Applied Reality Trading System (ART)
TradersCoach.com, Inc.
10755-F Scripps Poway Parkway, #477
San Diego, California 92131-1027
(800) 695-6188
Info@TradersCoach.com
www.TradersCoach.com
Overall Rating: THREE DISCS
Level: Beginner to intermediate.
Price: ART Home-Study Course download is $ 2,498.00 and hard copy is $3,498; charting software extra and does not include data feed.
Recommended System: Windows 2000, Windows XP, Vista 2.6 GHz Pentium 4 or compatible, Monitor(s) with 1024x768 resolution, 1 GB RAM (512K RAM can be used but not with multiple charts or programs open at the same time); 40 MB available hard disk space, DSL, cable modem, ISDN, T1 or T3 Internet connectivity and Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0.
Applied Reality Trading (ART) is much more than a trading system with buy and sell signals, it is a complete discretionary trading methodology. It provides a complete Home Study Course that first must be purchased to learn how to apply the methodology and the trader must also make an additional purchase or lease of the company’s charting software. ART can be used to trade bonds, forex, futures, options and stocks.
Getting started: FOUR DISCS
The Home Study course takes one month to complete. There is a lot of work for the trader to do. He has to learn a complete methodology and complete daily course homework. Any questions can be answered by phone, email, fax and video conferencing.
To install ART, you need to have one of the following trading platforms installed on your PC: TradeStation, eSignal or Ninja Trader. After obtaining the ART charting software the user needs to add the ART plug-in into their chosen platform.
Users must supply their own data, which may be purchased or provided free from online sources. ART is a black box system where the code for the actual major buy and sell signals are not disclosed.
However, ART is set up to provide the user with a complete understanding of this trading methodology. The Home Study course is well written and provides a variety of training materials, including training DVDs that give an overview of the system. Additional course materials include a workbook providing exercises to make sure that the trader grasps all of the concepts presented. These materials disclose all of their guiding principals and consist of teaching the trader aspects of trading specifically focusing on the concepts and techniques that apply to the ART methodology.
The charting software provides the trader with entry and exit points, clearly defined rules to enable the trader to catch trends and movable trail stops.
In addition, money management is thoroughly discussed along with risk control and trader psychology. Before any trade is placed, the trader already has a predetermined stop loss. However, the course and charting software do not provide backtest results on the system. Paper trading is recommended.
USING ART: FOUR DISCS
The primary way of identifying major trends is by using Bullish Primary and Bearish Primary Pyramid Trading Points. This is where the major trend for your time frame is shown. As such, trend traders get a clear picture of potential points on a chart to enter a position. In addition, other signals such as minor Pyramids can give information for scaling in and out of positions by increasing and decreasing trade size.
Also, there are signals to help with countertrend trading, scalping for smaller profits and helping the trader by defining a framework to catch trends early.
One focus of the software is that price and volume are the keys to trading, so the course teaches the trader to focus less on indicators and more on the realities of the market. Price tells you all of the information you need to know. Indicators are not stressed but can be used as a trader advances in the learning curve.
Also included with the software is a trade size calculator. This calculator helps determine the proper trade size and dollar risk per trade. As for technical support and customer service, all of my questions were answered promptly and clearly.
SUMMARY
There are numerous courses and trading systems in the market. What distinguishes ART from the competition is that all trades are based on price and volume, when volume information is available. That is the key. With the aid of the Home Study course and charting software, a strict framework is provided to enable the beginner to intermediate trader to incorporate all of the “best practices.” All aspects of trading are covered.
Rather than bog the trader down with tons of information, the Home Study course focuses on the exact information that can help the trader enhance skills by providing the structure and framework so that every trade is well thought out. Position sizing, risk management, trailing stops to lock-in profits are all included in this methodology.
While the trader can mix and match with different time frames and vary methods based on his own preferences, the ART staff provides exceptional support so that the trader can achieve their potential and can feel comfortable knowing that before each trade is taken, all the risk management procedures are in place.
Lawrence M. Seldin, CMC, CPC, has been involved with trading futures, options and currencies since 2002. He trades long term and short term for his own trading accounts. He can be reached at larry@seldin.net or www.seldin.net.