About

A81K's Purpose

A81K is a Futures Trading Online Journal. It contains the real-life experiences of a trader who's been speculating in the markets since 2007. This journal focuses on the reality of trading futures live. It focuses on strategy, risk management, trading psychology, opinions, algorithmic trading, and market and regulatory updates.

The insight here can be applied to almost any tradeable financial market or asset class that has prices, buyers, and sellers. Therefore, traders of asset classes are welcome to read and learn, maybe you learn something new and can relate to your trading exploits.

Who Am I?

I go by Asymmetric_Vol. I'll be your colleague, your companion, your counterparty. I'm a futures trader with 16+ years of trading experience trading my own funds.

I've experienced great days and awful days, but in the long run, I've survived, I've never blown up to a point where I would quit trading forever. The longer you last in this trading game, the closer you push yourself into the small percentage who make it as a living.

What markets do I trade?  

I focus on futures, primarily on equity indices, energy, metals, and interest rates. I don't trade any cryptocurrency. With that said, if you trade crypto and you're reading this, I welcome you to subscribe and learn some insight that could be applicable to your markets.

I traded equities and forex (FX) before, but those 2 markets weren't for me. Equities were too capital-intensive with short market hours, and FX isn't transparent at all, it's surely opaque.

With futures, I've found the sweet spot in terms of transparency, liquidity, and flexible capital requirements that offer ample leverage beyond that of equities on margin (aside from options), or US-regulated FX trading. The hours are flexible and you're guaranteed a 1 hour market break every day. It blends the benefits of Equities with volatility and FX with its global market hours.

The trading platforms are amazing with strong infrastructures. Furthermore, over the years it introduced me to algorithmic trading which I strongly believe is the future (pun intended) in terms of maintaining an edge in the market.

Why did I make A81K?

I made this online trading journal because I can afford to take the time to. I felt I had to do it just to chronicle my career in trading. Think of it as a form of forced accountability. I'm going to write in a variant tone. As I stated I'm focusing on reality, there will be days that won't be the best and some that will be great. Either way, I'll do my best to deliver a good read.

Subscriptions to A81K

Subscriptions that are monthly or yearly are available. Your support is appreciated if you do. If you're interested, check out the "K" button at the bottom of the page, you get a stack of benefits worth the price. You never know some trade insights can help confirm your trading decisions. (Be sure to see the disclaimer page).

"Most don't value what is free." - Anonymous

The subscription fees go into maintaining this wonderful journal and producing more trading & market-related content. The subscription causes the committed trader/member to have "skin in the game" to quote Nicholas Taleb. I believe the cost is fair given the time I take to craft these entries.

The subscription is for those as committed and passionate about trading as I am. These individuals see the value I provide. They know the costs of success and likely trade with live accounts, they value high-quality and strong information backed by experience.

I've been trading for almost 2 decades, I can firmly say I will be a speculator for as long as I live. If you're a trader tired of the run-of-the-mill trading sites with self-proclaimed gurus trying to sell you systems, unlicensed advice, this, that, and the other, then this site might be what you're looking for. Be sure to read our risk disclaimers here.

You've come to the right place.

I don't need to sell what they do and I don't give unsolicited advice, I'm not licensed to do such. If I decide to be licensed again and take up a Series 3 then you will know. For now, I only give educational insight.

Thanks for your time and trade well in the markets.

-Asymmetric_Vol

P.S. How did I come up with A81K? If you read this far then you deserve to know. I had a dream that I traded and made $81K in a day and I exclaimed "Hey! 81K!". So that funny dream stuck and when I was searching for a domain name, this short alphanumeric came up so we have A81K. Until that dream happens, I'll be working towards that day, maybe it gets posted here, who knows.

There's your easter egg. True fans will know this down the road, those who wonder can do some digging and find out and they will end up here.

-Trade well.

Lastly

Don't forget to subscribe.