My first post here at iBC was on November 12th, 2007. iBankCoin and System Trading with Woodshedder were forged in the fires of the approaching Armageddon, and I believe the blogging and the trading that took place during that period of time left an indelible mark on my psychology. In 2007 and 2008 I was transitioning from a purely technical swing trading style to something more quantitative. I had experienced years of success with discretionary trading, but as mentioned above, something about that period of time changed me. If memory serves, I finished 2008 up 10%, which was fairly remarkable considering everything that happened.
Six years ago, many things were different about finance and financial blogging. The retail investor had risen like a phoenix from the ashes of the 2000 bear market. They still believed that they could beat the market, and beat the experts. Technology and software was exploding, and these developments gave the little guy a belief (maybe an erroneous one) that they could stand shoulder to shoulder with “professionals” (I use that term lightly). Then came the crash of 2008.
Fast forward to 2013, and I think the strength and numbers of the retail investor have been greatly diminished. Conversely, the strength and numbers of finance websites and bloggers have greatly increased. For a small fish like myself, this makes it hard to excel as competition grows and the number of interested eyeballs decreases.
There are numerous sites out there that exist in pretty much the same space as my blog. These bloggers, researches, statisticians and traders are very good at what they do, and they do it full-time. My full-time job has become more and more demanding, and the outcomes that I can produce there are much more important to our planet than whether or not I can write about quantifiable strategies that can beat the market. As I have become more and more invested in the work I do full-time, the number of hours I spend on it have increased in both mental and physical terms. My boys, 12 and 7, and my wife, also compete for my attention. In the end, something had to give, and it just makes sense that the 1-2 hours a evening that I spend researching and writing is not generating enough of a return to be sustainable.
I love iBankCoin. This blog has been a huge part of my life for a long time. Blogging here has afforded me incredible opportunities. I have met incredible people, and I have been able to use it to network with people who have helped me develop my skills in a way that would never have been possible without the blog.
I will still write here from time to time. I plan to keep posting updates to my Fidelity Sector Rotational System, and I would like to write about abnormal market behaviors. But I can no longer keep up the day-to-day updates.
To my partners Fly, Chess, RC, and Mr. Cain Thaler, keep up the excellent work fellas. Fly, I think you know that I hold you in the highest regard, and you are without a doubt one of the few distinguished gentlemen left in this world.
If anyone would like to contact me in the future, my email is woodshedder73 at the google mail.
Best to everyone,
Wood
nice epilogue
all the best
Woodshedder, thanks for posting all the results of your hard work on this site. I think I learned quite a bit from your research and it gave me more things to consider for my own analysis.
Wood,
Some how I stumbled upon your work when you first started. At the time, I was amazed at how fresh and exciting your work was. Some how, some way, you managed to keep your work new, exciting and meaningful at every step. You were a great help to me, and you were always responsive when I reached out to you. First and foremost, you were here to educate us, and with great humility, you responded to your readers in the comments of your post and you allowed yourself to learn from them. You were more than a voice on a soapbox like so many others who do what you do, and that made you a cut above the rest. The small corner of the internet where people discuss the merits of investing is a better place because of you. So thank you, Jeff for all that you put into this. Best wishes to you and your family.
We still have a Squirrels’ game to go to.
Wood,
Sad to see this post, but I understand with the time constraints.
We will always have to get together from time to time for our annual ghetto workouts.
See you around bud. Good luck with everything.
Many thanks for your valuable contributions. Best of luck to you in the future.
Hate to see you retire buddy but I understand. Sounds like you’ve wisely prioritized the important parts of your daily life in the best way possible.
Do drop in from time to time. I know the readership always appreciated your systematic views, especially after epic crashes or rallies in the market.
Onward and upward.
Wood,
Looking forward to future updates. A well-deserved break for sure, with all the years you have been here. Going to miss your regular work. Best to you and your family.
Wood, you are the man! Thank you for your fresh insights. All the vest for your future endeavors.
*best
Thanks for your contributions, Shed. You are a gentleman and a scholar. I have learned much from you.
It’s also been fun watching your boys grow, play ball and fish, and seeing your wife’s business grow.
All the best, friend. If ever in music city drop me a line.
Thanks for all your great posts over the years. Best of luck in the future.
Cheers.
/Kas
You will be missed. I’ve enjoyed the data you’ve shared and wanted to let you know that I appreciated your work.
Wood best of luck in the future and thanks for all your information.
Day job?
All the best. Your contributions will be missed.Was nice to know what the odds were.
I have enjoyed your posts over the years. You will be missed!
Wood,
All the best. I’ve always enjoyed reading what you’ve written and I did make money because of the PD!
I have always enjoyed you blog Wood. Thanks for sharing you thoughts and ideas.
John
Many of us in the same boat of course Wood. Hail to the new generation of financial quant bloggers. But pioneers like you sir, certainly laid the foundation for their success and they stand upon your tall shoulders. All my best, Mrtk_Rwnd
Thanks for sharing all that research over the years, Wood. Good fortune to you, Sir.
thanks for your contributions. Even a rare and infrequent posting would be welcomed!
Thanks for you time and knowledge. You’re a class act, Wood. Best to you in your future endeavors.
All the best Wood. Thanks for all your hard work and I look forward to your future posts.
I’m overwhelmed with the comments I’ve received here and the emails that have hit my inbox.
I write these posts, night after night, and the next day, 1,000 people have read them. I would wonder who those 1,000 people were. Now I have heard from some of you. I really appreciate hearing from you. It is a tad bittersweet, but I am moved to here personally from you all.
Thank you all so much for reading. Some of you have been reading this blog for several or more years, and you feel like family to me.
Do not be gone forever man. This place called IBC needs your take. Always almost unsettlingly rational and in complete control. You have taught this dumbass a bibles worth of knowledge about the game. No way I’m the only one.
Thanks again, Wood – investing in yourself and your family is the best trade of all. We’ll miss you and look forward to your guest appearances. Appreciate all that you’ve done over the years.
i’ve tried to make time for just about everything you’ve written, really appreciate your sharing and objectivity. best to you and the fam with your other pursuits!
You are how I discovered iBC back in 2008.
I guess your limited writing from here on will make the next eerie coincidence in our lives more infrequent.
My best to you and the Woodshedder family.
i know that no one here has ever cared for what i ever had to say,and been banned also.you have ALWAYS seemed to me, as a gentleman of the highest order.guys like yourself,give me hope in knowing,that america is in good hands going forth. when you get to be in your mid 50’s,we seem to think that it’s all gone to “hell in a hand basket”, and then there are decent young folk like you who keep the faith restored and america can’t lose.good luck shedder, to you and your loved ones.when your a gazillionaire dont forgets us plebs,:).
Totally agree with your general sentiments on the Lakers. A big part of it has to be reputation. The second part is name brand talent, the Lakers have it, we don’t. On that level alone the bulls would appear to have no shot in this game.
A sad day to return from a long weekend to this pivotal news.
The semi-end of an era.
Never figured out how you or anyone else could write so much good material so often. It can take me 15 to 30 minutes just to write a thoughtful comment. I had to cut back reading blogs due to time constraints, and I’m not even working.
Kids grow up fast – my stepson moved out years ago, and daughter is halfway through college. I missed seeing them grow up because of work. Spend time with family when you can, those moments won’t be around forever.
at the google mail? you mean Gmail?
Woody, sorry to see you go! I first found Ibankcoin while searching for info on market tops which led me to your articles and this site. I’ve always enjoyed your work, the Fly is losing a fine southern gentlemen, Colonel Woodshedder. Good luck in your future endeavors!!!
Thanks for your years of blogging here, and I’m glad to know you will stay active at least part time. Hope you also keep up your twitter presence, it only takes a moment to post an idea or a link or a book title from time to time and it’s greatly appreciated. Mahalo, bro!
Much respect and thanks for all your hard work. There may be many bloggers but few write such quality content.
Woodman – I’ve always looked forward to reading your blog on a daily basis. Sorry to see you go. Thanks for all the excellent material you have posted.
Wood,
Thanks for your many contributions. Best of luck!
Sad to see you go woodshedder. In the long run, we are all better for your exhaustive work. And yes, in life, there are more important things than money and speculative endeavors.
Go easy Bruh. 😉
Be well.
Thanks for the interesting reading over the past few years. Live long and prosper.
Good luck and enjoy the family.
The recipe for the pork loin dry rub you sent me several years ago has been used a number of times.
I’ll see you in Richmond. Be well.
_______
Thanks for all your hard work and all the best to you and your family.
Sad to read this news. Thank you for all work and very helpfull attitude. This blog will miss me.