A recent Barron’s article quoting a couple of my technical analyst industry peers made a number of comparisons between technical analysis and astrology.
Mentors and Experience
Last week I spent time in Minneapolis speaking to the local CMT Association chapter and while I was there we had the opportunity to interview and speak with some prominent technical analysts. One individual we got to spend an unforgettable afternoon with was a friend and personal mentor of mine, Ralph Acampora.
Minimizing Distractions
A Long Term Orientation
I am just wrapping up my first week of hosting my closing bell show on StockCharts TV, The Final Bar (you can catch it on weekdays at 4pm EST). Most of the days this week I have had the opportunity to have a guest on the show. This has given me the opportunity to pick the brain of some really capable market strategists and analysts. The one thing that has struck me the most is that I give them 3-5 minutes to give me their individual take on the market and most of them are coming at me with really long term charts.
The Power of Checklists
When I first started to learn how to fly an airplane I very quickly learned the value of checklists. You don’t just take the plane out to the runway, and fly. There are a hundred odd meticulous steps you must go through individually to ensure that the mechanics of the airplane are fully functioning, and the safety gear is also ready to go. While a checklist does not minimize the chances of something going wrong, it certainly lessens the probability.
No One Ever Changed Their Mind Via E-mail
In digging through my cavernous repository of articles in my Pocket queue, I uncovered a piece from Slate that declared The Death of the Telephone Call. I’ll never forget when a prominent investor once shared the story of dismissing America Online as a viable investment option because, “Why would I send someone an e-mail when I can just pick a phone and call them?!?”
Books for Investors September 2019
One of my goals for 2019 is to read more long-form, timeless wisdom which will further my quest toward being a more thoughtful investor.
It’s been two months since I last posted a book list, mainly because I did not do a lot of joy reading when my entire library was still in moving boxes! The good news is we’ve settled in well to the Pacific Northwest and I’m happy to report that the Dave Keller Library is back open for business.
A Simple Way To Simplify
This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend the TSAA annual conference in San Francisco. TSAA, for those not familiar with it, is a technical analysis organization founded around 1970. One of TSAA’s founding members, the late Hank Pruden, was a professor at Golden Gate University and a remarkable teacher of technical analysis out on the west coast. It was a unique experience to attend the conference since Hank’s passing in 2018, and see the conference is still thriving and watching Hank’s legacy live on.
The Road To Kaizen
Three Lessons Learned on the Wrong Ferry
My family and I recently relocated from Cleveland to Seattle as I prepare to join up with the good people at StockCharts.com. So far, that has meant 37 hours on I-90 West (which was a fantastic adventure for the Kellers!), unpacking a great many moving boxes, holding endless family meetings on where specific chairs will go in the new house, and many other key issues.