Introduction
I’m Stuart, a nurse by profession who’s been navigating the challenging world of stock trading for just over a year. Like many new traders, I started with massive losses and emotional swings that almost made me quit. But everything changed when I discovered the power of multiple time frame analysis. This approach became my foundation for identifying high-probability trades and finally achieving consistency. Today I’ll share my authentic journey, complete with failures, breakthroughs, and the specific framework that turned my trading around.
Trader Talks QnA
What steps do you take when you’re adapting and you start to see changes in the environment?
It’s something that I’ve been working on to be honest. It used to take me months to notice market changes, but now it takes about a week. When I see the range changing, I either downsize my positions and adjust profit targets, or I switch focus entirely. For example, if swing trading is working well while day trading struggles, I’ll shift my focus to swing trading and paper trade or trade very small in day trading until my setups start clicking again. The key is not forcing trades when your setup isn’t working.
What would your picture perfect day in the life of a day trader look like?
I wake up at 4:30 AM for gym, come home, have breakfast with my wife, then meditate for 15 minutes. By 7:30 AM central time (8:30 market time), I’m at my computer for prep. I review yesterday’s action, weed out stocks I don’t like from my watchlist, and add promising ones from big gainers/losers. I look at the big picture first – daily and hourly charts – then gradually zoom into 30-minute, 15-minute and 5-minute charts. I’m looking for confluence across timeframes. If the daily chart says bullish but the intraday looks bearish, I won’t trade it. Only when multiple time frames tell the same story do I feel confident entering.
When your trading is done, do you do a trade journal and things like that?
I upload my trades into Evernote and type in my plan while I’m trading. This way, I don’t have to spend much time after the market closes. While trading, I document what I’m doing, my thoughts, and emotions. At the end of the day, I just take screenshots of my trades and executions and add them to Evernote. I also have a ‘lessons’ tab where I note what I could have done better, especially after losses. This process keeps me focused on continuous improvement.
What screening tool do you use and what are the different variables you take into consideration?
I don’t use any formal screening tools. The only thing I look at is what Dash Trader Pro shows me – the big percent gainers on Nasdaq and NYSE. I also check a website that shows big percentage gainers and losers. From there, I evaluate stocks that have at least a million shares traded. I don’t have specific criteria set up in scanners. For swing trading, I mainly focus on big companies like Walmart, Disney, and Facebook that I know well.
Is holiday trading consistent with what you know and what you do?
Holiday months like November, December, and January tend to be hot trading periods. However, half days or days before national holidays are my worst trading days. I’ve developed a rule to avoid trading completely or drastically downsize on those days. I don’t know why, but I have enough data to know that I perform poorly on half days or when bonds are closed. Summertime is also generally tougher for most traders – the price action becomes choppier and different.
If you were me or could go back to your one year trading experience self, what advice would you give?
I would tell myself to trade paper exclusively at first, or real small. Track every single trade with detailed notes and name each setup type. Do this for 1-2 months to build data. Then analyze which setups are working and focus there. Paper trading gives you the freedom to explore without emotional attachment to losses. When you find something consistently working, then switch to your real account with small size. Don’t make my mistake of risking too much too soon when trying new strategies. Focus on process over profits in the beginning.
Stuart Trade Statistics
After nearly 15 months of dedicated trading, I’ve developed a systematic approach that’s transforming my results. Through disciplined application of multiple time frame analysis, I’ve turned early struggles into consistent execution. Here are key metrics reflecting my journey:
- I take very small positions (often just 10 shares) as I continue building confidence
- I’ve documented a specific setup with 92% probability: stocks going green 3 days in a row then hitting resistance
- I focus on minimum 3:1 risk-reward ratios for all entries
- My daily trading window is typically between 8:30 AM and 3:00 PM EST
| Trading Metric | Performance |
|---|---|
| Win Rate on Documented Setup | 92% |
| Risk-Reward Target | Minimum 3:1 |
| Average Position Size | 10-100 shares |
| Primary Timeframes Analyzed | Daily, Hourly, 30min, 15min, 5min |
Key Trading Insights from Stuart
My journey taught me that trading success comes from systematic analysis rather than chasing quick profits. These insights transformed my approach and can help other developing traders avoid the same pitfalls I experienced:
- Confluence is critical – I only trade when multiple timeframes tell the same story. If the daily chart is bullish but the intraday looks bearish, I walk away
- Time of year matters – Holiday months (Nov-Jan) typically offer better opportunities than summer months which tend to be choppy
- Follow your edge – When one style struggles (day trading), I shift focus to what’s working (swing trading) rather than forcing losing trades
- Document everything – My Evernote journal captures not just entries/exits, but rationale and emotions for continuous improvement
Stuart Trading Strategy
My trading strategy centers on identifying high-probability setups through systematic multiple time frame analysis. This approach evolved from painful early losses to becoming my most reliable method for finding quality trades. Here’s how it works:
Three-Day Green Reversal Setup
This is my most reliable short setup with a documented 92% success rate. When a stock goes green for three consecutive days and reaches clear resistance on the daily chart, there’s a high probability of a pullback the next day. I don’t jump in immediately – I wait for intraday confirmation, typically watching for rejection at key levels (like when OCGN failed at $16.00). I only enter when both the big picture and intraday timeframes confirm the setup. For example, with OCGN, the daily chart showed strength but the intraday action revealed exhaustion at resistance, creating my entry signal.
Multi-Timeframe Confluence Method
Before taking any trade, I analyze every timeframe from daily down to 1-minute charts. I start with the daily to understand major support/resistance, then hourly to see recent momentum, followed by 30-minute, 15-minute and 5-minute to identify precise entry points. I draw my support/resistance lines on the daily chart first, then look for how price interacts with these levels on smaller timeframes. The critical moment comes when price approaches these confluence zones on the intraday charts. If everything aligns, I know I have a high-quality setup. This layered approach prevents me from getting trapped by noise on any single timeframe.
Stuart Tools
I’ve streamlined my trading toolkit to focus on what actually delivers value to my process. Rather than overwhelming myself with dozens of indicators and scanners, I’ve reduced my toolkit to essentials that support my multiple time frame analysis approach:
- Thinkorswim – My primary charting platform for technical analysis across multiple timeframes
- Evernote – For trade journaling where I document plans, execution, and lessons learned
- Dash Trader Pro – To identify big percentage gainers/losers for potential setups
- Radical Renewal – Brett Steenbarger’s free resource for trading psychology work
Common Trading Mistakes to Avoid
Looking back at my first year of trading, several critical mistakes stood out. These lessons came at a high cost but ultimately shaped my current successful approach. Here are the pitfalls you should avoid:
- Risking too much too soon – With my early success on a specific setup, I jumped to larger positions before fully understanding the nuances, which led to devastating losses when market conditions changed
- Ignoring timeframe confluence – Early on, I’d take trades based solely on intraday action without considering the bigger picture, which dramatically reduced my win rate
- Emotional trade adjustments – Like when I exited a profitable FCEL short too early because I was anxious, despite my plan calling for a higher target
- Trading without a clear plan – I’d sometimes enter positions with two conflicting stop levels in mind (like 10.00 and 12.00 for FCEL), creating confusion when price approached those zones
Conclusion
My journey from losing nurse to consistent day trader proves that anyone can succeed with the right approach. Multiple time frame analysis transformed my trading from random guessing to systematic execution. Remember that consistency comes from process, not profits. Start small, document everything, and focus on confluence across timeframes. If you’d like to discuss these concepts further, reach out on social media – I’m always happy to help fellow traders. The most important lesson I’ve learned? It’s not about how long it takes to find your edge, but that you keep searching until you do.