The retail trader segment—especially those managing portfolios under $500—actually holds a strategic advantage most overlook. Smaller positions create operational agility. You can pivot faster, chase sub-$20K market-cap gems while institutions can't touch them, and lock in meaningful percentage gains that bigger players just can't achieve proportionally. The real edge isn't about account size; it's about speed and the ability to exploit niches where liquidity and attention are sparse. That's where real opportunities live.