Realistic Swing Trading Income: What December 2025 Really Looked Like
If you ever wonder what swing‑trading income actually looks like in real life—not the hype, not the “get rich quick” fantasy—here’s the honest breakdown from my December 2025 report.
December 2025: A Quiet Month With Zero Realized Profit
December was calm.
I made no profit from swing trading, and it wasn’t because the strategy stopped working.
It’s simply because: I didn’t sell any stocks that month.
And in swing trading, income only shows up when a trade closes—not when you buy.
The only cashflow for December was $228 in dividends.
Not huge, but steady.
Behind the scenes, I still purchased 12 positions, but those trades need time to grow. Some were started months ago, some even in previous years. That’s the reality of long uptrend swing trading—you let the move mature.
What 2025 Looked Like Overall
Even with months like December showing zero realized profit, 2025 was a solid year.
Here’s the big picture:
✔ $18,000 swing trading profit
✔ $1,900 dividend income
✔ ~8.9% annual return based on cost of sold positions
The key thing to understand is this:
The same money gets reused over and over.
If I buy stocks worth $200K and sell them later for $221K, that doesn’t mean I had $200K sitting in cash—it just shows how capital cycles through trades.
And because I hold trades longer with my long uptrend strategy, I naturally make fewer but larger trades. That’s why some months show no sales at all.
Looking Back at Previous Years
2023 – Dividend + 52-Week Strategy
I focused on dividend stocks and 52-week high/low trading.
It worked well and helped build a foundation.
2024 – Fast Swing Trading, Lots of Trades
This was my first full swing‑trading year.
I traded frequently—buying and selling every few days.
That pace brought in $23K in trading profit, plus dividends.
2025 – Long Uptrend Strategy
I switched to a slower, more strategic approach.
Fewer trades, more patience, more stability.
Result: $18K profit + $1.9K dividends.
The Reality Behind the Portfolio
Some positions are down. Some up.
That’s normal.
I don’t sell stocks at a loss unless the company is gone or forces a sale.
If something is negative, I simply learn from it and choose a better entry next time.
Right now, if I sold everything, the account would show around –$21K unrealized.
But I’m not selling.
This is long‑term strategy, not panic‑selling.
Why I Share This Journey
I swing trade because I want a sustainable way to build income outside of my full‑time job, not something reckless or impossible to repeat.
It’s not fast.
It’s not flashy.
But it works overtime.
If you’re someone trying to grow financially without relying only on a paycheck, I hope this encourages you. Swing trading is one of many tools to slowly build another stream of income.
Conclusion
Realistic swing trading isn’t about making thousands every month.
It’s about building a process you can repeat—month after month, year after year.
Some months are quiet.
Some months are incredible.
But the consistency of the strategy is what creates long‑term growth.
You can start small.
You can learn step by step.
And if you stay patient, your account can grow the same way mine did—slowly at first, then steadily.
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Disclaimer:
I am not an attorney and do not provide legal services. I am not a CPA. Although I hold a valid PTIN as a tax preparer, I do not provide one‑on‑one tax preparation or personalized tax advice.
All content on this channel is for general educational purposes only and is based on my personal experience and publicly available IRS information.
Please use this information at your own discretion and consult a licensed tax professional for advice specific to your situation.
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