I Was the Algorithm Before Algorithms Then I Had to Start Over · Scott Pulcini

Former high-volume trader Scott Polsini recounts his evolution from exploiting manual queue positioning in the 2000s to adapting rules-based algorithms after regulatory changes and algorithmic competition eliminated his previous edge. The event details his encounters with specific market manipulation schemes by rival "locals," his subsequent transition to utilizing CME MBO data and HERO flow indicators, and his strict adherence to firm-level loss limits to mitigate emotional leakage. Polsini concludes by advising modern traders to prioritize process execution over gut instinct, treat trading as a probabilistic activity similar to athletics, and diversify income streams to preserve the objectivity necessary for survival in a complex, opaque market environment.