Good morning, traders…
Let’s face it:
Our country is fat.
Roughly 40% of Americans are obese.
But no one wants to be overweight. People want to look better, feel better, and live in a healthier body.
So they spend thousands of dollars (and hundreds of hours) researching cutting-edge, “silver bullet” weight-loss solutions…
Ozempic, metabolic resets, bariatric surgery, wearables, yadda yadda…
While the real cure is much simpler, cheaper, and more obvious:
Eat less + work out more = you’ll lose weight.
This is exactly what traders do when they overcomplicate their approach.
They hop from one strategy to another, always looking for that “one tool” that will give them an edge.
They think they need more information, more confirmation, more patterns, more, more, more…
But in reality, “more” of these things usually just lead to “more” problems…
More indicators? More confusion.
More setups? More opportunity cost.
More analysis? More second-guessing.
That’s why I’ve been stressing the philosophy of K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Stupid).
This market already has enough uncertainty. If you’re constantly throwing more at your trades, you’re just adding to your own confusion.
Let me show you why simpler trading = better trading…
Why I Beat the Options Market
If I had to attribute my lasting trading success to one factor, it would be sticking to a simple process.
Every time I open my brokerage account, I know:
- Where to look
- What I’m looking for
- And how I’ll manage the trades
For the foreseeable future, I’m looking for pullback setups.
Because they’re simple.
When a stock pulls back to a key level, you can use that level as your “line in the sand” after entry.
Your stop-loss might be right at that level, or right above it, or right below it.
Anywhere in that area, you use that support level as the anchor for the pullback.
If the share price breaks below that level, the setup is invalidated, and you exit.
If it holds, it’s all upside from there.
See how simple that is? If you follow that process, you literally can’t take a big loss.*
From the top:
1. I start with Smart Money flow, tracking unusual options activity, large sweeps, and open interest to see where institutions are positioning.
2. I look for pattern recognition. VWAP pullbacks, support at key EMAs, or key price levels holding. The chart must show a clear structure with an identifiable pattern.
3. I confirm with multiple timeframes. What looks clean on the 5-minute chart must align with the daily and weekly structure.
4. I define the trigger. A specific price level that confirms the setup. I set alerts at that level, define my stop-loss, and wait.
5. I enter only when Smart Money flow, technical structure, and price confirmation all align.
How to Simplify Your Process
Look at your own trading process and ask yourself:
- How many indicators am I using?
- Am I watching too many stocks at once?
- Do I have a clear plan before entering a trade?
- Am I sticking to that plan once I’m in?
Most traders fail not because their strategy is bad, but because they overcomplicate what should be simple.
Easy fix. Simplify your trade selection process…
- Keep a small, focused watchlist. More is not better. You only need a few quality setups each day.
- Have a clear plan. Entry, stop, targets. No guessing.
- Only act when the setup triggers. No jumping in early. No chasing. But no hesitating at the perfect moment, either.
- Execute the plan with discipline. Follow your stops. Take gaisn as planned. No exceptions.
That’s it. That’s the blueprint.
Simplify your process, improve your results.
Happy trading,
Ben Sturgill
*Past performance does not indicate future results