Articles

The following interview was originally published in Trader's Journal (TJ) November 2007 issue and is reproduced with their kind permission. Part I: On Trading TJ: John, when and how did you get started into trading? JD: I got started in 1968 as a biology and physics teacher in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I was the Director of the teacher investment club with a $100 per teacher contribution in a pool and some hopes and dreams. I read Harry Browne's book in 1970 about Nixon closing the "gold window" for the USD. The title of Harry's classic book is How to Profit from the Coming Devaluation and it changed my life and all I have touched in this space forever. TJ: What did you find trading interesting? JD: The daily intellectual challenge of...

In one of those "it was all I could do not to actually pinch myself" moments, I had the great pleasure of interviewing former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan last week in front of a "small" audience of 3,000. The event was IMPACT, Schwab Institutional's annual conference, and Greenspan was the opening keynote speaker. He prefers a Q&A format over a speech, and I jumped at the chance to have a "conversation" with him last Monday morning. Some of the most interesting aspects to the conversation were not on stage, but behind the "curtain" in the green room. Green room redirect In the green room, after initial pleasantries with Greenspan and our own Chuck Schwab, the first question asked was by Greenspan to me: "Please don't tell me you're...

Steve gives us an insight into the methods he uses for trading and what his trading day is like How did it all start? (How did you get into trading?) When I was in college I discovered that a savings account was a guaranteed loser after inflation for me, and a guaranteed winner for the bank. I was an electrical engineering major and was researching potential places to work when I graduated. I started following several technology companies, and watching their stock prices. I wondered what made good companies and what drove the stock prices so I began reading about investing. I found it interesting and investing became one of my life long passions. How did you learn to trade? (Are you a self-taught trader or did another trader/mentor...

Dr Doug "The Head Coach" discusses the psychology of trading and the similarities between coaching the top athletes and the top traders. How did it all start? (How did you get into trader coaching?) I played baseball my whole life and through college (I was a catcher). When I graduated, I got a job on trading floor for a proprietary trading firm at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. They used to hire athletes almost exclusively because they believed athlete's made better traders. Anyways, I worked there for a few years and then a herniated disc in my lower back forced me to leave the floor and trade equities electronically. I did that for about 9 months and then realized I wanted more out life so I left the trading world to go coach...

Roger Middleton is an experienced trader who focuses on the equity markets. His insights, however, are applicable to traders of all kinds. Starting Out How long have you been trading for? 8 years How did you first get involved in trading? I was made redundant in 1992, and was in danger of losing everything, so decided that the ability to generate a second income which no one else could take away once I was back on my feet was a priority. It was what my daughter called my "get out of jail free" card. Do you remember your first trades? First trade was Tadpole Technology at 200 (down from over 400). Bought because I thought it couldn't go any lower. Next day it went to 250 and I thought how clever I was. Eventually sold at 180 for a...

The following is an interview of Michael Covel by Trade2Win Content Editor John Forman. Michael is the author of the highly regarded book Trend Following, which makes a very strong case for the value of trend trading methods. At the very beginning of your book you differentiate between traders and investors. Why is trading better than investing? Thinking like a trader is the only way to profit in today's markets. Investors buy and hold. Hoping that the market will continually move up, they buy long with no exit plan. They do not manage risk so they give up control. Traders, on the other hand, do not care whether the market goes up or down. They buy long or sell short and they always have an exit plan. They have predefined exit...

Anyone who has studied point and figure charting will be aware of Kermit Zieg, who has published many articles and books on the subject. In this interview, George Hallmey met Kermit in his home near Washington and discussed with him his trading style. In the interview, Kermit explains Some of the history of point and figure charting. The advantages of point and figure over other charting methods. How he combines point and figure charting with an options strategy to swing trade US stocks. How he selects stocks to trade. The interview is provided in streaming video format below. If you have trouble viewing it, please download the interview instead. George met Kermit as part of a series of 18 in depth inteviews with successful...

Steve Nison is a busy man. Ever since his first book "Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques" was published in 1991 he has run his own advisory business, which gives trade recommendations to institutional investors and hedge funds. He is also one of the most respected teachers on trading the financial markets, and his seminars are always a sell-out wherever he goes. Since the publication of his first book he has written another two best sellers on Candlestick analysis. His first book is affectionately known as the "modern-day bible" of trading. Tom Hougaard caught up with Steve Nison during a quiet day in the market. Tom Hougaard: How did it all start? Steve Nison: 30 years ago I worked for a commodity broker and advisory service...