Here we are again. A new beginning…  The timing is not good.  But then again, it never is. We have to make the best of what we have. We have to trade the market we have. And so we must begin.  Good time or not…

One of the things that I can offer to you on this blog, is some insight into the way the world works. The world, as I see it and as a result, the trades that I make. I can show you the successes and failures of my choices. Since this is what I have to offer, I would like to tell you where I am now at the start.

Earlier this year I had a few positions in my trading account. As the market went up, I made money. I set stop prices along the way. When the market came down I sold my positions and I took profits. That’s the good news. The bad news is that a significant portion of my portfolio was in cash as the market went up!  So I missed a lot of opportunity…

This means that I find myself with a portfolio of mostly cash and an uncertain market.  I have over 80% cash today.  In my efforts to reinvest this cash over the past month or two I have taken some small positions in BYD, HOV, VXX, and I also have Ford call options. These were well thought out investments and they seemed like a good idea at the time, as they always do when we buy. Today they don’t look so smart. My best position is BYD. I am down less than 1% in that position. My worst position is my Ford Call Options. I am down over 40% there. I am not proud of where I am but it is where I am.  So now you know…

The good news is that as the market pulls back, I have cash to buy the stocks that go on sale.  The bad news, you never know how low they will go before they turn…

So that is where I am today.  I am here to show you my trades.  My success and my failures alike.  This way you can learn from my mistakes so that you don’t have to make them yourself.

Remember, I don’t make stock recommendations or give investment advice.  I am not a stock market professional.  I am an Engineer, Businessman, Educator and Firefighter who has a sideline on the internet.  I show you how I trade, so that you can learn from my mistakes and have some fun watching.  So don’t try this without qualified professional help, based on your personal situation and your homework.  Even then, it is dangerous!

So now what?  Do I cut my losses? Do I increase my bets? Or do I simply stay in cash? Those are the questions I’ll be pondering here and you can follow along as I make decisions and take positions.

Please enjoy watching the market with me and enjoy the occasional success when I make some money. More importantly, learn the lessons with me, when I lose money. For the lessons of loss, will be the most valuable thing that we can take away from this blog.

Please join me when you can, as I take positions and take my trading to the next level, from something I do privately at home. To something I do publicly as my second job, moonlighting in the market…

Date of original post April 16, 2012. (Before System Upgrade)