I got a letter from the SEC in September.
They're making me register as a "large trader."
Why?
My monthly trading volume hit $200M+.
15 years ago I was worried about the $25k PDT rule just to day trade.
Today I'm dealing with institutional-level compliance.
Here's what this journey taught me:
When I finally crossed $25K, I felt invincible.
No more 3-trade limit. I could actually day trade freely.
That felt like the top of the mountain.
Then $100k hit. Six figures in my account.
I thought I was the richest guy alive.
Then a million. Then ten million. Then this letter.
The gap between where I started and where I am now feels surreal.
But here's the truth most people miss:
The milestones don't change who you are. They just reveal who you've always been.
I'm the same simple guy I was 15 years ago. Same values. Same integrity. Same approach.
The only difference?
I kept showing up every single day.
My advice if you're starting out:
Stay authentic. Stick to your values. Don't chase the dopamine of big wins - chase the consistency of small edges repeated.
When you're real with yourself and your goals, you attract what you need.
The future looks bright not because I'm special, but because I decided it would be and worked like it was already true.
15 years ago if you told me the SEC would classify me as a large trader, I'd have laughed.
Now I'm sitting here with this letter thinking about what the next 15 years will look like.
Your journey might look different than mine. But the principles stay the same:
Show up. Stay humble. Keep your integrity. The rest takes care of itself.