US large caps · monthly rules · sealed every month · never reset
A paper account run by fixed monthly rules on S&P 500 stocks.
Every month is sealed with a fingerprint, good months and bad.
S&P 500 stocks only · monthly charts · three chart shapes · three gates that keep it out of weak markets, stretched stocks and the wrong time of year · buys only on a breakout, with a stop underneath · lets winners run and cuts losers · a fixed number of slots, spare money in an S&P 500 fund.
In 20 years of backtests the same rules made about 15% a year against about 11% for random S&P 500 stocks bought
the same way and 12–13% for an index fund. The lead was lumpy, most of it from a few strong years, and falls of about 35% happened.
This page is the live test.
£50,000 paper account · a few slots, never all in · first buys possible in November
RECORD ARMED · the first month is sealed after the end of October 2026 · first buys possible in November (the season opens)
This month's actions
The first list appears after October 2026 is sealed (soon after 1 November): what to buy, what to sell and what to keep, refreshed every month.
The record against the benchmarks
The chart starts once October 2026 is sealed: the account against an S&P 500 tracker fund, the S&P 500 index and bank savings, each starting from £50,000.
■ Trader Launchpad (with dividends) ■ S&P 500 tracker fund (dividends reinvested, 0.07% fee) ■ S&P 500 index (price only) ■ Bank savings (1-year fixed rate, Bank of England). Month-end values in pounds, starting £50,000 at the end of Sep 2021. Hover a month for the figures.
Every trade, open and closed
No trades yet: the first buys are possible in November, once October 2026 is sealed.
Buy-stop orders for next month
No orders yet: the first ones are set when October 2026 is sealed.