Introduction
In 2018, I started with small trades believing luck could override data. But when a single decision with \$2,000 shares nearly cost me \$49,000, systematic day trading became my survival tool. Let me walk you through how I transformed chaos into a \$120,000+ bankroll through strict risk rules and pattern recognition alongside my brother Chris Schunk.
Trader Talks QnA
What was your first major risk management failure?
It happened with ACY. Shorted at \$12 without respecting the stop loss. Stock broke \$14, then \$20, \$30… finally unwound at \$49K against me. Small size allowed recovery (\$5K loss), but taught me markets punish ego.
When did systematic principles become life-changing?
2021 hit max losses weekly with gappers. We realized: track every play manually in Excel first. Learned Kelly criterion – size positions based on current bankroll, not fixed $.
How do you decide short positions now?
Focus on fault than fault and spike row patterns. Use Polygon data to mark parabolic spikes (15-20% in 5 minutes), set hard stops. Example: LIХT short recently with 15% account risk turned \$2 into \$3.
How does volatility affect your strategy?
Market cycles change constantly. Adapt by measuring years through base patterns but never keep size static. The 3 to 70 stock (SPI) in 2020 showed: stops aren’t safety – they’re survival insurance.
What tools made this possible?
Cobra Trading for execution speed. Manual tracking in Excel initially, now Python integration via friend Calvin. Mental tools? Blocking chat rooms. Confirmed with brother on patterns only – never second-guess systems.
What advice for losing traders?
Don’t size down emotionally. Our worst months often precede best ones statistically. If systems show 70-80% accuracy, trust the math. One $40K blip shouldn’t make you abandon 5 years of working patterns.