I Was the Algorithm Before Algorithms Then I Had to Start Over
1 hr 12 min
Scott Pulcini started on the Chicago Board of Trade floor before transitioning to screen-based trading, learning to process information under extreme pressure to become one of the biggest E-mini S&P scalpers in the world. At his peak, he traded massive size at Kingstree Trading, turning his intuitive edge into $10 million in a single year. As algorithmic trading took over and market dynamics shifted, Scott had to evolve. Today, his edge is built on 25+ years of experience and order-flow tools, using CME MBO data and Bookmap to examine activity beyond a conventional price chart to guide his decisions while volume and volatility give him the confidence to take the trade. In this conversation, Scott pulls back the curtain on his incredible resilience and career arc, sharing the specific realities of trading massive size and adapting to an algorithmic world. He breaks down the fundamentals of his volume-based strategy, the harsh lessons of trading on tilt, and how he transitioned from pure intuition to teaching retail traders through his Order Flow Room. In this episode, we explore:• How Scott made $10 million in 2003 day trading S&P E-mini futures• Scott’s transition from the Chicago trading floor to screen-based trading• How he survived changing market conditions and algorithmic takeovers• The mechanics behind using Bookmap and CME MBO data to find an edge• Why it’s important to learn how to read volume and volatility• Why confidence to size up requires turning off your PnL• How Scott identifies institutional iceberg orders and retail stop runs About Scott Pulcini:Scott is a professional futures trader with over 20 years of experience, famously featured in the book Enhancing Trader Performance by Dr. Brett Steenbarger. Scott traded S&P E-mini futures at Kingstree Trading in Chicago. Today, he teaches retail traders through live analysis, recorded courses, and private mentoring at Scottpulcinitrader.com and as an Instructor at the Scott Pulcini Trader Order Flow Ro...