M.W., this last comment really made me pause and think.
I occasionally view presentations at Traders Conferences and usually find the ones employing technical analysis to be interesting to watch. As I understand it, each presenter is selling a service of some kind such as direct mentoring/coaching, video trading courses, books on trading, a buy-and-sell signal service, etc. I haven't bought any of the offered materials or courses, but have enjoyed the TA discussions.
I have never seen a presenter mention in their talk that they are a profitable trader and that data/evidence/documentation is available to demonstrate it. They frequently talk about the fact that they have been involved in the markets for decades and are very experienced, but don't state specifically that they make money trading every year or even in most years. (apologies to any presenters who may have done this and I didn't see it)
In the past some posters on ET have suggested that there are legal reasons for a trading instructor to avoid stating clearly that they trade their own accounts and are profitable and that evidence of it can be made available.
This doesn't sound right, though, as it seems more likely that the legal restrictions are focused on not guaranteeing that students will be profitable and generally not being deceptive in their sales pitches.
I would note that one trading book I've read that did this was by Stanley Kroll, where he opened the book by showing broker's statements demonstrating that he trades and is profitable.
So, back to M.W.'s comment: a new traders conference was held this past week that had several presentations each day for five days. A list of the first three days' speakers is attached below. Some of them have been around a long time and are quite well known.
If any of these individuals is a profitable trader of their own account(s), it would be logical and helpful for recruiting new students to state this explicitly and provide access to evidence that it's true (while making sure to follow all applicable laws regarding revelation of such matters).
"Certainly nobody would hide a positive track record if they had one."
If none of the potential mentors indicate that they have a positive track record, is it possible that this really is an indication that they do not trade profitably...
or are the meticulous legal scholars correct that there are reasons why they don't mention this...
