MasterTheGap.com welcomes: Hal from California

1.  How long have you been trading and what do you trade primarily? (stocks, ETFs, futures indices, commodities, etc.)
I'm a long time stock investor but that relates very little to trading. I started full time trading in October 2006. I traded equities for the first two years and started trading futures in the fall of 2008. I primarily trade the S&P 500 emini. Occasionally I trade the Russell futures. In a separate account I sell option premium. I do discretionary day trading in the futures as well as the gap.

2.  How long have you been a member of MasterTheGap.com?
I met Scott Andrews at a Traders Expo in the spring of 2008 when he was a presenter. We still laugh about the fact I cornered him after his presentation and gave a thorough cross examination. He had a different approach to the gap trading than other educators but his methods made sense to me. Scott is an Army veteran and so am I. I perceived him to be of high integrity. (Unlike a lot of other educators.)  I became a member the following year.


3.  How long did it take for you to start having success or getting value from using MTG? What do you value the most regarding the MTG service?
I did simulated trading at first to get comfortable with the trade execution part of the process. I was profitable in the first month of live trading. I especially get value from Scott's stream of consciousness process while he is evaluating a live trade. I have learned more about how trading really works from listening to Scott analyze a trade than I have learned from all the webinars and seminars I have attended combined.

4.  How do you use the Gap and/or First Hour Guides at MTG?
I use the futures gap guides. I print them out the night before trading. I use color markers to designate my rating of each zone. Red for avoid, yellow for neutral and green for tradable I rate the ES, YM, NQ and the TF. I look for consistency among the zones. I wait to see what Scott's observations are in the morning. I use Scott as a check to see if there is anything I've missed. I do take trades Scott skips and visa versa. I use the first hour guides and trade them mechanically.

5.  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 took a mentorship with Scott in 2009. It was hard to wrap my mind around taking a large potential stop out for a relatively small gain. After the mentorship and using MTG gap fader it became an internalized belief system.  I am currently using the MTG gap fader to develop a system trading method.

I use MTG Wizard to understand the mathematics of trading. I found/find it very helpful. I used it almost every day for the first few months after I purchased it. The Wizard lead to the saying “write the check to the market”. By that I mean, I've fully accepted the risk of the trade.  Just like everybody else I wanted to tinker with the trade. I believe the tinkering is a result of not accepting the potential loss.

6.  Any suggestions or words of wisdom for new MTG members?
The MTG crew Scott, Tim and Chris are the real deal. They truly want you to succeed.  This is a long term process and not a phony get rich quick scheme. If you are willing to do the work and understand the guides, I believe you will make money.

7. How did you get into trading? What's your background, prior career, etc.?
I was an attorney/businessman before I started trading.  AARP recommends doing crossword puzzles to stay mentally active in retirement so I started trading instead! I started as an undergraduate in electrical engineering and ended up going to law school. I need to be doing some work and I am not capable of sitting around. I enjoy trading very much. I hope to trade at least another 20 years. (That will make me 94 when I quit.)  I live on the west coast, the alarm clock goes off at 4:30AM so I have time to exercise before the market opens.

8. What's your favorite quote?

“The first rule of holes: When you're in one stop digging.” by Molly Ivins  I have the quote framed and it hangs on the wall. It was more applicable 3 years ago when I was sure I was right and the market was all wrong.

9. Anything else, you'd like to share with us about you? (interests, hobbies, unique talents, awards, favorite book, etc.)
Reminiscences of a Stock Operator by Edwin Lefevre is an old book about the life of Jesse Lauriston Livermore and a must read. The Disciplined Trader and Trading in the Zone both by Mark Douglas are very good on the psychology of trading. Beating the Financial Futures Market by Art Collins for system development.

I have recently taken up gardening as a hobby and find it helpful to take small breaks during the trading day to visit the garden. Deadheading flowers or just looking restores my balance when I come back in to trade.

I have a purpose built trading room and a number of MTG traders have joined me in trading the gap.  Everytime I've learned something about trading from the experience of interacting with MTG traders. The traders in the virtual trading room are very polite and helpful. No silly talk but just exchanging valuable trading information and ideas. Some of the traders have a good sense of humor and it is fun to read their posts.