Regards GERRY

PitMaster,

After purchasing/studying several other people's materials (Ken Roberts and
Larry Williams to name a few), I have to say that for money and value, GC2000
and Track 'n Trade are simply the best I've seen so far! The two programs go
hand in hand as Track 'n Trade also shows how to properly utilize GC2K in ways
I've not thought of before.

I will highly recommend Gecko's products to anyone serious about futures. It was very enlightening to say the least and I look forward to the release of GC2K 2.0 and a sequel to Track 'n Trade. Thank you for your well thought out programs and keep up the good work.

Carl.

Dear Carl,

Thank you very much for the kind words, its emails like yours that keep us going and working hard to please.

Sincerely,
The PitMaster

PitMaster,

I enjoy seeing your updates on the alert line, however I usually do not see them on the day they are written, sometimes they are 2 days old. Yesterday your Dec. 22nd one was not there, it did show up today. Do you know why they would be delayed? Keep helping us greenhorns out on trading. I have made one trade so far and lost on mar sugar. I got back in on the next 1,2,3 top which formed right after loosing 700.00 dollars, so far not much movement, I am hoping and praying it will continue down. Can't afford anymore bad ones. Thanks for putting this web page together.

Dear Greenhorn,

Our Market Tips section is usually updated two to three times a week. Most other popular, but unmentionable, alert line's are only updated once every week or two, we do our best to get the information out in a timely manner, but this site is a hobby for everyone involved, and sometimes our real jobs take priority over our hobbies. So therefore, even as a free hobby board, we beleive to be doing better than many organized "pay-for-what-you-get" business'. We apologize for the perceived delay, we will continue to try and update the information as quickly as possible.

Good luck with your future trades...

Sincerely, The PitMaster

PitMaster,

I want to say how nice it is to FINALLY find a Web site that is a positive on behalf of the TWMPMM course. I have had conversations with Brokers who have stated flat out that the KR course is no good and THEY don't like it. When asked specifically what they don't like it is answered "I've never looked at it I just don't like it." I think it is the fact that KR says minimize trading. I have been a student since Nov 97. I am paper trading have learning more each day.

Thanks again, I will definitely be coming to this site quite often. John

John,

Thanks for stopping by! Funny story: Once when I was looking for a new broker, I began having a conversation with a gentleman who, during the course of our discussion, mentioned that his firm did not like the way Ken Roberts traded and would not support his traders. So I pretended not to even know who Ken was, and continued by explaining in great detail what my particular trading strategy was. (I reiterated Ken's teachings to the T.) His reply: "Yup, that's just how we like to trade, we'll work out just great together."  He went on to offer me a lower commission rate than usual, he said I would not require as much hand holding as some of his other clients, "because I had such a good handle on the market."

People are so dumb sometimes. I think it goes without saying, this guy did not become my new broker... People who think they know everything really bother those of us who really do!

See ya later! The PitMaster

PitMaster,

I hope you don't mind this question and I assume you are not a CPA, but general advice would help. This my first year trading and since it's nearing the end of the year I started thinking about how to handle reporting my trading tax wise. Surprise, surprise, I lost money!

I've learned that I need to use Form 6781 and Schedule D, but after reviewing Form 6781 and it's instructions, I didn't find much useful information on just how to report. It's very confusing and offers little on just what to do. I used straight contract trades and bought option calls and puts (no straddles, mixed straddles, strangles, etc.).

The IRS help line was no help (dah), and my accountant is ignorant of this type of investment activity. Do you have any experience with this or know of a good plain language publication or source which would help. I think help with this subject would benefit many as does all the other material you have so graciously included at this site.

By the way I for one would be very interested if you were to detail the nuts and bolts of your trading strategies and methods. I don't mean as recommendations or actual trading advice on specific trades because I know how dangerous that can be, but in general terms.

Thanks, Stu

Hi Stuart,

Taxes, we all love'm don't we? It's the grease that runs the government...now you know why politicians are all such slippery buggers.

Sorry, I better not touch your tax questions with a ten foot pole -- I already get in trouble for my comments every time I turn around, if you know what I mean. (We are looking at getting some professional advice for tax purposes written and put on the www site though, watch for it, I hope it is helpful.

Plus, we do offer a section called Q&A, where you can submit your questions of a technical nature to one of our resident pro's.  I'm just simply an over exuberant trader with a great accountant.

As far as the nuts and bolts of my trading strategy goes, I simply do what Ken taught us in his courses. Although I do hold my stops a little closer in the beginning, and then as profits run, I hold them back a little further. This has, on occasion, caused me to get stopped out early on what could have been a potentially good trade, but it has also saved me tons of money on market reversals.

Also, I've noticed that almost every time I place a market order, I get burned, but almost every time I place a stop order, I make money. I like to simply straddle the trend with buy and sell stop orders, and let the market decide which way to go...then, I'm simply sitting there waiting for it with an order. Works well for me... I like narrow sideways channels, triangles, banner's and wedges. Indicators I can straddle. I watch 123 tops and bottoms, but they are far from my favorite. I've been burned on them too often. I'll wait for weeks and weeks and weeks for one of my favorite formations before placing an order, but they seem to come along often enough for me. I'll usually go fishing with an option on a 123 formation before committing a futures to it. My favorite stop indicator is the 50% retracement rule. If one 50% retracement has been met, I start a new one. 

Good Luck,
The PitMaster

Yo, Pitmeister.

Good idea, nice treatment. I too did the course, and subsequently read everything everywhere about everything to do with the markets.

Here's my main source of skepticism re KR, and in fact your site (though still young): not enough proof of success. I listened to the TWMPMM Alert Line for my standard issue 3 months. If all the suggested trades were taken, a person would have gone broke. That's why I didn't renew. I know much depends on individual strategy, but people like to see the results. I'd like to see even the best case scenario for a bad trade, and a weekly or monthly summary of P&L.

Your Market Tips section recommends some winners, some losers. Why not post results? You post position entries, but not exits. Where's the follow up? Where's the beef? I believe those records would answer all the newcomers' concerns about "Does it really work?" Other web traders bare it all - wins and losses. I respect that.

Also, where are all the KR success stories? You say they don't want to brag. Bullocks. Everybody likes to brag. I'm beginning to wonder if the big winners really exist, beyond the ones that Ken himself touts. With all the bad press he gets on the web, I'd sure like to hear from, or talk to, some who have truly made a success of the KR style for more than a week. Everyone's made millions papertrading. Everyone's gonna have a lot to say when they get rich. Wait til they get introduced to Mr. Slippage.

Even Ken himself. He showed us the zillion dollar check that went to income tax alone. Why doesn't he show us how much of that came from trading, and how much came from selling books? I have a good idea why.

And you, Master of the Pit. You did good in OJ. And cows. But what's your overall record? Nothing's sacred on the net. If you don't tell, we'll all question your success. I'll show you mine if you show me yours.

Now don't get me wrong. I love to trade, and I'm glad KR showed me how. After 4 months, my account is down $2000. But I won't give up. Trading is a rush. I'd just like to know how most KR students fare in the real markets.

One more thing - my contribution to all (a little skeptical, perhaps, but take heed): There's two ways to make a small fortune in the commodities markets: 1) Sell a trading system. 2) Start out with a large fortune.

Thanks for listening,

SM

Stephen,

Thanks for your comments and suggestions, I appreciate all types of input. We do not try and compete with anyone else, give statistics or prove our methods are better than anyone else's. If we did, that's all we would be doing all day; competing for accolades.

The reason we don't give a complete in and out of each market we suggest, is because you might get out at a different place than I would get out, so we simply point out regular everyday run of the mill recommended buy or sell points, then let you, the trader decide what you want to do with that information. I don't trade everything that is pointed out on our Market Tips, I pick one or two of the very best markets for me, trade them the way I want to, then get out when I feel like it. That may not be anywhere close to what you might do, therefore your account may be far different than mine.

There is nothing magical about anything we are doing, we don't have any smoking gun, some big secret weapon, or claim to have or ever claimed to have. We simply follow simple rules of trading and enjoy doing it, we are simple down to earth people enjoying what we do. For most of us, it is just a hobby.

It's not like I invented the commodities market, and now I need your participation to make it successful.  I don't give a damn if you trade of if you don't!  But, I am very concerned for uneducated people going out and trading the markets, because they will have their wheels ripped off and not even know what hit them.

I've been trading long enough to know I'm making money at it, I feel that I am successful, I don't feel the need to run around posting it on all the www sites that I made 6,000.00 last month in the commodities market, because I know people who made 14,000.00 last week alone and would say I was a bit of a failure. So what is good for one is not so good for another. Therefore we don't even try to accommodate everyone's whimsical requests for proof, and I also don't claim to have all the answers.

I recommend that you go get educated form a number of different sources, not just one or two.  Take a little initiative yourself, don't always expect someone to hand everything to you on a silver platter and say do step 1, do step 2, and then do step 3 -- Walla, your now rich.  You must think for yourself, do it yourself, no one else cares about your success more than you yourself.  Learn boy learn, teach yourself, don't take my word for it.

Thanks again,
The PitMaster

I am a former TWMPMM student, and a subscriber to the US Chart Company charts.

In the weekly charts, how are the open and closes calculated? It seems that the close is not equal to Friday's close, and the open is not equal to Monday's open. For example, on Friday, 12-12-97, December Silver closed at about 584 according to the chart. However, the week closed at about 577, according to the weekly chart.

Thanks,
John

John,

Each commodity has several contracts running simultaneously, for example each individual futures can have, for example: Dec., Jan., Feb., Mar., April., May., June. You can trade any one of these months you want all at the same time, each having different open and closes, each giving different technical signals at different times. They are, for the most part, very close and move very closely to the same. There are two different ways that you may see long-term charts displayed.

The first, and less likely to be used, method is to average all of the active contracts open and closes for that day, then chart that average on one chart.

The second and probably the more popular method is to simply start charting the next month after the front month expires. There will be a bit of a discrepancy on each jump to the next month, but nothing too serious. That is why a long-term chart will not look exactly like any single daily chart.

Thanks for you questions, I hope this is now at least as clear as mud.

The PitMaster

Pitmaster,

If I would of invested and followed your advise on your number #1 recommendations for the last 90 days and invested 1,000.00 on each one. How much would I have as of 12/12/97.

Honest Guy :)

Mr. Honesty,

I don't know, you must remember, each trader trades much differently. All our PitNews Market Tips do is point out possibilities, and then you decide where to be filled, where to place stop losses, and where to take profits. That's all individual trading, we cannot tell you where you would have taken profits at, or where you would have placed your stop loss orders.

Good Luck, The PitMaster

Hey there PitMaster. New to TWMPMM and to any type of investing, actually. I was curious about what you meant by day traders "scalping" the market? What did you mean by that? I thought that any trade that makes a profit is a good trade. Just Curious.

Sweeny Todd

With a name like Sweeny Todd, a guess scalping would fit your personality just fine!

Scalping is day trading, it's more gambling than what we like to do here at ThePitMaster.com, which is position trade. Day trading is very difficult, and very much more dangerous. Scalpers generally will try and get in and out of the market several times in one day, trying to catch a small market move. For most traders this is impossible because they do not have access to the second-by-second trading information, therefore they have to rely on their broker way too much. We just don't recommend it, that's all. It's just very very difficult to be successful over the long run for most traders. Maybe if your on the floor, you can be more successful at scalping.

Hope you have success, however you trade, position or scalp. Good luck.

Hello- I have been trading for approx. 2.5 months. So far I have about broken even. I really really want this to work. I have spent a great deal of time mastering the info; however when I read some of the stuff on your site (by the way thank you) I know I am still a novice. I just mainly want to know if perseverance will pay off. Have you made any money PitMaster? It seems that most people who are writing have made money paper trading and/or are very hopeful. I have found that although paper trading it good. There is the definite psychological factor when trading real money. I have been desperate for communication with others who are experienced and successful to act as mentors. Do you know of any interested people - people in the Dallas Fort Worth area would be great! If so please give me their names and numbers or email. I don't know anyone personally who is trading and I really want someone who understands the vocab etc. I am relieved at finding your site thank you truly . Am looking forward to hearing from you PitMaster. Happy Thanksgiving. Take it easy Genna

Genna,

Thank you for your e-mail, keep on keeping on, you will eventually catch a rising star. If your not in the market, you cannot succeed. Just keep breaking even, because eventually your going to catch one that takes you way ahead and it's those moves that keep us all in there. To answer your question, yes I make money at trading, but I have my losers too. Don't get discouraged. Commodities traders are a rare breed.

Thanks for your input.
The PitMaster

PitMaster,

Realizing that the Ken Roberts Alertline is a less than a perfect setup, has there been any thought given to reproducing the messages on your homepage? In the month of Oct, I had over$25 in phone charges to his Alertline and that was just to tape the messages. Or is it copyrighted material that cannot be reproduced?

Just a thought, Noel

Noel,

We are not part of the Ken Roberts company, therefore we cannot provide Ken's Alert Line on our site. But we do have our own Market Tips section that is provided by one of our recommended brokerage firms. It is in the same format as Ken's, but is going to vary slightly because it is coming out of a different brokerage firm. We try to update our Alert Line at least twice a week, and usually three times a week, where Ken only updates his once a week. Ours is free to our patrons, Ken's is not. Not that ours is any better, but it is more accessible to individuals with Internet access. Check out our main menu, and see what it is I am talking about.

Good Luck
The PitMaster!

Hey Pit Dude,

Hope thing's are well with you. I just wanted to ask, I am interested in trading MidAm and have been doing fairly well, but I am also interested in options play's, and my capital can't afford the big markets that I am looking at..My broker say's that Midam options are so thinly traded that he just doesn't do'em. Now he is a CTA, been on the floor and where he is know for for..well let's say since I was a teen, and I ain't no spring chicken by no means, and I have no reason to disbelieve him..so do you, or do you know if midam options are liquid?

Dear sprung chicken,

Each different contract has different criteria, some are more liquid than others, just like any market in any exchange. Some of the markets in the MidAm are more liquid than others in the CBOT. It really depends on the commodity. It's never good to make a blanket statement that one is better than the other, because it's hard to compare. One thing to take into consideration is that the profit potential on a small MidAm contract is so small (in comparison), that if you have a large commission to your broker, he may be the only one making any money. That's why I usually stay with the larger contracts.

Take a close look at it yourself, make your decision and see what happens.

Good Luck,
The PitMaster

Dear PitMaster,

I recently wrote you that I just found your website, I am currently a Ken Roberts course member, and I shared some of my opinions with you. Now I have a question!! Is this website also designed for students to share trading experiences?

I've got myself in a pickle (by not following Ken's advice) and I think there may be a way out of it but I'm not sure. Maybe someone else has been where I am and can help before I lose all of the $1,500 I have invested in a soybean option.

I'm sitting on a March 700 put option for which I paid 30 cents (30 x $50.00 = $1,500.) As of today, it is worth about 13 cents (13 x $50.00 = $650.00). According to the Nov 10, 1997 USDA Supply/Demand report, the fundamental picture for soybeans is very bullish (record demand) which means my option is going to keep losing money. Should I continue to ignore the news? Or does it sound logical to liquidate my put option and sell a couple of way out-of-the-money put options to reimburse myself for this loss or would it be smarter to just take the loss? Has anyone had any experience with this sort of trade?

I won't have to sleep in the Salvation Army's bed if I lose all that I paid for this option but I may have to sleep in the dog house!!

I'm not asking for trading advice... just trading experience!!

Sincerely,
Donna

P.S. From now on, I'll try to stick with Ken's guidelines on trading.

Donna,

I hope the dog has a nice bed. It sounds like you know both sides of the story, let us know what you decide. Personally, I would cut my losses and run for the dog house. Get that money back out and start trading it in something going my way. That's my experience. I'll post your letter. Good luck, who knows, soy could take a big hit and drop through the floor, but then again...maybe not.

See ya!
PitMaster

PitMaster,

After reading the Letters & Comments page at your website, I noticed most postings are from people still doing paper trading. Your Success Stories page leaves much to be desired -- one guy with no email address. I want to read email from people who have success using Ken Roberts with real money. Can you help me find published reports of such, or better yet, email addresses of people who want to share their stories?

Sam

Dear sign seeking Sam, you are right, our success page leaves much to be desired. My hope is that you will be one of the entries soon.

Many of the people who have written with success stories, do not wish to be published. Many people believe that by telling their success stories, it will give them bad luck. Plus, people do not like to brag.

I will tell you that if you call the recommended brokerage firms each individual in all of those brokerage firms are TWMPMM graduates, and are very successful in what they do.

So far this month I made money in orange juice.   I was there with two contracts and one option. I'm still in OJ, watching to see what is going to happen. I also made about 1,250.00 a couple of weeks ago in Feed Cattle.  I watched it make a little retracement that I was able to take advantage of and made a nice little profit. It took 5 days.

I'm not going to get rich in three weeks, it does not work like that, it's 500.00 here, 1000.00 there, and then sometimes, once or twice a year you catch one just right and make 12,000.00 or 16,000.00 in six or eight weeks. Those are the runs that keep us going and extremely excited. But if you don't ever get in and try, you'll never catch one of those 12,000.00 runs.

The great thing about the commodities market, is that you can do it totally risk free for as long as you want, to make sure that what you are doing is going to work for you. Paper Trade, Paper Trade, Paper Trade... I paper traded for over 14 months before I invested real money. Part of that was because I was saving it up so I could open an account.

Good luck, and I hope to be posting your success story soon.

PitMaster

Hi Pitmaster, Great Web site!

When I decided to take the KR course, one of the inviting reasons was the written statement that you could invest as little as $1000.00. Now I find that everyone is recommending $5000.00 and up! So here I am this very hopeful course member whose dreams have just been crushed. (At least for the moment). I really like the whole concept here of trading, it is fascinating. And I have also enjoyed sharing my enthusiasm with others. I don't regret investing $300.00. I've had fun with this new information and I love Ken's sense of humor. He's a funny guy. It's all great knowledge...yet I am so disappointed. I planned on risking 1,500.00. Fun money ya know. That was money I could afford to loose with no regrets. Now I'm not sure what to do. Any comments would be helpful.

Anne

Dear Anne,

Don't feel too crushed, just be extremely careful when finding a brokerage firm. The brokerage fee's alone can eat up your initial investment. You should be able to find someone who will work with you "Full Service" for as little as $35.00 - $65.00 per "Round-Turn". That's half in and half out. If they are charging $100 a round-turn, run away!

Make sure you don't get emotional, make sure you choose just the right market. Make sure it's a liquid market. (High open interest.) Start with a market that has a low margin, Coffee's margin is over $3,000.00. Don't put on more than one trade, until you have built up a cushion.

Just be real careful, not that if you started with five or even ten thousand dollars, that you would not want to follow this same advice.

Go to our www site and visit the recommended brokerage firms page, call each one. Tell them you got their name from The PitMaster's www site, and that you are a Ken Roberts course member. Tell them just what you told me in your e-mail. Find out which one you feel most comfortable with and open an account. Don't trade in your account for weeks, until you are absolutely sure you've found the market that is going to go your way. Just because you opened an account, does not mean you need to put on a trade. One wrong move will wipe you out with such a small start.

Really thought, I would want to start with just a little more in my account.

Good luck,
Please write us back, and let us know how things worked out.
PitMaster

PitMaster,

Thank you so much for that much needed reply. Believe me when I say I absorbed every word you wrote. I feel a little better now. You can bet on it that in the future when I've made some money (and even if it's only a little) I'll write back and let you folks know what the experience was like.

Thanks for the advice and prompt response. You just created a whole lot of good Kharma.

Anne in Maine

Hi,

I'm thinking in using the twmpmm here in Brazil, do you think this is a good idea?

Regards,
Octavio

Octavio,

I've written many articles under the section heading "Ask the PitMaster" on whether or not I believe people should enter the commodities market. Take a look at that section and you will get a feel for what I think.

PitMaster

Hi PitMaster--It's great to see a pro Ken Roberts Site-I'll visit it often. My husband and I first got involved with KR 1 1/2 yrs. ago-paper traded for l full year and then bought several options-most expired worthless, but our very 1st one doubled our money. I know suggestions are made all of the time not to open a margin account unless you have several thousand dollars. Well, we opened our account with $1000--thats all we could afford and still be able to participate in the live action of the commodities market. We learned something new with every option that we bought and am glad for the lessons we learned.

Currently we still have an option or two--but we are more than ever doing our paper trading and are still very exited in being involved in commodities. By having started with a smaller margin account, we have to be more patient than the average trader until we are able to add to it AND WE WILL. We are not stupid enough to let the opportunities and great leverage that the commodity markets present us go by without giving it our very best efforts-no matter how long that takes. And we intend to do it using Ken's philosophy.

So PitMaster-could you tell us a little more about your trading the Ken Robert way? Are you solely into options or do you trade contracts also? You mentioned that you saw room for improvement in some of Ken's course--what do you think he could add to his course and what improvements could he make that would or would have helped you along the way? I'd like as much insight as you'd like to give. Thank you for your time. Connie, a successful paper trader.

Dear successful paper trader. I love the Ken Roberts Methodology of trading, I trade the TWMPMM II methods most often. I purchase contracts when they are in the correct 1,2,3 retracement formations, break-out's of channel formations and my favorite - triangles. I also use options when new number one points are reached. (to try and catch the market early.) Basically, that's it! That is the only way I trade. I try not to trade using stops, I've been stopped out of good trades one-to-many-times. I often times use an option in the opposite direction of my contract, instead of stops.   Then, as often as possible, I turn my options into "free trades". Sometimes I sell some options too, but not very often.

You've got it, you've got my whole trading strategy in one paragraph. Am I successful? Yes I am! My philosophy is keep it simple and stick to what works.

The room I see for improvement in Ken's courses is not the quality of the information. I believe Ken offers some of the best trading advice around. I just think that maybe some of his course materials could be brought up on quality. I think his TWMPMM II course is very cheaply put together, it probably costs him about 6.00 to produce, but he charges you 200.00. It is basically a photocopied booklet and some cassette tapes. Now don't get me wrong, the information in those photocopied pages and the discussions on those tapes have made me thousands, but the quality of his re-produced product is not up-to-par with TWMPMM I quality.

What I mean by his later products are of better quality is this: His six video cassette course is wonderful, much better quality.

Thanks for stopping by ThePitMaster.com www site. We appreciate your comments.

PitMaster

Pitmaster,

A friend of mine and I are debating a question about the alert line updates from Ken. I don't think that the alert line covers all possible commodities currently trading, while my friend thinks that it does. The reason we are arguing is because when I see a formation come into play, if it involves a commodity not on the alert line, then my friend does not think it is a valid formation. I say that just because it is not on the alert line, doesn't mean it isn't a valid formation. Perhaps you might have a little insight into how many of the actual commodities are followed via the alert line. Just a few, or all possibilities? Thanks!
BK

Dear arguing two-some. Ken's alert line (as far as my understanding goes.) is NOT all encompassing. Ken mentions time and time again, not to trade his alert line with real money, because it is set-up only to assist new course members in identifying chart formations.  Therefore, some of the formations mentioned on the alert line are not even tradable. It is a paper trading tool.

Plus, Ken has a second alert line for people involved in the TWMPMM II course, therefore ALL the trades are obviously not on his TWMPMM I alert line.

Ken tells us to learn to watch the charts and to find the formations ourselves, and not to rely on his alert line, therefore if you find a formation that is not on the alert line, and it fits all the criteria, then trade it -- on paper or otherwise! Ken could not possibly post all the formations on his alert line, there are thousands of them being formed everyday.

Good luck
PitMaster

Dear PitMaster:

This is the second time I have received a direct mail solicitation for the TWMPMM course (or courses?). Advertised price is $195.00. Is that the only investment? Or is that the price for some introductory course and later you have to pay for courses I, II,...and so on?

Tony

Tony, Ken Roberts has a number of different courses. TWMPMM I is an introductory course on how to trade futures contracts. Can you trade with just the information within TWMPMM I? Yes, absolutely. Ken also offer's twmpmm II for those people interested in trading options. Plus, he offers complete workshops on video tape that bring all this information together into a complete trading methodology. TWMPMM I is a good start, to let you see if you are interested in the market's, and if you are, you will most likely want to pursue more education in this area anyway, therefore Ken makes it available. If you don't, then your done. Also, nothing says you have to buy the courses from Ken, but I certainly enjoy trading his methodology. (Ken's methodology is pretty universal among most technical traders, it's just that Ken does such a great job of teaching it in a simple, down to earth, easy to understand manner.)

PitMaster

Dear PitMaster,

My boyfriend and I have been struggling for the past two years financially, because my families corporation of 26 years got hostily taken over. I was used to living in a lap of luxury (not extremely luxurious, but certainly different from living paycheck to paycheck!) I felt sorry for my family, and for myself for a while, then decided it was time to get up and do something about it. My boyfriend ordered Ken's course and has just been too busy working the "job" to even really learn it. He has recently asked me to get into the program, learn it, and put my detail oriented skills to work beginning a business for us in futures. Frankly, I have looked everywhere else for the "ticket" that was going to get us from where we are to where we want to be financially. I know I have a penchant for draining every drop of information out of a system and putting it to good use if it is really good. I have been sorely disappointed in so many programs that promise and individual can make good money if they dedicate themselves, I cannot tell you. I am not afraid of "work". In fact if putting my mind to something that REALLY worked, WORKED I would be so happy it would probably end up on the six o'clock news. "Woman, is so happy entire city is infected....." My question for you is simple. I see the Ken Roberts fan club....I see the page, which by the way is quite nice...and incidentally I am a graphics designer, so may be able to help in the future, ....but does anyone out there really personally feel this is a program that deserves the merit it receives from the few letters I have seen on this page, and has it worked for you? We have to so little to play with, and granted I have yet to read and absorb the program, I guess I would just like to hear an individual who has used it, believes in it, and has watched it "work"....really work....give me a drop of encouragement to take the leap.

Thanks for the site...if it is not possible to return the mail...I understand...the world is a busy place...it would make a difference for this girl...Andrea....currently I have a personal web-page at http://members.tripod.com/~andrea_333/index.html Currently there's nothing on the page to point toward commodities trading....it was an exercise in learning html and having a personal page for friends of mine...but it may give some insight about me and a person. Mostly I am interested in meeting "people" real live breathing human beings who are as interested in getting their @#$@ together as I am. :-)....thanks

Andrea,

Thank you for your letter, I would like to just quickly respond by saying I use the course. I love the course.  Plain and simple, trading commodities is an art, it is something that has been around for hundreds of years. Ken Roberts is just one of many who teach the art of trading commodities.  I learned from Ken, I like Ken's style and simple methodology. Nothing more, nothing less. You can learn this stuff from hundreds of thousands of different places. There are stacks and stacks of books written on the art of trading. I like Ken's method's because he putt's it into plain, simple and easy to understand English.

Your question is somewhat different than most I receive, most questions I receive are "should I invest the $200.00 into the course." You've already made that investment, therefore the only question I have for you is why have you not read the course and put it to the test by paper trading, then...answer your own question. You've already made the financial investment, now make the time commitment. What can you lose at this point...nothing, but a few hours of study.

Paper trading will tell you whether or not you should continue the pursuit.

Good luck
PitMaster

Dear PitMaster,

I received a TWMPMM mailing recently and read the 39 page booklet cover to cover. Ken makes it sound so easy that it naturally makes me skeptical. After looking at the Chart Formations Everyone Should Recognize in your web page, I realized that it can't be that simple. I am tempted to become a member of TWMPMM, but I'm not sure that it would be way above me. I'm 47 years old, college educated and have a decent job, but trading scares the heck out of me. I'm generally conservative in my investments (mostly mutual funds). Do you think commodities trading is something only aggressive, risk-takers should do?  I really enjoyed reading everything on your web site. If I become a TWMPMM member, hopefully I'll be a contributor.

Dear Mr. Conservative, you've asked some great questions, I wish the same answer would work for everyone, but that's just not the case. Each individual is different, and has different "Pain Levels" they can withstand. If you've ever seen a picture of Ken Roberts, you'll notice that he is bald. Ken often makes the comment that before he started trading commodities, he had a full head of hair.

Mr. tempted member, I was in your shoe's less than three years ago. I threw Ken's little booklet away more times than I can count (sorry Ken) - fortunately for me he was tenacious and kept on sending them to me. The pleasure and recreational aspect that trading has brought to me has far exceeded the cost of the several different course's I've purchased from him. Not to mention the profits. It's just good clean, healthy and honest fun. I don't know of another honest way you can have this much fun. I love it! I am absolutely obsessed. If you were to chart me on the bell curve, I would be so far to the obsessed left, they would have to make a new category for me. I cannot express how much I love trading! 

Quickly I'll just mention, don't get scared off by the chart formations on the www site, they are really very simple once you get used to looking at charts. In the beginning it's a little overwhelming, but after awhile, it's like water off a ducks back...they start popping off the chart at you like popcorn. Also, in the beginning, you don't even have to use all of them, just a few of the best one's. Ken explains which ones are best to use and how to use them.

 Ken's course takes you through step-by-step, making it very easy to understand.

Also, trading is very exhilarating, it gives you something to run home to (besides the wife and kids) and check out whether you were profitable or not. (even if it's just for fun and not real money -- paper trading is a thrill-a-day. It would be a great hobby if nothing else.)

But, I must warn! At age 47 or at any age, I would NOT trade my retirement money or my emergency money that's been set-a-side in case of a broken refrigerator. Commodity Trading money is only money that if you lost it you could say "oh well, that was fun" and go into your kids bedroom, kiss them goodnight and still know you can afford some OJ, pork bellies, fluid milk, wheat bread and butter for breakfast in the morning. (See, I'm obsessed.) 

Do I think commodities trading is something only aggressive risk takers should do? Yes, but that's not to say you cannot become aggressive. Come on tempted conservative non-member...be a man! Be aggressive! You might surprise yourself! It almost sounds wicked, doesn't it!

Think about it, 47 years is not old, you've just reached the top-spot where you can see both sides of the hill, and now you can tell us that the grass is just as green on this side as that!

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
PitMaster

Dear PitMaster,

I'm a retired person who just received a direct mail solicitation for the TWMPMM course. Advertised price is $195.00. Would you consider this a good investment?

Dear life experienced wannabe twmpmm course member, That is a great question.  I wish I knew the answer. 

I will say this -- it really depends on your personal nature. I honestly do not believe trading commodities is for everyone, but If you are looking for something to do, something extremely exciting, upbeat, positive and something you can look forward to with great anticipation each and every day, then trading commodities can be just what you've been looking for.

Ken's course could probably be considered like taking an entry level, home study, college course in economics. If you think you are up to it, then go for it -- be prepared to study, read, and learn. Nothing comes without effort.

I will say this, I am absolutely obsessed with trading commodities and Ken Roberts is the one that got me started, and that is why this www site is dedicated to him and his course's.

To me, personally, it is so exciting that even if all I did was paper trade, and never invested anymore money other than what it cost me to play it as a hobby, then the $195.00 advertised price would be well worth a fun, exciting and exhilarating new hobby. Or, if you just have a thirst for knowledge, and an interest in learning what the commodities market is all about, but really have no interest in trading, Ken's course would be great for that too. He is witty, funny and his course is written with a gentle tongue-in-cheek hand. You not only learn the concepts, he makes them fun to learn. I've read so many manuals that are written so technically that you cannot get past the first chapter, but with Ken's course, you will find yourself pouring over his books chapter after chapter.

After you learn to trade on paper and you see the excitement it can bring, at that point you can decide whether or not you want to invest real money. I absolutely love it! It consumes my every waking moment and I dream about it too. After nearly  two and one half years of learning and trading, I'm still obsessed, more so now than ever.

If you don't want to spend the $195.00, send in an ad requesting the course and I will post your ad in the Trading Pit. See if someone will give up their copy for less than the $195.00 they paid. It's worth a shot. (You can't have mine though.)

Unfortunately, I will let you know, if you purchase a used copy you will not get the three months of Ken's course counselors help, the free 3 months worth of weekly telephone tips on getting started or a current set of Ken's charts.

Now you must decide! Good Luck

PitMaster

PitMaster,

I am currently trading with Main Street Trading, something I decided on my own. However, I have noticed that the commissions seem rather high. In fact, many of the "cheap" options that are out there would have to double or triple in value just to break even. For example, lets say I bought an option for $50. With a commission of $100 per option, the total cost is now $150. That option would have to triple in value just to break even.

Dear fiscally conservative twmpmm course member, I too started out trading with Main Street, and I switched for the exact same reason you just stated.

PitMaster

Pit Master,

I've read several reviews from other commodities sights concerning the Ken Roberts course. Many of which have been, shall I say, of very low regard towards Ken and his courses. How do you respond to these accusations?

Dear PitMaster patron, I appreciate your interest in our site and your sincere concern for what other people have to say about TWMPMM and Ken Roberts himself. I would prefer to send these questions to Ken and have him answer them, but since you have asked my opinion, here it is.

I too have read some of these reviews. That is one of the main reasons why I wanted to start this www site. To give TWMPMM course members a "Ken Friendly" place to come and meet other course members. There are hundreds if not thousands of different methods of trading the commodities market and Ken teaches some of the most successful "long-term, time-tested" methods ever used. Many of the other individuals that you speak of are day traders or what we call scalpers, and no Ken's methods were not designed for day trading. Ken, I'm sure, would be the first to admit that and does in his course. I've also talked to many brokerage firms and brokers, and seen ad's that advertise and promote the fact that they subscribe to the TWMPMM methodology of trading, and would be happy to assist any Ken Roberts Course member. Ken is very highly regarded among most reputable organizations that don't have ego's to bruise. (Ken should fly me up to meet him for all the good press I'm giving him! When he does, I'll post the picture of me shaking his hand on the TWMPMM www site. ;-)

Also, in many of the reviews I've read, the authors will cut down the TWMPMM courses, and then proceed to tell you that their methods of trading are much better; therefore, send them $495.00 today, for this once-in-a-life-time-offer. Interestingly enough, their methodology turns out to be basically the same as Ken's. The individuals who bother me the most are the ones who cut and cut and cut, tell you what they hate about the course, and then get half of the facts wrong. It's obvious they did not read the course with real intent and are just out there to sell you something of their own..

Here's an example of one article I read. The guy was obviously a broker and had been for many years. He had been asked to write a review for his companies www site. I will not mention their www address, but he was blasting Ken for telling people that new traders are basically sheep in brokers sights; just waiting to be taken advantage of. Interestingly enough, on this same web sight, under their advice to new traders, they repeated Ken's warning almost verbatim.

Another article I read was from an author who said he personally read Ken's course and followed it's methods to the T. After three long weeks of terrible success, he concluded that he could never recommend this course to anyone. After doing a little more digging into the www site where I found the review, I discovered that the columnist was 17 years old - not exactly what I would call a seasoned trader. (That's one of the biggest contentions and also one of the most wonderful things about the www; anyone can be a columnist and write whatever they like. Look, your reading what I'm writing.)

Another guy said basically the same as the last guy, "I tried the Ken Roberts course, and after a month of using his methods, I lost $5,000.00." What this guy is not telling you is that he is a bonehead... I don't believe him, I think he needed to have something to say, so he made it up. And I'll tell you why, because in the first four weeks of trading Ken's methodology myself, I made over $10,000.00. Personally, I'm glad there are sore losers out there, because when I am on the winning side, there needs to be some bonehead on the other side of my contract loosing his shorts, just so I can win. In time, you will start to appreciating all the poor losers too.

I believe you just take these people with a grain of salt, think for yourself, trust your own instincts and ignore the masses. Your gut feeling is going to usually tell you what's right for you. If you can do this, your the kind of person who will find success. Remember the old adage; I once came to a fork in the road, whereupon I took the road less traveled, and that one decision has made all the difference in my life.

Ken's course's are not perfect, there are several things he could do to make them a little better. (that again, is one of the reasons for this www site, to give Ken feedback on his products and services.) I do believe that his later courses are of higher quality than his earlier one's. Companies usually improve their quality with time. Believe me though when I say "You can trust Ken's course's to teach sound trading strategies, and I believe that is what we are all looking for...isn't it?"

PitMaster,

"Why are Ken's courses so expensive?"

My response is always the same, I don't know, ask Ken. Then I tell them to check-out our trading pit, and see what they can purchase a used course for.

But I will say this -- if I walked up to you on the street and said "Hey, around the corner and down the street there's a million dollars sitting in a paper bag. I'll draw you a map if you'll give me $10,000." Would you tell me I was asking too much? (sorry for the tacky analogy, but dumb questions deserve dumb answers.)

I'll also add, Ken's courses are about the least expensive I've seen; barring some book down at your local mall. Many commodities courses I've seen advertised from brokerage firms that include tapes, video's and workbooks are in the thousands of dollars. And newsletters can be outrageously expensive. I really enjoy Ken's newsletters.

Dear PitMaster:

When you begin to trade for real ($), is there a minimum quantity of money you have to spend (or invest)?  Please advise.

Tony

Antonio,

Most brokerage firms recommend at least $2,000 - $5,000 dollars. Ken says in his course to consider opening your account with as little as $2,000. I recommend at least 5,000 to 10,000 dollars. The reason most beginners die fast in this market is because they start their account with to little money, the market turns against them - slightly, and they go bust. If you have a cushion, you can maintain your trades much more easily. Plus, if you invest a little bit more, you can have several trades going at once, (ever heard of all your eggs in one basket?) That way, if one trade is going against your position, another one or two may be going in your favor, allowing you to continue with your open account.

Remember, when trading commodities, most brokerage firms want you to have a net worth of over 100,000 or even 150,000 dollars. Because regardless of how much you put into your trading account, you sign forms indicating that you will put it all on the line, all 150,000.00 net worth.

Isn't this fun? No risk, no reward!

That is why it is very important to follow Ken's strategies to the T, don't get smart and start doing stupid emotionally driven trades. Learn the methods, and apply them.

Good Luck
PitMaster

Dear PitMaster:

Four day's ago I received Ken Robert's pamphlet and read through it and became extremely excited about the course. I have purchased a few money making courses before, i.e.:mail order, get rich quick schemes, and I am skeptical. I would really like your honest opinion on this course. Does this course really work and can someone who knows nothing about the futures market learn this system? Also how much beyond the $195.00 for the course is required, since I don't have a large amount of money to start with? Looking forward to your response.

Anthony

Anthony, this is always a hard question for me to answer...should you or should you not get involved with the commodities market. I will say this, I do not believe the commodities market is for everyone, but I am absolutely obsessed with it, it is the most exciting and fun thing I have ever done, but I may be kinda weird. I've always loved money markets, charts and big dollar opportunities.

The commodities market is not a get rich quick program, it is an international institution sanctioned by the US Federal Government (that may have just scared you away) and many other foreign governments, not to mention big business, little farmers and people just like you and I.

Now Ken's course may fall into the get-rich-quick program area, because there is that potential within the commodities market, but it can in no way be considered a scheme. It is a down to earth simple format for people interested in trading the commodities market. That's it, it's that simple.

Can anyone with no experience learn the commodities market? Absolutely, everybody has to start somewhere. Like Ken says, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to buy low and sell high. 

How much beyond the 195.00 -- well, that's up to you. No more if you don't want to take it any further. Ken also has a number of other courses you can subscribe to, TWMPMM I can be just the beginning. TWMPMM I helps you get your feet wet, it helps you see if you are interested. Now can you begin trading with just TWMPMM I? Absolutely! But, you must remember, you will need at least several thousand dollars to open your trading account with. I recommend at least five and ten if possible...that's thousand...and that's not grocery money, that's fun money, play money, money that if you lost it all, you could still sleep at night -- in YOUR bed, not the Salvation Army's.

Honestly, this is serious business -- this is for real, it can make you or break you. Do it wrong, it's going to break you, do it right -- the way Ken teaches, and it can make you...more than you can imagine. Everyone needs a mentor, Ken is mine.

Anthony, it's up to you!
PitMaster

Remember, nothing ventured, nothing gained.