Hey scout,

Ahhh, if only you were correct. Here are the first three quotes from a quick google on the wash sale rule. Note that 30 days 'before the sale at a loss' is also included as well as the 30 days after. Talk about handcuffing you.

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1. A wash sale occurs when an investor sells a security at a loss but then purchases the same or a substantially similar security within 30 days of the sale.

2. Your anticipated tax loss is disallowed if, within the period beginning 30 days before the date of the loss sale and ending 30 days after that date, you acquire "substantially identical" stocks or securities

3. A wash sale occurs if an investor sells a stock at a loss and replaces the sold security with a virtually identical security within 30 days before or after the original stock's sale. The Internal Revenue Service prohibits investors from claiming a tax loss on a wash sale. The purpose of wash sale restrictions is to discourage investors from selling stock merely to claim a tax deduction.