1. Do you provide private wealth management services? How can I transfer money to you for management?
No, I do not offer discretionary asset management services to individuals and do not accept money from the public for trading or investing. However, I am open to cooperation on various issues with institutional market participants (banks, hedge funds, investment companies, etc.).
2. Where should I study trading and investing? How to choose a training program?
I would not recommend learning from bloggers and coaches who showcase a luxurious lifestyle (cars, apartments, travel) or those who became famous through some trading or investment reality shows but cannot provide at least 100 well-documented trades with good results.
Also, be cautious if someone only shows a few successful trades or isolated cases without a final report—this often means their next trades were losses, and they have no solid track record.
You should study where you can see a statement with a large number of trades, and profits should come not from a single trade but consistently over many trades. I also recommend training at proprietary trading firms, where real traders work, unlike brokerage firms that mainly provide market access. In brokerage firms, the focus is often on trading strategies that generate commissions for the broker rather than ensuring your profitability.
3. Do you offer trading courses? Do you have any trading and investment programs?
Yes, I conduct trading and investment courses, and I have a verified track record of successful market performance. You can also enroll in training at SILVER HOOF Trading, a proprietary trading company where I work and lead the EdTech (Educational Technology) division. The company’s website offers a wide range of educational programs, some of which I personally teach.
4. Is it true that professional traders don’t teach, and only bloggers and coaches—who have nothing to do with real trading—offer courses?
This is a myth. Education is a profitable business, so even if a professional trader or investor earns millions of dollars annually, they might still conduct training because education offers stable income without the high risks of trading.
Moreover, many professional traders use automated trading strategies (algorithms and trading bots), just like institutional market participants (investment banks, prop trading firms, hedge funds). This means that an experienced trader does not need to sit in front of the screens all day manually trading—they can pursue other interests, including running an educational business if they find it meaningful and interesting.
However, some traders may simply not be interested in teaching, interacting with beginners, or sharing their trading statistics.
5. Can absolutely anyone become a professional trader?
Most likely, no. Trading, like many other professions, requires a combination of certain qualities and skill development. However, unlike music or sports, where you can be a third-rate musician or athlete and still make a living, in trading, you will simply lose capital if you are not good enough.
6. How long does it take to become a professional trader?
I believe that for most people, it takes at least four years of intensive work to become a professional trader. Some may need 10–20 years, while others may never reach that level.
7. Which market is best for beginners in trading?
I recommend avoiding the FOREX market because it is the most challenging for beginners, both in terms of profitability and learning curve. It’s better to start with futures or stocks. Digital assets (cryptocurrencies and tokens) can also be interesting, but they differ significantly from traditional markets, so it may be best to start with traditional markets first.
8. Should I choose trading or investing?
Trading is essentially a full-time job that requires constant market analysis and decision-making every single day. Investing is more suitable as a side activity, requiring just a few hours per week. The success rate in trading is much lower than in investing, but professional traders earn far more than typical investors. If you have significant capital, investing is the better choice. If you start with a small amount, trading offers a better opportunity for growth.
9. Is it true that only investors make money, while traders are doomed to fail?
This is a myth. However, it is true that successful traders are rare, because trading is much harder than investing. Investors can simply buy shares of a stable company and wait 10–20 years for the price to increase due to inflation and revenue growth.
For example, in 1994, you could have bought shares of Procter & Gamble, a well-established company with predictable revenue, and 30 years later, the stock price would have increased 10x. In trading, it’s possible to increase capital 10x much faster, but the probability of success is much lower.
10. What is your opinion on cryptocurrencies and digital assets as an investment?
At this stage of market development, I see digital assets more as a tool for speculation rather than long-term investment. However, this may change over time.