Sean Mackey
Founder & CEO at LuxAlgo.
Common Mistakes Traders Make When Using Indicators
Avoid five common indicator mistakes. Test redundancy, check timeframe settings, and compare trading rules with realistic costs in Quant Charts.
Leading vs Lagging Indicators: What Traders Need to Know
Compare leading and lagging indicators, understand their limits, and test combinations with realistic costs on Quant Charts.
Arnaud Legoux Moving Average (ALMA) Guide
ALMA explained: Gaussian weights with a shifted peak, what offset and sigma do, a worked nine-bar example, and the ALMA type in the native Moving Average.
Ultimate Oscillator: Combining Three Timeframes
Ultimate Oscillator explained: buying pressure over 7, 14 and 28 bars, Williams's three-step divergence rule, and testing it natively on Quant Charts.
Common Problems with Volume Indicators and Solutions
Troubleshoot volume data, false signals, and indicator differences. Use LuxAlgo charts, order flow, and Quant to inspect setups and test clear rules.
Time-Weighted Average Price (TWAP): Price Benchmark
TWAP explained: the time-weighted average as a benchmark and as an execution schedule, worked examples against VWAP, and the native simulator on Quant Charts.
Up/Down Volume Indicator: Analyzing Volume Direction Changes
Learn the Up/Down Volume Ratio, distinguish it from volume histograms, and test clear trading rules with LuxAlgo’s native charts and Quant.
Trend Strength Index Indicator: Measuring Trend Intensity
True Strength Index explained: Blau's double-smoothed momentum ratio, zero and signal-line crosses, divergences, and testing a TSI rule on Quant Charts.
Williams Fractal: Spotting Reversal in Trends
Williams fractal explained: the five-bar swing rule, two-bar confirmation lag, breakout and stop uses, and how to test a fractal rule natively on Quant Charts.
Retail Prop Firms vs Hedge Funds: Which Path to choose
Compare retail prop evaluations with hedge-fund careers, including entry routes, pay, costs, risk and a practical LuxAlgo research workflow.
How Retail Prop Firms Make Money
Learn how retail prop firms earn fees, pay simulated rewards and manage live trading, with examples of operating costs and a trader’s total budget.
Donchian Channels: Breakout and Trend-Following Strategy
Donchian Channels explained: the highest-high and lowest-low bands, breakout and trend-following rules, position sizing and native Donchian tools on Quant Charts.
Adjusting Position Size: Managing Risk Without Sacrificing Profit Potential
Calculate position size from risk and stop distance, account for costs and portfolio limits, and test sizing rules with LuxAlgo’s Quant and Journal.
SpotGamma Levels: Interpreting Dealer Positioning
Understand SpotGamma levels, dealer gamma, and historical range statistics, with a practical chart-research workflow using LuxAlgo and Quant.
Relative Vigor Index to Judge Bull Bear Balance
Learn the Relative Vigor Index formula, crossovers and divergence, with LuxAlgo Quant Charts comparisons, Quant backtesting and practical risk examples.
Paper Trading: How Simulators Prepare You for Live Markets
Use paper trading to practice orders, test realistic costs, and review results with LuxAlgo before considering the move to live markets.
Why Focusing on Process, Not Profits, Leads to Better Trading
Build a clear trading process with practical rules, risk examples, outcome-bias research, and LuxAlgo tools for testing and trade review.
John Paulson Gold Bet What Traders Can Learn
Explore John Paulson’s gold investments, mining risks, dated ownership evidence, position sizing and a practical LuxAlgo research workflow.
Market Structure Shifts (MSS) in ICT Trading
Understand MSS, BOS and CHoCH, define swing confirmation and test ICT-style structure strategies with LuxAlgo Quant Charts, Quant and clear risk examples.
ICT Unicorn Model Strategy: How To Use
Learn the ICT Unicorn Model with correct FVG and breaker rules, retest examples, position sizing, and a practical LuxAlgo Quant workflow.
Adapting to Market Events: Why Flexibility Is Key for Traders
Adapt to market events with clear scenarios, position sizing, volatility checks, and a practical LuxAlgo chart, Quant, and Journal workflow.
Trading Against the Trend
Learn counter-trend trading with reversal patterns, RSI regime context, position-sizing examples and LuxAlgo Quant Charts and Quant strategy testing.
What Is Short Selling in Stocks?
Learn how stock short selling works, with correct profit examples, borrowing costs, U.S. margin rules, risks and LuxAlgo research tools.
Market Regimes Explained: Build Winning Trading Strategies
Understand trend, range and volatility regimes, compare detection methods, and test regime-aware strategies with LuxAlgo Quant Charts and Quant.
Steven Cohen Trading Secrets Retail Should Know
Apply Steven Cohen’s lessons on preparation, sector research, and risk with practical examples and a disciplined LuxAlgo chart workflow.
TradeZella Review: Journaling and Backtesting Platform
Review TradeZella’s current journaling, imports, AI, backtesting, and pricing, plus how its workflow compares with LuxAlgo Quant and Journal.
John Paulson: Trades Lessons From the Big Short
Explore John Paulson’s big short, credit-default swaps, valuation, position sizing, and a practical LuxAlgo research and review workflow.
Wedge Pattern - Setups for Timely Breakouts
Learn rising and falling wedge patterns, breakout and retest entries, stop placement and risk examples, plus Quant Charts and Quant testing workflows.
FX Replay: Backtesting Platform Overview
Explore FX Replay’s backtesting tools, pricing, analytics, and limitations, plus a practical chart-research workflow with LuxAlgo and Quant.
Inside Bar Breakouts Tight Risk Big Reward
Define inside-bar breakout entries, calculate risk, handle failed signals, and test clear strategy rules with LuxAlgo Quant.
Buy Stop Orders: Momentum Breakouts Made Easy
Understand buy stop and stop-limit orders, plan breakout risk, and test entry and exit rules with LuxAlgo Quant.
Volume Analysis Techniques to Confirm Setups
Learn to compare volume, define breakout and reversal rules, and test trading setups with LuxAlgo’s native charts and Quant.
Shares Outstanding vs Float: Float Squeeze Math
Shares outstanding counts every share; float counts the ones that can trade. This guide defines both, explains short sales and short interest as the SEC, FINRA and Investor.gov describe them, works through squeeze ari…
Relative Strength Index (RSI) — Upgrade Tricks
Test RSI settings, divergence, and multiple timeframes with clear rules, accurate Ultimate RSI features, and a practical LuxAlgo Quant workflow.
Bollinger Band Fade vs Break — Which Works Better
Compare Bollinger Band fade and breakout rules, risks and expectancy, then test both approaches fairly with LuxAlgo Quant Charts and Quant.
Shareholder Equity — Balance Sheet Health Gauge
Shareholder equity is the owners' residual claim. This guide uses the SEC's Beginners' Guide to Financial Statements to explain its components, the ratios built on it, the statement that tracks its changes, when negat…
FTMO Prop Firm Review: How to Pass in 2026
Compare FTMO’s 1-Step and 2-Step rules, fees, loss limits, and rewards, with practical strategy preparation using LuxAlgo charts and Quant.
Topstep Prop Firm Review 2026
Review Topstep’s current Combine prices, loss limits, consistency rules, payouts, and automation, with strategy research using LuxAlgo and Quant.
Bollinger Bands Strategy: Squeeze then Surge
Learn Bollinger squeeze and breakout rules, BandWidth calculations and ATR risk sizing, then test the strategy with LuxAlgo Quant Charts and Quant.
Trade Ideas Review AI Alerts Under the Microscope
Review Trade Ideas AI alerts, Holly, OddsMaker limits, and current pricing alongside LuxAlgo charts and custom strategy development with Quant.
S&P 100 vs S&P 500 — Which Benchmark Helps
Compare S&P 100 and S&P 500 concentration, returns, ETF and options differences, plus a practical LuxAlgo research workflow.
High-Frequency Trading vs. Retail Algorithmic Trading
High-frequency trading and retail algorithmic trading share a word and little else. Here is what each actually is, what the research measured about the speed race, the regulation each side carries, and where the two m…
Top 10 Algo Trading Strategies for 2025
Compare ten algo trading approaches, from moving averages to machine learning. Learn their assumptions, testing limits and current LuxAlgo workflows.
3 Mistakes to Avoid in Algo Trading
Avoid three algo-trading mistakes: overfitting, weak risk controls and backtesting-only validation. Learn practical checks and a current LuxAlgo workflow.
Stop-Loss and Take-Profit: Setting Your Limits
Understand stop-loss and take-profit orders, choose exit levels, account for execution risk, and test your rules with LuxAlgo Quant.
Alternative Data for Algorithmic Trading: What Works?
Alternative data promises information before it reaches the tape. Here is what the evidence supports, how to evaluate and test a dataset, the legal limits, and the market-published series retail traders can use today.
Deploying Your Algo: Cloud vs. Local
Compare cloud, local and hybrid algo deployment using workload, latency, total cost and recovery checks, with a clear research-to-execution boundary.
Volatility Strategies in Algo Trading
Compare volatility strategies, ATR and implied volatility, then test explicit trading rules and risk controls with LuxAlgo Quant Charts and Quant.
Evolution of Algo Trading: From Scripts to AI
Explore how algorithmic trading expanded from rules to quantitative models, fast execution and AI. Learn the distinct roles, limitations and review process.
V Bottoms & Tops: Identify Trend Reversals
Identify V Bottoms and V Tops, distinguish climax candidates from confirmed reversals, and test entries and risk with LuxAlgo Quant Charts.
C# in Finance: A Trading Code Guide
Build C# trading tools with a tested crossover example, realistic backtesting, reliable market-data handling and a practical LuxAlgo research workflow.
Tradervue: Trade Analytics Breakdown
Compare Tradervue plans, imports, and analytics with LuxAlgo’s charts, Quant strategy testing, and integrated journal for reviewing trading results.
Edgewonk: Journal Tool Analysis
What Edgewonk records, computes and asks of the trader: imports and checklists, Chart Lab ratios, the automated Edge Finder, the Tiltmeter and mental tags, its single all-features price in September 2026, and how the…
Gap Patterns: Candlestick Signal Breakdown
Compare common, breakaway, runaway and exhaustion gaps, define gap fills, manage risk, and research setups with LuxAlgo Quant and Quant Charts.
Window Patterns: Setup Essentials for Trades
Identify rising and falling windows, distinguish gap types, plan risk, and research precise rules with LuxAlgo Quant and Quant Charts.
US Income Tax for Traders: An Essential Guide
Learn how the IRS distinguishes investors, traders and dealers, what trader status changes, how the section 475(f) mark-to-market election works and what it costs, which expenses a trader may deduct, when estimated ta…
Steven Cohen: Methods & Tactics Uncovered
Explore Steven Cohen’s research and risk-management lessons, with practical examples and a LuxAlgo chart, Quant, and Journal workflow.
StockCharts.com: Visual Analysis Review
Compare StockCharts charting, scans, data fees, and pricing with LuxAlgo’s Quant Charts and AI-assisted indicator and strategy development.
Triangles in Charts: Sym & Asym Patterns
Compare symmetrical, ascending and descending triangles, verify breakouts, calculate risk, and build a LuxAlgo Quant research workflow.
O’Neil’s Strategies: Trading Tactics Explained
Learn O’Neil’s CAN SLIM criteria, breakout and risk rules, and how to research technical setups with LuxAlgo charts and Quant.
Michael Burry: Market Moves and Tactics
Study Michael Burry’s value-investing and mortgage-short lessons, with valuation examples, risk checks, and LuxAlgo chart research.
Ken Griffin: Market Tactics Explained
Explore Ken Griffin’s research and risk-management framework, with Citadel business distinctions, market-neutral examples and practical trading checks.
Horizontal Levels: Insights in Chart Analysis
Learn to draw and test horizontal support and resistance levels, with entry rules, risk examples and a practical LuxAlgo Quant research workflow.
John Paulson: Methods and Trade Insights
Explore John Paulson’s event-driven investing, merger risk, and research lessons, with practical examples and LuxAlgo chart workflows.
High-Yield Savings: Maximize Returns
Learn how high-yield savings accounts work under Regulation D and Truth in Savings, how to read APY and required disclosures, how FDIC and NCUA insurance applies, what can change after opening, how compounding and tax…
Warrants Explained: Leveraged Investment Tools
Learn how warrants work, including entitlement ratios, leverage, expiry and issuer risks, with payoff examples and LuxAlgo research tools.
Forex Trading Essentials: A Beginner’s Guide to Currency Markets
Learn forex pairs, pips, spreads, leverage and order types, with sizing examples and a practical LuxAlgo charting and strategy-research workflow.
Market Makers 101: Liquidity & Influence
Understand market-maker quotes, spread economics and inventory risk, with practical liquidity checks and clear limits on chart-based inference.
Avoid Overtrading: Stay Disciplined
Recognize overtrading, set clear risk and activity limits, and review rule compliance with LuxAlgo charts, Quant, and the Journal.
Margin Call: What Traders Need to Know
Understand margin-call triggers, equity calculations and broker liquidation rights, with worked examples and practical account-monitoring checks.
Daily Open & Close: Essential Metrics
Understand daily opens, closes and gaps, compare return calculations, and test session-based trading rules with native LuxAlgo.
Trading Slippage: Minimize Hidden Costs
Measure trading slippage, compare order types, and test realistic costs with LuxAlgo charts, Quant, and Journal. Includes worked execution examples.
Neutral Trading: Profit in Sideways Markets
Compare range trading, iron condors and calendar spreads, with indicator limits, payoff examples and a native LuxAlgo research workflow.
Days to Cover Explained: A Crucial Metric for Short Squeeze Analysis
Calculate Days to Cover, distinguish short interest from short-sale volume, and assess squeeze candidates with dated data and clear risk limits.
Brokerage Accounts for a Secure Retirement
A taxable brokerage account has no contribution limit, no age rule and no required distributions, but no tax shelter. Compare it with IRAs and 401(k)s using IRS 2026 limits, learn how gains and losses are taxed, decid…
Arbitrage Trading: Profit from Price Gaps
Understand arbitrage price differences, calculate net costs, and assess execution risks. Research market relationships with LuxAlgo and Quant.
Options Greeks: Mastering Pricing
Understand delta, gamma, theta, vega, and rho with clear units, a worked pricing example, and a practical chart-to-options research workflow.
Swing Trading: A Beginner’s Guide
Learn swing-trading setups, indicator limits, position sizing and overnight risk, then build a practical research and journal routine in LuxAlgo.
TradingSim: Simulation Analysis
What TradingSim's market replay engine does, which markets and data Pro and Premium include at current prices, how order entry and order-flow replay work, what the analytics track, a deliberate practice protocol, and…
Exchange Types: Stocks, Options & Crypto Explained
Compare stock, options, and crypto exchanges: ownership, trading hours, execution, custody, costs, and a LuxAlgo chart research workflow.
Top Chart Patterns: Recognize Market Signals
Recognize major chart and candlestick patterns, distinguish candidates from breakouts, and test entries, risk and exits in native LuxAlgo.
Risk Parity Allocation with Python
Build a risk parity portfolio in Python: risk contributions, an equal-risk-contribution solver, Riskfolio-Lib, a walk-forward backtest, costs and pitfalls.
Directional Bias Using Volatility Skew Patterns
Understand volatility skew, compare risk reversals and expiry horizons, and combine options research with price-based strategies in LuxAlgo.
Counting Systems: Trading Metrics Simplified
Distinguish trading metrics, signal counts and point-and-figure objectives, with worked expectancy examples and practical research checks.
Quantpedia: Strategy Research Guide
How Quantpedia turns academic papers into plain-language strategies, how to use the Screener and read a strategy page, what Prime, Premium and Pro include at current prices, and how to take a rule set to a costed back…
Mutual Funds Demystified: Build a Diversified Portfolio
What a mutual fund is and how it is priced according to the SEC, the fund types and their risks, how to read the prospectus fee table and what fees cost over twenty years, how mutual funds differ from ETFs, how to bui…
Buy-and-Hold: Build Long-Term Wealth
Learn buy-and-hold investing through compounding examples, asset selection, diversification, tax considerations and LuxAlgo research tools.
Scaling In/Out: Balance Risk & Reward
Learn to scale in and out, calculate combined position risk, compare partial exits, and test a clear sizing plan with LuxAlgo.
How to Use Candlestick Patterns for Pullback Signals
Use six candlestick patterns to define pullback setups, compare entry methods, calculate risk, and test strategies in native LuxAlgo charts.
Time Series Analysis in Algo Trading
Understand time series methods for algo trading, from ARIMA and GARCH to neural models, with practical validation, cost examples and LuxAlgo research workflows.
Ark Invest: Cathie Wood’s Strategy Insights
Explore Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest strategy, innovation research, valuation, portfolio risks, and a practical LuxAlgo research workflow.
Historical vs Implied Volatility Skew: Key Differences
Distinguish historical volatility, return skewness and implied-volatility skew, with clear sign conventions, examples and options research checks.
5 Mistakes in Trend Following Strategies
Avoid five trend-following mistakes with defined signals, position sizing, realistic exits, and careful strategy testing on LuxAlgo charts.
Sunk Cost Fallacy in Trading Explained
Recognize sunk cost bias in trading, distinguish it from a valid holding plan, and review exits, added exposure, and decisions with LuxAlgo.
Compare 5 Brokerage Accounts: Find Your Fit
Compare Fidelity, Schwab, IBKR, E*TRADE, and Webull by fees and tools, with LuxAlgo charts and Quant for your market research workflow.
Benzinga Pro: News Data Analysis
Benzinga Pro treated as a data source rather than a stream of headlines: how its feed fields, filters, WIIM notes, squawk and calendars work, what the tiers cost, a five-step analysis workflow, the pitfalls, and how t…
ATR-Based Stop-Loss for High Volatility Breakouts
Set ATR stops for volatile breakouts, calculate position risk, compare trailing rules, and test the strategy with LuxAlgo Quant.
Bullish Chart Patterns Explained
Learn double bottoms, cups and handles, and ascending triangles with worked targets, risk calculations, and native LuxAlgo strategy testing.
Top 5 Metrics for Evaluating Trading Strategies
Compare profit factor, drawdown, Sharpe ratio, win rate, and expectancy with clear examples and a practical LuxAlgo strategy-review workflow.
Hierarchical Risk Parity Rebalancing Methods
Understand HRP allocation and compare rebalancing rules, with cluster-variance examples, turnover calculations and practical portfolio research checks.
How to Adjust Stochastic Settings for Scalping Success
Learn how stochastic lookback, smoothing and thresholds affect scalping signals, and test clear settings with LuxAlgo charts and Quant.
5 Stochastic Oscillator Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid five stochastic oscillator mistakes involving extremes, context, filters, settings and signal timing. Test clear rules with LuxAlgo.
MFI vs RSI: Key Differences Explained
Compare MFI and RSI calculations, volume inputs, thresholds, and limitations, then test explicit indicator rules in native LuxAlgo charts.
Bearish Chart Patterns: What You Need to Know
Learn head and shoulders, descending triangles, and double tops, with confirmation rules, risk examples, and a native LuxAlgo testing workflow.
AI vs Traditional Trading: Comparing Analysis Methods
Compare AI and traditional trading analysis, separate research from execution, and build a reviewable workflow with LuxAlgo Quant and Journal.
5 ATR Stop-Loss Strategies for Risk Control
Compare five ATR stop-loss methods, understand trailing and percentage rules, and test exits with realistic sizing and costs in LuxAlgo.
How AI Enhances Fixed Income Trading
Bond markets are sparse, dealer-driven and text-heavy, which is where AI earns its keep. This guide explains fixed income from SEC, FINRA and TreasuryDirect sources, what models do on institutional desks, the validati…
Guide to Using LuxAlgo for Liquidity Zones
Analyze liquidity zones with native LuxAlgo charts and footprints, understand PAC confirmation timing, and test explicit rules with Quant.
Confirmation Bias in Trading: Examples and Impact
Recognize confirmation bias in trading with practical examples, risk checks, and a repeatable review process using LuxAlgo Quant and Journal.
AI vs. Manual Scalping: Key Differences
Compare AI and manual crypto scalping through fees, liquidity, execution and workload, then develop testable rules with LuxAlgo and Quant.
Volatility Smile vs. Skew: Key Differences
Compare volatility smile and skew, understand implied-volatility curves, and review pricing assumptions and ratio-spread risks.
How Volume Spikes Confirm Candlestick Reversals
Evaluate volume spikes with candlestick reversals, define risk and confirmation rules, and test strategies on LuxAlgo’s native charts with Quant.
Top 5 Moving Average Breakout Strategies
Compare five moving average breakout strategies with clear rules, realistic testing and native LuxAlgo charts powered by Quant.
Ultimate Guide to Risk Management in Trend Reversals
Evaluate trend-reversal signals, calculate position risk, and test clear entry and exit rules with LuxAlgo Quant and Journal.
NinjaScript Basics for Custom Indicators
Build a NinjaTrader indicator with clear lifecycle methods, safe bar indexing and a moving-average example, plus strategy and platform boundaries.
Cup and Handle Pattern Success Rates Explained
Understand cup-and-handle success rates, study definitions, price targets, and risk. Test explicit pattern rules in native LuxAlgo charts.