In my experience, the vast majority of "courses" on trading are actually "courses" on reading the market or some market "reading" methodology / indicator. Unfortunately, trading is only about 10-20% about methodology (reading the market). In general I'm inclined to say: 1. if you don't have an edge, don't trade 2. if you have an edge but don't have risk management, don't trade 3. if you have an edge and risk management but don't have a process, don't trade 4. if you have an edge, risk management and a process but lack the mental fortitude, don't trade 1s&2s lose money, some get wiped out. 3s hover around breakeven. 4s consistenly make money, some more than others. Surving one's learning curve, especially emotionally, should be one's first goal.
The main negatives about courses I've seen: Many educators seem to not even trade for real. Why the heck would you buy training from strangers online unless they show recent PnL proof of recent real trading they've done? Seriously wtf Video testimonials from paid genuine customers are helpful. Avoid anyone who makes "consistently profitable" bs claims Find a few trustworthy educators to learn from, there's a few decent knowledgeable people worth studying Realize that this is tough as fk and what you're looking for is help with recognizing great entry setups along with tight stops and correct profit-taking exits.
You teach a method. In order to get your money back you would have to prove the method didn't work. How many passive and nonchalant clients will take the time and effort to document their trades, showing that they followed the method as taught and still lost money.
"One can transfer knowledge, but no one can transfer experience." - That's why trading is unteachable. However, anyone can teach him(her)self how to trade and it's the key in this business.
It is not that simple. Most people that want to learn 'how to trade' do not know the complete road to a consistent profitable system. There are many aspects you need to address. Learning on your own is almost a sure way to losses. You do not know what you do not know. The obvious in trading like entry, exits, money management or systems that are rule based is not the answer in becoming a successful trader. You need to adapt your thinking, who you are and what you want to achieve in trading. There are exceptions, natural born traders that figure it out on their own. But most traders are influenced by one or more other successful traders. Having someone that know the road ahead is at least a time saving benefit and at most an example how a decent trading plan looks like, with consideration of the person behind it that makes it work. If you think you can learn how to trade with youtube and free information on internet, how do you know if the information you are getting is right, if you are not a profitable trader yourself? I find many information sellers or pretenders giving information that seems plausible for the unknown but almost all the information available is about some kind of system you could use on a chart or with a computer and I'm telling you that that is the last thing you need to become a successful trader. It is like giving a kid a basketball in the hope he will go pro. It ain't going to happen.
This thread is about the "teaching trading gurus". I know one, folks followed him like crazy even fight with each other, only to find out late that "guru" don't even have a trading account. What are you saying make sense. This is where education and IQ came in place. And same time nowadays person don't need to spend a single cent to gain knowledge about all you described above.
I personally don’t teach people how to trade - I take people with some level of trading competence (whether it be retail, commercial, or prop experience) and I teach them a specialty, which is spread trading. Having said that, I think it deserves to be said that the right kind of mentor could save a newbie years of time and more than a little money. But the real problem is well known - the vast majority of educators are not well intentioned and not experts in trading.