Pinned Tweet
To learn 3 real-world setups that our traders use, including the simple setup that we teach all our new traders, and the setup that turned one of our traders into a 7-figure big money earner, check out the free webinar we're currently running. bit.ly/2XaOWmB
79
82
740
Mike Bellafiore retweeted
Recommended watch from @MikeBellafiore on the 7 Traps That Make Good Traders Lose Money.
youtube.com/watch?v=KwHx3R…
Even good traders go through periods of underperformance.
The danger isn't the drawdown itself. It's what you do next.
Style drift. Missing a regime change. Forcing trades. Poor sizing. Abandoning selectivity.
A drawdown is often a signal to reset the process, not abandon it.
Audit your edge. Audit the regime. Reduce size. Be more selective.
Then adapt without losing the discipline that made you profitable in the first place.
Especially relevant for traders navigating a changing market environment.
youtube.com/watch?v=KwHx3R…
Even good traders go through periods of underperformance.
The danger isn't the drawdown itself. It's what you do next.
Style drift. Missing a regime change. Forcing trades. Poor sizing. Abandoning selectivity.
A drawdown is often a signal to reset the process, not abandon it.
Audit your edge. Audit the regime. Reduce size. Be more selective.
Then adapt without losing the discipline that made you profitable in the first place.
Especially relevant for traders navigating a changing market environment.
0
1
9
2,110
Mike Bellafiore retweeted
7 Traps That Make Good Traders Lose Money youtu.be/KwHx3Rp25nw?si… via @YouTube with @MikeBellafiore
5
5
45
5,742
7 Traps That Make Good Traders Lose Money youtu.be/KwHx3Rp25nw?si… via @YouTube with @MikeBellafiore
5
5
45
5,742
Mike Bellafiore retweeted
🚨 Today’s PlayBook Review: SMB Trader Declan Takes the Hot Seat 🚨
Will Declan pass?
Today, we’re back for a mentoring session our traders have used for over 15 years to build their trading business: The PlayBook with Bella.
Declan, a developing trader on our desk, is stepping into the hot seat to break down a setup from his trading ledger:
The Daily Overextension & “Fashionably Late” PlayBook in $TLT — October 1, 2026.
I’ve graded hundreds of these presentations. On our desk:
• 80 = Junior Intern passing grade
• 85 = Senior Intern benchmark
• 90 = The standard required for new hires
Today, we’re putting Declan through our standardized 10-point scorecard live.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
1️⃣ Trading generational macro capitulation
The 10-year Treasury yield surged to ~5.3%—its highest level since 2002—capping off the worst quarter for bonds since 1994.
Declan breaks down an A+ Daily Overextension in $TLT:
• 7 consecutive red days
• 5 straight closes outside the lower Bollinger Band
• RSI below 24
• Multi-year lows
How do you recognize when institutional selling reaches genuine exhaustion?
2️⃣ The “Fashionably Late” execution framework
How do you catch a falling macro knife without slicing your fingers off?
You don’t try to be a hero at the absolute low.
Declan walks through waiting for the upsloping 9 EMA to cross VWAP on expanding volume, with passive buyers stepping in—turning a dangerous knife-catch into a high-EV trend continuation.
3️⃣ Overcoming “Trader Wuss Syndrome” on sizing
When a daily overextension lines up with an A+ catalyst rating, why allocate only 50% of a daily stop?
Declan and I will have a candid conversation about sizing conviction, why traders hesitate on their best ideas, and how to build agreements with your pod so teammates push you to take full size.
4️⃣ Trading your process vs. trading your P&L
Declan documented taking premature, unnecessary partials into intraday rips just to lock in green dollars.
We’ll review why he hid his P&L monitor to protect his execution—and how to let mechanical trailing stops, like the 2-minute 21 EMA, do the selling for you.
5️⃣ The power of pre-market “What if?” scenarios
Professional trading isn’t guessing at the 9:30 AM bell.
Declan mapped out 6 distinct pre-market scenarios with his pod—from immediate open drives to undercut-and-rally plays through VWAP.
When the market moved, he was executing a pre-planned script.
Come support Declan in the hot seat, bring your questions, and see what grade he earns.
And share this with your serious trading friends who want to improve.
📍 SMB Inside Access — The PlayBook
⏰ Wednesday at 1:30 PM EST
Join us:
smbtraining.com/blog/smb-insid…
One Good Trade,
Bella
Will Declan pass?
Today, we’re back for a mentoring session our traders have used for over 15 years to build their trading business: The PlayBook with Bella.
Declan, a developing trader on our desk, is stepping into the hot seat to break down a setup from his trading ledger:
The Daily Overextension & “Fashionably Late” PlayBook in $TLT — October 1, 2026.
I’ve graded hundreds of these presentations. On our desk:
• 80 = Junior Intern passing grade
• 85 = Senior Intern benchmark
• 90 = The standard required for new hires
Today, we’re putting Declan through our standardized 10-point scorecard live.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
1️⃣ Trading generational macro capitulation
The 10-year Treasury yield surged to ~5.3%—its highest level since 2002—capping off the worst quarter for bonds since 1994.
Declan breaks down an A+ Daily Overextension in $TLT:
• 7 consecutive red days
• 5 straight closes outside the lower Bollinger Band
• RSI below 24
• Multi-year lows
How do you recognize when institutional selling reaches genuine exhaustion?
2️⃣ The “Fashionably Late” execution framework
How do you catch a falling macro knife without slicing your fingers off?
You don’t try to be a hero at the absolute low.
Declan walks through waiting for the upsloping 9 EMA to cross VWAP on expanding volume, with passive buyers stepping in—turning a dangerous knife-catch into a high-EV trend continuation.
3️⃣ Overcoming “Trader Wuss Syndrome” on sizing
When a daily overextension lines up with an A+ catalyst rating, why allocate only 50% of a daily stop?
Declan and I will have a candid conversation about sizing conviction, why traders hesitate on their best ideas, and how to build agreements with your pod so teammates push you to take full size.
4️⃣ Trading your process vs. trading your P&L
Declan documented taking premature, unnecessary partials into intraday rips just to lock in green dollars.
We’ll review why he hid his P&L monitor to protect his execution—and how to let mechanical trailing stops, like the 2-minute 21 EMA, do the selling for you.
5️⃣ The power of pre-market “What if?” scenarios
Professional trading isn’t guessing at the 9:30 AM bell.
Declan mapped out 6 distinct pre-market scenarios with his pod—from immediate open drives to undercut-and-rally plays through VWAP.
When the market moved, he was executing a pre-planned script.
Come support Declan in the hot seat, bring your questions, and see what grade he earns.
And share this with your serious trading friends who want to improve.
📍 SMB Inside Access — The PlayBook
⏰ Wednesday at 1:30 PM EST
Join us:
smbtraining.com/blog/smb-insid…
One Good Trade,
Bella
7
4
27
5,168
"The peak performance idea is that, even after distinctive success, great performers keep working on their games and keep getting better." 👇👊
#steenbabwisdom
#steenbabwisdom
One thing we learn from recent Market Wizards is that selectively lengthening holding periods turns success into even greater success. Great traders limit their limiting beliefs and raise their horizons: traderfeed.blogspot.com/2026/10/peak-p… @Qullamaggie @TheOneLanceB @gfc4 @jackschwager
5
3
97
6,990
Mike Bellafiore retweeted
Found some gems today at the Brooklyn public library @MikeBellafiore @steenbab
3
4
38
3,996
Mike Bellafiore retweeted
Really valuable observations from @TheOneLanceB. There are different types of market conditions and we can succeed in all of them if we develop playbooks for each market condition. @MikeBellafiore
6 PLAYBOOKS FOR 6 DIFFERENT MARKET REGIMES
Last week’s firm-wide @smbcapital meeting was about better adapting to different market regimes.
Which begs the question - what types of market regimes are there for discretionary traders? And what playbooks should we be running for each of them?
I’ll start and you all can expand on this in the replies.
Obviously this is far from exhaustive and kept high-level, but I think this should lead serious traders to do some deep reflection of their own.
1. Theme-driven bullish market. Markets like this one favor momentum strategies, swing longs, overnight momentum, IPOs, and headlines relevant to the driving theme.
Early summer of 2026 certainly fell under this with AI as the driver and leading sectors like DRAM / cloud computing.
2. Macro-driven markets. Think in the spring during the start of the U.S.-Iran conflict, think 2025 Trump tariffs and the Russia-Ukraine war. Due to the randomness and volatility of these headlines, this market highly favors breaking news trading as well as trading move-to-move, while greatly reducing overnight exposure and swing exposure.
3. Range-bound market. Think of the last couple months, where we've had no prevailing theme and most indices have stayed range-bound while the leaders from the prior cycle corrected. In this market, you want to reduce overall trading activity and risk allocation. If volatility is inflated, you might focus on selling vol, but you need to be careful of complacency. There can still be niche opportunities, but overall, most traders will find it best to be more hands-off.
4. Panic-driven markets. During these markets, breakdowns can work exceptionally well. However, I found that my greatest PNL, ironically, comes from longs in names that have totally capitulated, especially trading the right side of the V. Overnights and swing trades can again be quite favorable in this market. IPOs and headlines tend to take a back seat.
5. Idiosyncratic single-stock or single-sector moves. This is the type of market where broader themes are quiet, yet single stock names occupy the majority of your focus. This is where all risk should be allocated to the single stock or sector. I'm thinking of when we saw the epic short squeeze in $CAR this year, or prior moves in names like $MSTR, $GME, $AMC, or when sectors offer great opportunities, like the quantum names over the last few years.
6. Euphoria. We've seen markets like this in 2021 following COVID, as well as glimpses of this at times during the last couple years. In this market, small caps are on fire. Anything with a theme works, and momentum breakouts go so much further than you could have imagined. This is when swing trading and big-picture imagination work better than you could have ever imagined. Those that are quick to short or skeptical either miss out or risk ruin, as using your brain can get you killed here.
Further questions from here:
1. How do you identify each of these regimes FOR YOU? For example, one criteria might be a certain vix level or sentiment metric.
2. What playbooks are you competent in for each of those?
3. How much risk do each of these markets deserve?
This post was inspired by thoughts from @steenbab and this blog post:
traderfeed.blogspot.com/2026/10/best-p…
7
11
64
9,025
Mike Bellafiore retweeted
💯This is such a great framework. I’m incredibly grateful to have learned how to build playbooks and treat trading like a business from you and the SMB team.
1
1
5
2,233
Shark, highlighted in the most recent Market Wizards, put it best:
"Add one setup for $10k, another for $20k, learn one from someone else for $30k... pretty soon that adds up."
Build a diversified business. Multi-strategy trading turns small edges into an 8-figure career.
#PropTrading #Trade #TradingMindset
"Add one setup for $10k, another for $20k, learn one from someone else for $30k... pretty soon that adds up."
Build a diversified business. Multi-strategy trading turns small edges into an 8-figure career.
#PropTrading #Trade #TradingMindset
One of the major advantages of being in a collaborative environment is that you can talk to other traders, which can be beneficial in many ways, including idea generation. - Kenny Sharkness @smbcapital 140/n lnk.to/marketwizardsn…
10
13
198
13,789
Develop different PlayBooks for different regimes. 👇👊
When many traders struggle with performance, it's a good sign that markets have changed--and that we need to adapt! Here's a best practice for mastering shifting markets: traderfeed.blogspot.com/2026/10/best-p… @MikeBellafiore @smbcapital @sspencer_smb @TheOneLanceB @SMBrecruiting
3
3
72
5,962
In our latest video, I break down our desk's exact 8-Point Breakout Trading Blueprint:
1. A 9/10 Level on the Daily Chart
2. Elevated RVOL
3. Volume Ignition on the Break
4. Reading the Tape
5. Market & Sector Tailwinds
6. A Defined Invalidation Stop
7. Adding to Winners
8. A Defined Exit & The Scratch Rule
#DayTrading #PropTrading #TradingStrategy #BreakingNews
How to Trade a Breakout Without a News Catalyst (Step-by-Step Prop Desk ... youtu.be/M1o0XqCaDiE?si… via @YouTube
1. A 9/10 Level on the Daily Chart
2. Elevated RVOL
3. Volume Ignition on the Break
4. Reading the Tape
5. Market & Sector Tailwinds
6. A Defined Invalidation Stop
7. Adding to Winners
8. A Defined Exit & The Scratch Rule
#DayTrading #PropTrading #TradingStrategy #BreakingNews
How to Trade a Breakout Without a News Catalyst (Step-by-Step Prop Desk ... youtu.be/M1o0XqCaDiE?si… via @YouTube
3
7
82
9,612
Mike Bellafiore retweeted
After posting this about Jon, I started thinking about all the wonderful people I've met in real life over the years whom I never would have known if not for this platform.
Social media gets a bad rap, and often deservedly so. But for me, it's been a genuinely life-changing experience.
I'm sure I've missed many people here, and there are still so many more I'd love to meet in person, but I'm grateful for all the people and connections that have come out of it.
@jfahmy
@JC_ParetsX
@sstrazza
@SJisrael
@alphatrends
@howardlindzon
@ppearlman
@SeanHasOptions
@StockMKTNewz
@GavBlaxberg
@CalebFranzen
@OMillionaires
@ivanhoff
@awealthofcs
@michaelbatnick
@Downtown
@AnneMarieTrades
@jimiuorio
@EddyElfenbein
@JeffMacke
@AlmanacTrader
@pointsnfigures1
@ToddSullivan
@TheBasisPoint
@MikeBellafiore
@NickSchmidt
@NicSherrod
@BlakeMillardCFA
@DKellerCMT
Social media gets a bad rap, and often deservedly so. But for me, it's been a genuinely life-changing experience.
I'm sure I've missed many people here, and there are still so many more I'd love to meet in person, but I'm grateful for all the people and connections that have come out of it.
@jfahmy
@JC_ParetsX
@sstrazza
@SJisrael
@alphatrends
@howardlindzon
@ppearlman
@SeanHasOptions
@StockMKTNewz
@GavBlaxberg
@CalebFranzen
@OMillionaires
@ivanhoff
@awealthofcs
@michaelbatnick
@Downtown
@AnneMarieTrades
@jimiuorio
@EddyElfenbein
@JeffMacke
@AlmanacTrader
@pointsnfigures1
@ToddSullivan
@TheBasisPoint
@MikeBellafiore
@NickSchmidt
@NicSherrod
@BlakeMillardCFA
@DKellerCMT
Thinking today of @JBoorman, a friend of mine and of many in this community, who passed away six years ago today.
10
2
71
8,661
Mike Bellafiore retweeted
🚨 James takes the PlayBook hot seat. 🚨
Will he pass?
Join Bella for SMB Inside Access on Wednesday, October 21 at 1:30 PM Eastern.
James is breaking down his Day-1 Earnings Gap-Down Reversal in $INTU from August 26, 2026: +3.06R on A risk.
A green P&L is only part of the story. On our desk, we grade the process.
The benchmarks:
80 → Junior Intern
85 → Senior Intern
90 → New-hire standard to earn a professional trading seat
We’ll put James’s trade through our 10-part PlayBook scorecard live—the mentoring process SMB traders have used for over 15 years.
Here’s what we’ll review:
• The earnings gap-down: How a guidance reset and a 9.5% pre-market gap created a reversal setup near daily support.
• The VWAP targets: How the 2-Day and Week-to-Date VWAPs shaped his profit-taking plan.
• Confirmation vs. anticipation: Starting with B risk on a volume-backed session VWAP reclaim, then adding to A size after the $327.50 pre-market high broke.
• The fast exits: James sold 15 of 20 shares into the VWAP targets in just 98 seconds. Disciplined scaling—or too much, too soon for an A-conviction trade?
• The technology: Using standard deviation overextension flags and 50-minute EMA trails to make scale-outs and runner stops more systematic.
Bring your questions. Come support James. See what grade his process earns.
📍 SMB Inside Access — The PlayBook
⏰ Wednesday, October 21 | 1:30 PM Eastern
Join us:
smbtraining.com/blog/smb-insid…
One Good Trade.
Will he pass?
Join Bella for SMB Inside Access on Wednesday, October 21 at 1:30 PM Eastern.
James is breaking down his Day-1 Earnings Gap-Down Reversal in $INTU from August 26, 2026: +3.06R on A risk.
A green P&L is only part of the story. On our desk, we grade the process.
The benchmarks:
80 → Junior Intern
85 → Senior Intern
90 → New-hire standard to earn a professional trading seat
We’ll put James’s trade through our 10-part PlayBook scorecard live—the mentoring process SMB traders have used for over 15 years.
Here’s what we’ll review:
• The earnings gap-down: How a guidance reset and a 9.5% pre-market gap created a reversal setup near daily support.
• The VWAP targets: How the 2-Day and Week-to-Date VWAPs shaped his profit-taking plan.
• Confirmation vs. anticipation: Starting with B risk on a volume-backed session VWAP reclaim, then adding to A size after the $327.50 pre-market high broke.
• The fast exits: James sold 15 of 20 shares into the VWAP targets in just 98 seconds. Disciplined scaling—or too much, too soon for an A-conviction trade?
• The technology: Using standard deviation overextension flags and 50-minute EMA trails to make scale-outs and runner stops more systematic.
Bring your questions. Come support James. See what grade his process earns.
📍 SMB Inside Access — The PlayBook
⏰ Wednesday, October 21 | 1:30 PM Eastern
Join us:
smbtraining.com/blog/smb-insid…
One Good Trade.
1
2
26
5,265
Mike Bellafiore retweeted
From opening drives to exhaustion reversals, we walk through six momentum trades and how to read the urgency behind each, so you can connect stock selection, setup and execution.
youtu.be/reWtEMpWlpA
youtu.be/reWtEMpWlpA
2
8
53
7,391
Mike Bellafiore retweeted
Everything works sometimes, and nothing works all the time. - Kenny Sharkness @smbcapital 134/n lnk.to/marketwizardsn…
3
5
105
8,288
I would read it.
It would be great.
At a minimum it would be hands down the funniest trading book ever written. 👇👊
#Fahmywisdom
It would be great.
At a minimum it would be hands down the funniest trading book ever written. 👇👊
#Fahmywisdom
I got another email from a big publisher asking me to write a book. While I'm always humbled by these emails, I have zero interest in writing a book. Almost everything I've learned has already been written before. The best thing I can say is work on your mental and work on your confidence. It's takes time, a lot of patience, tons of hard work, and obviously a little luck and grace from above. Unfortunately, most people don't want to put in the work. Trust me, it's worth it. Very few jobs will teach you more about yourself than trading.
7
0
34
8,716
Mike Bellafiore retweeted
Austin gearing up to be quite the event
If you in Texas area make sure y'all get out there and support @Traders4ACause
If you in Texas area make sure y'all get out there and support @Traders4ACause
Trade well. Give back.
Those words hang on the wall at SMB Capital. We’re bringing that spirit to Traders4ACause Austin 2026, and we’d love to see you there.
Come meet Mike Bellafiore, SMB’s Co-Founder, and Jeff Holden, our Head of Trader Development, in person.
Talk trading toughest questions about improving your performance and sharpening your edge. Hear stories from the desk about who is doing exceptionally well at SMB right now—and why.
(Fair warning: Ask Bella about youth baseball training only if you have an hour to spare.)
Talk recruiting with Jeff:
Curious about earning a seat on a prop desk? Ask what it takes to get hired as a full-time trader at SMB or land an internship.
Whether you’re looking to break into prop trading, take your independent trading to the next level, or connect with top proprietary and independent traders while supporting a great cause, come join us in Austin.
Register and learn more:
traders4acause.org/austin26/
If you’re coming, make sure to say hello!
0
2
9
3,240
Come meet Jeff and Bella in Austin 👇👊
Trade well. Give back.
Those words hang on the wall at SMB Capital. We’re bringing that spirit to Traders4ACause Austin 2026, and we’d love to see you there.
Come meet Mike Bellafiore, SMB’s Co-Founder, and Jeff Holden, our Head of Trader Development, in person.
Talk trading toughest questions about improving your performance and sharpening your edge. Hear stories from the desk about who is doing exceptionally well at SMB right now—and why.
(Fair warning: Ask Bella about youth baseball training only if you have an hour to spare.)
Talk recruiting with Jeff:
Curious about earning a seat on a prop desk? Ask what it takes to get hired as a full-time trader at SMB or land an internship.
Whether you’re looking to break into prop trading, take your independent trading to the next level, or connect with top proprietary and independent traders while supporting a great cause, come join us in Austin.
Register and learn more:
traders4acause.org/austin26/
If you’re coming, make sure to say hello!
5
1
46
7,293
Mike Bellafiore retweeted
Time to give this one a re-read
@MikeBellafiore
I read trading books over and over again.
Why? I always find another gold nugget with each re-read.
@MikeBellafiore
I read trading books over and over again.
Why? I always find another gold nugget with each re-read.
2
1
16
1,499