E-mini Trading: Why Do Trading Courses Have To Be So Expensive?

By Author: David Adams
Total Articles: 41
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It is not unusual to stumble upon e-mini trading courses ranging in cost from $5000-$8000. By any standard, that is a heck of a lot of money. Of even greater concern, potential e-mini traders enroll in a course without knowing the exact content and effectiveness of the program they are starting. Needless to say, I encounter a great deal of dissatisfaction from members of my trading room over failures they have experienced in their e-mini trading experience. I also think that some courses are simply a bad “match” for certain students, while other courses of study are substandard.

Why do courses have to be so expensive?

This is not any easy question to answer, as every e-mini educator prices his course according to his or her needs. Is a course worth $8,000? Without naming names, with some of the talented and successful traders I know of or have met, I would say “yes.” This class of training is a distinct minority, say 5%, and then there is an overwhelmingly large class of coursework that ranges from mediocre to downright laughable. Therein, lies the dilemma for many potential e-mini traders; where ...
... to start their search to find quality e-mini trading education.

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing a trading course:

• The trading experience and expertise of the teacher of the e-mini trading course.
• Does the trading instructor have any institutional trading experience?
• Can you sit in on a series of trading room sessions to determine whether you are a good fit with this particular instructor? In other words, check the performance of the system you are being offered.
• Is the course curriculum in the mainstream of current trading thoughts?
• Is there some sort of guarantees with the course?

Of course, the next question is the most difficult one to answer; Is the quality of the course commensurate with the skill level and trading methodology worth what the owner of the course is asking? With a few exceptions, I don't think 98% of the courses offered are worth more than $2500. Even at that price, I would expect to get some personalized instruction from the instructor (and not one of his or her students). This is not necessarily an industry wide condemnation of all e-mini trading courses; but I am wary of courses that utilize an excessive number of indicators or oscillators, Elliott wave theory, Gann theory, Dow theory or a host of other empirically disproven trading methodologies. The evidence for my statement is overwhelming, and can be usually found in prominent trading publications and trading books.

In summary, I have pointed out that there are a large number of e-mini trading education courses that would appear to be overpriced. With a few exceptions, trading education should be priced at a level that is affordable to the client and profitable for the trading educator. I have also pointed out some of the pitfalls of enrolling in a course sight unseen; this is setting up you for disappointment in the long run. Finally I have stated that most courses, with a few exceptions, are not exorbitant amounts of money. Those courses on the upper end of my initial pricing structure are not better than courses one third of the cost. Choose your e-mini trading education with care; you are investing in yourself and your e-mini trading career.

Real Live Trading Doesn't Lie. Spend several days in my trading room and see if you can benefit from a fresh and unique view on trading e-mini contracts. Sign up for your free trading experience by clicking here.