In 2025, I entered the U.S. Investing Championship.

  • 579 entrants

  • Tracked for 11 months

  • Ranked #42

  • Return: +28%

That’s the result. Here’s what matters more.

This Was Not a YOLO account.

I did not trade differently than I trade client capital.

No leverage games.
No leaderboard chasing.
No style drift.

Same process. Same risk rules.

Risk and Recovery

Returns without context are meaningless.

  • Max drawdown

    • My account: 13.14%

    • S&P 500: 18.76%

  • Recovery time

    • My account: 24 days

    • S&P 500: 57 days

Largest percentage winners

  • STSS entry date (9/8)

  • DFLI (10/13)

  • ETHA (4/24)

  • LDI (9/5)

  • QUBX (9/17)

  • IONZ (11/19)

  • UPXI (7/17)

Largest dollar contributors

  • NVTS (7/17)

  • IONZ (9/23, 11/19)

  • ETHA (6/4)

  • QUBX (9/17)

  • RGTZ (9/9)

  • QBTZ (10/16)

  • YOU (12/9)

  • SMR (9/18)

  • APLD (9/9)

No single trade carried the year.
Performance came from multiple positions working, not one big bet.

What I’m Tightening in the future

Results were solid. Still room to improve.

Execution

  • No buying specific instruments before 10:00 am.

  • No stops triggered before 10:00 am.

  • Making sure that when I nail a theme, I put the pedal to the metal. I nailed the Quantum theme, spotted it before they moved:

Personal

  • Energy matters: sleep, food, training, it all makes a difference.

  • If energy drops, decision-making degrades.

  • You have to find a way to be on your best game every day; either you bring it, or you stay home.

Bottom Line:

• I joined the U.S. Investing Championship again.

• I believe the small personal and trading changes I plan to make will make a positive difference.

Work With Me Managed Assets

ZorTrades Alpha for the DIY traders.