Good morning, traders…
We all know the feeling…
You’re in a green trade. You’re watching the profits stack up, that little P&L number glowing happily on your screen, finger hovering over the close button.
And then the mental chatter kicks in: “Should I stay in a bit longer? What if I hold and it doubles?”
That tension never fully disappears, no matter how long you’ve been trading. It’s human nature. We’re wired to avoid pain and lock in pleasure as fast as we can.
What separates consistently profitable traders from the frustrated, mediocre ones is simple: they enter with a plan … but they’re willing to adjust when necessary.
Think about music or art. You have to learn the fundamentals first. Beethoven learned where middle C was before he composed timeless masterpieces.
But once you know the basics, you can start to “play some jazz,” so to speak. The greatest artists and musicians learn to break the rules with style, and the same can be said for traders.
As you gain experience, you’ll learn to recognize certain signals. And when those signals arise, letting a winner ride longer than you planned might lead to even larger gains…
So, today, I want to talk about how to manage your green positions in a variety of different scenarios…
Set the Rules Before You Trade
When I put on a trade, I always have two levels in mind: my price target and my stop loss.
The target is where I plan to take profits, and the stop is where I’m cutting the trade if it’s not working.
For beginner and intermediate traders, this is the core of the game. You’re not negotiating with yourself once you’re in. You’re not chasing bigger wins or “hoping” a loser turns around.
You’re following the process you laid out long before you entered.
A price target isn’t just a number you pull from thin air. It should be tied to key price levels — maybe resistance, maybe support, maybe a psychological round number.
The stop works the same way. It should be under a moving average, below support, or based on a pre-defined % risk you’re comfortable with.
When Experience Opens the Door
As you gain experience, you’ll notice that some trades warrant a different approach.
Even when the contracts hit your target, the chart just keeps acting beautifully…
- It “doesn’t do anything wrong.”
- The structure doesn’t break down.
- The key levels hold.
- It surfs the moving averages (without breaching below).
- Volume stays strong.
- Smart Money keeps flowing into the options chain.
Now you face a real decision: Do you close it all out or let the rest ride?
This balancing act is something every advanced trader wrestles with. Some of my best trades have come from recognizing when to hold on.
Not from gut feelings or wishful thinking, but from reading the clues: relative strength, volume, steady OMEN Scanner flow, and bullish price action.
I remember trading Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) calls years ago. When the position hit my target fast, everything in me wanted to cash out, but the chart told me to stay.
I scaled out in batches and let the rest ride. Sure enough, that runner runner ended up going much, much higher.
Discipline First, Improvisation Later
For newer traders, the mission is simple: build discipline.
That means respecting your target and stop, locking in wins, and cutting losses. No second-guessing.
But as you mature as a trader, you earn the right to adjust. You’ll start to see when holding a runner and pressing your advantage are in play.
And when you get it right, those moments can turn a good trade into a great one.
Happy trading,
Ben Sturgill
P.S. If you want access to the system that achieved an 89% win-rate with a 72% average gain…*
From which the top 120 trades have ALL generated 100% or higher — with 27 soaring above 200%, and 12 exploding beyond 300%…*
Then NOW is the time to start using my OMEN System.
Join the great Aaron Hunziker, this SATURDAY, May 10 at 12:00 p.m. EST for a LIVE OMEN TRAINING SESSION.
Space is limited — Click here to reserve your seat.
*Past performance does not indicate future results
