Introduction
My name is Matt Miller and I’m a futures trading specialist who made $128,000 in a single month trading NASDAQ futures. It wasn’t always this way – I started with $100 in Robin Hood, lost money in penny stocks and crypto, and nearly destroyed my finances trying to trade my way out of debt. This is the story of how I transformed from a reckless trader to someone who consistently profits from the markets while maintaining discipline and perspective.
Trader Talks QnA
What made you start trading in the first place?
I got interested in trading when I was 18, trying to figure out what I wanted to do in college. My dad had studied finance, and to me, finance meant trading. I didn’t know that finance could be financial advising or other routes – I just assumed Wall Street. At 18, I got $100 and put it in Robin Hood. The very first stock I ever bought was a GoPro at like $90 – the top. I got absolutely railed from it, but that experience was like “oh my God, I can buy and sell things and make money by clicking a button – that’s cool.”
How did you develop your trading strategy?
I developed my strategy through YouTube, friends, and a lot of screen time. I never took an actual course and never had a technical mentor. I was part of several Discord rooms, especially in 2018 when I was really leveling up. Every morning we were on voice chat together watching the open, talking about stuff, dissecting our trades during and after sessions. I learn better when given a little nugget I can consume, digest, figure out what that leads to, and then go tag those as well.
What’s your current futures trading approach?
I scalp NASDAQ futures. In a perfect world, my trades last two to five minutes – realistically sub-30 minutes is what I’m happy with. I trade like singles contracts off-stream, sub-five on stream, looking for 10-15-20 points on the NASDAQ. I use order flowish concepts – volume profile, cum delta (change in buying and selling), and initial balance. I also trade off a 22-range chart, which is purely price-based – it only makes a new candle after 22 ticks of price movement.
How important is having a support system in trading?
Having a strong partner support system is incredibly helpful. It’s not like a therapist, but like a therapist in a way – someone you can get something off your chest with. You can say “I had a shitty day” or “wow today was great” but you need to be grounded. My wife believes more in me than I believe in myself. She pushed me to go full-time and still pushes me forward. I think about it – if I didn’t date and marry her, where would I be? I honestly have no idea and don’t think I would be trading the way I’m trading right now.
What’s your biggest mistake in trading?
First trading day of the year – January 3rd, 2022. I was still trading heavy size, up to like 15 contracts. First five minutes I scale into a trade I shouldn’t have been in. It’s going down, I’m adding contracts – I think I’m 13-14 deep and down like $10,000-$15,000 in the first seven minutes of the market being open. It was horrible and embarrassing. I sat in front of my computer all day just to get to break-even. It was a line in the sand moment – I’m not going to put myself in that situation again.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned about trading psychology?
I truly believe anybody can master trading in some capacity. There are millions of ways to make money in the markets – trading ICT, Dave T’s FX, NASDAQ, ES – the hard part is keeping your money. It’s not hard to make money in a given day, it’s hard to keep it over the long run. It comes down to the person. I don’t think everybody was made to be a trader from the mental side. You as a human need to be able to master yourself – if you have no discipline over your life, you’ll never be a good trader.
Matt Miller Trade Statistics
My trading journey has been marked by both massive wins and devastating losses. Here’s a breakdown of my performance metrics and key statistics that show how I’ve evolved as a futures trader.
- Peak monthly performance: 128% return on Robins World Cup challenge
- Commission costs: Nearly $3,000 paid in commissions in just over a month and a half
- Starting balance: $10,000 for Robins challenge with NASDAQ mini margins at $9,750
- Typical trade size: Singles contracts off-stream, sub-five on stream
| Period | Performance | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| January 2024 | 128% gain | Robins World Cup peak performance |
| End January 2024 | ~50% drawdown | Performance fluctuation |
| February 1, 2024 | 80% recovery | Quick bounce back |
| Early 2022 | -$15,000 loss | Worst single day trading heavy size |
Key Trading Insights from Matt Miller
Throughout my trading journey, I’ve discovered several crucial insights that have transformed my approach to the markets. These lessons came from both painful losses and profitable wins.
- The hardest part of trading isn’t making money – it’s keeping it over the long run
- Trading psychology isn’t BS – you need to master yourself before you can master the markets
- Discipline and having a support system are more valuable than any technical indicator
- The markets will always change, so you must continuously adapt and learn
Matt Miller Trading Strategy
My approach to futures trading has evolved significantly over the years. What started as reckless speculation has become a disciplined scalping strategy focused on capturing small, consistent profits throughout the trading session.
Volume Profile and Order Flow Analysis
I use volume profile extensively in my trading. I look at where volume is being conducted, initial balance, and point of control. I also use cum delta (the change in buying and selling) and market buying versus market selling data. These order flow concepts help me understand where large participants are positioned in the market. I pair this with a 22-range chart – which is purely price-based and makes new candles only after 22 ticks of movement.
Range Trading with Price Action
My strategy combines ICT concepts like wick tests and order blocks with traditional price action principles. I use opening range, initial balance, and point of control analysis. I also look at options data to see where dealers are dealing on options intraday. For me, trading is about breadcrumbs – you get enough small pieces of information and you can build a profitable approach.
Risk Management and Position Sizing
I follow a three-strikes rule – three losing trades and I’m out for the day. My actual trading isn’t a standard 2:1 risk-reward – I trade where the market allows me to, based on volatility. When trading around initial balance highs or lows, I can tighten stops. I also use the “overfunded underleveraged” approach – having more capital than I need allows for longevity in the game. I reset monthly and don’t compound anymore once I reach comfortable levels.
Matt Miller Tools
I rely on several key tools and platforms to execute my futures trading strategy effectively. These tools have been instrumental in my development as a consistent trader.
- NinjaTrader – Primary platform for executing futures trades, sometimes run on virtual machines when blocked at work
- Range Charts – Specifically 22-range charts for price-based analysis
- TradeZella – Trading journal and analytics tool for tracking performance and identifying patterns
- Discord Communities – For networking, learning, and staying connected with other traders