(Continued from Part 1)
But…you’ve got an edge, something the other guys don’t have…
The day before the non-farm payroll report, your mentor pulls you aside, early in the morning.
“Let’s do lunch, I got something important to share with you.”
“Sure” you say, surprised.
What else would you say, he never wants to have lunch… what could he possibly want to share?
Your mind races… will he pull the curtain on a new, more advanced trading strategy? Everything you’ve learned up to this point has been pretty simple and logical.
Could he tell you your number has been bumped up? It seems like your risk manager would be the guy to do that…
Are you in trouble? Might you lose your job soon?
Maybe he’s going to leave and start a private fund, and he wants you to join him? Hmmm. Could be, but you haven’t really made much money to this point, your account is down 1.2%… so why would he do that?
All morning you roll the possibilities in your head, and come up with a blank… it just doesn’t add up.
Finally, as lunch time approaches, your mentor taps your should from behind, almost startles you…
“Alright, let’s go… we’re off to Fatima’s, you ready?”
“Yep.”
Fatimas is a swanky midtown restaurant, with all the wanker-banker trimmings… helipad on the building for the big players, staff waiting on you at every corner, including the toilets, it’s not a place you’ve been to before… but you have heard of it.
After ordering, your mentor makes small talk… he doesn’t seem to want to show his hand.
Once your food arrives… he steps into business mode again.
“Listen. I brought you here for a reason…”
Your mind is racing again…
“OK, what is it?”
“I want to share something with you, and I want you to keep it to yourself…”
(Oh, crap! He is going to start his own fund…!)
“I can definitely do that…” you assure him.
“I’ve got some info on the number, and it’s gonna be bad. I’m not in a position to take advantage of it, but you are… and I think you should.”
You think to yourself: What!?!? How does he know what the number is going to be?? Why is he telling me this? Is this illegal?? What’s going on here??
“OK, I think I can do that… thanks for the tip.” You give him an assuring nod, and start calculating in your head how much you can risk on the Non-farm payroll report before the release tomorrow…
The more you think about it, the more it’s like you’ve won the lottery, except it’s even better for one distinct reason…. (to be continued in Part 3)…