Follow Me on Twitter @trader_dads
Check out YouTube Channel: TRADERDADS
Check out the website version too: traderdads.com
What is a Trader?
Well, Miriam Webster’s dictionary defines a Trader as
but I define a Trader as
TRADER = A Cool Trader Dude
What is a Cool Trader Dude
A Cool Trader Dude:
Treats the markets like the weather. It’s an everyday conversation piece.
Has some above average knowledge of Finance/Economics and the Capital Markets.
Knows the names of at least 3 Federal Reserve Chairs
Ears’ perk up at interest rate policy debate
Enjoys ping pong or other faux physical indoor sporting activities
Exception: Pickle Ball does not count
Poker
Reads or is at least aware of ZeroHedge/Barry Ritholtz’ Crew/Ray Dalio and the Nobel Prize crew at Davos
Has a PnL Number or used to have a PnL number hanging over their heads…..everyday.
Will make a market on anything including sports, prop bets or people
Good for a game of Liar’s Poker or just to talk about the book Liar’s Poker
A Cool Trader Dude is NOT
Not a Crypto Bro
Exception : A Cool Trader Dude can understand Cryptocurrency basics and have a wallet with some Crypto but is not posing with Orange Lambo on Instagram and not cornering you in a party to tell you why Ethereum is ultimately going to win out
Not A Stock Picker with a “hot tip”
Not Throwing around the word “Piker”
Not A VP at Dad’s Hedge Fund
Not Flashing cash around or buying insane items
Exception: The occasional crazy, fun gift for the Wife/Family/yourself is OK
Not Priding himself on being a “Big Swinging’ Dick”
Exception: He can be the smartest, most skillful, most profitable, but it’s not a bragging item
The Original Cool Trader Dude
Colin Russell was a man of many ideas and talents but also a man who wore a nearly identical outfit to work everyday.
A super gracious fella with a Masters in Mathematics, he was quick to offer a correction on a mathematical heuristics or fallacy while still being friendly and disarming.
He thought on first principles before it was cool. He was good for a game of “Lodden Thinks” and through the hard outer shell of mathematics, computer science and logic, he was an artist and sculptor mainly due to him finding that endeavor “challenging”.
He was not afraid to tee up on the whiteboard to diagram the situation and reframe things until you understood or write you that recommendation letter to help get you to the next level in your career or intellectual aspirations.
A guy who knew Option Greeks by heart and could quote chapter and versus on some of the classics like The Intelligent Investor or Flash Boys
Most of all, he was a friend.
R.I.P. my Friend
He was a Cool Trader Dude.