Interim - finally ready to go with IB

No posts over the last few days as I was switching broker accounts. I was able to sell on 2/24, but I did not. I entered several new positions quasi-end of day yesterday: CENX, JASO, and ROSE.

Rude awakening: IB liquidates positions! I received a warning yesterday that the account did not meet the margin requirements after my last purchase. I have been outside of margin requirements in TD, but they never actually liquidated a position. Surprise, surprise... IB doesn't waste any time at all. They sold half of my CENX holdings. Fortunately it was at a tidy profit, but I was planning on making more today =). Already I like the reduced commissions!

I should have been using the practice/simulated platform while I was waiting for the account to be funded, but it never occurred to me. The format/layout is much different than StrategyDesk and there will be a definite learning curve. Using the quick start guide I was able to figure out how to make some trades, but it feels very cumbersome at the moment. It didn't help that I had not saved my subscription status on IB, meaning delayed data, so I was trying to monitor up to date activity on SD.

SORL has been a burden... still trying to overcome the bid/ask gap and sell the darn thing. pfft. Such a fail.

Incredibly - the loss is substantial at this point - and still - I find myself optimistic about what the next day's activity will bring... go figure. How many times have I been thru this losing 'hang on just a little longer' game? After my last post, I thought I had myself talked into a sale on SOLR, but by the time I was able to sell, I decided to wait it out a little longer. Part of me was glad that the account was moving and I didn't have sell access for a couple of days, I think I was subconsciously expecting the position to come out as a winner by the time I was able to sell. Time to admit I am way out of strategy, accept the losses, and get back on track. I have to say again - why is this so hard to do?

I am rambling - but that is part of the reason for this blog - working out the relationship between my personality and successful trading. 90% head game, 10% technical analysis. Get into and over the head game.

Re. account update: I will have to figure out how to post the day's activity using Trade Station. For now the lonely Excel chart will have to suffice.