Tag: innercircletrader

  • 30th Anniversary as ICT | November 6, 2022

    Summary of ICT’s Twitter Space (key points and main ideas):

    – Main theme: trading is mostly a psychological battle. Technical entries and strategies are plentiful, but the real reason many fail is emotional bias, ego, unrealistic expectations, and poor personal habits.

    – Practical trading advice:
    – Give yourself permission to be wrong; losses are inevitable and must be planned for.
    – Cut “dogs” quickly—use strict stop-losses and time-stops (30–60s when a setup isn’t showing speed/distance).
    – Take partials on winners, roll stops to lock profit, don’t overleverage or chase size for image.
    – Focus on small, consistent “bread-and-butter” gains (e.g., low weekly targets like 1–2%) rather than Olympic feats.
    – Journal fears and behaviors, replace negative self-talk over time.

    – On students, mentorship and public image:
    – Many trainees struggle because they prioritize ego, social media image, or try to shortcut the process.
    – Exclusivity (private mentorships, signal services) can be abused; ICT plans to be more public but will avoid undercutting students running paid services.
    – He may run live “Price Action Chronicles” sessions showing market navigation (not issuing buy/sell signals).

    – Personal/psychological counsel:
    – Remove toxic relationships and outside opinions that drain attention and fuel insecurity.
    – Trading behavior often mirrors personal life issues (loneliness, need for approval); fix the root causes.
    – Consistency, discipline and pruning bad habits are what create long-term profitability and wealth.

    – Perspective and resilience:
    – Success takes years; expect hardship, take breaks when needed, but persist and learn from mistakes.
    – ICT shares personal anecdotes (family, early struggles) to underline humility and perseverance.
    – He’s pragmatic about macro risk (prepping, owning real assets) and believes markets will keep running until a full systemic collapse.

    Closing: focus on process, not image; build disciplined habits, manage psychology, protect capital, and pursue small consistent gains to become consistently profitable.

  • Shotgun Saturday: Beneath The Surface | October 15, 2022

    Summary — key points from ICT

    – Opening/setting: ICT ran late due to personal errands (taking dogs out) and uses casual anecdotes to introduce the talk.

    – Liquidity voids explained: A true “liquidity void” is an actual gap (no price data) or micro-gaps inside large imbalance candles. These micro-gaps are visible only on ultra-short, time-based charts (1s, 5s, 15s) and matter for short-term price delivery and stop-run/rebalance moves.

    – Time-based charts defendend: Time (time-of-day) is primary in his algorithmic approach — price delivery is time then price. Time-based charts reveal hidden micro-structure that other chart types (Renko, Heikin-Ashi, range bars) or higher time-frame candles can smooth out.

    – Use of TradingView: He uses TradingView because it offers ultra-short time frames needed to teach and see these micro-fractures.

    – Relationship to Chris Lori: He looked at Lori’s early work and borrowed the term “liquidity void” for clarity with BabyPips users, but he did not learn his trading method from Lori. Their approaches differ substantially; the speaker spent only a short time in Lori’s Pro Traders Club and later advised Lori on course structure.

    – History with BabyPips: He taught freely there, drew a following, sparked jealousy/drama, and left after conflicts; he emphasizes he never worked on their payroll and has always credited influences when appropriate.

    – Teaching ethos and warnings: He’s proud of building precise, algorithmic Smart Money Concepts (SMC). He warns students not to “weaponize” his teachings to bully or troll others online; humility, practice, and real trading performance matter more than online clout.

    – On influencers and fraud: He criticizes shallow/orchestrated online content (demo/rented servers, cherry-picking) and urges verification — he provides live TradingView proof of trading results and is not partnered with brokers or funded-account promoters.

    – Practical trading message: Small, low-risk intraday moves (a few points/handles) are real profit opportunities if you understand liquidity/imbalance. Many people overcomplicate or misapply SMC; learning his core concepts will improve most traders’ edge.

    – Closing: He reiterates he’s focused on students and results, asks the community to stop toxic behavior, and issues a final warning to young SMC practitioners to clean up their act.

  • Volatility Romance | October 14, 2022

    Summary — ICT Twitter Space

    – Market update: ICT describes extremely unusual intraday volatility in the S&P—more extreme than in 30 years—driven by liquidity gaps and rapid moves. He expects continued wild swings into year-end and thinks many retail traders will suffer large losses.

    – Technical read: He expected the daily equal lows to be taken out (target 3570) and saw price hit weekly fair-value gaps (he notes ~3400 remains in play as a possible next leg lower). He warns that the recent dip is not necessarily a lasting bottom and that such moves are often traps used by market makers to harvest liquidity.

    – Trading actions today: He almost took bigger, aggressive positions but resisted, exited with only the trades he showed, and is thankful he avoided overtrading. He reports modest position sizes (largest ~12 contracts) and is satisfied with his monthly result so far.

    – Risk management rule he stresses: after a losing trade, drop risk (e.g., to half) on the next trades until you recoup half the loss; then reset to your prior risk. Repeat scaling down if losses continue. This is to control drawdown and emotional pressure.

    – Psychology and personal disclosure: ICT candidly discusses his own emotional volatility (including bipolar tendencies), how life stress (notably a fraught house purchase) impacted him, and why that made him almost take revenge trades. He strongly advises avoiding the market when emotionally compromised—turn off charts, walk away, and don’t chase feel‑good wins.

    – On other traders/content: He praises honest traders who share struggles (mentions “Corbs”) as valuable learning tools on trader psychology, and criticizes gurus who push quick fixes.

    – Broader views: He warns that crypto/blockchain developments are being repurposed for central bank digital currencies and that individuals cannot “beat” central banking—advice is to align with reality rather than oppose it.

    – Closing: Reiterates caution about upcoming economic prints (mentions 8:30 and 10:00) and encourages disciplined risk control, routine, and self-awareness over impulsive, ego-driven trading.

  • Friday Night ICT & Chill | September 24, 2022

    Summary — key points ICT

    – Recent live trading: ICT recounts several big, profitable live trades this week but says he was blocked from closing positions by his broker (AMP Futures). He says orders were rejected at the CME level and interprets this as intentional interference to prevent large consistent wins.

    – Brokerage criticism and challenge: he strongly criticizes AMP Futures (and FXCM), says he’ll close accounts and leave them, and challenges public critics (named traders/YouTubers) to prove their results by posting one real account number on a public broker leaderboard. He promises to trade one publicly disclosed account (one contract) to settle claims of demo/rented-server fraud.

    – Markets are rigged: he argues markets and brokers actively manipulate retail outcomes when traders become consistently profitable, so traders must accept operating in a constrained, adversarial environment and adapt their approach.

    – Practical trading advice: don’t rely on tiny demo/white‑label MT4 setups or underfunded “cheap” accounts. Be properly funded, trade markets you know (he favors stock-index futures — S&P, Nasdaq, bonds — over thin Forex pairs), and expect occasional technical or institutional resistance.

    – Mentorship and transparency: he stresses he records and publishes live examples and core‑content lessons publicly; he intends to continue releasing guided video content and minute-marked references for students.

    – Personal reflections: he talks at length about family, past marriages, mental health (anxiety, bipolar traits), the importance of removing toxic relationships, and how spousal support helps trading performance.

    – Geopolitical/economic warnings and prepping: he believes we’re approaching major disruptive events (mentions Russia/Iran alliances, potential attack on Israel, broader global instability) and urges listeners to prepare — stockpile food, water, heat sources, generators — because supply, energy and food systems may be stressed, especially in Europe/UK.

    – Views on crypto and other markets: skeptical of Bitcoin/crypto infrastructure, concerned about custody/tax/risk; warns that once futures and institutional control arrive, prices can be manipulated downward.

    – Tone and intent: the speaker is combative and unfiltered, repeatedly calling out opponents and trolls, but frames his anger as frustration at industry hypocrisy. He emphasizes he doesn’t need the money or publicity but wants to protect students and prove his methods.

    – Actionable takeaways: verify live performance (real broker accounts), fund accounts appropriately, prefer liquid, professionally traded markets, prepare personally and materially for systemic disruptions, and be cautious about trusting demo/white‑label performance claims.

  • September 2022 FOMC discussion | September 22, 2022

    Summary of the ICT talk — key points and takeaways

    – Main warning: don’t trade high‑impact news days (FOMC, non‑farm payrolls) unless you’re highly experienced. These are two‑stage, fast, liquidity‑sweeping events that “clean” both sides of the market and quickly wipe out inexperienced traders.

    – Personal history: ICT blew multiple accounts early in his career trading news and learned the hard way to avoid those environments until he had the skill, discipline and experience.

    – Live execution/context: ICT showed a live FOMC execution to demonstrate his methods, but stressed that seeing him do it is not an instruction for novices — most students would have lost money trading the same day.

    Trade discipline & risk management:
    – Use stops, manage leverage, split positions (pyramid cautiously), take partials.
    – Prefer simple, repeatable setups and modest targets (example: 4–5 points = steady gains).
    – Aim for consistent small wins rather than chasing one “make‑it” transaction.
    – Paper/demo trade big‑range days to gain tape‑reading experience without real risk.

    – Funded accounts: treat them like real money. Don’t chase the maximum allowed withdrawals or targets; aim low and consistent (e.g., modest weekly/monthly goals, withdraw what you can) to avoid blowing accounts and creating toxic behavior.

    Psychology & journaling:
    – Trading is won or lost “between your ears.” Negative thoughts, ego, need for validation, impatience and trauma all bleed into trading decisions.
    – Keep a journal, don’t record negative thoughts, learn to disengage after hitting your rules, and resist impulse “one more” trades.
    – Losing trades are learning transactions—own mistakes, follow rules, and manage drawdown with patience.

    Social media & community cautions:
    – Beware of fake or cherry‑picked posts, rented demo servers, and people faking live fills. Don’t chase social proof.
    – Avoid toxic chat rooms/Telegram/Discords; they encourage herd mentality and impulsive behavior.
    – ICT provides core content free (YouTube series, mentorship material); use it, study, and prove results rather than seeking applause.

    Lifestyle, privacy & security:
    – Don’t broadcast wealth or lifestyle; it attracts predatory people and creates problems.
    – Balance trading with family life; excessive obsession costs relationships and mental health.
    – He plans to reduce public activity by year‑end to focus on private life and core content completion.

    – Mentorship stance: he is blunt because he wants students to avoid the painful mistakes he made. He emphasizes discipline, daily study, humility, and incremental goals — and offers proof that his concepts work if applied properly.

    – Encouragement: despite admitting personal struggles and early errors, he believes most people can learn this with sustained effort. Small consistent gains compound into freedom; tangible results are the best “thank you.”

  • CPI Reflections & Falling For False Hope | September 14, 2022

    Here’s a concise summary of ICT’s talk about the CPI release and trading lessons from the session:

    – The CPI release produced an extremely fast, violent move that occurred too quickly for real-time retail orders to get filled.
    – Market replays and demo/account screenshots can be misleading — many “perfect” fills shown after the fact are from demo or replay and wouldn’t have executed live.
    – During high-impact news (CPI, NFP, FOMC, rate announcements) liquidity and execution break down: stop losses can fail and brokers often cannot fill pending orders.
    – You should not “stand in front of” or try to predict/manipulate these reports. Trade only after the report and only when a clear, low-risk setup presents itself.
    – Chasing price after a huge intraday move is dangerous; it’s better to sit out than force an entry. Missing a move is preferable to suffering a loss or anxiety.
    – Treat missed moves as a learning opportunity with zero drawdown — they cost nothing and preserve capital and composure.
    – Emotional responses (regret, anger, ego-driven revenge trading) are the main causes of account blow-ups; discipline and patience are essential.
    – Don’t expect a mentor to hand you a replication trade you can blindly copy — you must develop your own entries, exits, partials and risk management.
    – Keep a trading journal with positive self-talk: record setups, feelings and lessons so you can learn and recover during rough patches.
    – Trading success is a long-term, repetitive process (“boring is best”). Pick your events, follow a proven model, and avoid chasing flashy or pop-culture-style trading.

    Bottom line: respect high-impact news, avoid gambling/chasing, protect capital, follow disciplined rules, and view a single big-day move as one of many opportunities in a long career.

  • Dirty Laundry – How To Remove Lipstick From Your Collar | September 10, 2022

    ICT uses this long, emotional rant to address ongoing online drama, mainly with Vinnie Emini, while defending his reputation, trading ability, and personal character.

    Key points:
    – He stresses that he is a real person with family, business responsibilities, and personal stress, including family health issues and a legal/property dispute.


    – He says he tried to handle things privately with Vinnie and even offered public discussion or livestreams to resolve issues, but believes Vinnie keeps escalating conflict for attention.


    – ICT strongly denies accusations that he or his family threatened, stalked, hacked, or harassed anyone, and says claims against him are false and damaging.


    – He apologizes for not publicly defending Vinnie in an earlier conflict with Adam Webb, but says that does not justify the ongoing attacks against him and his family.


    – He repeatedly insists he can genuinely trade, claims he has publicly shown proof through live calls, executions, and account examples, and challenges critics to compete transparently in a regulated, public setting like the Robbins Cup.


    – He criticizes social-media clout chasing, saying many detractors use his name for views rather than focusing on profitable trading.
    – He says he teaches for free now, does not need to sell courses, and plans to release books for free as well.


    – He warns that online toxicity is dangerous, especially when family gets involved, and says this kind of behavior could lead to real-world harm.


    – He also shifts into broader warnings about worsening economic and social conditions, urging people to prepare financially and materially for difficult times ahead.

    Overall, the transcript is a mix of personal defense, apology, challenge to critics, frustration with online drama, and a broader message about focusing on real trading and real-life preparedness rather than internet conflict.

  • ICT Mentorship Core Content – Month 03 – Market Maker Trap Trendline Phantoms

    ICT Mentorship Core Content – Month 03 – Market Maker Trap Trendline Phantoms

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8NfSK-pUlE

    Summary:

    – Topic: “Trendline phantoms” — diagonal trendline support/resistance as a common retail trading idea.
    – Claim: Diagonal trendline theory is subjective and offers no reliable statistical edge. Price does not “respect” lines drawn by traders; it moves where liquidity and institutional order flow are.
    – Mechanism: Retail traders adopt visible trendlines (higher highs/lows or lower highs/lows), creating predictable pools of stops and orders. Market makers and large funds exploit that liquidity, setting traps that cause retail buyers/sellers to be run over.
    – Practical implication: What looks like valid trendline support/resistance often becomes a false signal. Typical patterns:
    – Bullish trendline support can lure buyers who are then stopped out when price collapses to institutional levels.
    – Bearish trendline resistance can lure sellers who are subsequently short-squeezed upward.
    – The high/low between the 2nd and 3rd touches is often the area where smart money acts.
    – Trading approach recommended: Ignore diagonal trendlines as primary signals. Instead use higher-timeframe institutional reference points, order blocks, liquidity voids, equilibrium zones, and contrarian entries (breaker, turtle soup, order-block trades) to align with smart-money flow.
    – Conclusion: Trendlines are largely “phantoms” for retail. Study lower-timeframe action and institutional context to find where liquidity and smart money will actually move price, and trade against obvious retail trendline setups.

  • ICT Mentorship Core Content – Month 1 – Elements Of A Trade Setup

    ICT Mentorship Core Content – Month 1 – Elements Of A Trade Setup

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LhteuLVuDU

    Summary:

    – This is the first of eight ICT mentorship tutorials (September 2016) on the “elements of a trade setup.” It teaches how to build a repeatable trading framework by combining market context with institutional order-flow tools.
    – Two primary concerns: (1) the market context/condition and (2) specific institutional reference points (tools) to apply in that context.
    – Four market conditions (only one applies at a time): expansion (impulse/trend), retracement (pullback), reversal (change of direction), and consolidation (range/equilibrium).
    – Four ICT order-flow tools tied to those conditions: order blocks (paired with expansion), fair value gaps / liquidity voids (retracements), liquidity pools / stop runs (reversals), and equilibrium (consolidation).
    – Markets are largely driven by interbank/algorithmic price delivery. Price starts in consolidation, then expands (impulse), then may retrace, reverse, or consolidate again. Each phase leaves “fingerprints” you can learn to read.
    – Practical rules: don’t chase price; identify the current condition, apply the matching tool (e.g., wait for price to return to an order block after an expansion), and wait for confirmation (impulse or retracement). Use simple aids like Fib midpoint to find equilibrium.
    – Learning path: study examples on historical charts, focus on mastering one characteristic first to develop consistency, and supplement this course with the free prerequisite tutorials (Market Maker series, Precision Trading Concepts, Sniper series).
    – Goal: provide a clear framework to anticipate price, select the right tool for the market condition, and build consistent trade setups through practice.

  • One Framework, Two Views | July 25, 2022

    ICT explains that his teaching style is meant to build independent traders, not provide trade signals. Referring to his earlier S&P analysis, he says his framework was clearly bearish because all the key levels and fair value gaps he highlighted were below current market price. His point was to guide students toward market bias and areas of interest, not tell them exactly when to buy or sell.

    He emphasizes that he does not run a signal service, both because he wants students to learn to think for themselves and because some of his students already offer such services. His method is intentionally challenging: students must study, backtest, and learn to trust what they see in price action rather than depend on him for exact entries and exits.

    Using the day’s setup as an example, he says he waited for a second fair value gap before taking a short trade and views this as a repeatable “bread and butter” setup. He stresses that his public posts are meant to show framework, bias, and logic before price unfolds so traders can study it in real time.

    He also argues that many critics misunderstand his approach, want to be spoon-fed, or judge him unfairly. Despite his frustration with detractors, his main message is that profitable trading comes from focused study, developing one simple model, managing risk, and gaining confidence through experience—not from blindly copying someone else’s trades.