The road here.
I started investing in value stocks while working in aerospace, then explored bank stocks. Value investing has remained a long-term focus, without needing daily attention.
My active-trading path took me through forex and then small-cap stocks, working through a more speculative, gambling-style approach along the way. Eventually, I focused entirely on crude oil and natural gas ETFs.
When some of the triple-leveraged crude oil ETFs were removed, I moved into futures. I started with crude oil and natural gas, and I haven’t looked back.
I’ve also traded for Kershner Trading Group in Austin, Texas. Today, I trade live for my own account and for accounts under power of attorney.
The losses
taught me, too.
My biggest career loss came from a short natural gas options position. An inventory report came out, and the market surged against me. I doubled down the next day, and it kept going. The position left my account almost 40% down at the time.
It was a rookie mistake. Natural gas taught me more about losses than any other product I’ve traded.
How Balance
developed.
Before Balance, I worked with order flow, volume profile, TPO charts, momentum moves, and footprint imbalances. All of it required too much work.
Over the years, I also spent time reading research papers and books. A paper on drift gave me a starting point. The work was already there; I wanted to understand it for myself.
When research interests me, I can’t help digging into it. Over time, that research and my own observations of the market developed into what I now call Balance.
A simpler
trading day.
Now I can show up ten seconds before the open and already know what I’m doing. My reference levels are prepared the day before. At the regular trading hours open, the Zone Map prints the historical reach and reaction odds.
The Zone Map gives me the path: where price is likely to head and what reaction to watch for along the way. Alongside it, I use the Half Gap, Monday Midpoint, my Zone Break setup, and IB Extreme after the first hour is complete.
That makes the setups easier for me to identify and follow. The historical odds provide context; they are not trade win rates or a guarantee of what happens next.
See how I trade →Making time
for life.
So I made a choice: I stop trading at 11 a.m. Central. On holidays and the day before a holiday, I’m off. I don’t trade.
Whatever happens after I finish can happen without me. I’ll come back another day.
Before our child was born, my wife and I took a babymoon through Paris, Sorrento, Nice, and a few other places. Since becoming parents, we’ve taken our child to Mexico twice, to France, and to Italy, including Rome and Sorrento.
We used to visit Vail, Colorado, every year and Palm Springs, California, every Valentine’s Day. Now we’re making France and Italy a yearly tradition, and I’m planning to bring Vail back into our annual trips. Our trip to France was for the Cannes Film Festival, and we’re planning to return.
I used to trade on every trip. Since becoming a dad, I don’t trade on vacation anymore. I enjoy those trips so much more now that I can be present with my family.
If you’re in the Discord room with me, that’s something to know: when I travel, I’m usually away for three to four weeks at a time, adding up to roughly two to three months a year. I don’t trade during those trips. That time is for my family.
Those experiences reminded me why I started trading in the first place: to have time with my family. I’m here to travel and be a dad. Balance gives me room for that kind of balance, too.
My wife has her own creative work, too. You can explore it at SM Shoots.
Beyond
the charts.
Outside trading, I also build software. If either of these fits your world, take a look.
Work in logistics? Explore LaneFlo, built to help you find freight that fits your network and bring more context to your next bid.
An attorney or working in the legal field? Explore Lōgos AI, with tools for legal research, document review, and drafting.
Follow @amtbalance on X ↗Explore AMT Balance →