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TWO PERCENT GOAL TO FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE

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Al O’Grady

Hi, my name is Al O’Grady, and I am the founder of Two Percent Goal to Financial Independence. With a degree in Economics and over fifteen years of experience in financial services, including completing the Canadian Securities Course, I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t in the financial world. This experience has made me a wiser investor, helping me achieve my goals in life.

My Ultimate Goal

My goal is to double my money on the stock market each year with little to no risk.  That may sound crazy, but I feel I have the strategy to do it in bull and bear markets. 

I am not a day trader.  This is not a day trading strategy.  I am a swing trader.  What’s the difference?  A day trader buys and sells his or her position within the same day. He does not own a stock before the market opens and he has closed out his position before the market closes.  

A swing trader has a longer time horizon.  He holds his position between a couple of days to a couple of weeks.  I hold 95% of my recommendations from 3 days to 2 weeks and most of my picks are held for one week.

This is not flashy, it’s not sexy, it’s boring and it’s very effective.  In order to double your money, you need to generate a 100% return.  That’s an approximate average of 2% per week.  That’s my goal.  Find stocks that are poised to gain 2% in one week.  Get in, get out, move on and repeat.

That’s the goal, what’s the plan?

Yes, I want to receive daily emails with your stock picks poised for a 2% gain.  It’s free for 30 days and then $99/month. 

My Plan

My 10 Essential Rules for Success

Here is what I do.  The most important thing is to follow EVERY rule.  By doing this you take emotion out of it, and you don’t get caught up in the hype when the stock is climbing or play the hope game when the stock declines.  Here are my rules:

  1. Invest only in the 500 largest cap stocks on the New York Stock Exchange aka the S&P 500.
    • Only invest in the top 500 companies in the number one economy in the world. This helps minimize risk and with the large trading volume for each stock you can get in and out very easily with your trades.
  1. Look at the S&P 500 Large Cap Index.
    • A rising tide raises all ships. Quite simply only go long when this index is bullish and only go short when bearish. Look at the chart below for the S&P 500 Large Cap Index. (Full disclosure. I have no relationship with stockcharts.com. Feel free to use any chart provider you wish). I strongly recommend you do some research on the MACD. It is an exponential moving average that I highly endorse.
  • Look at the black line of the MACD.  There is a 1:1 correlation between the slope of this line and the direction of the index.  When the slope is upwards, the index is bullish, and you only go long.  When the slope is downwards, the index is bearish, and you should only short.  If it’s going sideways, maintain your path until it reverses the trend.
  1. Look at the 50 day and 200 day moving averages.
    • After looking at the market from a macro perspective, look at individual companies. When going long on a stock, the 50-day moving average MUST be above the 200-day moving average.  NO EXCEPTIONS You want the stock to be in a climbing mode and you want to ride that trend.  
  • In the above chart for IBM the blue line represents the 50-day moving average and the red line is the 200-day moving average. When buying a stock, the 50-day average must be above the 200-day average on the day of purchase.
  1. Redundant MACD signals.
    • At this point you need the company’s MACD to show two things.  First, it has to go from negative to positive territory.  Second, the two MACD lines have to intersect above the zero line. This is the final confirmation point that you need.  It is coming out of weakness.  It is picking up strength and that strength has been confirmed.  YOU MUST BUY THE STOCK THAT DAY.  YOU CANNOT WAIT.

  • Look at the above chart for Broadcom Inc (AVGO).  In the fall of 2023, the MACD was below the zero line.  It crossed into positive territory and intersected Dec 12.  The S&P Large Cap Index had a positive sloping MACD on that day as well.  In the spring of 2024, the same signals were present.  The MACD was in negative territory in May.  It crossed the zero line and the two MACD lines crossed June 11 with the S&P Large Cap Index showing a bullish positive sloped MACD as well. 

    To summarize, the slope of the MACD of the S&P Large Cap Index has to be heading upwards, the individual company must have its 50-day moving average above its 200-day average; the company’s MACD has to come from negative to positive territory, finally it has to intersect above the zero line.  That is the precise day you buy the stock.

  1. Use the 2% Goal.
    • When your stock order is filled. Multiply that price by 1.02. That is your goal. That is your 2% price gain. You don’t need to watch the stock during the day. This is not a day trading plan. Go about your life. Watch the closing price sometime that night. Quite often the closing price will exceed the 2% gain in the next 2-3 days. It could even happen the same day you bought it. Once it surpasses the 2% goal, it’s time to lock in your profits..
  1. Use Stop Losses.
    • This is a must. Use stop losses to protect yourself in the unlikely event of an unexpected drop, but you can also use stop losses to lock in your profits. If the stock price falls, you want to minimize losses. After the trade is filled, put in a stop loss 3% below the fill price to protect yourself. For example, if you bought a stock at $100, immediately put in a stop loss of $97. This is a 3% loss and will happen sometimes, but you have to protect yourself and minimize the damage if the stock dropped unexpectedly.


    • You also want to use stop losses to lock in profits and exit the trade. Once the closing price surpasses the 2% goal, change your stop loss to the 2% target. This allows you to take advantage of a major upswing and earn more than 2% while also exiting the trade at your 2% goal.


    • For example, let’s say you bought a stock at $100. Your goal is $102 (a 2% gain). Let’s say in three days the closing price was $102.75. The closing price surpassed your 2% target. You set your stop loss at $102. The next day if the intra day price fell below $102, 01, your stop loss would be triggered selling your stock at $102 making your 2% goal. This situation will happen many times. Now how do you take advantage of a major upswing?
  1. Use Stop Losses to Ride the Wave.
    • By using stop losses you can also ride the wave and make more than your 2% goal. Again, let’s say you entered a trade at $100. Your goal is $102. Let’s say in three days the stock surpassed your 2% goal and closed at $102.75. You set your stop loss at $102 to guarantee a 2% return. Now let’s say the intra day low price the next day only went down to $102.50. Your stop loss order was not filled. GREAT.


    • Revise your stop loss to $102.49. Let’s say the stock is climbing and the next day the intra day low was $102.75. EVEN BETTER. You revise your stop loss to $102.74. Each day you keep revising your stop loss order so that the trigger price is one penny lower than the previous intra day low.


    • You repeat this process daily. Sooner or later there will be a down day and your stop loss order will be filled. You will have taken advantage of a major upswing while still guaranteeing your minimum goal.
  1. Go Short Too.
    • This process works very well for shorting stocks as well.  Everything is reversed.  The slope of the MACD S&P 500 Large Cap Index has to be pointing down.  The 50-day average is below the 200-day average.  The MACD has to come from positive territory to negative territory.  The MACD lines have to intersect and confirm below the zero line.  Short the stock that day.  Look for a 2% drop as that is your goal.  Use a stop gain order to lock in profits or minimize losses.
  1. Diversify and Consider Leverage.
    • Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Don’t put more than 10% of your portfolio in one trade. This is crucial to minimizing risk. Since you are diluting your returns with diversity, seriously consider leverage.


    • Buying your stocks on margin will drastically increase your returns while diversity minimizes risk. If you have a $100,000 portfolio, a 10% diversity factor means you would never put more than $10,000 in one stock purchase. By using a 3% stop loss, you are risking a $300 loss. If you bought this on 3x margin, you would be risking a $900 loss. A $900 loss on a $100,000 portfolio is less than a 1% loss of the entire portfolio and certainly within guidelines for swing trading.


    • If buying on margin is still outside of your risk tolerances, don’t do it. Try this these strategies without buying on margin until you gain confidence in the program and then ease into margin slowly.
  1. Repeat.
    • A 2% gain doesn’t sound like much but if you can do it every week, you will generate a great annual return with very little risk. This method is not flashy; it’s not sexy; it’s boring, and it works.

So How Accurate is This?

From October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024

    TOTAL SUMMARY
    Total Number of Recommendations 320
    Total Gain Avg/pick
    Going Long Winners (Gained 2% or more) 174 568.89 3.27
    Going Short Winners (Gained 2% or more) 25 93.84 3.75
    199 subtotal 662.73 3.33
    Total Loss
    Going Long Losers (Gained less than 2%, lost 3% or less) 107 170.72 1.6
    Going Short Losers (Gained less than 2%, lost 3% or less) 14 28.79 2.06
    121 199.51 199.51 1.65
    Net Gain 463.22
    Total Picks 320
    Net Total Average/Pick 1.45
    Total Picks Exceeding 5% Gain 28
    Total Picks Losing 3% 33
    Ratio 2% Winners to 3% Losers 6.03:1

    Select

    12 + 5 =

    If you are a swing trader you can use my strategies to earn excellent annual returns.  You can do this.

     OR 

    I can do the research for you.  I can tell you what to buy, when to buy it, when to sell it, and what your stop losses should be.  Simply sign up to receive my daily emails with stock recommendations.  The first 30 days are absolutely free and then it’s $99/month.  You can cancel at any time.  This program pays for itself.  Take control of your finances.  Take control of your life 

    While the test data is overwhelmingly positive, there are risks with this type of investing and the author accepts no responsibility for any possible losses.

      Don’t Believe a Word I Say

      If you’re skeptical and think I’m full of hot air, I get it.  That’s why I will give you the first 30 days FREE.  If you sign up.  I will send you notifications when to buy a stock that’s poised for a 2% jump.  I’ll give you stop loss orders to protect yourself and when to exit a profitable trade.  I will also send you my data where I have back tested the 500- large cap companies on the NYSE.  You can examine this free of charge.   There is no risk to you at all.  You have everything to gain and nothing to lose.  After your free 30-day trial, you can exit the program at any time.  Take control of your future, take control of your life.  Get started on the 2% goal to financial independence right now.

      2% goal to financial independence

      While the test data is overwhelmingly positive, there are risks with this type of investing and the author accepts no responsibility for any possible losses.

      Want to learn more? Reach out today!