Funds and Galore

Have you ever felt drained when the market doesn’t follow your price action setups? Or are you looking for guidance as a beginner trader? Well, you’re in luck! Today I’m going to show you the only Trading View indicators you’ll ever need.

These five AI-powered Trading View indicators will help you trade

like a professional and even assist in developing your own trading style.

Eventually, you won’t need them anymore, because by then, you’ll understand how price action works.

The Only Trading View Indicators You’ll Ever Need: Misunderstanding of the Game

Price action trading or trendline trading is one of the most used trading strategies worldwide.

However, many traders abandon this simple strategy because they claim their setups don’t work.

For example:

You buy at support, but the market sells. You sell at resistance, but the market buys.

You enter a breakout, and the market reverses.

This leads many traders to underestimate price action and jump from one strategy to another without solving the real issue.

The truth is, 90% of the time, the problem is not the strategy—it’s the lack of skill.

Markets, no matter what you’re trading, include manipulation.

While beginners may feel misled, pro traders see high-probability setups.

It’s not the market that’s flawed; it’s often your inability to properly identify trends, support, resistance, and key levels.

Don’t worry—we’re going to dive into how to learn this faster and with more precision using the right tools.

The Only Trading View Indicators You’ll Ever Need: Importance of Indicators

When I began my trading journey, I tried many tools—even trading robots—but what

truly accelerated my progress were indicators.

Over time, I learned to trade price action without them.

However, indicators can save you months or even years of learning.

This blog is meant to shorten your learning curve without skipping the necessary process.

These indicators support every type of price action trader: scalpers, swing traders, or day traders.

All you need to do is apply them to your style and grow from there.

Remember, knowledge is power, and shortcuts often lead to setbacks.

Let’s explore the only Trading View indicators you’ll ever need that can build an edge for both beginner and advanced traders.

1. Trend Navigator

This indicator helps traders identify market trends.

One common issue with many traders I coach is their inability to draw or adjust trendlines properly.

This stunts their growth because they don’t even realize their mistakes.

The Trend Navigator allows you to compare your analysis with AI-generated trends, helping you

spot where you went wrong and how to improve.

It helps detect bullish and bearish trends and shows you where to exit your positions.

2. Support and Resistance Matrix

This powerful tool identifies demand and supply zones—areas where traders typically buy or sell.

While trendlines alone are not enough, combining them

with support and resistance gives you high-probability trade setups.

These VIP indicators help you understand how to merge key principles to sharpen your trading edge.

3. Market Scanner

The Market Scanner adapts to your trading style.

You can customize it for forex, indices, metals, or any market you prefer.

As Warren Buffett advises: “Only invest in what you understand.”

The same applies to trading. Focus on what you know.

Once you identify your preferred pairs or instruments, this tool allows you to set alerts—such as

when a bullish engulfing pattern forms, RSI drops below 30, or price moves above the 200 MA.

It simplifies your trading process by automatically meeting your entry conditions.

It’s suitable for both day and swing traders.

4. Oscillator

Being able to identify overbought or oversold conditions is essential in price action.

I often highlight this in my market breakdowns on YouTube.

Oscillators help identify reversal zones:

-When overbought → look for sell opportunities.

-When oversold → look for buy opportunities.

-The most common oscillators include:

Relative Strength Index (RSI): Measures price momentum. Above 70 = overbought; below 30 = oversold.

MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence): Measures trend momentum across timeframes.

It was my favourite tool when learning about momentum.

The Shortcut Smart Traders Use to Master Price Action

If you’ve made it this far—congratulations!

You now understand why traders struggle with trends, support, resistance, and entries.

But what if you could master all this quicker, without gambling or spending all day on charts?

Get 24/7 Access to 5+ Powerful VIP Trading Indicators

These VIP Trading View indicators are ideal for price action or trendline traders ready to level up their game.

They offer clarity, precision, and live signal alerts.

Not only will you receive live alerts, but you’ll also learn to spot trends, key levels, and momentum independently—on any timeframe.

What You’ll Unlock

With these tools, you’ll gain:

• 24/7 access to all five indicators.

• The ability to distinguish high-probability from low-probability trades.

• Compatibility with any market: forex, indices, oil, stocks, metals, etc.

• Usage across all devices—PCs, smartphones—and from any country.

• 24/7 support.

If you’re serious about mastering price action and fast-tracking your education, this is the edge you need.
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The Only Trading View Indicators You’ll Ever Need: Conclusion

Mastering price action takes time, but the right tools can dramatically shorten the learning curve.

These five essential Trading View indicators are all you need

to identify trends, find support/resistance zones, scan the market, and pinpoint overbought/oversold areas.

They’re especially valuable for beginners or traders seeking more consistency.

If you’re serious about developing a winning edge and understanding market structure with precision, these indicators

are the best shortcut you can take—without sacrificing quality learning

Finding Balance Between Student Life & Forex

Student Life & Forex: How to Win Both Without Burning Out.

A common question I get from students—whether in high school or

university—is whether they should drop out to focus on their forex journey.

My response is always the same: it’s up to you.

That decision isn’t mine to make.

The problem is, a lot of so-called forex “gurus” encourage people to drop out of school to pursue forex full-time.

This is false and misleading advice.

Forex is just like any subject or module you study in school or university—not everyone will find success in it.

Not because they’re stupid or lack potential, but because forex requires determination and the right mind-set.

If you fail at self-mastery, constantly seek external validation, or can’t handle losses during the learning process,

you’ll struggle to succeed in this industry.

Now, imagine dropping out only to discover forex isn’t what you thought it would be—then what?

That’s why I’ve created this guide to help you balance both worlds. That way,

if forex doesn’t work out, you still have your education,

which you can later use to find a more suitable path.

Why Finding a Rhythm Between the Two Worlds Is Important?

Finding a rhythm between student life and forex takes discipline.

Without balance, one area will suffer—or both.

The goal is to excel in both worlds. By achieving balance, you can potentially scale

your finances much quicker, helping you reach a comfortable lifestyle sooner.

Remember: each world complements the other.

That’s what you want to master with this post.

So let’s dive into how you can manage both without burning out.

Student Life & Forex: Time Management Plan

This is the most important phase. First, map out your personal timetable.

Start by writing or typing your schedule for your studies.

Identify when your classes start and end, and highlight your compulsory sessions.

Tools like Google Calendar or Notion can help you keep track.

By doing this, you’ll know exactly when you’re free

to check the markets—such as during breaks or after class.

Everything must be clearly laid out in your timetable.

Time Management: Phase Two

Now, let’s add forex into the equation.

First, we’ll focus on beginner traders,

then on those who already understand the basics and are refining their strategy.

If you’re a beginner, your plan should differ from someone who’s currently testing or refining a strategy.

During class breaks, focus on your studies. Complete your homework or assignments after school.

Once done, take a break, then dive into forex education.

Spend a minimum of 30 minutes to 2 hours daily learning the basics—forex terminology,

candlestick patterns, charts, etc. Learn gradually and reflect on what you’ve absorbed.

Don’t overwhelm yourself. Forex is a long-term game.

If you’re a student who already understands the basics and has a strategy,

you can use class breaks to check if the market is ready for entries.

Prioritize the London and New York sessions for better liquidity and trading opportunities.

If a setup might play out during class, place pending orders with take profit and stop loss levels,

so you don’t miss the move and can stay focused on your studies.

After class, reflect on your trades—wins, losses, and areas of improvement.

Spend 30 minutes to 2 hours refining your strategy once your schoolwork is done.

Set Clear Goals

Setting clear goals for both your studies and forex is essential.

Over time, you’ll be able to assess your progress and make adjustments.

Move with purpose. In forex, key goals include avoiding overtrading and focusing only on quality setups.

Student Life & Forex: Avoid Emotional Trading

Student life can be overwhelming, and that emotional pressure can negatively impact your trading psychology.

This might lead to over-leveraging or overtrading, possibly resulting in a blown account.

Be self-aware. If you’ve had a bad day, it’s best to stay away from the charts for 7 to 24 hours

until your emotions stabilize. Avoid emotional trading at all costs.

Minimize Screen Time with a Trading Plan

Discipline plays a major role here. Since you’re balancing both studies and trading,

the time you’d usually spend watching movies will now be used for learning forex.

This is where many students fall short.

Ask yourself: will watching movies bring you financial freedom? Or is it just wasting your time?

I’m not here to dictate your choices—but I am here to challenge your thinking.

To master both student life and forex, sacrifices are required.

That means going out less, embracing solitude, and focusing on your craft.

While others party, you study—and when others work, you’ll enjoy the fruits of your labour.

The choice is yours.

Prioritize Health and Rest

Finally, it’s crucial to prioritize your health and get proper rest to avoid burnout.

Your brain needs adequate sleep to function at full capacity. Lack of rest can impair decision-making.

Using these strategies will help you stay balanced, consistent, and disciplined.

Challenges aren’t setbacks—they’re opportunities to grow, learn, and become a master

of multitasking in today’s fast-paced world.

You define who you are. While others quit, Funds and Galore thrives through both the highs and lows.

Conclusion: How to Win at Both Without Burning Out

Balancing student life and forex trading is possible—but it requires discipline, self-awareness, and smart planning.

By managing your time wisely, setting clear goals, avoiding emotional trading, and prioritizing rest, you can

grow in both areas without sacrificing one for the other.

Success doesn’t come from rushing—it comes from consistency.

Build both your academic and trading foundation step by step.

That way, no matter which path proves more fruitful, you’ll always have the upper hand.

The power of candlestick signals in the markets can be traced back to the 16th century.

Candlesticks were used back then, just as they are today,

by technical traders and analysts to read market behaviour,

which is heavily influenced by supply and demand, as well as emotions like greed and fear.

We will first take a brief dive into the history of candlesticks, and then

I’ll show you four powerful candlestick signals that still work today—signals I personally use to identify high-probability bullish or bearish entries.

History of Candlesticks: The Power of Candlestick Signals

In the 18th century, a legendary Japanese rice trader named Munehisa Homma developed the Japanese candlestick method to track price movements.

It is important to note that during this time, the rice market dominated the financial markets.

Rice was so significant that it played a major role in Japan’s economy.

Munehisa Homma’s early work on candlestick charting, which incorporated

human emotions such as greed and fear, market behaviour, and even weather conditions, dates back to the mid-17th century during the Edo period.

The Power of Candlestick Signals Invented by Homma

It is important to note that the candlestick patterns created by Munehisa Homma continue to help technical traders today by providing a visual representation of the market.

These patterns offer signals that help traders determine areas of high or low bullish and bearish activity, as well as potential reversals or continuation zones.

Historical records indicate that Homma developed these candlestick patterns based on his Sakata Rules.

Some of the candlestick patterns he introduced might sound familiar, such as the Doji, Hammer, Engulfing, and Spinning Tops, among others.

If these patterns are new to you, don’t worry—I’ll be covering a few of them that I personally use to gain an edge in the market.

The Power of Candlestick Signals: 4 Powerful Candlestick Patterns

Now, we dive into four powerful candlestick patterns that I use to achieve highly accurate price predictions in the market, allowing me to yield rewarding long-term returns.

But before we do that, let’s define what a candlestick is and what it consists of.

By understanding the anatomy and psychology of candlesticks,

it’s like visiting a foreign country and being able to communicate in its language.

Having this ability allows you to navigate that country with ease,

unlike relying on time-consuming methods to find your way around.

The same applies to technical trading—when you understand the language spoken by candlesticks,

you can navigate price movements with greater confidence and accuracy.

What is a Candlestick?

A candlestick, as I mentioned earlier, is a visual representation of price movement,

available across different timeframes (4-hour, 1-hour, 30-minute, etc.).

Candlesticks provide valuable information, including the opening price,

closing price, highest price, and lowest price over a specific period.

For those unfamiliar with candlestick structures, I will provide a video link later in this blog to illustrate how they appear.

I use candlesticks in combination with trends, key levels, and support and resistance zones.

You will see exactly how this works when I discuss pattern formations for entries.

Another key aspect to pay attention to is the colour scheme of the candlestick.

When the bulls (buyers) are in control, the candlestick typically appears white or green.

When the bears (sellers) are in control, the candlestick is usually black or red.

Personally, I use the green/red colour scheme, but the colours can be customized to your preference—it doesn’t really affect the analysis.

Benefits of Using Candlesticks Over Other Chart Types

One major advantage of using candlesticks instead of other chart types,

such as line charts or bar charts, is their compatibility with trendline strategies and support or resistance zones.

A technical trader who understands candlestick patterns can capitalize on market reversals,

such as bullish engulfing patterns forming at a support zone.

These patterns provide strong buying signals, indicating that sellers

have exhausted their momentum and that strong buying pressure is about to take over.

As you will see, my ability to read candlestick patterns gives me an edge in uncovering hidden market signals.

Take note: If you lack the ability to read candlesticks, it will be much harder to spot these signals and make informed trading decisions.

The Power of Candlestick Signals: 4 Powerful Candlestick Patterns

Now, let’s explore four candlestick patterns that I use to anticipate future price movements.

By understanding these patterns, you will be able to spot high-probability

reversal entries and continuation-based buying and selling opportunities.

Bullish Engulfing Pattern

The bullish engulfing pattern is one of my favourite candlestick patterns for capitalizing on strong bullish momentum.

There are two key ways I use this pattern for high-probability trade setups:

• Reversal Setup: I look for bullish engulfing patterns forming at support areas (law: we buy at support) within a zone or trendline.
• Since bullish engulfing patterns act as reversal signals, their presence at key support levels increases the probability of a successful trade.
• Continuation Setup: I also use bullish engulfing patterns when looking for market continuations. For example, when price breaks above resistance, a break-and-retest scenario may turn previous resistance into new support. If a bullish engulfing pattern forms at this retest area, it signals strong buying activity and a potential continuation of the uptrend.

How a Bullish Engulfing Pattern Forms

A bullish engulfing pattern consists of two candlesticks:

• The first candlestick is small and bearish (indicating weak selling pressure).
• The second candlestick is large and bullish, fully engulfing the first one (indicating strong buying momentum).

Example of a Bullish Engulfing Trade setup

In the diagram of my trading setup:

• Candlestick 1 was a bearish candle that touched the support zone and support trendline.
• Shortly after, Candlestick 2 fully engulfed Candlestick 1 with a strong bullish candle, confirming the reversal.

This setup provided a high-confidence buy signal,

showing the importance of understanding candlestick patterns and how they align with market structure.

2. Bearish Engulfing Pattern

Similarly, the bearish engulfing pattern acts as both a reversal and continuation pattern.

There are two ways I use this pattern for high-probability trade setups:

• Reversal Setup: I look for bearish engulfing patterns forming at resistance areas (law: we sell at resistance) within a zone or trendline.
• Continuation Setup: I also use bearish engulfing patterns when the price breaks below support and then retests it. In this scenario, a bearish engulfing pattern at the retest area suggests strong selling pressure and a continuation of the downtrend.

How a Bearish Engulfing Pattern Forms

A bearish engulfing pattern consists of two candlesticks:

• The first candlestick is small and bullish (indicating weak buying pressure).
• The second candlestick is large and bearish, fully engulfing the first one (indicating strong selling momentum).

Example of a Bearish Engulfing Trade setup

In the diagram:

• The market was previously trending upward until the last bullish candlestick formed at a resistance zone and trendline (high-quality signal).
• This was followed by Candlestick 2, a strong bearish candle that fully engulfed the last bullish candlestick.
• This confirmed that selling pressure was taking over, leading to a market drop—a perfect sell opportunity.

3. Morning Star Pattern

A Morning Star pattern is the third pattern I use as an indicator

for high-potential reversal and continuation bullish entries.

It consists of three candlesticks. Similarly, to the bullish engulfing pattern,

I wait patiently for the market to make its way to the support zone or trend.

After the Morning Star pattern has developed, I start buying indices, commodities, currencies, etc.

Now, let’s look into how I capitalize on a continuation scenario.

In a situation where I can identify that bullish momentum is going to break a resistance area,

I patiently wait and allow the market to prove my theory correct.

After it does (the market breaks resistance, turning the zone into new support),

I wait for a retest that can take the form of a Morning Star. Once the pattern has taken shape,

I enter with my high-probability trades.

How a Morning Star Pattern Forms

A Morning Star candlestick pattern consists of three candlesticks:

• The first candlestick is a strong bearish candlestick that closes at the support. This candlestick indicates to technical traders that the market is still heavily dominated by sellers.
• The second candlestick forms right after the first. Its body is much smaller than the first candlestick and can close either bullish or bearish. The key takeaway is that it signals that sellers are losing momentum.
• The third candlestick is a very strong bullish candlestick that is greater than the second candlestick and must cover at least half of the first candle.

Example of a Morning Star Trade Setup

In the diagram:

• The market was trading downward until it reached the support level with a strong bearish candlestick (marked 1), indicating that sellers were in control.
• The second candlestick (marked 2) formed as a small bullish candlestick known as a hammer. As seen, this candlestick is much smaller than the first, signalling that sellers are losing momentum.
• The third candlestick (marked 3) formed as a bullish candlestick larger than the second candlestick and covering more than 50% of the first candlestick. This alerts us to strong buying pressure, leading to a potential buy setup.

4. Evening Star Candlestick Pattern

Similarly, to the bearish engulfing pattern,

an Evening Star candlestick pattern can act as a reversal or continuation pattern,

which I also use for sniper entries. Sniper entries are well-timed trades with little to no market drawdown.

Another way to achieve a high trading outcome using this pattern

is when selling pressure breaks through a support area, turning it into new resistance.

When this happens, I patiently wait for the market to retest,

which can take the form of this pattern. When it does, it’s a strong signal to enter sell trades.

How an Evening Star Pattern Forms

An Evening Star candlestick pattern consists of three candlesticks:

• The first candlestick is a strong bullish candle as it approaches resistance, suggesting to a technical trader that buyers are still strong during that period.
• The second candlestick follows after the first and forms a small bearish or bullish candlestick, indicating that buyers are losing momentum.
• The third candlestick is a strong bearish candlestick that is greater than the second candlestick and must cover at least 50% of the first candlestick.

Example of an Evening Star Trade Setup

In the diagram:

• The first candlestick (marked 1) shows that buyers were in control during that period, and the market momentum was bullish.
• The second candlestick (marked 2) closed as a bearish candlestick, signalling that buyers were losing momentum.
• The third candlestick (marked 3) is a bearish candlestick with its open and close price lower than the second candlestick. Even though the candle’s body did not cover 50% of the first candlestick, its close was below 50%, confirming our Evening Star pattern. This would have been a high-probability setup, leading to a selling opportunity.

By understanding these candlestick patterns

and their formations, traders can make informed decisions and capitalize on high-probability setups in the market.

The Power of Candlestick Signals: Conclusion

As we have discussed, being able to read candlestick patterns helps you make sense of what price is telling you.

If you understand the language, you will be able to uncover its secrets. I have shared with you four powerful candlestick patterns:

Bullish Engulfing, Bearish Engulfing, Morning Star, and Evening Star.

There are many more out there, and you can dedicate time to finding patterns that work best with your strategy.

Developing this skill will allow you to read the market with ease over time. If you made it to this part,

I want to congratulate you—this shows you can start something and finish it. Trading is a personal journey, and traders who

are prepared always come out on top. It is always important to keep growing and learning rather than repeating the same mistakes.

If you want to learn more about other important traits needed to become a profitable trader,

click on this link to get our free FundsandGalore e-book. If you want to learn more about candlesticks, click on this link.

To master strategic risk approaches in trading, one must possess strong technical analysis skills.

Numerous technical trading strategies exist, but today’s piece focuses

on how to excel in trends and support and resistance zones because that’s how I personally trade.

There are various ways to apply risk management to gain an edge over the market.

What I am about to share works, and these strategies have been thoroughly tested.

Strategic Risk Approaches to Have an Edge

Mastering these three strategic risk approaches in trading will allow you to gain an edge over the market.

This skill set will enable you to navigate market manipulations effortlessly.

I have previously discussed who is responsible for market manipulations and how to protect yourself as a retail trader.

Today, I will dive deeper into three strategies and provide

a blueprint that you can apply alongside your technical ability.

Take note: if you have good risk management but lack technical skills, your trading business will collapse.

Similarly, if you have strong technical skills but lack risk management, your business will also fail.

Think of trading as a business that you run alone.

To gain an edge over the market, you need to find harmony between your technical skills and strategic risk approaches.

Strategic Risk Approaches in Trading: Using Stop Losses

This approach is crucial because it helps protect your investments.

You should internalize this formula or write it down and place it somewhere visible at your trading station:

Formula: Stop Loss = Edge over the Market

The S=D approach is a recommended starting point, suitable for traders with varying levels of access to capital.

Once your overall strategy is aligned and all components work in harmony, capital investment becomes your next focus.

Remember, we all come from different financial backgrounds,

so use your situation to your advantage.

Do not compare yourself or attempt to fully replicate someone else’s capital investment strategy.

Example 1: Mrs. Daenerys

Mrs. Daenerys saved R10,000 ($546) to invest in the forex market.

After spotting a setup, she quickly entered buy positions.

As prices rose above her entry point, she felt confident and left for work, assuming prices would remain stable.

Unfortunately, she did not place a stop loss.

Five hours later, during her lunch break, she checked the market and was shocked to see a drastic

price drop, reducing her account from R10,000 to R2,000 ($109).

She closed the trade, wondering what went wrong.

Example 2: Mrs. Reeves

Mrs. Reeves, on the other hand, saved R5,000 ($273) for forex trading.

After identifying an opportunity, she entered buy positions but ensured she placed a stop loss.

Like Mrs. Daenerys, the market dropped drastically, but her stop loss

limited her loss to 5% of her account, amounting to R250 ($14).

The strategic use of stop losses protected Mrs. Reeves from significant losses, ensuring her trading account remained healthy.

Conversely, Mrs. Daenerys’ failure to use a stop loss left her account severely depleted.

Strategic Risk Approaches in Trading: Risk/Reward Ratio

The second approach involves managing your risk/reward ratio. The formula for this is:

Formula: Target – Risk Exposure = Edge over the Market

A balanced risk/reward ratio ensures you win big and lose small, regardless of market conditions.

By exposing only 1-5% of your account and potentially gaining 10-15%, this approach

allows you to trade with discipline, ensuring long-term survival and profits.

It also helps curb fear and greed by clearly defining acceptable risk and potential gains.

Example 1: Nelson

Nelson reviewed his trading history, wondering why his account remained negative despite winning and losing trades.

Upon analysis, he discovered that his average profit per trade was $14, while his average loss was $30.

This imbalance revealed issues with fear—exiting trades too early in profits—and greed—holding trades too long, leading to losses.

Example 2: Adolph

Adolph’s trading history showed consistent growth.

He realized that, on average, he lost $40 per trade but gained $150 on winning trades.

With eight losses and four wins, he remained profitable due to his disciplined approach to managing risk and reward.

This demonstrates the importance of adhering to a favourable risk/reward ratio, especially

for growing small accounts into significant balances over time.

Strategic Risk Approaches in Trading: Overleveraging

In my previous article, “Protect Your Trades from Manipulations,” I highlighted the dangers of overleveraging.

Overleveraging can lead to significant losses, potentially

wiping out your trading account with a single trade.

However, there is a way to use overleveraging strategically without exposing yourself to excessive risk.

This approach involves amplifying gains while minimizing losses by not funding your entire trading account upfront.

Example: Mpumi_n_co

Mpumi_n_co saved R10,000 ($546) for trading.

Normally, he risks 5% of his capital, or R500 ($27), per trade, aiming for a 15% return (R1,500 or $82).

This time, he employs a strategic overleveraging approach.

Instead of funding the entire R10,000, he funds only R500.

He places more positions than usual and allows the trade to play out.

If he loses, he only loses R500, leaving him with R9,500.

However, when he wins, he gains an average of R2,000 to R3,000.

This strategy enables Mpumi_n_co to amplify gains

while maintaining effective risk management, even without placing an actual stop loss.

However, this method requires mastery of timing market entries and exits before attempting.

Strategic Risk Approaches in Trading: Conclusion

Strategic risk management is essential for trading success.

Using stop losses, maintaining a disciplined risk/reward ratio, and strategically

overleveraging are proven methods to protect and grow your trading account.

Mastering these approaches requires practice, discipline, and a thorough understanding of market behaviour.

By integrating these strategies into your trading routine, you can gain a significant

edge over the market while minimizing risks and maximizing returns.

My goal with today’s piece is to teach you how to protect your trades from manipulations.

To fully master this pure technical skill, one first needs to understand why

market manipulation occurs and who is responsible for its occurrence.

Since I’m a pure technical trader who does not use news or any other form of indicators,

I’ll teach you how traders like me navigate through this deception, which is designed to target retail traders.

Protect Your Trades from Manipulations: Overall Market Direction

On my YouTube channel, I always emphasize the importance of trading with the overall market direction.

The reason why most traders don’t adhere to this principle is their desire to trade every day (a lack of patience).

This is exactly what market manipulators want,

as they use it to take money from retail traders and into the pockets of the elites.

The Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffett, is often paraphrased as saying, “The stock market is a device for transferring money from the impatient to the patient.”

I uploaded content on my YouTube channel titled “How to Triple Your Initial Investment,”

where I showcased all the trades I placed throughout 2024, trading only the Nasdaq100 and S&P500.

How I Avoided Unnecessary Manipulation

At the beginning of the year, I identified that the overall market

was in an all-time bullish trend by using the daily timeframe.

The daily timeframe allows me to identify the overall market momentum.

I focused solely on buying opportunities and ignored all selling opportunities throughout the year,

thereby trading with the market’s direction.

Trading against the market is like trying to swim against a strong current.

As I mentioned in my previous piece on “how market manipulation targets retail traders,”

manipulators have enough liquidity to move the markets. So why trade against them? Instead, you should trade with them.

Protect Your Trades from Manipulations: News Releases

News releases can be influenced by manipulators to drive activity in the markets.

They know a lot of retail traders will be looking for buying or selling opportunities to capitalize on market spikes or volatility.

How Manipulators Use News Events

This is when manipulators inject money to trap impatient traders. For example, John Lannister enters a buy order

at the support level because Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) news has been released, and he sees volatile bullish candlesticks emerging.

Seconds after John and many retail traders enter, market manipulators place large sell orders,

driving the price of the stock/currency down below the support area (creating large bearish candlesticks).

This triggers John’s stop loss, along with many other traders’ stop losses.

With frustration, John tries to capitalize on the selling opportunities

since the market broke support, hoping to recover his lost money (revenge trading).

However, seconds after placing his sell orders, the market shoots back up

because the manipulators close their sell positions, leaving retail traders holding losing trades.

This happens to countless retail traders worldwide, enabling manipulators to make millions at their expense.

I don’t trade news events or get hyped about them;

I trade setups, not hype. If I spot an opportunity during a news release, I let the market wipe out impatient traders.

After the temporary unstable surge in price movements (± an hour),

I then look to enter under stable market conditions. This is one way I avoid market manipulation.

Protect Your Trades from Manipulations: Use High Timeframes

The lower you go down in timeframes; the more manipulations you can expect. Market manipulators target traders

who use lower timeframes (1 min – 30 min) more than those on higher timeframes (1 hr – weekly)

because less liquidity is required to move the markets.

Higher timeframes require significantly more liquidity, making manipulations harder to execute.

Difference Between Low and High Timeframes

It’s important to understand that you cannot avoid manipulation entirely as a retail trader.

However, you can control how much exposure you have to it by choosing your timeframes.

Low Timeframes

 Lower timeframes allow you to open and close trades within minutes or hours.

You don’t need to wait as long as you do with higher timeframes.

The downside is that there is a lot of market “noise” and frequent manipulations.

Fake breakouts at support and resistance areas happen often.

High Timeframes

 Higher timeframes are cleaner and less noisy, allowing you to make clear decisions.

The downside is that they require extreme patience.

When trading on high timeframes, you may find yourself holding positions for hours, days, or even weeks.

Understanding these differences is critical.

By knowing the obstacles you face, you can reinforce your trading psychology and develop better strategies for success.

Protect Your Trades from Manipulations: Overleveraging

Overleveraging can yield great returns, but it can also cause significant losses,

especially when manipulation is involved.

Market manipulation can wipe out your trading capital in seconds

if you don’t use proper risk management, regardless of your account size.

To protect your account from being wiped out,

implement a 1:3 risk-reward ratio: for every 1% risked, aim to make 3%.

This strategy gives you an edge over the market.

Even when manipulation occurs, your losses are minimized.

On days where manipulation doesn’t happen, you stand to make significantly more than what you may have lost.

Protect Your Trades from Manipulations: Conclusion

Protecting your trades from manipulation starts with adopting the right mind-set and strategy.

By trading with the overall market direction, avoiding unnecessary news-driven hype,

using higher timeframes, and implementing sound risk management,

you can minimize the risks posed by market manipulators.

While manipulation may never be fully avoided,

you can control your exposure and navigate the markets with confidence.

Remember, patience, discipline,

and proper strategy are your greatest tools as a trader. Stay focused, trade smart, and always protect your trades.

I remember two years ago when I was about to apply the concept of aligning trading patterns and principles.

My patterns, key levels, zones, trends, and impulse correction theory did not align at first.

They seemed to tell me different stories. For example, I would analyse a currency pair and spot a W pattern (indicating potential reversals for buying opportunities),

but at the same time, my key levels would signal a different narrative—price at a resistance level (indicating selling opportunities).

This contradiction left me wondering whether to buy or sell. I didn’t know—I only knew I had to enter the trade (FOMO took over). This lack of alignment led me to lose hundreds of dollars.

What It Takes to Master Alignment

The secret to mastering alignment is you. Unfortunately, that’s why many forex traders, whether they’ve been trading for months, years (unsuccessfully),

or have recently joined the industry, will never become profitable traders. The reason is simple: you are the key.

To effectively use patterns, trends, and key levels, you must master each concept and understand it inside out. Otherwise, you will struggle to align all these principles.

Your inability to stay focused and consistent will lead to failure. You need to have a deep conversation with yourself to assess if the way you are living or trading aligns with these principles.

If it doesn’t, make the necessary changes. As I mentioned earlier, your inability to stay focused and consistent will lead to failure.

Avoid These Behaviours

The reason many traders remain unprofitable, even after years of trading, is a lack of discipline, consistency, and problem-solving skills.

If you don’t learn from your losses or mistakes and keep repeating the same behaviours, you’ll find yourself stuck with a mountain of losses.

This stagnation prevents growth and evolution as a trader, no matter how long you’ve been in the industry. Don’t let yourself fall into that trap.

A lot of new traders fail because they enter the industry with unrealistic expectations of becoming millionaires within weeks or months.

I’ve been there, too. This mind-set is why many of them quit or never reach the next level.

Aligning Trading Patterns and Principles: How I Did It

As I mentioned, two years ago, I felt conflicted when my market patterns and principles didn’t align.

Instead of blaming my strategy, the market, or the market makers (as I often did back then), I acknowledged the problem and focused on finding solutions.

After months of losses, I went back to the drawing board and began by perfecting trends.

The more I analysed my setups and revisited them later (hours, days, or weeks), the easier it became to spot what I was doing wrong and what I was doing right.

Over time, this approach helped me understand trends effortlessly.

I applied the same method to patterns and principles, addressing each concept individually.

It wasn’t easy, but consistent practice, detailed note-taking, and determination helped me navigate through the challenges.

Eventually, I saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Always remember: focus on the skill, and the money will come; but focus on the money, and it won’t come as easily.

I made a habit of working diligently every day. I became so committed to perfecting my strategy that I stopped wasting time on distractions like partying.

The less attention I paid to the outside world, the better I became at aligning trading patterns and principles.

Aligning Trading Patterns and Principles: Step-by-Step

The reason I cover every topic individually in the Strategic Trading Academy is so you can thoroughly understand the principles of each concept—such as traditional trends, M&W reversal patterns, and trading psychology.

Once you achieve mastery, here’s your step-by-step guide to achieving total alignment:

Step 1: Trends

By this stage, you should have a clear understanding of how to apply trends. You should know which timeframes to use for analysis.

If you follow my weekly market breakdowns on YouTube, you’ll notice that I start by analysing trends on the daily timeframe.

Placing trends on the daily chart helps me determine if the market momentum is bullish or bearish. I then add trends on lower timeframes (4-hour or 1-hour charts).

Step 2: Key Levels

Next come key levels—critical points in the market where price reversals might occur.

At resistance levels, we look for selling opportunities; at support levels, we look for buying opportunities.

These levels are essential because they define my “playground,” giving me an idea of the potential pips I could gain over different timeframes (hours, days, weeks, or months).

By marking key levels on daily and 4-hour/1-hour charts, I can better predict whether a trend might reverse or break.

When trends and key levels align—for instance, when a bullish market is at a support level—it reinforces my confidence in my analysis.

Step 3: Zones

Zones, like key levels, are areas in the market where price reversals or continuations are likely.

The difference is that zones allow you to account for more price activity, enabling more informed decisions before entering a trade.

I use zones and key levels for different purposes. Key levels define my playground, while zones help me refine trades, scale in entries, or adjust stop-loss levels.

I apply zones on lower timeframes, such as 4-hour or 1-hour charts. Testing these tools extensively will help you understand what works best for your trading style.

For example, I used to create my playground using zones but later realized that it didn’t work for me in the long run.

Step 4: Impulse-Correction Theory

This is likely the easiest step. You need to train your eyes to spot impulsive and corrective price movements.

Consistent practice will sharpen this skill. Once your patterns, market levels, and zones align, allow the correction or pullback to occur.

When it breaks, enter the trade and capitalize on the impulsive price surge—provided it aligns with the previous steps.

Here’s an example of a trade I took on December 12, 2024.

Aligning Trading Patterns and Principles: Conclusion

This is my blueprint. Use it as a guide to improve your trading skills. Never give up, and always learn from your mistakes—otherwise, you’ll keep repeating them.

You don’t have to follow my strategy exactly. Everyone’s trading experience is different.

If you prefer starting your analysis on a weekly timeframe or exclusively using zones, that’s perfectly fine.

This blueprint is merely a starting point. Over time, as you gain confidence, you can adapt and refine it to suit your style.

In today’s piece, we will cover Mastering Expanding and Contracting Channels.

In our previous articles, I’ve discussed mastering the art of successfully trading Head and Shoulders patterns,

M and W patterns, and more for both bullish and bearish markets.

Mastering Expanding and Contracting Channels: Before We Begin

I urge you to read Mastering Technical Analysis: The Power of Price Action. If you’ve already read it, I recommend revisiting it.

Repetition is how we, as humans, are programmed to learn.

The reason I encourage you to read that article is because it covers traditional channels/trends, and this piece serves as an extension to that topic.

What to Expect Going Forward

To best approach this piece (Mastering Expanding and Contracting Channels),

start by reading a section—for example, expanding channels. After reading the entire section on expanding channels,

use the link provided in that section.

The link will direct you to my YouTube channel,

where I’ll demonstrate how to spot and capitalize on these channels. Once you’ve watched the video,

move on to the next section (contracting channels).

By doing so, you’ll effectively combine both theoretical and practical lessons offered in this article.

Take Action as Soon as Possible

After understanding the logistics of expanding and contracting channels,

it’s time to take action. You might wonder: How do I take action?

Start by analyzing charts and training your eyes to spot these patterns.

Through repetition and consistency, you’ll learn to identify these patterns with ease.

Once you spot one, practice taking advantage of these setups using a demo account until you’re comfortable applying them in a live trading environment.

Mastering Expanding and Contracting Channels: Expanding Channel

On my YouTube channel, I always emphasize the importance of having two identical trends

when trading a traditional bullish or bearish trend, like in the example below:

However, this rule does not apply when trading expanding channels. Here’s an example of how they take form:

As you can see, the distance from support to resistance starts narrow but gradually

increases over time as the price moves between support and resistance.

An expanding channel acts as a consolidation pattern, and once it completes,

we typically see a strong impulse move—either to the upside or downside.

This is why I also encourage you to read my previous articles under The Strategic Trading Academy.

Just as a car requires various components to function optimally,

mastering what I teach requires you to study all the pieces I’ve written.

They work together to achieve maximum trading performance.

How to Capitalize Using Expanding Channels

There are two primary ways to capitalize on expanding channels:

1. Trading Within the Channel
   This is effective when the pattern forms on the 1-hour, 4-hour, or daily timeframe.
2. Trading the Breakout and Retest
   Wait for the market to break and retest the channel. Once the retest is complete, capitalize on the anticipated impulse move—either for buys or sells, depending on the overall trend.

CLICK HERE to access my YouTube channel, where I provide practical examples.

Mastering Expanding and Contracting Channels: Contracting Channel

A contraction is the exact opposite of an expanding channel. Instead of the price range expanding,

it contracts (narrows) as the price moves between support and resistance.

A contracting channel differs from a traditional channel or trend.

The trends are not identical but instead form a triangular pattern that slopes to the right.

Once the price contracts to its maximum, we typically

see a breakout—either to the upside (bullish) or downside (bearish).

A contraction acts as a consolidation phase, and once it completes,

we can anticipate a strong bullish or bearish impulse movement.

How to Capitalize Using Contracting Channels

There are two main ways to capitalize on contracting channels:

1. Trading Within the Channel
   This works when the pattern forms on the 1-hour, 4-hour, or daily timeframe.
2. Trading the Breakout and Retest
   Wait for the market to break and retest the channel.
3. After the retest, capitalize on the anticipated impulse move—either for buys or sells, depending on the overall trend.

CLICK HERE to access my YouTube channel, where I offer practical examples.

By understanding and practicing these techniques, you’ll enhance your trading precision

and take your technical analysis skills to the next level. Keep learning and refining your craft!

Mastering Expanding and Contracting Channels: A Key to Precision in Technical Trading

Mastering expanding and contracting channels is not just about spotting patterns—it’s about understanding market behaviour and positioning yourself for precision trades.

These channels provide unique opportunities to identify potential breakouts and capitalize on impulse moves.

By integrating theory with practice—whether trading within the channel or targeting breakouts—you can refine

your technical analysis skills and elevate your trading performance.

The journey to mastery requires consistent practice, repetition, and a commitment to learning.

Take the time to study these patterns, apply them in demo environments,

and gradually transition to live trading with confidence.

Remember, every successful trade begins with a solid understanding of price action and a disciplined approach.

Stay dedicated, keep evolving, and let expanding and contracting channels become a powerful tool in your trading arsenal.

Let’s conquer the markets, one pattern at a time!