Sam Seiden
Online Trading Academy Instructor
Sam brings over 15 years experience of equities, forex, options and futures trading which began when he was on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. He has traded equities, futures, interest rate markets, forex, options, and commodities for his personal interests for years and has educated hundreds of traders and investors through seminars and daily advisory services both domestically and internationally. Sam has been involved in the markets since 1991 both on and off the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. He has served as the Director of Technical Research for two trading firms and regularly contributes articles to industry publications. Sam is known for his trading, technical research, and educational guidance.
Points of interest:
• Chicago Mercantile Exchange Floor
• Author of Market Advisory Letters
• Fund Manager/CTA
• Speaker to Investment Groups, Universities, and Private Seminars
• Contributing Author for Stocks, Futures, and Options Magazine, Active Trader Magazine, and Futures Magazine
• Trading and Investment Conference Speaker
Ed Ponsi
Online Trading Academy Forex Instructor
Ed Ponsi is a globally recognized name as a lecturer and teacher and is the former Chief Trading Instructor for Forex Capital Markets. An experienced professional trader and money manager, Ed has advised hedge funds, institutional traders, and individuals of all levels of skill and experience. Ed has appeared on CNBC, CNN International and TheStreet.com, and has recently written his first book for Wiley Finance.
You will gain an excellent perspective of the Forex markets and how to trade them, and a bonus education in using Fibonacci methods in your trading.
Josip Causic
Online Trading Academy Options Instructor
Before starting his professional trading career as an LLC, Josip was an educator. He taught English at the University of Toronto, and, since his relocation to the United States has also taught science and math at various private and public institutions. During this period Josip also completed an additional degree at Cal State Fullerton. Later, after being accepted to UC Riverside, he interviewed several of his future professors and role models. In his own words: "I was completely disillusioned, as most were financially insecure despite their extensive education. Obtaining a doctorate certainly does not equal financial stability."
It was this revelation that caused Josip to change course, investing time, energy, and resources into becoming financially literate. At first Josip's trading style revolved around the CANSLIM method, a combination of fundamental and technical analysis. Yet it was only after his encounter with former market makers that he merged his retail trading experience with the methods used by floor traders. At this juncture he came to Online Trading Academy for fine-tuning because Online Trading Academy instructors are all market professionals. He bought all the programs Online Trading Academy offered with the intention of becoming a member of the instructor pool.
Josip is very excited to collaborate with Online Trading Academy, for he strongly believes in the mission of transforming lives. He has stated his firm belief that any student-trader who is both willing and open-minded to embark on a journey of personal growth through trading will mature beyond his wildest expectations. He goes on to conclude that those traders who are persistent enough to adapt to the constantly changing economic landscape will become examples for future young traders the world over.
Gabe Velazquez
Online Trading Academy E-Minis Instructor
Gabe got his start in the markets as a broker trainee for Paine Webber, a mere 3 months before the market crash of 1987. He witnessed the gut wrenching fear of investors during that time period and the wild speculative euphoria of the late 90's. That experience brought to light the importance risk management plays in trading and investing. In fact, it's greatly influenced the way he trades today.
He spent 15 years as a stock and commodities broker, conducting technical analysis seminars through-out Southern California. After many years of managing other people's money, Gabe now concentrates full time on trading his own portfolio and teaching. Students will benefit from his first hand experience of daily involvement in the market. He brings with him an acute awareness and understanding of how the markets really work. Articulating this knowledge clearly, succinctly, and with enthusiasm is something students can appreciate. This gift for communicating was honed through many years of public speaking, and can be seen in his classroom teaching and in his weekly E-mini newsletter.
Don Dawson
Online Trading Academy Commodity Futures Instructor
Don has been trading the futures markets for 20 years. His perseverance through the ups and downs of trading, openness to experience of others, balanced tolerance for risk and patience to wait for his setups are a few of his strengths as a trader.
Don obtained his series 3 license in 1990. Soon afterwards he registered as a Commodity Trading Advisor with the National Futures Association and formed his company Majestic Futures. He has been a guest speaker on Technical Analysis at Johns Hopkins University and a guest speaker on Business of Trading Radio Show in Washington, DC.
He continues to actively trade his personal account on a daily basis when not teaching for Online Trading Academy. His teaching method has been referred to as "down to earth". He understands the students need for a structured environment in the early stages of their trading education. He uses humor to convey information in an accessible way.
He is excited about sharing his passion for trading with others. A quote he likes is "A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle". He is now looking for a balance in life between trading and teaching others what he has learned from 20 years of trading. He acknowledges that the best teacher is a student – always in learning mode and wanting to learn more by teaching. He looks forward to working with each of you in one of his Futures classes.
John Mauldin
Published Author and Recognized Market Expert
As a recognized expert and leader on investment issues, Millennium Wave Investments president John Mauldin is primarily involved in private money management, financial services, and investments. John is a prolific author, writer and editor of the popular Thoughts from the Frontline e-letter which goes to over 1,000,000 readers weekly, and is posted on numerous independent websites. He is also a frequent contributor to other financial publications, including the Fleet Street Letter and The Daily Reckoning. His book, "Bulls-Eye Investing", explains to investors why we are in a secular bear market, and then show them how to find absolute returns in a variety of funds and investments, including, but not limited to hedge funds.
Brandon Wendell
Online Trading Academy Senior Instructor and Trader Mentor
Brandon has appeared as a guest on CNBC Asia's Cash Flow and conducted special seminars for CNBC staff on technical analysis of the financial markets. He has published articles in The Trader's Journal Magazine and was interviewed in Share Investor Magazine. Brandon was also an industry expert speaker at the Asia Traders and Investors Conference 2008.
As a former stockbroker, brokerage trader, and hedge fund trader, Brandon brings various market views and insight to his trading classes and lectures. A wealth of knowledge, he has held NASD securities series 7 and 63 licenses. An Online Trading Academy graduate himself in 1998, Brandon has been trading equities, options, forex, and futures in his own account since. Brandon taught for Online Trading Academy in 1999 to 2001 before becoming a Realtor and commercial mortgage broker also managing a venture capital firm. Returning to the Online Trading Academy family late 2005, he now balances trading, teaching and a real estate career. Brandon is also a member of the Market Technicians Association and holds the Chartered Market Technician Designation.
