since we know that all trading courses are bullshit, what would you actually look for in one?

[helpme_please]

Video testimonials definitely can't be faked. coughfiver.comcough.

Don't trust testimonials. Some students are given incentives to give good testimonials. Like discounts on course price, free books ... Well-known trick in the training industry.
The only thing you can trust is long-term (10 years) track record showing all the past transactions, including all the losers. These trainers selectively show their biggest winners to sell their course. Don't fall into this trick. Look at their losers too, especially their biggest losers. It gives you a clue how they manage their risk.

 

[themickey]

Don't trust testimonials. Some students are given incentives to give good testimonials. Like discounts on course price, free books ... Well-known trick in the training industry.
The only thing you can trust is long-term (10 years) track record showing all the past transactions, including all the losers. These trainers selectively show their biggest winners to sell their course. Don't fall into this trick. Look at their losers too, especially their biggest losers. It gives you a clue how they manage their risk.

The problem with 10 years track record, most traders in that time will have changed their strategy therefore the record is not a true measure.
As time goes on, most dedicated traders will be improving, 10 years ago their track record could have been substandard.
My trading today is nothing like it was 2 years ago.

 

[Fonz]

You can buy 100 courses on trading and never understand the essence of trading. If you don't have the risk tolerance, understand odds(tail risk, sample size), and the importance of decision making, your library of books, CDs, and software is just wallpaper decoration.

If I had to "start over," I would focus on books that teach:
3) Understand the odds and what leads to positive expectancy.

Any suggestion?
For some reason, I can't find one in my personal collection.. I really agree with the importance of understanding the odds and what leads to positive expectancy.

 

[MattZ]

Any suggestion?
For some reason, I can't find one in my personal collection.. I really agree with the importance of understanding the odds and what leads to positive expectancy.

You don't need a book. Google the term.

You need to understand positive expectancy as a concept, and then build your own method around this concept. Books don't teach methods to make money, the good ones give you good tools and concepts.

 

[Fonz]

You don't need a book. Google the term.

You need to understand positive expectancy as a concept, and then build your own method around this concept. Books don't teach methods to make money, the good ones give you good tools and concepts.

You said: "f I had to "start over," I would focus on books that teach:
3) Understand the odds and what leads to positive expectancy.

Google the term..?
Sure.

 

[MattZ]

You said: "f I had to "start over," I would focus on books that teach:
3) Understand the odds and what leads to positive expectancy.

Google the term..?
Sure.

Fair enough.

I looked at a variety of books that discuss sample sizes and stats.
I just get too in-depth at times while glancing over stuff that gets too "heavy". I just suggested the lookup the term first on the net to see if you want to take it further. Remember when I started there wasn't so much stuff on the net, so at times I still refer to "books". Today you can get really in-depth with published research and articles.

Here is an article we created that addresses some of the skills day traders utilize. I hope it helps.

https://optimusfutures.com/tradeblog/archives/day-trading-futures-benefits