Hi

As I've posted a first comment thought I better introduce myself ! I work from home as an accountant and therefore have the big problem of a computer in front of me all day long and often boring work on the desk (not aways, for accountants tax can be fun!!) I got into spread betting some 18 months ago. Played with my own advice for 6 months gradually learning and loosing. After that took a subscription to a broker "tipping" service (Fat Prophets) ploughed in a sensible starting sum for my type of trading (previously £200 to £500 lumps did well then stopped out) and up until January this year did very well (approx 400% growth) with alot of big losses and profits. In mean time started to get hooked into Agora Publishing bumpf !

In January did everything wrong re stop losses, buying into losses etc on Gold. Of course if I had the funds behind me I would have been sweating for a while but laughing with a very large profit as of the recent price of gold. BUT of course not enough funds and neatly back to square one!!!

Worked out (long ago) that I need to find a way of controlling my gambling instincts/ be happy with small losses etc... Trying to use systems to meet this aim, but can still see greed etc creeping in at times!

Currently using Fat Prophets still with care (as recent results have not been great but as subscription was for 18 months no further costs, will probably drop when comes to an end).. Piptastic ideas and approach (needs a lot of watching the graphs but the basic pivot/support/resistance levels etc has been useful and the emails etc very educational) Trade the Banks (seems interesting but no had enough time to decide how to use yet)
Newsnight trader (in my view too simplistic, how can you risk a swing trade in a Non Farm Payroll week!!) but will follow for now with my own checks before the "bet".
My tweaked version of the 8 am trader ( I just follow US30 with no orders just actually placing bets live -- it seems to be working for me at present but I do have the time (normally) to do it that way.)

And Finally Nick's FTSE100 service (only 3 weeks but so far I am happy)

I'm not a natural for systems as I like to adjust and flex them, and as one can see I have too many in the pot at the moment to get all going correctly, and earn a normal living as well ! I have thrown a few systems out (at least Agora is good on refunds!) but since finding SFT this has saved a lot of time and money in its reviews and forum comments Thanks for that.

My aim is to make enough regular income from this to allow a large building project a 18 months time (one of the problems with being too greedy as target is quite aggressive) and thereafter to be able to build a pension pot to allow a reasonable retirement date. The idea of reducing my accounting practice to one off advisory and a few larger clients would be nice as well but I'm being realistic on that one!

Thats probably last you will hear from me for a month or so but thanks for listening !

Hi,

Thanks for taking the time to provide that background info on yourself and what you are up to, always interesting, to us anyway.

Glad you are finding SFT of use and of course we look forward to hearing your progress.

Wishes for an excellent weekend.

Good to see a bit of background - nice one, jetrimby. Fat Prophets sounds a bit interesting! Care to tell us a little more? Reviewteam - is this one for the review block? I'm sure I've seen those guys on the BBC.

Is Fat Prophets not stocks related?

Hi. They are mainly shares for longer term investments. With registration for differing reports (eg euro mining shares, Australian shares, etc) BUT they do have a report specially for spreadbetting. Txt message with instructions then day later report on web why and daily update report. Also a weekly report in indecies commodities etc which can be quite interesting. Normally positions last a few days to a week or so. Can be in anything whatsoever. I sometimes think they pick obscure to look cleverer than they are!

Cap spreads has always had everything they recommend so sure most larger platforms okay. Some of their long term advice has, from brief review been v good but a review of their own chart of results showed that they haven't, in the last year, been very good at spreadbetting. (I'm pretty sure every move they have placed short term on gold has been very wrong!) much of their advice seems to be based on technical analysis where they sen to go wrong in this section is not checking out trends and fundamentals etc. I'm with them till August but not cheap (I've pd about £750 for 18 months but only after negotiations plus I know they had a price rise)

One good thing is they are not brokers. They only make monies off advice so hopefully they will improve. ( they are occasionally on some of the financial news channels for opinion etc it is an big concern Not a one man band) I can't reccommend them but I also wouldn't put someone off reviewing them and giving it a go But if you do haggle!

Much appreciated - so it sounds like swing trades for spreadbetting. I will keep my eye on this one.