Yes. I trade the ES, because I want to make enough $$ to keep my old lady in "booze and shoes". I don't even need to do that. I've got plenty of money to last the rest of my lifetime unless wifey goes nutso on spending on stupid crap... like a couple of years ago, she spent $50k on a brass sculpture of an antelope for our yard... don't want to see too much of THAT! If I were trying to make a track record of something to impress someone else (which I did years ago), I'd be less cavalier about it.
A remedy is to contact those making such claims, and ask for verification. If they don't supply it, they may be guilty of fraud. Report them to the SEC. As a competitor, that is within your rights.
Such a guy wouldn't appeal to my wife. She expects wine that costs at least $5 bottle... that is, no "two-buck Chuck" for her.
Why does it matter if trading educators trade or not? What is it that you give to the audience that Ross from warrior trading, Tim Sykes, clay trader, and so many others don't already cover? By you trading real money vs Timmy the high school drop out who lies about the $$$ he makes, does it change the fact that all educators just pretty much give the same kinds of information, more or less? I won't be surprised if some people pay just to be part of the community (i.e chat room). The information is just secondary. I feel like you educators just regurgitate the same patterns, the same money management and the same psychology materials that you can easily find online I guess the only difference would be which educator can give that ego boost or emotional support to keep the client feel like they're part of something special.
Useless, they have it somewhere on website or agreement that it is all hypothetical and for entertainment purpose only. This is how they get away with it.
Actually, I think it's very much different. Trading is very much different from most other disciplines. However, if you can show me an educator who can't trade himself, but have at least one, but preferrably multiple successful students, I'd change my mind.