGNIFICANTLY more. Decisions, decisions, decisions!!??

With that I will leave you to ponder my dilemma. I think I'm retiring early. As always feel free to comment, share and/or shoot me a message with questions or observations.

Peace!~

Topstep $50k Trading Combine Day 7 (Margin Goal $3000/Current Margin Bal. @ $367.70)

 

Time for another pivot. I do have a written plan, which I'll post below. While I was tweaking and studying and browsing I came across Back to the Future Trading. I think this is a game changing approach. 

This is not so much a change in direction as it is really about adding tools to the arsenal. I think that this might be a REALLY BIG hammer! LOL! 

NO, I am not an affiliate! NO, I get nothing if you check it out! NO, I get nothing if you buy. Once again, this Blog is for education purposes only. I will be a fully funded trader with the freedoms I have sought all of my life. You can come along, observe from the sidelines or go your own path. That is all up to you. If you choose to follow along you will be able to see what happens.

Now, back to the schedule. I have roughed out a schedule for my progression. None of these times are set in stone as I going to do this one time and the right time. Things may change, times may change, tools may change but the end goal is the same.

See below my schedule of events/tasks as of 3/16/23 @ 1543 CT.

Lone Wolf Trading Group - Funded Trader Action Plan as of 3/16/23

Phase 1

1. Develop automated strategy to be used within NinjaTrader to trade my combine(s) as my work schedule does not currently allow me to trade during normal hours. Completed 2/15/25.

2. Run automated strategy (LWTGMACrossoverVxx) against MNQ for 2 weeks. Tweak as needed.
   Completed 3/1/25

3. Purchase Topstep $50k Trading Combine #1(cost $49).
   Completed 3/9/25

4. Run strategy LWTGMACrossoverVxx against Combine #1.
   Started 3/9/25 

5. Pass Topstep $50k Trading Combine #1.
   Estimated Completion 4/1/25

6. Pay for Topstep XFA #1 activation (cost $149).
   Estimated Completion 4/7/25

7. Fund 10-Day Trial of TachEonTimeWarp from Back to the Future Trading. 

Phase 2 

1. Fund Combine #2 (cost $49)

2. Fund Ultimate A.I. Original Indicator ($297 for 3 months). TachEonTimeWarp vs. Ultimate A.I usage??

3. Fund copy trading software (Replikanto? Affordable Indicators? Rithmic? $250??)

4. Run  strategy LWTGMACrossoverVxx against XFA #1 while copying trades to Combine #2 during traditional market hours.

5.  "Scalp Trade” with Ultimate A.I. XFA #1 while copying trades to Combine #2 during after hours and pre market trading hours.

6. Pay for XFA #2 activation ($149).
   Estimated Completion 5/15/25

Phase 3 

1. ** Plan payouts prior to taking any. Per Topstep, once a trader takes 5 payout from an XFA he/she will be called up as a fully funded trader.
   Payout execution should look something like this:
   XFA #1 - 4 payouts
   XFA #2 - 4 payouts
   XFA #3 - 4 payouts
   XFA #4 - 4 payouts
   XFA #5 - 4 payouts
   XFA #1, XFA#2, XFA #3, XFA #4 & XFA #5 - Process 5th and final payout.
   
   
   

2. TAKE A PAYOUT?
   Pay off portion(s) of current debt.

3. Fund Combine #3 (cost $49)

4. Run  strategy LWTGMACrossoverVxx against XFA #1 while copying trades to XFA #2 & Combine #3 during traditional market hours.

5.  "Scalp Trade” with Ultimate A.I. XFA #1 while copying trades to XFA #2 & Combine #3 during after hours and pre market trading hours.

6. Pay for XFA #3 activation ($149).
   Estimated Completion 6/15/25

7. Incorporate WRP HOLDINGS INC and register d.b.a. Lone Wolf Trading Group in Arkansas.

8. Completely separate business checking account vs. current setup? 

Phase 4

1. TAKE A PAYOUT(s)?
   Pay off portion(s) of current debt.

2. Fund Combine #4 (cost $49)

3. Run  strategy LWTGMACrossoverVxx against XFA #1 while copying trades to XFA #2, XFA #3 & Combine #4 during traditional market hours.

4.  "Scalp Trade” with Ultimate A.I. XFA #1 while copying trades to XFA #2, XFA #3 & Combine #4 during after hours and pre market trading hours.

5. Pay for XFA #4 activation ($149).
   Estimated Completion 7/15/25

6. TAKE A PAYOUT(s)?
   Pay off portion(s) of current debt.

7. Fund Combine #5 (cost $49)

8. Run  strategy LWTGMACrossoverVxx against XFA #1 while copying trades to XFA #2, XFA #3, XFA #4 & Combine #5 during traditional market hours.

9.  "Scalp Trade” with Ultimate A.I. XFA #1 while copying trades to XFA #2, XFA #3, XFA # 4 & Combine #5 during after hours and pre market trading hours.

10. Pay for XFA #5 activation ($149).
    Estimated Completion 8/15/25

11. Run  strategy LWTGMACrossoverVxx against XFA #1 while copying trades to XFA #2, XFA #3, XFA #4 & XFA #5 during traditional market hours.

12.  "Scalp Trade” with Ultimate A.I. XFA #1 while copying trades to XFA #2, XFA #3, XFA # 4 & XFA #5 during after hours and pre market trading hours.

13. Process final payouts from XFA #1, XFA #2, XFA #3, XFA # 4 & XFA #5.

14. Pay off any remaining debt.

Phase 5 

1. Get called up to Funded Trader???
   Estimated Completion 10/1/25

2. Run  strategy LWTGMACrossoverVxx against Funded Trader Acct. #1 during traditional market hours.

3.  "Scalp Trade” with Ultimate A.I. Funded Trader Acct. #1 during after hours and pre market trading hours.

4. TAKE A PAYOUT(s)?
   Set aside 6 months “emergency fund”. (Thank you Dave Ramsey)

5. “RETIRE” as a full time trader??
   Estimated Completion ??????

That's all I have for today gang. The market opens in just under 90 minutes and week 2's journey begins. As usual feel free to comment of shoot me a message. Happy Trading!

Peace!~

Topstep $50k Trading Combine Days 4, 5 an 6 (Goal $3000/Current Margin Bal. @ $367.70)

 

Morning Folks!! It's Saturday evening, 3/15. The Futures market is closed until Sunday at 1700 CT and I am catching up on things. I really started this post this morning but between the dog, testing and trying to relax some, here we are.

**PRO TIP** - If you're using NinjaTrader don't have an custom ATM (Advanced Trade Management) strategy running at the same time you have a custom strategy deployed that also manipulates stops and take profit orders. This cost me $1100 in margin this week. Oh well, lesson learned.

Now, just so you know when I give a PRO TIP this really translates into "Don't do the same dumba$$ stuff I did!". I'm no pro yet, but I am always happy to share both the good and the not so good of my journey.

By not adhering to my PRO TIP above, I missed out on an $1100 trade. Technically, I should have been almost halfway to passing my combine after the first week. 

On a more positive note, I have made a couple minor changes to my strategy that extracts a few more margin dollars and also made losing trades smaller.

A couple of posts ago, I started a schedule for this journey. I hope to make a post tomorrow and update that schedule. As it stands now, I am VERY confident in my strategy and hope that the market cooperates this week. That's all for now. As usual drop me a comment or send me a message.

Peace!~