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In this interview, Brad Jelinek, a seasoned trader with over 20 years of experience, shares insights from his personal trading journey. Known for navigating the complexities of the market, Brad discusses how he’s adapted his strategies over time, especially during volatile market cycles. From his early days in trading to managing the challenges of life and trading with kids, Brad has seen it all. His focus on risk management, volatility, and long-term investments sets him apart from many traders in the field.
Through this blog post, readers will dive into Brad’s unique approach to trading, including how he balances day trading with longer-term investments, leveraging market volatility to his advantage. He also touches on the personal growth aspect of trading—how the job forces you to evolve mentally and emotionally. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned trader, Brad’s experiences will provide actionable insights into developing a strategy that aligns with your strengths and how to manage both trading and life’s challenges effectively.
Brad Jelinek Playbook & Strategy: How He Actually Trades
Managing Market Volatility: Brad’s Tactical Approach
Brad thrives in volatile markets. He’s learned to adapt his strategy depending on the environment, focusing on short-term, high-velocity moves during chaotic times. This section explains how Brad manages volatility and what traders can do to adapt to these fast-moving periods.
- Trade with the flow of volatility: In highly volatile markets, Brad focuses on short-term trades and avoids holding positions overnight. This allows him to capitalize on intraday price movements without exposing himself to the risks of holding through large swings.
- Use risk management as a shield: During chaotic market periods, Brad tightens his risk parameters. This includes smaller position sizes and tighter stop losses to protect his capital.
- Adjust your strategy to the environment: If volatility is high, trade shorter time frames. If the market is calm and trending, Brad shifts to slightly longer holds, taking advantage of sustained moves. Adaptation is key.
The Power of Long-Term Assets: Combining Trading with Investing
While Brad is known for his active trading, he also understands the value of long-term investing. This balance allows him to mitigate risk and generate passive income while still engaging in day-to-day trading.
- Own assets during panic: Brad believes that buying into index funds or ETFs during market crashes can be incredibly profitable long-term. When the market panics, he views it as an opportunity to accumulate assets at discounted prices.
- Separate trading and investing strategies: Brad keeps his trading and investing separate to avoid mixing emotions. While trading is for short-term gains, investing in solid assets during downturns helps him build wealth over time without relying solely on trading profits.
- Hedge with assets: When volatility rises, Brad holds index funds or assets as a hedge against his trading positions. This dual approach protects him from losses when his trades don’t work out.
The Challenge of Swing Trading: Why Brad Stays Focused on What Works
Swing trading can be appealing, but it’s not Brad’s main strength. Despite experimenting with swing trading, he recognizes that his expertise lies elsewhere. Here’s why he prefers to stick with what he’s good at and how other traders can benefit from focusing on their strengths.
- Know your strengths: Brad admits that swing trading, while profitable in certain conditions, isn’t where he excels. He focuses on the areas where he has an edge—short-term, high-volatility trading.
- Experiment but stay grounded: Brad encourages traders to try different strategies but warns against spreading themselves too thin. Experimentation is good, but don’t abandon your core strategy if it’s been working for you.
- Don’t force trades: If the market doesn’t fit your strategy, don’t force yourself into trades. Brad’s advice is to wait for the right conditions and only trade when you’re confident in your strategy.
The Importance of Routine: Trading with Focus and Discipline
Brad stresses the importance of maintaining a solid routine. Having structure in his day helps him stay focused, avoid emotional decisions, and be prepared when market opportunities arise. Here’s how you can build your own trader’s routine to enhance your performance.
- Start the day with purpose: Brad wakes up early and spends time walking and meditating before starting his trading day. This clears his mind, allowing him to approach the market with focus and clarity.
- Segment your day: Brad practices segmenting, where he mentally prepares for each part of his day. Whether it’s a trading session or personal time, this helps him stay present and reduce distractions.
- Take breaks: It’s essential to step away from the screen when necessary. Brad takes mid-morning walks to refresh his mind. This allows him to come back to the markets with a clear head, avoiding burnout.
Life and Trading Balance: Handling Family and Personal Life
Brad has learned to balance the demands of trading with family life. This balance is crucial for maintaining a clear, focused mindset while trading, and it’s something many traders struggle with. Here’s how Brad navigates his personal and professional responsibilities.
- Trading is just one part of life: Brad no longer lets trading consume all of his time. Having a family and other responsibilities has helped him create boundaries and see trading as one part of his life, not his entire life.
- Be kind to yourself: Trading can be emotionally taxing, especially when things aren’t going well. Brad has learned to be gentle with himself and not let his performance define his sense of self-worth.
- Set realistic expectations: Brad recognizes that there will be periods of losses, and he’s okay with that. He’s learned to accept that the market doesn’t always behave the way he expects, and that’s part of the journey.
Brad Jelinek’s approach is about finding balance—between short-term trading and long-term investments, between routine and flexibility, and between trading success and personal fulfillment. By focusing on what he does best, staying disciplined, and adapting to market conditions, he has built a successful strategy that any trader can learn from.
Mastering Volatility: How to Trade the Chaos and Win
Brad Jelinek knows that volatility is where opportunity lies, but only if you know how to handle it. Throughout his career, he’s learned to embrace the chaos of volatile markets rather than shy away from it. He thrives when the market is unpredictable, which is when he can take advantage of short-term moves and high volatility. Brad’s approach is centered on making quick, decisive trades, staying nimble, and not holding positions overnight in times of uncertainty. This allows him to avoid the emotional stress of worrying about sudden, massive price swings while still capitalizing on the big moves.
For Brad, volatility means opportunity—but it also means a careful balancing act. He employs strict risk management rules during these periods, shrinking position sizes and tightening stop losses to protect his capital. The key takeaway here is that volatility isn’t a danger if you’re prepared for it. By adjusting your strategy to the market environment, Brad avoids the temptation to overextend himself when the market is calmer and focuses on what he does best: trading the fast-moving markets when they’re in full swing. This focus on volatility-driven opportunities has been a major part of his success in navigating chaotic market conditions.
The Power of Long-Term Assets: Protecting Your Capital During Panics
Brad Jelinek’s strategy isn’t just about trading for short-term gains; he also knows the importance of having a long-term investment plan. While his active trading focuses on volatility, he balances it with owning index funds and other assets during market panics. For Brad, the key to long-term wealth lies in buying quality assets when they’re undervalued, especially during market crashes. This allows him to build a strong foundation that can weather market downturns while his trading profits are being generated elsewhere.
Brad’s method is simple yet effective: when the market panics, he buys. This strategy doesn’t just apply to trading—he applies it to long-term investments as well. By owning index funds or ETFs, Brad benefits from the eventual market recovery, even when his trading positions may not be performing well. He combines the best of both worlds—volatile trading for short-term gains and investing for the long-term to secure his financial future. This approach ensures that, no matter the market conditions, Brad’s capital is working for him in multiple ways.
Know Your Strengths: Focus on What Works for You, Not Everything
Brad Jelinek has learned that trying to do everything isn’t the path to success. He’s experimented with various strategies over the years, including swing trading and longer-term positions, but he’s discovered that his true strength lies in short-term, volatility-driven trading. While he dabbles in other strategies, Brad has made it clear that staying within his wheelhouse has been the key to his success. By focusing on what he’s best at—capitalizing on market movements during periods of high volatility—he avoids spreading himself too thin and losing focus on his core strengths.
Brad’s advice to other traders is simple: identify what works for you and stick with it. He’s aware that trading in different styles—like swing trading—requires a level of dedication and passion that he doesn’t have for those methods. Instead, he continues to perfect his expertise in managing short-term trades during volatile market conditions. For him, it’s not about doing everything, but about doubling down on what brings the best results. By recognizing his strengths and refining them, Brad has managed to create a trading style that consistently works for him, allowing him to thrive where others might struggle.
Building a Routine: How Discipline and Consistency Drive Trading Success
Brad Jelinek is a firm believer in the power of routine. For him, having a structured daily routine isn’t just a productivity tool—it’s an essential part of his trading success. By establishing a morning routine that includes walking, meditation, and mental preparation, Brad sets himself up for a day of focused, clear-headed trading. This daily structure helps him approach the market with discipline, ensuring he’s ready to make decisions with a calm and focused mindset, rather than being reactive or emotional.
The importance of routine extends beyond just the start of the day. Brad is mindful of taking breaks during trading hours to refresh his mind, often stepping away for walks mid-morning. This practice helps him avoid burnout and return to the markets with a fresh perspective, preventing him from making rushed or emotional decisions. Brad’s disciplined approach to his routine—combining physical activity with mental clarity—allows him to remain at his best throughout the trading day. By sticking to his personal rituals, he’s created a foundation that enhances his performance and helps him stay grounded, regardless of what the market throws his way.
Balancing Life and Trading: How Family and Focus Keep You Grounded
Brad Jelinek understands that life outside of trading plays a significant role in a trader’s success. With a family and personal commitments, he’s learned how to balance the demands of the market with those of everyday life. For Brad, trading isn’t everything—he’s mindful of not letting it consume him entirely. This balanced perspective allows him to approach the market with a clear head, without the pressure of needing to make a trade at every moment. By having other priorities, like his family, he’s able to keep a sense of perspective when the market doesn’t go his way.
While trading can be emotionally intense, Brad emphasizes the importance of being kind to yourself during tough times. He’s experienced periods of loss, but instead of letting those struggles define him, he uses them as learning opportunities. By keeping his family life as a grounding force, Brad can manage the inevitable ups and downs of trading with a calm, patient mindset. This holistic approach to trading, where life and trading are in balance, is a cornerstone of his long-term success. Brad’s advice to other traders is simple: take care of your personal life, because a grounded, focused trader will always perform better in the markets.
Brad Jelinek’s approach to trading is rooted in adaptability, discipline, and a deep understanding of his own strengths and limitations. Over his 20+ years in the market, he’s navigated volatile conditions by mastering the art of trading chaos while ensuring his long-term investments provide a stable foundation. His strategy involves balancing active trading with strategic asset accumulation, allowing him to hedge risk and capitalize on market downturns. Brad’s key lesson for traders is to focus on what works for you—whether that’s short-term volatility-based trading or long-term investing—and double down on refining that approach rather than spreading yourself too thin across every strategy.
A significant part of Brad’s success comes from his routine, which serves as a mental and emotional anchor. By maintaining a structured daily life—incorporating physical activity, mental breaks, and family time—Brad keeps his mind clear and his focus sharp, avoiding the burnout that can affect many traders. He’s also learned to embrace the emotional challenges of trading, using them as opportunities for personal growth and deeper self-awareness. Ultimately, Brad’s strategy boils down to staying grounded, disciplined, and willing to evolve as the market changes. His story serves as a reminder that successful trading isn’t just about market knowledge—it’s about building a lifestyle that supports it.
