You might have heard the old market saying that when you give your money to an expert to manage, the expert ends up with your money and you just end up being the expert. There is a lot of truth in that as far as I am concerned – giving my money to someone else to manage has seldom worked for me. That’s why I manage my own money and that’s why I think you should consider doing the same.

Over the past 20 years I have traded the stock market for myself as well as on behalf of a well-known international bank and a large hedge fund. My experience has given me a deep understanding of what is really going on in the City of London. The financial world is complex and often misunderstood. Before you can start trading it is essential to know what and whom you are dealing with.

The aim of my teaching is to provide a framework that increases your chances of making money out of trading or investing. However, before the real fun starts, you need to understand precisely how the financial system works, and where you fit in. If you want to be a trader, regard it as a sport that requires a lot of time and dedication in order even to have a chance of competing in the Olympic Games, not to mention the amount of effort and luck required to get there – and win a medal.

In a similar way profitable trading takes time and effort. First, you have to know the game you are playing, understand the environment, the rules and continuously be learning. It is a myth that working in the City is really complicated and that only a selected few can do it. You don’t need an MBA to be a successful trader, but you do need to be the right type of person – good luck!