Interview  |  APR 1999

Interview: The Holy Grail Of Trading Is Within Us All: Van K. Tharp by Thom Hartle

The Holy Grail Of Trading Is Within Us All: Van K. Tharp, Ph.D. Psychologist and trading coach Van K. Tharp is the president of the International Institute of Trading Mastery, Inc. He has spent the last 15 years working with more than 4,000 traders, and through this work, he has managed to identify themes and characteristics that are key among successful traders. He’s developed a home study course on the trading process, but his recent work has to do with the psychology of system development. He has written a book titled Trade Your Way To Financial Freedom, in which he analyzes how great traders develop their systems and how they stay great. STOCKS & COMMODITIES Editor Thom Hartle and Tharp used E-mail to conduct this interview during the week of January 28, 1999, discussing the importance of understanding your own belief systems and position sizing, and determining the steps to designing your own system. The Holy Grail does exist, but it is an inner search. And once you’ve undertaken that quest, learn position sizing strategies. When you can understand how position sizing applies to your trading system, then you have a chance. — Van K. Tharp

by Thom Hartle