A Decent 13% Gain on SPY with a Larger Position Size on a One-and-Done Friday

Growing a small trading account demands patience and discipline, and today’s trading session delivered a 13% gain with a larger position size on a “one-and-done” Friday. 

Every trading session, even a successful one, offers valuable lessons. 

This post shares my experience transparently to help you scale your account, highlighting the importance of journaling and analyzing data for growth. 

My goal is to provide actionable insights from today’s trade, highlighting how adhering to a system and exercising emotional control can drive progress.

Economic News: U.S. Consumer Sentiment and Political Climate Impact

Today, the University of Michigan’s preliminary June 2025 Consumer Sentiment Index rose to 60.5, up significantly from May’s 52.2 and exceeding expectations of 53.5, reflecting improved consumer confidence amid easing economic concerns. 

However, escalating political tensions, including Israel’s missile strikes on Iran, boosting oil prices, and President Trump’s renewed tariff threats against China, are creating uncertainty that may influence stock market volatility.

Today’s SPY Trading Session: A Disciplined 13% Win

SPY gapped near yesterday’s lows, and started to bounce, forming a 15-minute range with a high of $600.37 and a low of $598.17. 

The session opened with a Monstrous Bullish Institution Bar (BL-IB) on the first 3-minute candle, tempting me to enter due to its position way below the 200 EMA and 20 EMA (wide state), suggesting a huge mean reversion play. 

However, with a downward trend indicated by a declining 20 EMA, I set a goal for a “one-and-done” Friday with a larger position size, emphasizing the importance of patience to wait for a solid opportunity and clarity in the market.

The 15-minute breakdown event turned into a chopfest, similar to yesterday, so I waited for better price action. 

We broke below again, and a green candle on the retest provided an entry signal. I marked my entry at $597.57 when red would take out the green, entering SPY 6/13 597 puts at $1.40 (Entry 1). 

I adjusted my stop upward as the price moved in my favor and exited at $1.59 for a 13% gain. Taking a significantly larger position size relative to my previous ones, I managed risk conservatively, adhering to my system.

SPY 3-minute chart 6/13/25

Key Observations:

• The BL-IB below the 200 EMA hinted at a reversal, but I needed to be patient and wait for the 15-minute range to form.

• A larger position size demanded tighter risk management, which paid off with a disciplined exit.

• Patience and system adherence turned a challenging market environment into a profitable trading session.

Order fills 6/13/25

Post-Trade Reflection: Every Session Offers Lessons

Today’s 13% gain with a larger position size was a win, and I am happy to report that today was the only trade that I had perfect adherence in my system and perfect marks for emotional control. 

I'll need to prioritize this performance moving forward. 

Every trading session provides valuable lessons, and this one taught me the importance of waiting for clarity, even amidst chop, reinforcing the need to journal and analyze my trades to refine my approach.

Growing a Small Account: Steps to Scale with Discipline and Data

Scaling a small account requires strategic growth and data-driven insights, and today’s session offers a blueprint. Here’s how I’m doing it, with tips for other small-account traders:

• Aim for One-and-Done Trades: On Fridays, focus on a single, high-probability trade like my 15-minute retest to avoid overtrading.

• Wait for Clear Entries: Use retests with a color-change event to confirm setups, reducing chop risk as I did at $597.57.

• Scale Position Size Gradually: Increase size with conservative risk management, adjusting stops to protect gains, as I did today.

• Journal, Track, and Analyze: Use tools like my Options Day Trading System Tracker for Google Sheets to record trades, track performance, and identify patterns, turning every session into a learning opportunity.

Screenshots: Rule-Following and Emotional Psychology Data

To provide further value, I’m sharing screenshots from this week’s Options Day Trading System Tracker, showcasing my rule-following and emotional psychology data. 

These visuals highlight how I adhered to my system today, managed fear with a larger position, and maintained emotional control, offering a practical example of how tracking data can improve your trading and grow your small account.

Rule Following Week#24

Psychological State Week#24

The Power of Transparency: Lessons and Data Drive Growth

Transparency means sharing both wins and strategies—today’s 13% gain with a larger position size shows how discipline and data analysis fuel a small account’s growth. 

Journaling, tracking, and analyzing trading data with tools provide the insights needed to refine your approach, proving that every session, even a successful one, builds skills for long-term success.

Key Takeaways for Aspiring Traders

Every trading day provides insights for small accounts. Here are actionable takeaways:

• Limit to One Trade: A “one-and-done” approach on Fridays helps prevent overtrading and maintains focus.

• Confirm with Retests: Wait for setups, such as 15-minute breakdowns with a color change, for better entries.

• Manage Larger Positions: Adjust stops to secure gains with increased size, as I did for my 13% win.

• Leverage Journaling: Track trades with my Options Day Trading System Tracker using your unique data to analyze and improve consistently.

Conclusion

Today’s SPY trading session yielded a decent 13% gain with a larger position size on a “one-and-done” Friday, a testament to discipline and patience. 

Every trading session, even a successful one, provides valuable lessons—stay systematic, manage risk, and utilize journaling tools to steadily grow your small account.

How do you handle larger position sizes on Fridays? Share your tips in the comments or connect with me on X for more trading insights!