Singing Pig

Hi all, For those interested in learning about trading I have just recently completed the Darren Winters investment seminar. More details can be found at http://www.wintersinvestmentnetwork.com/events.html. I found the course to be excellent and to cover alot of material in the two days. Typical price for the course is 1450 - but two people can go for this and includes 3 videos, 1 CD and course guide (200 page manual). If you are interested then it is well worth attending the free seminar as you should learn some information solely from this and can decide if you want to progress further. They offer an incentive if you refer a friend or relative and they subsequently book for the course. As a win win situation I would offer anybody who wanted to take up the offer 200 pounds off the course if they used me as the referral. This means that two of you can go for 1250 - so just over 600 each (or probably one would pay more and keep all the CD's/videos). This is excellent value for a first class two day seminar. If you know nothing about shares and trading you will learn loads. If you know some I am sure you would still learn more. For anyone interested details are as follows: Next Free Tutorials: 19th, 20th, 23rd & 25th March Next Paid Seminar: 5-6 April 2003 To Register: Tel: 0870 112 0314 OR Email: Tutorial@WintersInvestmentNetwork.com For me to qualify for commission the referral must book through one of the contact numbers/email above and quote M3 and my name (Paul Cowen) Cheers Paul

Hey there John, I've been trading part time for a couple of years and I am focusing on learning/implementing a strict clear strategy rather then the odd punt! Agreed good idea - what sort of strategy do you currently use? - fundamental, technical, mechanical or a combination? I've been tempted by this course and agree the free seminar did have some useful information in its own right (rare I'm sure). My impression of this course is that it includes a number of trading strategies and fundamentals however could I get these anyway if I had time to research ...still not too sure... what is your impression? Well I have read many books and have bought seminars on CD (from clickevents...) but found that this was a good way to consolidate all the information over one weekend. It is mainly technically based with information on indicators, moving averages, continuations, reversals and covers a number of "power strategies". It also looks at psychology and how to lower risk with stops... I went back over my portfolio and found mistakes I had made when I bought. It also serves as good motivation. I am going to their monthly club on Monday (You get first meeting free when you go on course (usually 30 pounds)). If you want to come along then drop me an email (p.cowen@ntlworld.com) but will have to pay 30 pounds unfortunately. It should be interesting and you would get a chance to talk to other people who have been on the course. I am also due to do the New Skills training which won the Shares Magazine best training award. I am doing a total of 5 day seminars over 5 months. I'm also considering the turtling trader strategy, have you had any exposure to this? I'm currently reading New Market Wizards which has a section about Turtle Trading and have read some about them before. Also there is an interview with the guy who had the bet that trading couldn't be taught (and was proved wrong). Also had you a good knowledge of trading before the course? Would it work for beginners as well as a little more experienced? The course is intended to be for all audiences - it has 2 hours at the beginnning which covers the basics which is optional (many more experienced traders turned up later). I went with a woman called Jean who has no trading experience and think she got a lot out of it. I would say probably half of the audience had no prior trading experience. You are welcome to come down and see me and have a chat about trading if you like as sure we could both learn something from each other. I live in Bishops Stortford and hope to make a living from trading and property investment. I am currently using comdirects virtual trading game to test out strategies (100,000 virtual money) So many questions so little time ... No probs - if you have any other questions go ahead Cheers Paul

Hi Paul, I've been trading part time for a couple of years and I am focusing on learning/implementing a strict clear strategy rather then the odd punt! I've been tempted by this course and agree the free seminar did have some useful information in its own right (rare I'm sure). My impression of this course is that it includes a number of trading strategies and fundamentals however could I get these anyway if I had time to research ...still not too sure... what is your impression? I'm also considering the turtling trader strategy, have you had any exposure to this? Also had you a good knowledge of trading before the course? Would it work for beginners as well as a little more experienced? So many questions so little time ... Thanks John

Hi Paul thanks for the reply ! My trading strategy has been an indiscriminate mix of fundamental, mainly technical and some instinct (whatever that is but e.g. Ive followed Lloyds TSB for a few years). I realised I needed a clearer strategy when: Id trade and think why did I really do that? Fortunately for me I sold a bit before the recent falls to re-trade and then just kept in cash because I watched a lot of stocks fall. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Ive read a few books on trading and technical trading (including options and what Darren calls power covered calls (are they more powered than normal CCs?) but thats about it. (Although I have worked in the investment banking industry in IT for a few years so I know the basics)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Already the link to clickevents.co.uk has been most useful so thanks for that!<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> It would be interesting to go to a club meeting. The fact that they can meet up, share ideas etc does give me some confidence because it means people arent just on their own once the course finishes. (As an aside the turtle trading course is $1000 and the website is very informative.)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> My final question is do you feel the course has enabled you to have a more informed and controlled trading strategy (or strategies)? Have you made any money out of it (whether actual or virtual) Im not asking for amounts obviously just a feel as to what youve learnt is useful in practice as well as theory.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I also invest in property part time and love the passive income side to it (thats what I like about covered calls)and one of my goals is to have a robust trading strategy which I can practice alongside the other businesss Im involved in.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Thanks for you reply and the info.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> John <o:p></o:p>

Hi again, My friend too regularly follows Lloyds - he is waiting for price to go back up - this was before I told him about stop losses which he now uses. Agreed having money in cash is often the best strategy. I had some money with a broker and they lost 20% of my portfolio. Say you have 10,000 pounds and lose 20% then you have lost 2000. To get back to 10,000 you have to make 25% (25% of 8000 = 2000). I think Darren covered this in his free seminar. I think that covered calls is one of his power strategies and are no different from normal covered calls. He also covers another options strategy whereby if you think there will be a big price change but don't know direction you can buy a call and a put at the same time. Have you had any luck with this technique? Glad you found website useful :) Reading my book I find it surprising that there is a proper turtle trading course. The guy who wrote the book Jack Schwager tried to interview many of the people who had been taught and all were very tight lipped and have signed a non disclosure agreement. Many of the people with the best results managing funds are turtle traders. To be honest I have found few examples of strong continuation patterns or reversals recently - but think we will see some fairly soon when a decision has been made about war. My virtual portfolio is doing okay - I have only just completed the course so haven't had much time to devote to it. Stocks I have bought recently are Royal Bank of Scotland (up 37p (2.55%) today), Vodafone (down .5p today (0.43%), Six Continents (up 11p (2.12%) today) and AWG (up 9p (1.73%) today) - so not too bad a track record. I am just going to take a look at BT as Citywire has a positive article about them and see whether to buy at limit tomorrow. The course does teach a core strategy and a number of power strategies. The core strategy involves finding strong companies in strong sectors with good charts. Depending on what the shares are doing you will use different indicators... If you can find somebody to go with I think you'll find it is worth the money. I haven't taken a look at the videos or CD's but the manual is of good quality and you also get a copy of the reversal patterns, continuation patterns and settings to use for charting. If you or anybody else is interested in coming along on Monday then let me know and I will check that you can come along without having to pay any membership fees... just the standard 30 pounds. Cheers Paul

Hi Leanne, I think the idea of his seminars is to consolidate all the information he has gained by reading many books, attending many seminars, trading with and talking to top traders and his own experience of trading. The good thing about doing a seminar is that it motivates you to do trading and also there is a trading club which should keep your enthusiasm up. Also there is so much information out there that it is difficult to know what really works and what doesn't - you could read a book about gann or elliot wave but 2 people would interpret the same chart completely different. You could read a book on technical indicators but which of those are reliable over 50% of the time - which are the most reliable and which are the ones to discard. Agreed it is alot of money. I am also attending the New Skills training which is nearer 245 for a day of training and there are 5 days. This training company won the Shares Magazine best Investor training company and the guy has got a disctinction from the STA (Society of Technical Analysts) so he knows what he is talking about. I think that if you were to go alone then paying 1450 for a course is a bit excessive but if you have two people who want to go then it is more reasonable. As mentioned I would offer a further 200 pounds off so two people could go for just over 600 each which I think represents very good value for money for the amount you learn and you would both get a 200 page manual which is easy to follow. Also there are 3 videos and 1 CD which sell separately for 1000 (or about 500 if you have attended the two day seminar as a guest). You also get membership to the traders club and first meeting is free. I think the information I have learnt is useful but haven't really been trading from it long enough to be able to be statistically significant. Cheers Paul P.S If anybody is interested in attending a couple of free seminars (one on CFD's and one on technical trading) run by Hargreaves Lansdowne in central London then drop me an email (p.cowen@ntlworld.com). CFD's are a good method of making money in both rising and falling markets as you can do a put (sell a share you don't own) to take advantage of a fall in price.

I went to the free seminar and one of his ideas was to buy the lowest stock in the FTSE etc. - I don't know very much about trading shares but I do already have the book Beating the Dow that this strategy is based on and it cost less than a tenner. I am wondering how much of the information is Darren Winters' own, and how much is stuff he has gleaned from other people, ie are you spending 1000 when you could have got the same info for 50 from Amazon? Of course he has added value by packaging it, knowing which bits to include, and speaking about it live as opposed to the printed page, but personally I'd rather take the 950 difference if possible. Cheers, Leanne

Hi there John, great nickname, where does that come from? Stewart