Paper trading 90 days complete; my expectations vs reality
Just finished the full 90-day paper run the classes recommend. Posting my expectations going in versus what actually happened, because I think the gap is instructive.
Expectation: lots of action, frequent trades, a steadily climbing line. Reality: long stretches of nothing, a couple of sharp winners, two losers that stung more emotionally than they should have, and a final result that was positive but lumpier than I imagined.
The single biggest thing paper trading taught me wasn't about the strategy; it was about me. I learned that I want to interfere, and that interfering would have hurt. Now I trust the mechanical execution far more than I did on day one.
Planning to go live small next month. Grateful for everyone who answered my dumb questions along the way.
Replies(3)
This is exactly the right reason to paper trade; to find out what YOU do under pressure before real money is involved. Sounds like you used the 90 days perfectly.
The 'lumpier than I imagined' part is so real. Equity curves in backtests look smooth; lived month to month they're anything but.
Appreciate it both. Going live small and keeping the same boring routine.
Loading comments…