Author: Tim Sykes

I've become a millionaire through trading. And I've taught other people the ins-and-out of trading. To be a successful trader it takes hard work, study, and dedication. I don't know if you have the desire, the dedication, or the drive to become a self-made self-sufficient trader. What I do know is that IF you do then you'll get there faster by seeing what worked for me.

What Is a Dead Cat Bounce?

By Tim Sykes•

What the heck is a dead cat bounce … other than a morbid band name? (Sorry, music fans, that’s just not my beat.)

I’m talking, of course, about the dead cat bounce in relation to the stock market. It’s a stock chart pattern that can occur with some downward trending stocks.

Market downtrends aren’t great. But here’s the thing … The dead cat bounce isn’t all bad, even if the name’s a bit grim.

Today, I’ll give you the lowdown on the dead cat bounce pattern — what it is, how to spot it, and how you can use it.

Thinking about joining my Trading Challenge? Consider this a free lesson. And the more you know about chart patterns, the better you can use them in your trades. Let’s do this!

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Copycat Trading: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

By Tim Sykes•

When I talk to students about copycat trading, I’m quick to point out that there are different kinds of ‘copycat’ strategies.

Some people want to actually piggyback on every single trade that somebody else makes. That ‘strategy’ (if you can call it that) is kinda doomed to disappoint, because of lag time and a slew of other factors.

But if you learn to copy someone’s overall style and principles instead … that can have value.

So I teach my Trading Challenge students the downside to a ‘copycat’ scenario: You’re still operating blindly as someone’s follower. You could say you’re trading according to what you see this person doing.

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Understanding The Pattern Day Trader Rule (and Trading Around It)

By Tim Sykes•

So you want to jump into the stock market and be a day trader.

Problem is a little something called the pattern day trader rule that can restrict the number of trades you can make within a certain time frame. There is an exemption … but you need an account balance of at least $25,000.

This is a rule new traders seem to struggle with the most, and I get a ton of messages about it. (Quick side note … this rule maybe isn’t so bad. More on that shortly.)

Here’s the thing: There are ways to avoid the pattern day trader rule that can allow you to start trading with far less than $25,000 in your brokerage account. I didn’t have anywhere near that amount when I was first getting started. Many of my students in my Trading Challenge start with just $1,500 or $3,000.

In this article, I’ll cover exactly what the pattern day trader rule is and how to start trading without it getting in your way.

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Using Sympathy Plays in This IPO Frenzy

By Tim Sykes•

Lyft, Pinterest, Uber, Airbnb … 2019 is shaping up to be a big year for startup tech IPOs.

These big companies can generate a lot of hype by deciding to go public. Traders wanna grab as many shares as possible before prices start to skyrocket. IPO announcements can be big news catalysts.

But buying into the hype isn’t always smart. We see it all the time — after an initial spike, prices start to fall once the hype dies down. That doesn’t mean it’s always a bad idea, but you’re playing with fire with high-risk trades like these.

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My Favorite Brokers for New Stock Traders

By Tim Sykes•

When you’re ready to start trading, you can get overwhelmed fast. So I decided to share some of my favorite brokers . 

The thought of landing a hot stock can get your blood pumping. You’re ready to pounce … But you can’t quite follow through.

What’s the problem? Enthusiasm alone isn’t enough. You need to be prepared. You need to master your mindset, develop a solid trading plan, and use the right tools.

Even if you decide to join my Trading Challenge, you’ll need more knowledge. What you know is only as powerful as you can put it to use. And you need tools that can help you thrive.

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Seasonal Stocks: How to Take Advantage of Seasonal Stock Market Trends

By Tim Sykes•

Much like nature, the stock market likes to repeat seasonal trends.

These trends mean that individual stocks will repeat the price movements they had in previous years.

If an individual stock has traditionally had a strong January for the past 10 years, can you guess what it’s going to do this upcoming January?

It’s probably going to have another strong month!

The key for you, as a trader, is to find these stocks BEFORE they make their seasonal move.

Here’s more what seasonal stocks are, why they matter, and how you can use them to gain your edge in the market.

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Trading Psychology: 8 Ways to Master Your Mind

By Tim Sykes•

What’s the most important tool in trading?

It’s not your laptop, software, broker, the watchlists you follow, or even the skills and techniques you’ve learned.

Your most important trading tool is your mind.

Why? Because your mind and how you think about yourself, trading, money, and success governs what you do when the markets are open.

A solid understanding of trading psychology can help you succeed in the markets. Without it, you’re simply throwing your money away — no matter how many chart patterns you know.

Need some pointers? Let’s dive in.

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My Secret Formula For Finding Penny Stocks Pre-Spike

By Tim Sykes•

Penny Stocks Pre-Spike

Traditional stock traders buy low and sell high …

My students take things one step further, both buying low and selling high, and then selling short when prices begin falling and buying to cover. This helps us make profits both on the way up and the way down.

But there’s one question you have to be able to answer to do this: How do I find penny stocks before they spike?

If you want to be able to go long and sell short, you have be able to identify when a stock is spiking.

If you don’t know that it’s going up, you’re still able to sell short at its peak — but then you’re only getting half of the profits. And if you can’t tell when the peak is happening, you risk getting squeezed on the position you’re holding long.

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37 Stock Market Terms Every Trader Should Know

By Tim Sykes•

I’m big on making sure you know the basics before you start trading … 

That’s why I encourage people to sign up for my Trading Challenge: You learn the basics first and then continue to expand on that knowledge throughout the program.

Here are some stock market terms that you must know if you want to be a strong trader. I also provide brief definitions of each to help you become familiar with them.

Learn them all. You’ll be glad you did.

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