MasterTheGap.com welcomes: Andrew from Boston

How long have you been trading and what do you trade primarily? (stocks, ETFs, futures indices, commodities, etc.)

I've been a student of the market for over 20 years and an active trader since 1994.  I currently trade full time from my home.  My primary trading vehicles are ES, TF, and NQ futures as well as option strategies involving selling option premium.

How long have you been a member of MasterTheGap.com?

18 months….or long enough to know the Scott's ‘Free Ham' story and State Fair ‘Massage' story

What do you value the most regarding the MTG service and how long did it take for you to start having success or getting value from using MTG?

I value MTG because in an investor education industry full of charlatans, it is so very refreshing to find a service where the proprietors (Scott and Tim)

• Are the real deal
• Display a humble attitude
• Focus on risk management
• Focus on creating your own rules based on probabilities
• Provide a service that consistently produces profitable results

It took me about 3 months to effectively incorporate MTG probabilities into my trading.

How do you use the Gap and/or First Hour Guides at MTG? (we are looking for your high-level process: are you strictly mechanical or do you have other triggers, filters etc. that you use? )

My gap trades are similar to what Scott talks about in the trading room.  I don't take all the trades he does but most of them fit my criteria.

On the First Hour Guides I look at the setups on the ES with 55% win rate and 1.1 profit factor.  If one of the setups (ie High Breakout) has 55/1.1, then I will look at the SPY high breakout numbers.  If the SPY has less than 50% AND less than 1.0 PF then I will not do the trade.  In other words, the SPY and ES cannot be conflicting.  This rule is similar to the no ‘mixed opening directions' rule I have for the gap.

Next, I look at the setup (ie in this example High Breakout) in the 7 other futures and ETFs.  Since markets are highly correlated, I would like to see neutral to positive high breakout numbers in the other markets.  If 4 of the other 7 setups have 50% AND 1.0 PF numbers then I will do a 25% position size trade.  If 5 meet the criteria it will be a 50% size, 6 = 75% and if all 7 agree then full position size.  

I have a few discretionary rules that keep me out of various trades (triggering at extremes near 1030am, trigger after noon eastern) but overall the system above is what I do.

Are there any other tools or services from MTG that you've used and found particularly helpful? (e.g. MTG Wizard, MTG Gap Fader, MTG Range Trader, Price Guides, Gap Studies, etc.)

I have invested in Range Trader but have not started using it yet.

Any suggestions or words of wisdom for new MTG members?

If you are NEW, take it from someone who has been around this business 20 years and has pretty much seen everything when it comes to education services.  My opinion is you will never find a service better than what you have in front of you right now.  Scott and Tim are the real deals.  This service and the trading room are by far the best I have come across in 20 years.

If you are new to investing, don't kid yourself.  You are going to pay.  You are EITHER going to pay with  A LOT of time, effort, frustration, and losses in the market OR you are going to pay to get properly educated.  My belief is whichever route you choose, there is a certain amount of money that is going to go out the window.  It can either be in the form of losses….which result in most people quitting and never coming back.  Or it can be in the form of education that sets the correct foundation and gives you a chance to make more money than you ever thought possible from the market.

The reason I am such a big proponent of Scott and Tim is that they focus so much time and energy on risk management and money management.  That is absolutely the key to success in the market.  However, most educators find it difficult to market ‘risk management'   It isn't sexy and doesn't sell.  So, most educators hype results and how ‘right' they are (which should be your first clue that the service is likely going to blow up more accounts than help).   MTG does things the right way.

My strongest suggestion to anyone new to the service is to invest 3 months to 6 months in the trading room itself.  You will hear exactly what I am talking about above and you will know the integrity of this service.  Plus, you will see just how good some of the traders in that room really are.  It's a great community.  After that time, you can then decide whether you just want to keep the data plan or continue on with the trading room.  That investment of time and money will save new traders much time and money long term as they set the foundation correctly early on. 

Other interests / comments?

I'm a big fan of being a dad to my 4 kids and a husband to my extraordinary wife.  I married way, way up.  Play guitar.  Love dogs.  Voracious reader.  I once saw a gravestone that read “As you stand there now, so stood I” and it impacted me greatly.  I aim to live a purpose driven life with no regrets….and I am completely and totally fascinated and enthralled by the markets.  Always surprises and you can never learn enough.

What is your favorite quote?

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Philippians 4:13

(Full Disclosure: this information was submitted verbatim by the member, in return, two months was credited to their account. Email me: scott@masterthegap.com if you are interested in participating in the Member Spotlight program.)