Good morning, traders…

Ben here.

Hold up. Stop what you’re doing. 

It’s time for a much-needed wake-up call…

As I was skimming through the chat room this week, one thing jumped out — so many of you are struggling with exactly the same problems. 

Lack of confidence in your rules, struggling with stop losses, feeling disorganized, FOMO, timing issues … the list goes on. 

And trust me, I get it. These aren’t just minor speed bumps — they can completely derail your progress if you don’t address them.

But look, you are your own worst enemy. You need to realize that every single one of these problems has a simple solution. 

I keep hearing students say things like, “There are no good trades in this market.” 

But quite frankly, that’s bogus…

Yesterday, I had a 200% win on SBUX and a 300% win on NKE — all in less than five hours.*

Here’s the hard truth: The problem isn’t the market … it’s you. 

The traders who identify (and eliminate) these “Achilles’ heels” head-on are the ones who will eventually make boatloads of money in the options market. 

So if you’re feeling frustrated, second-guessing yourself, or just wondering why trading seems harder than it should be … I’m here to help.

Today, I’m breaking down ten common trading problems, why they happen, and — most importantly — how to fix them…

1. “Not Confident in My Rules”

If you don’t trust your rules, it’s usually for one of two reasons: they aren’t clear enough, or you haven’t seen them work enough times. 

The solution is to get specific and start tracking:

• Write down your rules like a checklist. Example: “I only take a trade if the stock is above the 50-day moving average and breaking resistance on high volume.”
• Backtest your rules by going through historical charts and seeing how they would have played out.
• Paper trade or use small positions to build trust in your system without too much risk.

The more you follow your rules and see them work, the more confidence you’ll have.

2. “Not Enough Planning” / “Disorganized, Indecisive”

If you’re making decisions on the fly, it’s only a matter of time before emotions take over. Planning in advance is the easiest way to stay disciplined.

• Set a daily routine: Pre-market research, chart reviews, and trade plans should happen before the market opens.
• Use a simple trade journal: Log your planned entry, stop loss, target, and why you’re taking the trade. Review at the end of each day.
• Limit your watchlist: Too many stocks = too much indecision. Focus on 3-5 quality setups instead of chasing everything.

3. “Temptation to Trade Lottos”

Impulse trades feel exciting, but they kill consistency. If a trade doesn’t check all of your boxes, it’s not worth it.

• Focus on high-probability setups from the APEX Scanner and SPYDER Scanner. Smart Money volume is far more reliable than random lottos. 
• Before entering a trade, ask yourself: “Would I take this trade 100 times with real money?” If the answer is no, skip it.
• If you must scratch the itch, set aside a small “fun money” account for lotto trades — just don’t let it affect your main strategy.

4. “Struggling with Stop Losses”

There are two common problems with stop losses: setting them too tight (getting stopped out too early) or too loose (taking big losses).

• Use structure-based stops: Instead of setting a stop loss at a random percentage, place it below a key support level.
• Reduce your position size: If you’re nervous about hitting your stop, your size might be too big. Trade smaller until you’re comfortable.
• Accept that stops are part of the game: They protect your capital so you can stay in the game longer.

5. “My Biggest Challenge is Timing”

Timing entries is tough, but there’s a way to improve it:

• Wait for confirmation: If you’re early, you’re usually wrong. Let the breakout actually happen instead of predicting it.
• Use volume as a guide: Strong moves should have strong volume. Weak volume = weak conviction.
• Enter on pullbacks: If you’re struggling with breakouts, try waiting for a retest of support instead of chasing the move.

To Be Continued…

Okay, I have more to say on these subjects than I thought when I started this.

So, tomorrow, I’ll finish this up with Part II. 

Stay tuned.

But before we go, let’s look at:

💰The Biggest Smart Money Bets of the Day💰

• $5.2 million bullish bet on ALK 02/21/2025 $70 calls @ $4.09 avg. (seen on 1/29)

• $1.6 million bullish bet on KWEB 03/21/2025 $35 calls @ $0.83 avg. (seen on 1/29)

• $1.6 million bullish bet on BABA 02/21/2025 $110 calls @ $2.36 avg. (seen on 1/29)

Happy trading,

Ben Sturgill

P.S. Earnings season is here — and this one could be your biggest trading opportunity yet…

Join me TODAY, January 30 at 2:00 p.m. EST for an URGENT Earnings Edge Workshop to see where the Smart Money traders are placing their bets this season. 

We’ve had 100 winning trades in a row* in Earnings Edge — don’t miss the next 100.

Click here now to reserve your spot!

*Past performance does not indicate future results