I just wanted to stop by and thank James for this website.
I have lurked and learned so much here from so many of the regular posters. I have tried to trade full time on three other occasions over the past 14 years, each time only managing to break even and eventually having to go back to the 9-5 arena of working for others.
I have tried researching and applying every technique I could read about. Man, there is so much absolute CRAP out there! It's just like religion and politics, so many people believe so ardently in false principles and then begin to teach preach and prophesy and establish websites and chat-rooms in the name of their false God. Sometimes there *are* unselfish speakers of truth that try and freely give (ie; "The Rumpled One" for one) and get censored and banned because hypocritical conflicts of interest of others. Yet, there *is* truth out there. And no one man (or vendor) has it all. I have learned "Correct Principles" and now I "Govern myself".
After researching and rejecting mumbo jumbo like Gann, Fibonacci (which only works because lots of people believe it works), Elliot Wave, AstroCycles, etc; I have settled on statistical regressive analysis on an intraday time frame using momentum to "scalp".
I now have great indicators and analysis techniques, but, actual trading in real time was still missing "something". I was dissatisfied with the risk:reward ratio of many of the trades I was taking in the limited time I have to trade in the morning prior to my 9-5 "job".
I have finally made a breakthrough after hearing about VSA from some webinar somewhere and started doing research. That's how I found this site. It was like finding a treasure that I had always believed existed, but thought it was hidden by some complicated magic and secrecy that you always hear about in some vendor's spiel. I bought a few of the recommended books on the TL review list dealing with tape reading and watched the videos by James. Wow. It was like someone turned the lights on in a dim room!! I have so many ideas that I have researched and implemented that WORK! I now know when NOT to take a trade because I can see the underlying up/down volume is not confirming. I only take FAT obvious trades in the limited time I have.
I would say that, if I had the cash funds to cover the bills for 6 months (recent divorce settlements really puts a damper on things, eh?), I could trade for a living right now. However, being the prudent man that I have become (this isn't the first time I've tried this), I will probably go full time in the next 6 months as my trading account slowly grows to allow placing a large sum in a savings account.
To James (for contributing and controlling this website) and SO MANY OF YOU that unselfishly share yourselves here so often to help others like me. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
Bob Perry,
Los Altos, CA