053: Should system traders ever override their systems?

This episode explores systematic traders' approaches to navigating the market volatility surrounding the Brexit vote. Against the backdrop of a widely anticipated but ultimately unpredictable event, the host interviews thirteen guests—twelve past and one future guest of the podcast—each detailing their individual trading plans. More significantly, the discussion reveals a spectrum of strategies, ranging from strictly adhering to pre-established systems, regardless of external events, to proactively reducing exposure or temporarily suspending trading altogether. For instance, some guests opted to reduce position sizes or switch off scalping bots due to anticipated spread widening and slippage, while others maintained their systems' automated processes. The key takeaway is the diversity of successful approaches, highlighting the importance of individual risk tolerance and system design in handling unpredictable market events. Ultimately, the episode emphasizes the need for traders to develop a plan that aligns with their risk profile and trading philosophy, rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all strategy.