More is Less: Lessons from a Top-Ranked Trader
What happens when you pass on good trades to only take home-run trades
Hey there,
It’s not every day that a top-ranked trader decides to change their entire strategy. But that’s what I did back in January.
Back in 2024, I ranked among the top 9% of TradeStation traders. The following year, I climbed to the top 6% by the end of Q1.
Naturally, anyone in my position would double down on their working strategy, right?
Wrong! More trades do not equal better results.
In fact, I’ve had better outcomes by doing less.
Here’s what happened…
What Changed When I Slowed Down
For years, I thought taking more trades meant more opportunities to earn profits.
So every night, I scanned my curated list of 30 tradeable companies, looking for great setups.
But after years of doing this, I looked back at my results, and it’s clear that the majority of my profits come from just a few trades.
For example, I took 215 trades in 2024, but my biggest profits came from fewer than 30 of them. The rest weren’t even worth the risk.
For me, more trades didn’t actually translate to more wins. It really meant making more emotional decisions, more mistakes, and too many small losses that ate into my overall profits.
So, even ranked among the top traders, I decided to change everything in 2026.
Here’s what my strategy looks like today:
Take fewer than 52 trades the entire year.
Sell Options more than I buy them.
Only buy Options on home-run opportunities.
I felt very uncomfortable for the first two months. I’d see a good setup and think, “I’ll leave money on the table if I don’t take this.” But I stuck to my plan anyway.
By March, I knew I was never going back to my old strategy.
My wins were more consistent. I hadn’t made an emotional decision in three months. And I had full confidence that I would make a profit on every trade I entered.
What I Actually Learned
Less is more.
When you take fewer trades, you make fewer mistakes.
When you only buy home-run calls, it’s easier to ignore the noise.
As an Options seller, your income is constant and nearly predictable while keeping your risk at nearly 0.
The truth is, profits don’t come from taking more trades. They come from being consistently accurate and lowering your risk. By far, this is the best way I’ve done it.
What This Means for You
If you’re new to trading, it’s easy to think you need to be in the market every day. You don’t!
The best opportunities can take weeks or months to develop. And when they appear, you want to see them clearly, control your risk, and have capital ready.
Think twice before asking yourself, “What can I trade today?”
Start asking, “Is this trade actually worth taking?”
Fewer trades. Better decisions. Stronger results… Remember that.
Until next time,
✍️ Isaiah from Earn Out Loud
In the next PRO article, I’ll explain my Options selling strategy, which companies you should focus on for the greatest profits, and how to keep your risk at practically 0. Join PRO subscribers by upgrading here: https://earnoutloud.substack.com/subscribe