Authors
My name is Phil Antonson and I am the founder of Vivo Laurus (Translated to “Live Success” in Latin.) I am a trader, analyst and educator who is eager to share with you my discoveries, insight, successes and challenges with trading. My goal for Vivo Laurus is to provide to you a network of resources and current articles pertaining to investments, technical analysis, trading theory, positive habits and tips along the way to lead a healthier and happier life.
My sampling of investments goes back to the age of 15 when I was turned onto stock charting and after a general understanding of what was going on, I was hooked. My interests have continually grown since then and so has my knowledge on the topic of investments. Because I was completely broke at that point in time, the only thing I could do was to papertrade and to hone my skills on the “realest” thing I could. Every day I would tell my parents how much money I “would” have made that day. The world of investments really took a jumpstart during the summer when I was 17 and my parents generously lent me money to trade with, enough money that I could effectively be a pattern day trader.
Because of my naivety, interest in volatility and the fact that my parents worked for the airlines, that is the sector that I specifically traded. If you know much about the airline industry, you know that it is one of the least forgiving of markets that has violent swings and is extremely sensitive to just about any bump or scare in the world. Despite the volatility and risk, I ended up doing quite well, making a few hundred dollars a day on small trades. That summer was extremely rewarding, I felt that I was accomplishing so much and would be extremely successful through investment trading.
Things ended up taking a nasty downturn late into August when in a single day, I threw away my entire profits generated over 3 months over a single bad trade. That day was emotionally brutalizing and disheartening, all of my efforts, washed away. How did this bad trade transpire? The very reason why I went from hero to zero was because I broke my golden rule, I added to a losing position with the hopes and illogical reasoning that it would go back up. I added a lot, I panicked and threw my entire account into purchasing more at an ever declining price. The price plummeted, and before it continued to the depths of hell, I jumped ship before my profits were all brought with it.
When the markets closed, I was physically and mentally exhausted, the adrenaline went from full to empty in a matter of a few hours and after the end of it all, even thinking about waking up and trading again was further away than ever. I gave up at that moment, I felt weak and unable, emotionally and mentally incapable to invest any longer. Trading stopped soon after, leaving the summer without profits but a big lesson.
After my initial experiences with trading ended, I focused my efforts on my website design and development company, Revived Group. It wasn’t all that much of a success because my passion couldn’t support it. I never felt worthwhile as a website developer and was always “someone’s bitch” which isn’t a lifestyle I could ever condone for myself. While that company slowly lingered to create some form of income, I decided to give up the website biz and follow my dreams of investments. Now I have been working my way back out of my trading trauma and start over, this time Phil version 2.0. My drive to succeed is higher, my mental strength is greater, my knowledge is keener and my discipline is stronger. I wish to take you with me on my journey as I share with you what I learn and how I have grown myself along the way.
Thanks for joining.
Phil Antonson
Founder, Vivo Laurus
