Tag: icttwitterspace

  • Laying Up Treasures & Keeping Wolves Away | August 12, 2023

    Summary:

    The speaker focuses on trading psychology, warning against impulsive, ego-driven behavior and get-rich-quick thinking. Key points:

    – Purpose matters: Trade with a reason beyond self (family, others, long-term goals). Having someone or something dependent on you increases respect for risk and reduces reckless behavior.
    – Avoid vanity and social-media-driven comparisons. Flaunting wins and materialism are fleeting and destructive; they attract “wolves” (predators, false gurus) and encourage risky behavior.
    – Quiet, disciplined traders win: Keep progress private, journal, follow rules, and build a robust plan rather than chasing visibility or instant payouts.
    – Respect risk: Treat each real-money trade seriously, don’t trade when distracted or emotionally compromised, and don’t rely on lucky early wins as proof of skill.
    – Learn from pain: Drawdowns and losses teach the mindset and discipline needed for long-term success—there are no shortcuts.
    – Build a lasting foundation (the “brick house”): Backtest, demo-trade, develop money management, prepare for adversities, and avoid quick, flashy choices that create ongoing liabilities.
    – Accountability and service: Create external accountability (family, mentees, charitable acts). Helping others gives deeper, lasting satisfaction than self-centered spending.
    – Practical advice: Don’t trade when your mind is elsewhere; elevate your why; test claims for yourself in the charts; accept that mastery takes time and humility.

    Overall message: Trade soberly, build for the long game, prioritize purpose outside yourself, learn from losses, and keep the “wolves” at bay by being disciplined and humble.

    Quiz

    1) According to ICT, what should be the primary reason you trade (beyond personal enrichment)?
    A. To accumulate luxury goods and social status
    B. To prove you’re better than others
    C. To have a purpose outside yourself (e.g., family, helping others)
    D. To chase short-term wins and payouts

    2) What directive does ICT give about trading when your mind is on something or someone else?
    A. Trade more aggressively to make up for lost time
    B. Reduce position size but continue trading
    C. Stop trading until your focus is clear
    D. Use automated systems and ignore emotions

    3) In ICT’s metaphor, who/what are the “wolves” and what do they do if you don’t keep them at bay?
    A. Friendly mentors who will help you grow
    B. Market indicators that signal entries
    C. People and impulses that steal your purpose and destroy progress
    D. Regulators that protect novice traders

    4) ICT says the deepest lessons in trading are learned how?
    A. By watching only winning trades and copying winners
    B. Through long demo practice without real risk
    C. In drawdown and loss — suffering forged mindset
    D. From reading success stories and biographies

    5) What warning does ICT give about displaying wealth and “laying up treasures for yourself”?
    A. It will guarantee lifelong respect and happiness
    B. It’s a short-lived satisfaction and can make you reckless; focus on lasting purpose instead
    C. It is the only way to prove trading success to others
    D. It is required to attract quality mentors and partners

    Answer Key with evidence:

    1) C — Evidence: “but the idea of knowing why you’re going into this what’s the purpose what’s the reason why you’re doing it it’s for the embedderment of yourself yes but there has to be something beyond that” (0:09:03.660‑0:09:17.580)

    2) C — Evidence: “if you find yourself thinking like that stop don’t trade only trade when you know that you’re doing it to make a better life for you and your significant other” (0:26:23.760‑0:26:37.140)

    3) C — Evidence: “otherwise the wolves come in” and “they come in to steal kill and destroy … they steal your purpose” (0:28:09.419‑0:28:15.679 and 0:29:19.320‑0:29:23.779)

    4) C — Evidence: “you never learn anything by wins … it’s always taught in drawdown … it’s always learned in loss” (1:18:28.739‑1:18:36.900)

    5) B — Evidence: “laying up Treasures for yourself … after a while and it’s very very short-lived nobody cares” (0:14:11.760‑0:14:20.399) and “if you trade … to make more for yourself that’s all it’ll ever be and you’ll never be satisfied” (1:39:09.120‑1:39:21.380)

  • Becoming A Profession Trader | August 12, 2023

    Summary:

    Overview: ICT gives practical, hard‑truth advice on becoming a professional trader—framing the early stage as an unpaid internship that requires disciplined, repetitive work (backtesting, tape‑reading, journaling) to build a repeatable, personality‑fit trading model and the mental edge to trade with real money.

    Key points:
    – Treat your early years like an internship: expect it to be thankless, slow, and largely unprofitable in cash terms while you develop skills and experience.
    – Backtesting is mandatory: study past price action extensively (aim for meaningful sample sizes, e.g., 60+ days or more), log observations and identify repeating patterns that fit your temperament.
    – Condition your perception: repetition trains your eye and confidence so setups “jump out” in real time—this is how professionals see edge.
    – Start with one simple model that matches your life and personality; don’t try to trade everything at once. Iterate — your first model may not be your forever model.
    – Tape‑reading and market replay come after backtesting; avoid jumping into live trading or demoing before you’ve built a robust, conditioned foundation.
    – Be the CEO of your trading: write a trading plan and a business plan, set KPIs, SOPs and a schedule (daily/weekly routines). Treat trading like a business, not a hobby.
    – Preserve capital and manage risk: impeccable risk and money management (small consistent edges, modest size) beat sporadic big wins. Consistency compounds wealth.
    – Expect a long, steep learning curve: being a true professional typically means trading profitably as your primary income for multiple years; there are no shortcuts.
    – Embrace boring, monotonous work: repetitive tasks (chart study, journaling) build competence; fall in love with the process, not instant gratification.
    – Mindset & environment matter: forge discipline, prune time‑wasters, avoid toxic people, and surround yourself with supportive traders and educators who can prove they trade.
    – Community value: peer support, honest feedback, and steady mentorship accelerate growth—be present, listen, take notes, and return to lessons.
    – Final encouragement: it’s difficult but achievable. Persistent, disciplined practice yields confidence, freedom, and the potential to replace traditional employment.

    Bottom line: Commit to disciplined, repetitive study and risk‑managed practice, treat trading as a business, and be patient—that’s how you become a professional trader.

    Quiz

    1) According to ICT, how should you treat your early years as a trader?
    A. As a way to immediately make as much profit as possible
    B. As development similar to an internship (work for experience)
    C. As a time to focus only on live trading with real money
    D. As a period to avoid backtesting and books

    2) What minimum amount of backtesting days does ICT recommend as a baseline?
    A. 7 days
    B. 30 days
    C. 60 days
    D. 365 days

    3) Which rule does ICT call the “number one tenant” for a professional trader?
    A. Trade as often as possible
    B. Preserve capital
    C. Use maximum leverage to grow fast
    D. Follow social media signals

    4) How does ICT define a “professional trader” (his opinion)?
    A. Someone who makes 50% of their income from trading for one year
    B. Someone profitable on social media
    C. Someone who can sustain themselves 100% from trading and has done so for at least three years
    D. Someone who passes a funded account challenge

    5) What daily backtesting routine does ICT suggest for developing skill (time and scope)?
    A. Randomly check multiple markets whenever you have time
    B. Spend 45 minutes every day backtesting one market, from weekly down to one-minute timeframes
    C. Only backtest once a month for a full day
    D. Spend 15 minutes on many pairs to diversify quickly

    Answer key with evidence:

    1) B. As development similar to an internship (work for experience)
    Evidence: “before you can even begin thinking about being a professional Trader you have to treat your early years as development as something much like an internship” (0:01:44.579–0:01:52.020)

    2) C. 60 days
    Evidence: “but at least have 60 days worth of it … the minimum criteria” (0:26:18.659–0:26:31.260)

    3) B. Preserve capital
    Evidence: “you want to be a professional Trader the number one tenant is preserve capital that’s the first and foremost rule” (0:24:21.000–0:24:29.100)

    4) C. Sustain themselves 100% from trading and have done so for at least three years
    Evidence: “a professional Trader in my opinion you’re doing it at least three years or longer and it’s your 100 percent source of income” (0:34:40.679–0:34:48.540)

    5) B. Spend 45 minutes every day backtesting one market, from weekly down to one-minute timeframes
    Evidence: “can you set a schedule every day at this time I do 45 minutes of back testing on one market … I think that if you go from the weekly down to a one minute chart it should take you about 45 minutes” (0:41:12.300–0:41:20.339 and 0:41:36.300–0:41:42.240)

  • Cooking With Gas & NonFarm Payroll | August 4, 2023

    Summary:

    ICT hosted a live session discussing trading discipline, mindset, and recent live-account results. He explained why he sometimes avoids trading on high-impact news days (Nonfarm Payrolls, CPI, rate decisions), described his intraday approach, and addressed critics who question whether he trades with real money.

    Key points
    – Purpose: He used a real AMP futures account to demonstrate that his methods can work with live money—not to boast, but to teach students what consistent, disciplined trading can produce.
    – Recent performance: Reported strong short-term results (no losing days, significant weekly gains) while emphasizing he’s not encouraging others to copy his exact risk or leverage.
    – Trading approach: Focuses on a limited set of setups (notably “silver bullet” and his 2022 model), trades primarily on the 15-minute chart, and studies fair-value gaps and key candles (e.g., 6:45 and 7:45 AM) to judge buy/sell bias and liquidity runs.
    – News-day caution: Advises avoiding or being extremely cautious on major news days because markets can be manipulated, making probabilities unreliable.
    – Risk management: Stresses not over-leveraging, knowing your limits, incremental position sizing, and closing trades when specific technical “price decision arrays” are breached.
    – Demo vs. live: Uses paper/demo to teach and preserve focus; real-money trading introduces emotional pressures that require experience. He had an accidental live trade demonstrating the importance of focus.
    – Journaling and psychology: Strongly recommends private, constructive journaling (positive framing), self-awareness, patience, discipline, and resisting social-media validation or toxic comparisons.
    – Handling critics: Urges ignoring trolls; real results and student successes matter more than online noise. He has no broker affiliations; uses AMP for execution.
    – Practical guidance: Set realistic income goals, build from small leverage (e.g., micro contracts), expect setbacks as learning opportunities, and avoid FOMO and impulsive trading.
    – Logistics: Will post a YouTube lecture on backtesting and journaling (Sunday, 9 PM ET); limited teaching availability next week due to home installations.

    Overall message: Trading success comes from discipline, risk control, patience, honest journaling, and learning to navigate uncertainty—especially on big news days—rather than chasing quick wins or social-media validation.

    Quiz

    1) Why did ICT put real money into a live account and share the results?
    A. To brag and boost his social media following
    B. To demonstrate the method works in a real trading account and to teach his son
    C. To advertise AMP Futures and recruit clients
    D. To test a new automated trading algorithm

    2) Which timeframe does ICT call his “bellwether” for intraday analysis?
    A. 1-minute chart
    B. 5-minute chart
    C. 15-minute chart
    D. 60-minute chart

    3) On which days or events does ICT advise being especially cautious or to avoid trading?
    A. Quiet, low-volatility days
    B. Regular monthly payroll days only
    C. Major macro news days such as non-farm payrolls, CPI, and rate announcements (FOMC)
    D. Weekends and holidays

    4) Which broker/platform did ICT say he was using for the live executions he showed?
    A. TD Ameritrade
    B. Robinhood
    C. AMP Futures
    D. Tradivate

    5) What per-trade risk range did ICT state he was using on the live account examples?
    A. 0.1% to 0.5%
    B. 1.5% to 3.5%
    C. 5% to 10%
    D. 10% to 15%

    Answer Key with evidence:

    1) Correct: B
    Evidence:
    – “we were sharing some results with the a real Market and a real trading account” (0:00:54.719–0:01:06.299)
    – “the reason why I did that was number one to show my son” (0:02:14.040–0:02:22.080)

    2) Correct: C
    Evidence:
    – “a Bellwether time frame for me is like the 15-minute chart” (0:09:20.220–0:09:25.800)
    – “this is all 15 minute chart based by the way” (0:09:02.160–0:09:08.700)

    3) Correct: C
    Evidence:
    – “so I sit down on non-farm payroll Fridays…” (0:08:28.680–0:08:35.880)
    – “these types of things are like Kryptonite I have to wait” (0:16:58.320–0:17:02.120)
    – “like CPI and FOMC those types of things” (0:17:05.640–0:17:12.120)

    4) Correct: C
    Evidence:
    – “the executions I’m showing right now are being cleared … that’s amp futures” (0:33:36.360–0:33:41.279)
    – “I’m not introducing broker for amp … my son opened up an account with them” (0:32:18.600–0:32:28.559)

    5) Correct: B
    Evidence:
    – “trades between one and a half percent up to three and a half percent risk” (0:34:23.280–0:34:31.139)
    – “three trades with three and a half percent risk and everything else was two and a half to two and a quarter percent” (0:36:10.260–0:36:18.720)

  • Advice For The Son Who Trades | July 29, 2023

    Summary:

    – Personal opening: ICT is grieving a lost dog, then adopted two boxers (Piper & Scout). He’s speaking as a father about his 18‑year‑old son Cameron’s funded‑account trading experience and what he’s teaching him.

    – Main point: funded account “certificates” are an illusion. A $50K/100K/150K funded account typically gives only ~$2K/$3K/$4.5K of real tradable equity and charges monthly fees (promotional $49 or typical $165) that act like an 8%+ interest charge on that tiny effective balance. That makes passing a combine easier for companies and much harder to profit from in reality.

    – Big dangers: inexperienced traders over‑leverage (chasing large contract counts), chase social‑media validation, treat trading like gambling, and reset funded accounts repeatedly. Emotional impulsiveness and lack of discipline cause most failures.

    – Practical plan/rules recommended for a new funded trader (Cameron model):
    – Treat trading like a business, keep it private, journal, and follow strict rules.
    – Money management: trade 1 micro contract per ~$2K equity; only add another micro after earning an additional $2K. Never trade minis until properly scaled.
    – Risk parameters: use a 20‑handle (point) stop on the one‑minute fair‑value‑gap Silver Bullet setups; target ~2:1 reward (e.g., risk $40 to make $80 on NASDAQ micro).
    – Time windows: only take entries during defined sessions (approx. 10–11am and 2–3pm New York for the Silver Bullet), stop trading for the day after a win or a loss.
    – Withdraw realized profits (don’t keep chasing growth in the funded account); move to a real brokerage once you have withdrawable funds.

    – Broader advice: be patient—expect the first year (or more) to be learning, build habits over 90 days, focus on consistency not fast riches, accept losses, avoid public showboating, and prioritize discipline over size. The speaker emphasizes teaching this to his son so he can become financially independent (goal: $650K in 4 years — $500K home + $150K savings) but warns it requires mindset shifts and hard work.

    Quiz

    1) According to ICT, if you are “funded” into a $50,000 account through a funded-account company, how much real trading equity do you actually have to trade with?
    A. $50,000
    B. $20,000
    C. $2,000
    D. $5,000

    2) What position sizing rule does ICT give for funded accounts (equity to micro-contract ratio)?
    A. One mini per $2,000
    B. One micro per $2,000
    C. Two micros per $2,000
    D. Five micros per $2,000

    3) In ICT’s Silver Bullet model for his son, what stop-loss magnitude does he require (in handles/points)?
    A. 5 handles
    B. 10 handles
    C. 20 handles
    D. 40 handles

    4) ICT compares the funded-account monthly subscription fee to an effective interest rate on the real equity. Approximately what percent does he state this is (using $165/mo example for a $2,000 effective account)?
    A. 1%
    B. 4%
    C. 8.25%
    D. 15%

    5) ICT restricts his son’s allowable execution windows for the Silver Bullet entries to which times (New York local time)?
    A. 9–10 AM and 1–2 PM
    B. 10–11 AM and 2–3 PM
    C. 3–4 AM and 10–11 AM
    D. Any time during market hours

    Answer Key with evidence
    1) C. $2,000
    Evidence: “in reality what you have is for a 50 000 account you have two thousand dollar trading account” (transcript ~0:43:02–0:43:12).

    2) B. One micro per $2,000
    Evidence: “one micro for every two thousand dollars in equity right now… so you get one contract at the micro level” (transcript ~1:55:13–1:55:24 and ~1:15:16–1:15:31).

    3) C. 20 handles
    Evidence: “he’s going to look for 20 points risk that means his stop loss can be 20 points” (transcript ~1:22:48–1:23:07). Repeated reference: “Cameron has to use a 20 handle stop loss” (transcript ~1:44:01–1:44:06).

    4) C. 8.25%
    Evidence: “if you have a two thousand dollar trading account… and you’re paying 165 a month… you’re paying eight and a quarter percent to have access to two thousand dollars” (transcript ~0:48:43–0:50:02).

    5) B. 10–11 AM and 2–3 PM
    Evidence: “he can only execute between 10 and 11. he can only execute between two and three o’clock” (transcript ~1:43:58–1:44:08; also reiterated ~2:22:01–2:22:08).

  • How To Avoid Failing In Trading | July 21, 2023

    Summary:

    – Core message: failing at trading is usually self-inflicted. Success requires long-term commitment, emotional control, disciplined risk management, and focused study—not chasing quick payouts or social-media image.

    – Mindset matters most: accept losses as a “tax” of participation, don’t treat each losing trade as definitive failure, and avoid deadlines or unrealistic expectations. Define your “why” (financial independence, paying tuition, etc.) and keep it front of mind.

    – Emotions and timing: don’t trade when emotionally distressed, angry, or overly excited. If nervous or hyped, switch to demo trading. Recognize mood-driven impulses (revenge trading, chasing wins) and stop before they compound losses.

    – Journaling and self-feedback: keep a trade journal. After losses, analyze calmly to learn what you missed rather than beating yourself up. Use positive self-talk as reinforcement for progress.

    – Risk management and practical practice: start with the smallest possible size (micro lots / one micro contract) in demo to build confidence. Set clear stop levels based on where the idea fails; limit position size even if a funded account allows more.

    – Find and stick to a model: identify one price-action model that suits your personality, master it, and avoid constantly switching. Backtest and forward-test for a year minimum to see if trading fits you.

    – How to trade (conceptual): focus on predicting where price is likely to draw (liquidity and inefficiency), not on blunt indicators. Use concepts like fair-value gaps, intra-day ranges, and Fibonacci quadrants to anticipate likely targets and trade the high-probability setups.

    – Avoid gambling/overleverage: flashy one-off wins from oversized risk are not skill. Consistent profitability comes from discipline, patience, and repeated, measured application of a sound model.
    – Community and inputs: filter social media and image-driven content. Don’t let clout-chasing or others’ flashy lifestyles distort your progress or priorities.

    – Encouragement and realism: expect setbacks and learning pains; they’re part of the path. If you persist, journal, control risk, and focus on improving, you can reach break-even and beyond—small consistent gains compound into real financial benefit.

    Overall: trade like a business—study, backtest, practice small, protect capital, control emotion, and give yourself time to develop.

    Quiz

    1) According to ICT, what best defines “failing” in trading?
    A. Taking a loss in a demo account
    B. Blowing out your first live account
    C. Deciding you’ll never trade again
    D. Not having a trading mentor

    2) What practice does ICT call the “number one thing you do” as you climb plateaus in trading?
    A. Increase contract size
    B. Post wins on social media
    C. Log and journal every time you grow
    D. Switch to a different market

    3) What does ICT advise when your mind is distracted by real-life pain or mood swings?
    A. Trade aggressively to feel better
    B. Switch to a different strategy immediately
    C. Avoid trading entirely until your mind is clear
    D. Trade only smaller timeframes

    4) For beginners learning to trade ICT’s models, what risk-management trade size does he recommend testing with?
    A. 15 contracts
    B. One micro contract/lot
    C. One mini contract/lot
    D. Unlimited leverage for fast learning

    5) What does ICT say about consuming social-media image content while learning trading?
    A. It’s essential to stay motivated
    B. Filter out image/Instagram garbage because it prevents appreciating real progress
    C. Follow every trader showing flashy results
    D. Only follow people with leased cars and vacations

    Answer Key:

    1) C. Deciding you’ll never trade again
    Evidence: “failing is you’re never doing it again” (transcript ~0:28:26–0:28:41).

    2) C. Log and journal every time you grow
    Evidence: “the number one thing you do is you log you Journal every time you climb to a new plateau of understanding and growth…” (transcript ~0:04:50–0:05:06).

    3) C. Avoid trading entirely until your mind is clear
    Evidence: “when it does it [hits you in the head]… you should not be Trading period” and earlier examples about mood swings/pet loss making his mind unclear and inviting bad trades (transcript ~0:52:57–0:53:23 and ~0:06:03–0:06:20).

    4) B. One micro contract/lot
    Evidence: “use a micro lot one… not a mini… trade with one micro contract” and instructions to use one micro and defined stop levels for learning (transcript ~1:28:01–1:28:25 and ~2:01:21–2:01:56).

    5) B. Filter out image/Instagram garbage because it prevents appreciating real progress
    Evidence: “the way you avoid failing is you filter what goes into your mind… if you are constantly feeding yourself Instagram garbage… you’re never going to be satisfied with your progress” and “image is nothing obey your thirst” (transcript ~0:47:07–0:47:36 and ~0:48:57–0:49:11).

  • ICT Shotgun Saturday – Trading Taboo Days NFP, FOMC | July 8, 2023

    Summary:

    ICT’s main message: “taboo days” (major economic reports and certain Mondays) are high-risk for inexperienced traders and require rules, discipline and experience to trade safely.

    Key points
    – Taboo days = non-farm payrolls (NFP), FOMC, CPI and Mondays in certain calendar contexts. These events create extreme, fast volatility, broker liquidity changes and manual/algorithmic interventions that make positioning ahead of the release highly dangerous for beginners.
    – Rule of thumb for new students (< ~6 months with the method): avoid trading these days and do heavy demo/backtesting instead. Don’t trade ahead of the report; wait for the initial run/measure of manipulation, then trade the post‑run inefficiencies when the market’s intentions are clearer.
    – Practical scheduling guidance: on normal NFP weeks (no early-week holiday) look for trades Monday–Tuesday and stop taking new positions after the Wednesday morning session; if there is a Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday holiday that week, avoid trading Monday and target Thursday–Friday instead.
    – FOMC specifics: treat it as a two‑stage event—wait through the first run (2:00), then trade during/after the conference phase (often ~2:30) when direction and liquidity become clearer. – Brokers often raise margins and pull liquidity ahead of big reports; you can get margin/stop issues and amplified losses—another reason not to be positioned pre-release.

    – Emotional/behavioral advice: losses and high-speed volatility commonly induce panic, hyperventilation and bad decision-making. Use breathing exercises, take breaks after losses, journal trades, and build rules (“training wheels”) that you can remove as experience grows.

    – Social media caution: avoid publicizing KPIs and chasing social validation—showboating invites trolling and can derail discipline. Many posted trading results are misleading; focus on private, consistent performance and process. –

    Final: experienced traders (including ICT and advanced students) can and do trade these days successfully, but only after they’ve developed the required skill, experience and emotional control.

    Bottom line: protect capital and mental state early—learn, demo and apply strict rules; only trade big‑report days once you’ve earned the experience to handle them.

    Quiz

    1) According to ICT in the transcript, which days does he label as “taboo days” that new traders should generally avoid?
    A. All Mondays only
    B. Any day with low volatility
    C. Taboo days like non‑farm payroll Fridays, FOMC days, CPI days (and certain Mondays)
    D. Only holiday market sessions

    2) When does ICT say it is acceptable to trade non‑farm payroll Friday?
    A. Ahead of the report (position before release)
    B. Never — he says to avoid it always
    C. After the initial run/first half hour following the release
    D. Only during the Asian session

    3) What guideline does ICT give for entering new positions during a non‑farm payroll week?
    A. Enter new positions any time if you feel confident
    B. Only take new positions on Friday morning
    C. Be done trading by Wednesday morning session — take no new positions after that
    D. Enter positions only during the weekend

    4) How does ICT describe the typical structure of a FOMC event?
    A. A single, predictable directional spike with no follow‑up
    B. A two‑stage event: an initial run at 2:00 (often a fake move), then a possible opposite move during the conference portion around 2:30
    C. An event that only affects equities, not FX
    D. A quiet event with little movement

    5) Why does ICT recommend keeping your trading KPIs/stats private rather than posting them on social media?
    A. Because brokers require confidentiality
    B. Because social media causes division, invites trolls and external validation which can push you into risky or ego‑driven trading
    C. Because public KPIs reduce trading performance by algorithm
    D. Because revealing stats will make taxes higher

    Answer Key

    Q1 — Correct: C Evidence: – “let’s talk about taboo days… taboo days are days where I teach the new students…” [0:03:03–0:03:11] – “non‑farm payroll Fridays, fomc days CPI days you know things like that I try to encourage students to avoid those days” [0:03:30–0:03:38] – “if you’re a new Trader and you’re less than six months in experience … you shouldn’t even consider those days” [0:07:52–0:08:09]

    Q2 — Correct: C Evidence: – “you absolutely can trade the non‑farm payroll Friday but it can’t be ahead of the report” [0:09:34–0:09:40] – “after the first half an hour is done I can sit there and trade it the rest of the entirety of the day” [0:06:33–0:06:42]

    Q3 — Correct: C Evidence: – “non‑farm payroll Fridays … you need to be done trading by Wednesday morning session take no new positions” [0:12:40–0:12:54] – repeated: “no new trade positions are entered after the morning session on Wednesday” [0:36:55–0:36:01] (see earlier statement at ~0:36:55–0:37:05)

    Q4 — Correct: B Evidence: – “FMC [FOMC] is generally A two stage event at two o’clock in the afternoon we wait for that initial run … that first run is generally the fake move” [0:23:52–0:24:05] – “during the conference portion it’ll go the other direction … usually at 2:30” [0:24:24–0:24:36]

    Q5 — Correct: B Evidence: – “if you take your kpis or your stats as a Trader and you put them on the Internet … you are asking outside audience members that may or may not have any real interest in you becoming a better Trader … many times they don’t want to see you be a better Trader” [1:05:58–1:06:14] – “social media was instituted to cause division … keep your progress private” and “keep your progress private that’s how you have the Excellence of growth” [1:06:18–1:06:31] and [1:10:15–1:10:22]

  • When Starting Is Difficult Or Intimidating | July 5, 2023

    Summary:

    – ICT recounts coaching his 18-year-old son, who tried and failed multiple funded-account challenges by treating trading like a video game—rushing, overleveraging and pressing the button out of ego or impatience.
    – Core lesson: trading is a business of risk management, discipline and self-knowledge, not gambling or showmanship. Emotional triggers (pride, fear, social pressure) cause most account blow-ups.
    – Practical coaching points given to the son: tape-read price action, desensitize to execution by practicing small trades, use strict position sizing (e.g., max 1–1.5% risk), accept partials/exits, and journal results to learn patterns.
    – Start small and scale: aim for modest, repeatable gains (even $200–$250 per trade or one handle) and compound consistency rather than chasing big, infrequent wins. If a setup can’t be found multiple times intraday at that yield, don’t take outsized risk.
    – Funded-account “combines” and demo/demo-challenges can foster reckless behavior; passing them is only the beginning—real skill requires time, backtesting, tape reading and emotional control.
    – Cut out social-media noise, ego-driven posting and “gurus.” External validation invites emotion and bad decisions; profitable traders narrow focus, follow a simple repeatable model, and avoid tinkering.
    – There are no shortcuts: expect months or a year of disciplined practice to develop competence. Accept mistakes, learn from them, and build discipline over time.
    – Motivational close: trading offers huge upside if you commit, manage yourself, and do the hard work—ignore naysayers, be patient, and treat trading as a craft to be mastered.

    Quiz

    1) According to ICT, what is the maximum percentage of a $50,000 funded account you should risk on a trade?
    A. 0.5%
    B. 1.5%
    C. 5%
    D. 10%

    2) How does ICT say you should treat trading?
    A. Like a video game for practice and fun
    B. Like gambling with occasional lucky wins
    C. Like a business — you are the CEO and must manage it
    D. Like a hobby with no rules

    3) What does ICT say about viewing trading as a video game?
    A. It’s the best way to desensitize yourself to losses
    B. It’s the stupidest idea anybody could ever employ
    C. It’s a useful mindset for funded account challenges
    D. It’s equivalent to high-frequency algorithmic trading

    4) What “low-hanging fruit” per-trade target does ICT recommend beginners consider?
    A. $50
    B. $250
    C. $1,000
    D. $5,000

    5) What does ICT recommend regarding social media influence on your trading?
    A. Invite as many online mentors as possible to speed learning
    B. Use social media to publicly share every trade for accountability
    C. Block out and minimize social media influence; don’t let “wads” dictate your career
    D. Only follow influencers who show large account growth

    Answer Key

    1) Answer: B. 1.5%
    Evidence: “I want you to think about one and a half percent of that that’s the highest you can ever go … you are not allowed to go over one and a half percent” (Timestamp ~0:29:27–0:29:57).

    2) Answer: C. Like a business — you are the CEO and must manage it
    Evidence: “you have to treat this like a business when you go to work … you are the boss you’re the CEO … you are the human resource manager you’re in charge of everything” (Timestamp ~0:23:41–0:24:14).

    3) Answer: B. It’s the stupidest idea anybody could ever employ
    Evidence: “that to me is why I think viewing trading as a video game is the stupidest [ __ ] idea anybody could ever employ” (Timestamp ~0:23:10–0:23:16).

    4) Answer: B. $250
    Evidence: “if you can find a setup that yields 250 dollars … that 250 can be scaled” and earlier he discusses the $244 trade with his son as a meaningful comparison to weekly pay (Timestamps ~1:00:21–1:00:28 and ~0:16:51–0:17:03).

    5) Answer: C. Block out and minimize social media influence; don’t let “wads” dictate your career
    Evidence: “stop inviting social media [ __ ] wads into your career” and “you have to block out everything … keep the focus on you” (Timestamps ~0:51:44–0:51:53 and ~2:04:12–2:04:21).

  • ICT Shotgun Saturday – Destination Excellence | July 1, 2023

    ICT—argues that true excellence in trading is not about having more tools or being “right” on every trade, but about how you manage yourself: discipline, patience, risk control, and accepting “enough” rather than perfection. He explains he built many methods early on (to overcome fear), but stresses students should specialize, study deeply (give a model 2–3 months, a year for seasonal perspective), journal, and cocoon themselves from distraction and social-media shortcuts. He warns against quick-fix gurus and chasing every new technique, saying those shortcuts may make money short-term but won’t create long-term, consistently profitable traders. He plans to stop teaching publicly in November to force students to use what they have and become independent. He defends concepts he teaches (PD arrays, order blocks, fair-value gaps, etc.) and says they work when properly applied. He also candidly shares the personal cost of pursuing excellence—sacrifice, failed trades, emotional strain—and urges acceptance of that process. Finally, he issues a broader caution about coming social changes (digital currencies with controls, “climate lockdowns,” rising instability) and urges being prepared and able to earn from home.

    Quiz

    Q1. How many PD arrays did ICT say he has created and utilized over the years?
    A) 12
    B) 45
    C) 81
    D) 120

    Q2. When did ICT say he plans to “set sail” / depart from doing this kind of one-on-one content?
    A) End of December
    B) Second week of November
    C) Next January
    D) Mid-July

    Q3. According to ICT, how long does it take to have “a full Baseline” and some measure of understanding of the marketplace over a calendar year?
    A) One month
    B) Six months
    C) One full year
    D) Five years

    Q4. ICT states that excellence in trading primarily comes from:
    A) Having the right tools and processes
    B) Owning many entry methods
    C) How the trader handles themself and engages the market
    D) Always being perfectly right

    Q5. How long does ICT recommend you spend studying a single model/method before judging its effectiveness?
    A) A few days
    B) Two to three months
    C) One week
    D) Two years

    Answer Key:

    1: C
    Evidence: “I said well you know I have 81 specific PD arrays that I utilized over the years to frame a entry” (timestamp range: 0:02:06.840 – 0:02:15.480)

    2: B
    Evidence: “when I you know set sail in the second week of November” (timestamp range: 0:03:54.720 – 0:04:00.840)

    3: C
    Evidence: “but in one full year you will have a full Baseline” (timestamp range: 0:09:01.080 – 0:09:09.320)

    4: C
    Evidence: “the Excellence in this industry is not from the tools it’s not from the process … it’s how you as the operator you the traitor handle yourself and engage the market” (timestamp range: 0:05:09.060 – 0:05:27.900)

    5: B
    Evidence: “you should at least spend at least two to three months with it” (timestamp range: 0:43:45.660 – 0:44:03.900)

  • Because… | July 1, 2023

    Summary:

    Speaker Michael Huddleston (ICT) gives a long, candid testimony mixing his life story, trading career, faith, and warnings about the future. Key points:

    – Personal testimony and divine experiences: He describes multiple occasions where he heard an audible, reassuring male voice (which he attributes to God) that saved him (e.g., a childhood gun incident) and guided moments in his life (including accurate personal details and prenatal predictions). He recounts suicidal thoughts stopped by a voice, a dramatic spiritual turning point when he asked God for trading insight and promised to serve others if gifted, and other interventions in his family’s life.

    – Faith and theology: He affirms a strong Christian faith—Jesus as the one true God manifested in flesh (rejecting the traditional Trinity formulation). He urges people to repent, believe the gospel, and seek a personal relationship with Christ.

    – Trading background and teaching: He traces ICT’s origins to 1992, admitting early mistakes (blown accounts) and gradual development of his methods. He defends his teachings, notes many successful students, warns against shortcuts and social-media-driven “success,” and recommends at least a year of real practice to learn a trading style. He denies offering signal services publicly and says some online mentorship claims are fake.

    – Social/media/organizational decisions: He criticizes megachurches and televangelists profiting off religion and voices frustration with online trolls. He announces he will step away from promoting the ICT persona and dial back social media in November to focus on family, faith, and self-sufficiency.

    – End-times warnings and practical advice: He believes a rapture (harpazo) is imminent, expects intensifying global chaos, and warns of technological/financial controls (digital currency, mark). He urges listeners to prepare practically (grow food, become self-reliant), prioritize spiritual readiness, avoid chasing public clout, and value being “comfortable in your own skin” as true excellence.

    He discloses bipolar disorder, emphasizes humility, and insists his gifts came from God and are meant to serve others.

    Quiz

    1) When did ICT say he read his first trading book and that Inner Circle Trader (ICT) was born?
    A. 1990
    B. November 5, 1992
    C. 2016
    D. July 2019

    2) Which of the following best describes ICT’s stated view of God/Christ?
    A. God exists as a Trinity of three distinct persons.
    B. There is one God who manifests Himself in the flesh as Jesus Christ.
    C. Jesus is not divine.
    D. God is purely a metaphor and not literal.

    3) In ICT’s teenage story at his friend’s house, what crucial event did he describe?
    A. He discovered trading principles on a book left at the house.
    B. He heard an audible male voice telling him to “pull the door in front of you,” which coincided with a gun firing and saved him from harm.
    C. He was offered a scholarship to study computer science.
    D. He fell from the roof and broke his arm.

    4) What minimum learning timeframe for trading does ICT recommend in the transcript?
    A. One month
    B. Four months
    C. One year
    D. Five years

    5) Why does ICT say he is stepping away from promoting the ICT name and reducing social media presence after November?
    A. He was forced off social media by others.
    B. He wants to focus on family, be closer to God, avoid distractions, and put down the ICT image.
    C. He plans to rebrand and launch a new aggressive marketing campaign.
    D. He says trading no longer works and he’s quitting markets.

    Answer key:

    1) Answer: B
    Evidence: “at 20 years old when I first sat down November 5th 19 92 Thursday evening 9 pm at my aunt and uncle’s house I read my first trading book that’s when Inner Circle Trader was born” (timestamp ~0:30:51–0:31:06)

    2) Answer: B
    Evidence: “there is one God … God manifests himself in the flesh and that is Jesus Christ … he is the father when he provided a body to indwell and manifest himself among men” (timestamp ~0:09:12–0:09:43)

    3) Answer: B
    Evidence: “I hear a voice over the right shoulder audibly … what I heard was ‘pull the door in front of you’ … as soon as my right toe … connected with the door swinging in front of me the gun went off … all the Buckshot was right there … on the door I was on” (timestamps ~0:11:01–0:13:14)

    4) Answer: C
    Evidence: “I tell you you need to see a minimum of one year because then you’ll see a full calendar year you’ll see the ebb and flow of the seasonal tendencies that come in the marketplace” (timestamp ~0:37:42–0:38:03)

    5) Answer: B
    Evidence: “no one’s scaring me away … my family needs me I need to be closer to God … when I’m out here … it becomes about me … I’m removing it entirely in November … I’m putting down the name of ICT I’m not carrying it forward … so he increases further in my personal life” (timestamps ~1:08:57–1:09:03; ~1:22:11–1:22:26)

  • How To Trade Big Runners Properly | June 23, 2023

    Summary:

    Key takeaway: holding “big runner” trades is a skill you must earn gradually — it’s not greed but a disciplined progression from small, consistent wins to larger runs. Success depends more on mindset, risk management and framework than on fancy entries or copying others.

    Essentials:
    – Start small and grow slowly: begin with one contract/lot, prove you can take profits, then incrementally increase size. Don’t jump to max leverage just because it’s available.
    – Use partials: take logical partial profits as the trade moves in your favor to lock gains, reduce risk, and desensitize yourself to holding larger remaining positions.
    – Have a higher‑timeframe frame of reference: identify higher‑timeframe liquidity/targets (weekly/daily) before aiming for big runs; intraday charts alone won’t justify long holds.
    – Consider inter‑market relationships and time of day: choose the instrument most likely to move (the laggard when bearish), and factor algorithmic rotations (e.g., PM session) and opening‑range behavior.
    – Strict risk management: trade sizes and stops should protect your capital; funded account rules don’t mean you must use full permitted lots — avoid blowing accounts.
    – Manage psychology and distractions: journaling, reviewing video of your trades, and recognizing personal “tells” help you learn when to stop and when to hold. Avoid ego-driven or audience‑driven decisions.
    – Trade less, choose quality setups: focus on a few high‑probability trades rather than constant action; consistency (even small, regular wins) is respectable and scalable.
    – Long game and realism: expect a prolonged learning curve; conditions improve by gradual conditioning (he estimates many market days of experience). Slow and methodical wins.

    Bottom line: identify higher‑timeframe targets, start tiny, take partials, manage risk and mind, and only then gradually scale size — that’s how you reliably capture big runners.

    Quiz

    1) According to ICT, when you get a funded account you should initially:
    A. Use the maximum contracts the firm allows
    B. Start with one contract and graduate up slowly
    C. Always trade 15 contracts
    D. Immediately pyramid to 10 contracts

    2) What does ICT identify as the secret to holding big runners and managing trade risk?
    A. Doing full-pull entries only
    B. Taking partials at logical levels
    C. Relying solely on Fibonacci extensions
    D. Never using stop losses

    3) ICT says before trusting intraday charts to hold a trade for a large run you must have:
    A. Only one-minute chart confirmation
    B. A higher time frame draw on liquidity (weekly/daily)
    C. A pivot point and standard deviation indicator only
    D. A news headline to justify the move

    4) Around what time does ICT say the algorithm PM session begins (New York local time)?
    A. 9:30 AM
    B. 12:00 PM
    C. About 1:30–1:40 PM
    D. 5:00 PM

    5) What primary purpose does ICT assign to journaling?
    A. To post your best trades on social media
    B. To record concerns, cheerlead yourself, and desensitize to outcomes
    C. To predict exact future prices
    D. To replace demo trading entirely

    Answer Key:
    Q1: B
    Evidence: “so the rules for you to be able to do this is start with one contract when you get funded I don’t give a [__] what company it is” (0:32:11.399–0:32:17.880)

    Q2: B
    Evidence: “I teach you how to take partials…that’s the secret to holding big ass runners… you’re not doing a full pull” (0:22:56.159–0:23:03.360 and 0:26:44.460–0:26:48.659). Also: “partials are a huge huge benefit” (0:55:51.599–0:55:57.599)

    Q3: B
    Evidence: “the first thing that you have to understand is that you have to have a higher time frame draw on liquidity” (0:15:24.420–0:15:31.440). And: “you have to at least at the very minimum have some idea on a daily chart what is it reaching for” (0:17:53.520–0:18:01.260)

    Q4: C
    Evidence: “we know that the algorithm starts its PM session at 1 30 New York local time around 1 40 or so I can’t remember the minute marker but it’s about 140.” (0:38:24.180–0:38:37.280)

    Q5: B
    Evidence: “journaling is the biggest crutch as a Trader you have to be you have to have it folks… encourage yourself go back in your journal and find a period where you were hitting it… read what you annotated in the charts… that’s where you want to get a high off of that” (1:35:59.880–1:36:07.139 and 1:36:16.739–1:36:28.199)