Tom Basso
Discipline Over Dollars: Constantin Pabst on Trading With Process, Patience and Precision
Mr Serenity Speaks: Tom Basso on Trading Psychology, Risk and Why Retail Traders Have the Edge
In this episode of The Trading Battle, legendary hedge fund manager turned retail trader Tom Basso sits down with Boris Schlossberg to unpack the mindset, maths, and mechanics behind his 50+ year trading career.
Dubbed “Mr Serenity” for his calm approach to volatile markets, Tom reveals why retail traders actually hold the edge — no committees, no liquidity issues, and full control. Whether you’re managing $600 million or trading solo from your desk, it all comes down to system design, strategy alignment, and risk-adjusted thinking.
From how he balances opposing long and short strategies in the same market, to the three indicators he trusts to filter out noise and catch directional moves — Tom shares it all with clarity and depth.
Wo go through:
- Why being small in the markets is your superpower — and how to use it
- How Basso runs multiple systems in parallel (some long, some short) — and why that protects his capital
- His favourite indicators (Donchian Channels, Bollinger Bands, and Keltner Channels) and how he uses them for volatility-based position sizing
- The logic behind sizing new positions at 0.35% of equity and letting winners run up to 1%
- The psychological trick of thinking in terms of 1,000 trades — not just one — to stay consistent and emotionally neutral
- Why momentum matters — and how larger institutions actually fuel retail trader profits
- How he built an all-weather strategy that thrives across timeframes and asset classes
Tom also shares his top three book recommendations for traders looking to level up, including Trade Your Way to Financial Freedom and his own titles The All-Weather Trader and Successful Traders Size Their Positions – Why and How.
Whether you’re a scalper, a swing trader, or building long-term trend systems — this episode is packed with timeless, practical, and often overlooked insights from one of the greats.
Watch the full interview learn how to think like Mr Serenity himself.
