About The 4 Pillar Trader

This site is where I share my experience of the programme, the lessons I am taking from it, and the market process I use in my own trading. It is independently operated, but I want to be upfront from the start: I know the founders personally and may earn a commission if you join through one of my links.

My trading journey

I started trading US equities in 2023. Before that, I was largely self-taught, trying to piece together macro, fundamentals, technical analysis and risk management from books, videos and conversations with other traders.

I made progress, but it was not until I went through a more institutional-style education programme and mentoring that the pieces began to fit together. That gave me a structured way to think about markets, build positions, manage risk and review what was working.

Since then, I have continued developing my own process around macro, breadth, stock selection, technical setups, options, portfolio construction and execution.

I still review my own trading constantly. One thing I have learnt is that your trade history will show you your strengths, but it will also show you where you are consistently making mistakes. For me, that includes a natural bias towards the long side. Knowing that has helped me become more deliberate with short exposure and portfolio balance.

How I came to 4 Pillar Trading

I have known Anthony Iser and Ed Shek for a number of years through previous education and mentoring. When they were building 4 Pillar Trading, they asked me to look at what they were creating.

What appealed to me was the structure of the programme and the ability to learn in an open environment with regular access to experienced mentors. It was not just a set of videos or a signal service. It was designed around the full process of trading: macro, fundamentals, options and portfolio risk management.

That relationship matters when you read this site. I did not find 4 Pillar Trading through an advert. I know the people involved, I have a positive relationship with them, and I have an affiliate arrangement with the business.

I would rather put that clearly on the page than hide it in small print.

What has changed in my process

The biggest changes have been gradual rather than dramatic.

I am more aware of the macro environment and the way shifts in inflation, rates, growth, liquidity and market breadth can change the type of trading environment we are in. That matters because a process that works well in one market can struggle badly in another.

My portfolio risk management has also become tighter. I think more about the total book, not just whether an individual trade looks good. That includes exposure by sector, direction, delta and notional risk.

The short side is an area I continue to work on. It has never come as naturally to me as the long side. The programme has helped me think more deeply about the fundamental deterioration behind short ideas, how to screen for them and how to build a more defined process around them.

That is the goal: improving the process. No education programme can guarantee results, and this site will never suggest otherwise.

The pillar I found hardest

For me, it was options.

When I started, the Greeks were completely new. Delta, gamma, theta and vega can seem straightforward on their own, but understanding how they interact across an entire portfolio is another thing entirely.

The turning point was learning to view risk through delta-adjusted exposure and total notional positioning, rather than looking at every option trade in isolation. That changed how I manage the book and how I adjust positions as market conditions change.

It was the hardest part of the process for me, but it has become one of the areas I now rely on most.

Outside the markets

I am a dad to two young children, work full-time and trade around the US market, so I understand the challenge of trying to improve while balancing real life and limited time.

Outside trading, I play golf and train. But markets are a genuine passion of mine. I have spent years reading, studying and testing ideas across different trading styles, which is why this site includes articles and educational content alongside my review of 4 Pillar Trading.

What independently operated means

This site is not owned by, employed by or editorially controlled by 4 Pillar Trading. Nobody from 4 Pillar Trading approves my articles before they are published.

However, independently operated does not mean I have no connection to the programme. I am a member, I know the founders personally and I may earn a commission if you join through an affiliate link.

That is a real conflict of interest. I am not going to pretend it is not.

How I handle that

I aim to keep the information on this site clear, accurate and easy to check.

Programme details, including membership inclusions, mentor information and course structure, are sourced from and checked against the official 4 Pillar Trading website. Where I am sharing my own experience or opinion, I will make that clear.

My aim is to explain what I think the programme does well, who it may suit, and where the limitations are. From there, you can decide whether it is right for you.

What I will not do

• Make up mentor credentials, employment history, qualifications or performance results
• Make up testimonials or member reviews
• Make up pricing, trial terms or membership inclusions
• Promise trading success or imply likely returns
• Reproduce private lessons, recordings or members-only material
• Present my opinions as facts
• Hide my affiliate relationship
• Make this site look like it is operated by 4 Pillar Trading

You can read the full affiliate disclosure and financial disclaimer here.

Where else to find me

• YouTube: short explainers on the four pillars, starting with options for beginners
• X: daily notes and links to new articles
• Substack: the longer essays
• The weekly newsletter: a short macro note every week, plus subscriber-only offers when they come

If I get something wrong

Please let me know through the contact page.

I would rather correct an error quickly than defend it. 4 Pillar Trading and its mentors are also welcome to respond to anything I publish about the programme.

Contact

Use the contact page. I read every message, including the critical ones.