trading education

• Find a Branch
• Schwab Brokerage 800-435-4000
• Schwab Password Reset 800-780-2755
• Schwab Bank 888-403-9000
• Schwab Intelligent Portfolios® 855-694-5208
• Schwab Trading Services 888-245-6864
• Workplace Retirement Plans 800-724-7526

... More ways to contact Schwab

  Chat

• Schwab International
• Schwab Advisor Services™
• Schwab Intelligent Portfolios®
• Schwab Alliance
• Schwab Charitable™
• Retirement Plan Center
• Equity Awards Center®
• Learning Quest® 529
• Mortgage & HELOC
• Charles Schwab Investment Management (CSIM)
• Portfolio Management Services
• Open an Account

Build on your brilliance.

An expanding library of education curated for traders

Coaching to help you apply what you learn, data-driven insights and timely market commentary, explore a wealth of insights and learning resources created with traders in mind..

• Whether you're just getting started or already a seasoned pro, you can tap into a broad array of education to fit your needs.
• An ever-expanding library covers a range of topics from technical and fundamental analysis, to strategies for equities and derivatives, to risk management, and more.
• Our content library is routinely restocked and updated so you get the latest information.

Grow your trading knowledge any way you choose.

With a host of new formats, there are more ways than ever to learn what you want, in the way you want it.

• Choose content based on your preferred learning style, from articles to videos, to podcasts, in-person events, and more.
• Deepen your knowledge at your own pace with new online courses that track your progress.
• Spend more time learning and less time searching for relevant information. With new learning paths, access curated content all in one place and tailored to the goal of your choosing.

Some of Schwab's latest trading insights:

Schwab Market Update: Opening

Weekly Trader's Outlook

Today's Options Market Update

Looking to the Futures

See how to apply what you've learned, with schwab coaching™..

Schwab Coaching allows you to learn from trading professionals in a live, interactive setting.

• Observe trading professionals "over the shoulder" as they demonstrate trading concepts and strategies.
• See how trading principles are applied in current market conditions for deeper, more practical learning.
• Learn how to execute concepts and strategies using thinkorswim ® and other Schwab platforms.
• Use the live chat feature during webcasts to engage with hosts in real time—ask questions, get answers, and be part of the discussion.

Receive real-time insights, every trading day.

Through our media affiliate Schwab Network™*, get a breakdown of the latest market news and what it may mean for investors. Streamed live in thinkorswim desktop and mobile, from opening to closing bell.

*Schwab Network is brought to you by Charles Schwab Media Productions Company ("CSMPC"). CSMPC and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. are separate but affiliated subsidiaries of The Charles Schwab Corporation. CSMPC is not a financial advisor, registered investment advisor, broker-dealer, or futures commissions merchant.

Test drive your strategies with paperMoney.

Built into all thinkorswim platforms, paperMoney ® is a virtual trading environment that allows you to test and refine strategies in a live market simulation—all without risking a dime.

Trading at Schwab is now powered by Ameritrade.

Award-winning thinkorswim platforms..

Trade with cutting-edge tools and technology made for traders, by traders.

More trading education than ever before.

Sharpen your skills with an expanding library of resources tailored to traders.

Real support from real traders.

Get platform, product, and trading strategy support from the Trade Desk—our team of trading specialists.

Commission-free trading experience.

Trade listed equities online for $0 commissions and equities options for $0.65 per contract. 1

Ready to trade brilliantly?

Have questions let's talk..

888-245-6864

Additional resources

Learn more about the benefits of trading at schwab, discover the cutting-edge trading tools available within thinkorswim, see how our trade desk can help you trade brilliantly.

Trading Education

Education is key to successful trading, and there are a wealth of options available. This guide shares our pick of the best educational tools for beginners to advanced traders, covering different markets, trading styles and budgets.

Quick Introduction Trading education provides insights into risk management , helping you understand potential pitfalls and how to mitigate losses. Educational tools help in crafting effective trading strategies , honing skills, and adapting to different market conditions. Education fosters confidence , enhancing your prospects for sustainable success in trading while minimizing costly mistakes. The key is finding high-quality trading training tools that align with your  experience level ,  budget , and in a format that suits your style of learning.

Brokers With The Best Education

These are the 3 best brokers with educational resources for beginners:

The Best Brokers For Beginners

The Importance Of A Good Education

Getting educated before diving into online trading is like laying a sturdy foundation for a building. It’s crucial because it equips you with the tools , knowledge , and frameworks necessary to navigate the complexities of the financial markets.

Understanding market dynamics, different asset classes, risk management strategies, and various analysis tools is akin to having a map before embarking on a journey.

This knowledge not only minimizes the potential for substantial losses but also enhances the ability to make informed trading decisions amid the ever-shifting landscape of the markets.

However, education in trading isn’t a one-time endeavor, it’s an ongoing journey. Even experienced traders benefit from continuous learning and staying updated with market trends, new strategies, and evolving technologies.

Keeping abreast of new trading methodologies, refining existing skills, and embracing evolving market trends will help you to navigate the intricate nuances of online trading.

Best Educational Tools

We have rounded up our pick of the top training tools for aspiring traders:

IG Academy is an award-winning education resource with over 40 years of experience in the trading sector.

With a focus in trading through leverage , CFDs and spread betting , IG helps you trade in a number of markets such as forex , stocks , indices and commodities .

IG Academy provides a number of free courses which include video tutorials, interactive exercises and quizzes.

They also offer live trading webinars for those who sign up to their website. In addition, they have a free chat room (although you must be a member to post) with over 60,000 members.

In the long run, what IG Academy encourage is that you sign up to use their trading platform, which continues to offer support and education to you as you trade for yourself.

IG makes its money by charging commission on your trades.

Social Trading

An increasingly popular way to learn and engage in the financial markets is through social trading . These platforms are home to active communities where investors can share ideas, discuss strategies and even copy each other’s trades.

eToro offers a particularly strong social trading solution. The award-winning social investment network has more than 27 million users from over 140 countries.

Strong points are the user-friendly web platform and community chat . Here, you can find market insights and discussions about popular asset classes from stocks and forex to commodities and crypto. Over time, you can build a newsfeed that’s tailored to your trading interests.

The other useful element is copy trading . You can find, follow and mirror the trades of more experienced investors – sharing in their profits (and losses). This has proven to be a popular way to learn about online trading.

You can choose master traders based on their risk score, location, returns and more. However, it’s important to remember that past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Demo Accounts

One of the best resources to complement your trading education is a demo account .

Funded with virtual funds, you can practice what you learn from books , videos , podcasts and courses , including analyzing trends, identifying entry and exit points, and employing risk management tools like stop-loss orders.

The key elements we recommend looking for are paper trading accounts with no time limit, so you can continue developing strategies in a risk-free setting alongside a real-money account, a large virtual bankroll, and an environment that accurately mirrors live market conditions.

AvaTrade is a good option here. The multi-regulated broker offers an unlimited demo account with $10,000 in virtual funds and access to over 1,250 instruments on MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and their proprietary platform.

How To Compare Trading Education

Considering costs.

When exploring trading education options, cost naturally becomes a significant factor to consider. There’s seldom a genuinely free offering, and most platforms or courses that initially tout free access eventually introduce paid features or advanced services.

The objective lies in discovering a trustworthy, top-tier resource that delivers considerable value for the investment. Determining what comprises this value depends on your individual aspirations and situation.

Consider these aspects when evaluating options:

• Know what you want: Before hastily entering your payment information on the initial site promising financial liberation, be sure to clarify your objectives. Are you inclined towards stocks or forex trading? Assess your investment capacity, whether a modest sum suffices or a more substantial investment is feasible. Determine your preferred learning style, whether through reading or visual aids, and decide if you prefer comprehensive guidance or are comfortable using indicators independently.
• Do your homework: Certain websites transparently disclose their course or educational package costs, while others necessitate deeper investigation. When a course advertises ‘free’ education, it often implies that payment commences after a certain number of lessons. These subsequent costs might not be prominently displayed, so it’s advisable to review the fine print or inquire in advance about any potential future expenses that might be requested.
• Budget: The prices of courses and indicators span a broad spectrum, ranging from as low as $20 to as high as $10,000 and more, while subscriptions can vary between $10 monthly to over $200. Opting for a premium course entails a significant commitment, so ensure it aligns with your financial capacity and that the value you derive from it justifies the investment.

Finding Your Level

Trading education courses often categorize themselves into different levels, such as Beginner , Intermediate , or Pro , usually aligning their prices on a sliding scale. The beginner courses are typically the most affordable, and the advanced ones are more expensive.

When seeking the best trading education, it’s advisable to realistically assess your proficiency level as a trader. Jumping straight into a premium or gold-level trading room without basic knowledge might not yield the desired results.

For those who have some experience in stock trading and seek advancement or exploration in other trading areas, an intermediate course may be better.

Advanced education should be reserved for seasoned full-time traders seeking mentoring to refine their strategies and stay updated.

Paying For Quality

The quality and variety of resources in trading education vary significantly. Caution is advised with trading school founders claiming courses were born from frustration with ineffective systems and indicators, as an expensive course doesn’t always guarantee reliability.

The kind of services or resources you might expect to find offered as part of a trading education package might include:

• Indicators: Programs that use various calculations to analyze and indicate the direction of asset prices.
• Webinars/Tutorials/Live Classes: Live online lessons or tutorials with experienced traders.
• Mentoring: One-on-one support from an expert trader.
• Downloadable Materials: This might include PDF booklets or interactive quizzes that explain trading in greater depth.
• Weekly/Daily E-mails: These might provide you with a certain trader’s insights or market advice for the day.
• Demo Accounts: These allow you to practice trading using a simulation platform and virtual funds.
• eBooks: eBooks are occasionally available free to generate interest in a more detailed, paid course.

The primary gauge of a package’s quality lies in the credibility of the trader endorsing it. Only consider investing if the trader boasts a track record of at least 10 years with visible success. Expertise in trading is built through direct experience. Those lacking substantial experience might not offer worthwhile insights.

The training materials themselves should emphasize self-reliance in trading. A credible trading mentor empowers students to trade independently.

Platforms requiring ongoing payments for continued access might hinder your ability to develop the mindset necessary for self-sufficient trading success.

Trading education is like assembling the pieces of a puzzle. Each lesson adds another piece, gradually revealing the bigger picture of market mastery.’

Bottom Line

Getting educated before trading online is crucial because it equips you with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complexities of the financial markets.

Even experienced traders should never stop educating themselves as it fosters confidence, sharpens critical thinking, and enables them to adapt to ever-changing market conditions, ultimately increasing their prospects for success and long-term sustainability in trading.

What Are The Essential Topics To Cover In A Trading Education?

Key topics include market analysis (technical and fundamental), risk management, trading psychology, strategies for different markets (stocks, forex, cryptocurrencies, etc.), and practical application through simulated or real trading experiences.

What Should You Consider Before Choosing A Trading Course?

Before selecting a trading course, consider your trading goals, preferred learning style, course content, reputation of the educator or platform, and cost versus value proposition.

How Do You Know If A Trading Education Provider Is Reputable?

Look for training materials backed by experienced traders or institutions, check reviews and testimonials from past students, assess the transparency of the content and methodology, and ensure the resources align with your specific trading interests.

Is Live Mentoring Or Interaction Important In Trading Education?

Live mentoring or interaction can significantly benefit traders, providing opportunities for real-time guidance, Q&A sessions, and the chance to apply learned concepts under supervision, fostering a better understanding of trading nuances.

How Should You Continue Your Trading Education Once You’ve Completed A Course?

Continuous learning is crucial in trading. After a course, stay updated with market trends, read relevant books or articles, engage in trading communities or forums, attend webinars or seminars, and consider advanced courses or workshops to refine skills further.

What Are The Best Online Trading Educational Videos?

We have listed the most popular YouTube videos that provide educational materials. However, it’s important to note that while they offer value, navigating them can be tricky. Don’t solely rely on flashy graphics or catchy titles. Assess if the presenter holds substantial trading experience.

Also consider whether they are genuinely imparting knowledge for free, or is it a tactic to sell unnecessary products? Can the complexity of day trading, for example, be adequately conveyed in a 5 or 10-minute YouTube tutorial?

Recommended Reading

Article sources.

• AvaTrade Education Center
• CMC Markets Learn Hub
• Pepperstone Education Center
• eToro Social Trading
• AvaTrade Demo Account
• The Complete Day Trading Education for Beginners, Neil Hoechlin, 2017

The writing and editorial team at DayTrading.com use credible sources to support their work. These include government agencies, white papers, research institutes, and engagement with industry professionals. Content is written free from bias and is fact-checked where appropriate. Learn more about why you can trust DayTrading.com

• Search Search Please fill out this field.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Best Investing Courses

Udemy offers the best investing course for new investors

Investing courses are a great way to learn more about the stock market and develop skills that you can use to grow your wealth. Whether you’ve never invested a dollar or are already an experienced investor, the best investing courses online can help you to learn how to make the right financial moves and plan for your future.

The investing courses below are affordably priced and accessible even to beginning investors who may not have much prior knowledge. These courses provide a comprehensive learning experience and introduce students to all aspects of investing. They also feature supportive communities of instructors and peers, along with plenty of additional resources for further learning.

Best Investing Courses of 2024

• Best Overall: Stock Market From Scratch for Complete Beginners
• Best for Options: Simpler Trading
• Best for a Free and In-Depth Experience: Investing Classroom from morningstar.com
• Most Comprehensive Course: Warrior Trading’s Warrior Starter and Warrior Pro
• Best for the Community-Minded: Bear Bull Traders
• Best for Market Philosophy Enthusiasts: Udemy's Ultimate Stock Market Investing
• Best for the Mobile Trader: Peak Analytics’ Direction First Newsletter
• Best for the No-Frills, Practical Investor: Stocks, Bonds, and Investing: Oh, My! from The University of Central Florida Online
• Our Top Picks
• Stock Market From Scratch for Complete Beginners

Simpler Trading

• Investing Classroom from morningstar.com
• Warrior Trading’s Warrior Starter and Warrior Pro
• Bear Bull Traders
• Udemy's Ultimate Stock Market Investing
• Peak Analytics’ Direction First Newsletter
• Stocks, Bonds, and Investing
• See More (5)

Final Verdict

• Compare Courses

Methodology

Best overall : stock market from scratch for complete beginners.

• Price: $49.99
• Platform: Udemy
• Guarantee: 30-day money-back guarantee

We chose Stock Market From Scratch for Complete Beginners as the best overall investing course because of its accessibility to brand-new investors and its comprehensive coverage of investing topics. This course is entirely asynchronous and comes with full lifetime access to course materials and resources.

Great for complete beginners

Course is often discounted

No live instruction

Not ideal for advanced investors

Udemy is an online teaching and learning platform with more than 59 million students and more than 200,000 courses. Stock Market From Scratch for Complete Beginners is one of those courses. For $49.99, Stock Market From Scratch transforms you from an investment newbie to a stock market pro. You can often catch sales and get the course for much cheaper. The class uses pre-recorded video lessons, ensuring that you can learn on your time and schedule, and it currently has 4.1 out of 5 stars from overall learners.

Taught by instructor Jatin Taneja, a stock market investor with years of experience, you'll learn terms, concepts, and ideas such as technical indicators, the difference between types of financial instruments, how to choose the right broker, and much more. Taneja uses many real-life examples in his courses and has been praised for his ability to explain the complexities of the stock market to people who have no experience. All you need is a computer and an internet connection to get started.

Best for Options : Simpler Trading

• Price: Up to $997
• Platform: Simpler Trading
• Guarantee: None

We chose Simpler Trading for its large selection of options trading courses. Users can access a library of learning modules, live trading sessions, interactive Q&As, trading plan checklists, and tracking tools via web and app-based platforms.

Courses offered in Basic, Premium, and Elite packages

Large library of training videos

Extensive curriculum

Expert instructors

No simulator

Not as affordable as some other courses

The world of options is complex, and Simpler Trading offers a variety of courses, available resources, and trading tools needed to help traders have a chance at success. Led by options trader John Carter, who is also the author of the best-selling book "Mastering the Trade," Simpler Trading’s courses are easy to navigate and are complemented with free tutorials, trading news, and newsletters.

Simpler Trading offers 38 options courses ranging in price from $297 to $997. Each course is offered in three packages: Basic, Premium, and Elite. Courses are designed to help traders learn how to use the right options strategy during a number of different market scenarios. Additionally, users can access a library of learning modules, live trading sessions, interactive Q&As, trading plan checklists, and tracking tools via web and app-based platforms.

Best for a Free and In-Depth Experience : Investing Classroom from morningstar.com

 morningstar.com

• Platform: Morningstar
• Guarantee: n/a

We chose the Investing Classroom from morningstar.com for its robust selection of free, in-depth courses. While more bare-bones than some other platforms, these courses are an excellent resource for investors who prefer a text-based approach.

Free to use

No need to invest with Morningstar

In-depth course options

Mobile app differs significantly between IOS and Android

Less visual instruction

You can enroll in brokerage and investment firm Morningstar’s free Investing Classroom. There's no need to have any money invested with them to gain access to a comprehensive online catalog.

Through the program, you can learn from seven different course categories: funds, portfolio, stocks, bonds, ETFs, featured content, and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Investing. If you’re just starting out, the "Mutual Fund Basics" course is a great fit. There are no fun animations or a mobile app. But if you prefer a more bare-bones, text-based approach to learning, this is a great option. "Mutual Fund Basics" is a self-study option for both beginners and those who already have a basic skill set.

Most Comprehensive Course : Warrior Trading’s Warrior Starter and Warrior Pro

 Warrior Trading

• Price: Up to $3,997
• Platform: Warrior Trading

If you’re already an experienced investor looking to develop your skills even further, then Warrior Trading’s Warrior Starter and Warrior Pro are great options. A real-time trading simulator is available as an add-on and the Pro package comes with expert mentoring.

Supportive community chat rooms

Trading simulator

Mentoring sessions

Limited time frame to access materials

If you’re curious about investing and want to go from beginner to advanced, Warrior Trading has five different courses to get you there. Learn momentum training from nationally recognized stock trader Ross Cameron, who moderates the courses. With an intuitive and easy-to-navigate program, the five courses will ensure that you’re learning at the level that suits you best.

The Warrior Pro, their most popular offering, is available at $4,297 (90-day access) or $5,997 (one-year access) and has the aforementioned features and course of the starter pack, plus many additional courses. They are small and large cap day trading, swing and options trading, and day trading in an IRA. Additionally, you'll get mentoring sessions, trading tools demos and layouts, and living trading examples and archives. A trading simulator is available as an add-on, too.

Best for the Community-Minded : Bear Bull Traders

 Bear Bull Traders

• Price: $99 to $199 per month
• Platform: Bear Bull Traders
• Guarantee: 7-day money-back guarantee

We chose Bear Bull Traders for its active trading community and live chat room. Along with access to Intro and Essential lessons, students have access to a supportive community of experienced traders and mentors.

Live chat from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET

Webinars and mentorship from experienced traders

Pricey monthly membership

The Basic plan has limited features

If you’re looking to connect with one of the top trading industry professionals, Bear Bull Traders might be up your alley. Co-founder Brian Pezim, the author of How To Swing Trade , provides daily live market updates in the Bear Bull chat room, where he discusses swing trading. Additionally, mentors present weekly on different webinar topics.

Pezim is respected in the industry for his insights, and participants value the ability to communicate with him and learn his strategies for trading. These perks are on top of comprehensive lessons that go from basic to elite, a trading simulator, swing trading materials, and more. You also get weekly mentoring and webinars with the elite membership as well as access to the psychology team.

Best for Market Philosophy Enthusiasts : Udemy's Ultimate Stock Market Investing

For investors looking for a more philosophical approach to long-term investing, Udemy’s Ultimate Stock Marketing Investing course is a great place to start. The course features 3.5 hours of video along with self-led instruction, and includes full lifetime access to an extensive library of learning resources.

Strong focus on long-term investing

Not the best fit for day-traders

If you’ve tried your hand at the market before but are unsure how to make long-term selections that will grow in value, you’ll want to take this Udemy course. It's co-taught by Randy and Kevin Tudor, co-founders of Margin of Safety Investing, who have a combined 40 years of experience in finance. The course is comprised of more than 46 lectures divided into six sections, includes a quiz, and the content has many charts and graphs to help you understand.

If you’re looking for a more philosophical approach and content focused on investing as opposed to trading—you’ll enjoy this course. Learn which types of stocks to buy and when, and how to value stocks appropriately so you don’t underpay for them. With class discussion boards, you'll have direct access to your instructors where questions related to the content of the course will be replied to promptly.

By the end of the course, you'll have a step-by-step game plan to enter the market. Ultimate Stock Market Investing: Learn How to Value Stocks is priced at $49.99, but like most Udemy courses it can often be caught on sale.

Best for the Mobile Trader : Peak Analytics’ Direction First Newsletter

 Peak Analytics

• Price: $14 per month
• Platform: Peak Analytics

We chose Peak Analytics’ Direction First Newsletter because of its emphasis on mobile trading. For investors looking for bite-sized investing advice on a daily basis, this newsletter is paired with real-time trade alerts and insightful expert commentary.

Daily real-time analysis

Suitable for both day traders and long-term investors

No live instruction or video-based courses

Lack of community interaction

Looking to study in a digestible format? Peak Analytics' course comes in the form of a newsletter. You’ll join subscribers in receiving a daily stock recommendation list and weekly reports on the global stock, currency, bond, and commodity markets from experts in portfolio management and market analysis.

With the newsletter, you’ll also receive Peak Analytics’ daily activity feed, allowing you to set up mobile and email alerts to get news on unusual market movements in real-time. While you’re not getting classes and quizzes with this subscription, you are gaining access to a high-performing portfolio. Priced at $14 a month, this course is definitely on the affordable side.

Best for the No-Frills , Practical Investor : Stocks , Bonds , and Investing : Oh , My! from The University of Central Florida Online

 University of Central Florida

• Price: $129
• Platform: The University of Central Florida Online

For investors who aren’t active traders but still want to set themselves up for a strong financial future, the University of Central Florida’s introductory investing course is a great pick. This course covers the fundamentals of investing in an easy to understand, approachable manner.

Great for beginning investors

Instructor-led and self-paced options

Not focused on day traders

Limited community features

Let’s say you’re not too crazy about learning market philosophy. You don’t want to make trading a part-time job, or even a hobby. You just want to save money for retirement, pay down your debt, or reach other kinds of financial goals. “Stocks, Bonds, and Investing: Oh, My!” from The University of Central Florida Online would be an ideal pick.

For $129, you can choose either the self-paced course or the instructor-led course taught by Yale alum Matt Crabtree. Through the six-week syllabus, you’ll learn how to open a retirement account, create plans to save for big goals like a college fund, and how to reach financial goals that are grounded in reality.

People who have taken the class say that it makes investment topics interesting and easy to understand, and you’ll appreciate being able to learn the fundamentals of investing at any age. By the end of this course, you'll be confident in making independent financial decisions without having to pay a broker or a financial advisor.

We recommend Udemy’s Stock Market From Scratch for Complete Beginners as the best overall course for its affordability and approachability. The course features asynchronous learning that can fit with any schedule, as well as lifetime access to course materials. At $49.99, it's one of the more affordable options on this list and provides comprehensive coverage of investing basics for beginners and intermediate investors alike.

Compare the Best Investing Courses

Frequently asked questions, which is the best investment course.

The right investment course for you will reflect the way you learn best. If you retain information better when someone is personally guiding you, consider a course at your local community college or sign up for a live webinar. If you prefer going at your own pace, there are online courses that let you work through the material whenever it's convenient. Consider your budget, your schedule, and your personal learning style when choosing an investment course. You'll be more likely to retain what you learn and apply your new knowledge successfully.

What Are the 3 Asset Classes of Investing?

As you learn about investing, you'll notice that many assets fall into one of three main categories: equities, fixed-income securities, or cash equivalents. Other asset classes you may encounter include derivatives (such as futures and options), commodities, real estate, and alternative assets (such as art or cryptocurrency). Understanding the different asset classes available is a key part of learning to invest.

Is Paying for a Trading Course Worth It?

Learning about investing doesn’t have to cost a fortune. In fact, many brokerages offer free online libraries to customers, allowing you to teach yourself a range of topics at no cost at all. You can sign up for interactive courses for as low as $49, or spend $4,000 or more on your investing education. Paying for a course can be worth it if the material and strategies you learn help you improve your returns and build a stronger financial future.

Which Course Is Best for Beginners?

If you are just getting your feet wet, choose basic investing courses designed to teach you about the market, how it works, and what the different types of investments can do for you and your portfolio. Beginner courses should cover the basics of investing, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and retirement funds . Save more advanced topics until you've got a solid understanding of investing and risk.

To choose the best investing courses available today, we looked at a number of trusted platforms and compared them against a range of educational criteria. We looked at the types of courses offered and the levels of education provided. We also looked at whether the classes involved any sort of live instruction, community involvement, or if they were self-paced or self-led.

To determine the best value, we also considered the price and what sort of course options were available for users, especially in terms of continued access and resources.

Sarinya Pinngam / EyeEm / Getty Images

• Terms of Service
• Editorial Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Your Privacy Choices

• Best Overall
• Best Budget Course

How We Chose the Best Courses

Best day trading courses.

Paid non-client promotion: Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate investing products to write unbiased product reviews.

• Best overall: Bear Bull Traders

Runner-up: Warrior Trading

• Best budget course: Bullish Bears
• Best for mentorship: Humbled Trader
• Best for a community: Investors Underground
• Best for day trading crypto: Fast Lane Traders

Day trading is an active, aggressive trading strategy. You buy and sell a stock (or other asset) and sell it within the same day, in hopes of maximizing on upward trends during the day.

Day trading can be extremely profitable if you understand the market and develop a strategy. But if you jump into it blind, you have the potential for massive losses. To set yourself up for success, familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of day trading before you get started.

The best day trading courses not only give you learning material, but they also provide communities and leadership to help you learn how to be successful. Here are the best day trading courses right now.

Best Overall: Bear Bull Traders

Bear Bull Traders, founded by successful trader Andrew Aziz, has two courses: Essentials and Advanced.

The Essentials Course is great for beginners, with modules such as "Required Tools and Technology for Day Trading" and "The 7 Fundamentals of Successful Day Trading." The Advanced Course has modules such as "Starting a Trading Business" and "How to Grow a Small Account."

You'll have access to the Essentials course with a Basic membership, but you'll need an Elite membership for the Advanced course.

The website has a stock chatroom, which is available with each membership plan. Every week, Bear Bull Traders releases webinars for Elite members about technology, strategy, psychology, and mentorship in day trading, depending on the day of the week.

Bear Bull Traders' standout feature is that it provides you with experts in the psychology of day trading. With an Elite annual membership, you have access to one-on-one coaching sessions with psychologists to talk about your motivations for day trading, discipline, strengths, and weaknesses.

Pricing: 

Intro (7-day trial with the chatroom and onboarding material): $39

Basic membership: $99/month

Elite membership: $199/month

Elite annual membership: $1,199/year (comes to $99.92/month)

Warrior Trading is a strong day trading course, but we chose it as the runner-up to Bear Bull Traders because of its pricing — and because it doesn't have access to psychologists like Bear Bull Traders does. But because Warrior Trading has one-time membership fees rather than a monthly structure, it's possible you'll save money in the long run if you choose it over Bear Bull Traders.

On the bright side, this program does have a free intro course. It includes three lessons on stock selection, tracking and analyzing metrics, and strategy. You'll also receive a free copy of the e-book "How to Day Trade," written by Warrior Trading's founder, Ross Cameron.

Warrior Trading has three paid package options. The Warrior Starter Course is an 18-hour course that covers the basics. Warrior Plus is five courses that includes over 100 hours of content, and Warrior Pro has five courses with over 200 hours of content. With each tier, you'll gain more access to things like trading rooms and live chat. 

Free Intro Course: $0

Warrior Starter Course: One-time membership fee of $997 (currently discounted to $598)

Warrior Plus: One-time membership fee of $2,497 (currently discounted to $1,498)

Warrior Pro: One-time membership fee of $3,997 (currently discounted to $2,398)

Best Budget Course: Bullish Bears

Bullish Bears, founded by trader Lucien Bechard, is very reasonably priced for what you get. Along with the trading courses, if you choose a monthly membership, you have access to trade alerts, trade rooms with mentorship, live streams, a chat room. You'll also receive an e-book on candlestick patterns, which is a group of patterns used to predict how an asset's price will move in the future.

Membership includes a beginner's course, plus basic and advanced day trading courses. There are also courses on topics such as swing trading and options.

Month-to-month: $47/month

Annual membership: $497/year (currently discounted to $247)

Best for Mentorship: Humbled Trader

Humbled Trader only has one membership level, called the Pro level. It comes with trading watch lists, separate chatrooms for day trading and swing trading, weekly live mentorship webinars, and a one-on-one meeting with a mentor.

The Pro package also enrolls you in the Humbled Trader Academy, which has 12+ hours of videos by Shay, aka Humbled Trader, covering 17 day trading units. The academy also has quizzes and trading resources.

You'll have quarterly one-on-one mentorship meetings with a coach from the team. You'll also be able to replay live Q+A sessions and mentorship webinars.

Pro Membership: $1,870/year (comes to $155.83/month)

Best for a Community: Investors Underground

Trader Nathan Michaud founded Investors Underground in 2008, and he places a heavy emphasis on community. In addition to its main trading chatroom, it also has chatrooms dedicated to swing trading and penny stocks . There is a team of day trading experts who moderate the chatroom, and you can reach out to them directly with questions.

A membership comes with a pre-market broadcoast, live trading floor, trade caps, nightly watchlist, morning call, and over 1,000 video lessons. These are all included in memberships, then you'll pay extra to add on the courses.

There are three courses included in an Investors Underground membership: Textbook Trading, Swing Trading, and Tandem Trading. All three are included when you add them onto your membership, and together, they provide over 26 hours of material.

Monthly: $297/month, or $1,297/month with the courses

Quarterly: $697/quarter, or $1,697/quarter with the courses

Annually: $1,897/year, or $2,697/year with the courses

Best for Day Trading Crypto: Fast Lane Traders

Fast Lane Traders' course modules are Trading Basics, Technical Analysis, All About Indicators, Trading Profitably, and Entering Strategies. Some of the topics in these modules can be applied to assets like stocks and forex — but they mainly focus on day trading crypto.

You'll learn how to read crypto charts and apply strategies in day trading to crypto specifically. You'll also be able to use day trading chatrooms on Discord.

Fast Lane Traders' monthly fee is actually even lower than the fee for Bullish Bears, which is our top budget pick, and Fast Lane Traders even offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. But we still chose Bullish Bears as the best for a budget because it focuses on day trading overall rather than specializing in a topic like crypto.

3-day "free" trial that includes a $7.95 sign-up fee. Then $86.61/month.

Other Day Trading Courses we Considered

Here are other day trading courses we looked at when choosing our favorites, as well as reasons why they didn't make our list:

• Asia Forex Mentor — One Core Program : This is a strong program, it just doesn't have the emphasis on day trading that our top picks have. The One Core Program is a good program for learning about trading in general, and the Asia Forex Mentor (Ezekiel Chew) specializes in forex trading .
• Timothy Sykes Trading Program : Timothy Sykes has a lot of free material about penny stock trading . But to learn about his course and pricing, you'll need to apply.
• UC Trading : UC Trading has some strong tools with its membership, such as a two-hour mentorship session. But none of its features stand out as much as those of our top picks.
• Black Box Stocks : Black Box Stocks is primarily a software, with a focus on options trading . There is a bootcamp course that lasts for a few hours, but it isn't as comprehensive as what you'll get with our top picks.
• Eagle Investors : Eagle Investors has plenty of educational material, but it isn't a course.
• Zen Trading Strategies : This program can be useful for learning about day trading, but it's more of a trading tool for creating your own algorithms than a course.
• Silvia Bellrock — The Bellrock Accelerator : Silvia Bellrock's course doesn't specialize in day trading, although it is a strong trading course overall.
• Topstep : This program focuses on futures trading more than anything else.
• Thomas Kralow : Thomas Kralow's program is good for learning about trading in general, but not day trading specifically.
• Udemy : Udemy has numerous courses about day trading, but you won't have a comprehensive package like with our top picks. You also won't have access to mentors or a day trading community.

At Personal Finance Insider, our goal is to help you make the best decisions with your money. To recommend a day trading course that requires a membership fee, we looked at three main factors:

• Experts: All of the courses we chose are led by at least one experienced day trader. Many even have teams of mentors or psychologists to guide you.
• Community: Each of our top picks has a chatroom for day traders to talk and learn from each other. Some have more than one chatroom dedicated to specific topics.
• Resources: Our top picks have a wide range of resources for different levels of day traders. Many provide additional resources with their courses, such as e-books, coaching sessions, or webinars.

We looked at over a dozen day trading courses before narrowing down our top picks based on these three categories.

Day Trading Courses: Frequently Asked Questions

With day trading, you buy and sell one or more assets in the same day. You monitor assets' performance throughout the day to decide when to buy or sell. 

Each course is different, but you'll typically learn the basics of day trading, such as what day trading is, how technical analysis works , which software you can use to day trade, and various strategies for making money.

Advanced courses will teach you about more complicated strategies or different ways to day trade. Some will also teach you how to day trade assets other than stocks, such as futures, options, forex, or crypto.

Day trading courses do cost money. But the money spent is a good investment if you learn skills that help you become a skillful day trader — then you'll theoretically make more money. They're also worth it if you choose a course with strong experts, community, and resources, like the ones on our list.

It's often hard to learn to day trade successfully on your own. That's why day trading courses can be useful — not only do they teach you how to day trade, but they also provide you with chatrooms, mentors, and day trade simulations so you can take the time to learn this skill.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

**Enrollment required.

• Main content

• Advertising
• Why Trust Us?

GLOBAL FINANCIAL EDUCATION

Trading-education.com is a leading financial news and investing site, providing millions of individual investors with access to free crypto & stock picks, forex trading, investment research, and in-depth crypto and stock price predictions and forecasts . Thanks to our expert analysts, Trading Education publishes insightful articles on every corner of the financial market — from forex and stocks to cryptos and active online trading. 

We help people to trade and invest wisely.

Trading Education makes trading and investing easy to understand. It is home to experts who provide clear, practical contents and guides on trading and investing your money. Whether you’re looking to invest in stocks or cryptocurrencies , trade forex or commodities, or achieve another financial goal, Trading Education’s strong library of more than 7,000 pieces of content will answer your questions.

Here at Trading Education, we believe in the power of good education. With it, we can introduce competent new traders into this world. Our goal is to collect all the necessary information about trading and deliver it in an interactive and convenient way so that everyone who has a keen interest and passion in learning how to trade can benefit from it.

Trading Education knows that every expert was once a beginner. That’s why our team of experts have focused on a simple and easy-to-understand style of education.

Trading Education is on a mission to make trading and investing easy for everyone.

Many people regard trading as complex for them to understand; it isn’t. Trading the financial market is achievable for anyone who is provided with the right information, and that’s why we’re here.

Where we’re going

Our aim is for Trading Education to become the go-to place for anyone looking for reliable information about how to invest in the stock and crypto markets and invest their money wisely. To achieve this ambition, it’s important to us that our content remains free to access.

We only work with the best writers

Over 5000 people have contributed to Trading Education over the last 5 years. All of our writers are carefully vetted for not only their industry expertise, but also the accuracy of the content they write. You’ll find our writers across many other highly reputable publications.

Advertising Policy

Some of the content we publish on Trading Education may be accompanied by sponsored product features. Other pages may include affiliate links to brands that we recommend, where we receive a commission if you sign up. Rest assured, these sponsorships do not have any effect on the content we publish, the integrity of our writers or the independence of our website.

Our team will be more than happy to discuss any potential commercial partnership and advertising placements within our trading platform reviews or other content. We work very closely with our business partners and have proven experience of driving significant commercial value to brands.

Media Contact

Email: [email protected]

Disclaimer: To keep the site running and the content published herein free, we may from time to time receive compensation from different companies for the placement of their products and services on our website. We may also receive compensation when you click on advertisement links posted on our website. This relationship is however purely financial and none of the advertisers have control over what we publish.

Aldgate Tower 2 Leman St, Whitechapel, London E1 8FA

Markets Home

Market data home.

Real-time market data

Market Data on Google Analytics Hub

CME DATAMINE:

THE SOURCE FOR HISTORICAL DATA

Services Home

Clearing Advisories

Uncleared margin rules

Insights Home

Subscribe to Research

Get our latest economic research delivered to your email inbox.

The world's most valuable exchange brand

Education Home

Step Into Commodities: Trading Challenge

New to Futures?

• Meta recently took the market by surprise in paying its first-ever dividend, driving a 1 – 3% rally across the term structure in S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 Dividend Index futures.
• With dividend uncertainty comes the need for investors to re-consider their dividend risk and manage their exposure.
• Market participants can capitalize on these moves by deploying various dividend trading strategies – capturing the difference between implied and realized dividends, taking directional views, calendar spreads, as well as exploring relative trading opportunities between dividend futures.
• CME Group's  S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 Dividend Index futures can provide traders with efficient tools to hedge, express market views and isolate dividend exposure – all while maximizing capital efficiencies and minimizing portfolio risks.
• Given the different constitution of indices and where constituents are present in each index they differ in weights, the impact of any change to the dividend policy of one firm will vary across dividend indices. This can present relative trading opportunities to investors – for example one could trade the Nasdaq-100 Annual Dividend Index futures against S&P 500 Annual Dividend Index futures.
• Investors can often observe dividend futures trading at a discount to the bottom-up dividend estimates. This discount can provide interesting trading opportunities with clients having demand when the magnitude of the discount is deemed sufficient.

Executive summary

Trading implied dividends, exhibit 1: s&p 500 december 2020 annual dividend index futures vs. spdivan index.

CME Group's Dividend Index futures provide a transparent view on future implied dividend distributions along the curve with some maturities going out 10 years.

It is important to highlight the supply and demand aspects of dividend risk. The main supply of dividends comes from structured products and bank derivative books. When there is heavy supply, bank traders hedge the risk often at a discount to create further capacity to facilitate more business within their risk limits. Hence, the discount. Take the example of the trading activity in the S&P 500 Annual Dividend Index Dec 2020 futures during the Covid-19 pandemic. In March 2020, the futures fell sharply as uncertainty surmounted over potential dividend cuts.

The implied dividend market as expressed via the dividend index futures, repriced this risk and subsequently traded at a discount. Whilst a few dividends in the underlying stocks were omitted, over time the market expectations of dividend payouts normalized and the futures began to rise in April 2020. Thus, while dividends may have looked cheap, they were subject to pricing volatility. In this example, dividend futures provided the market the ability to either hedge out the risk prior to the risk event occurring, or for investors who believed the stress of the situation resulted in a mispricing, the opportunity to take advantage of the implied discounted dividends and benefit from the volatility and pricing adjustment once the market normalized.

Surprise Meta dividend announcement

Meta took the market by surprise that it would pay its first-ever quarterly dividend of USD 0.50 to investors since Facebook floated on the stock market in 2012. [1] This was announced on its earnings as of February 1, 2024, after the market closed.

• As Meta is an index component of both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100, the inclusion of the dividend would impact the pricing of their respective dividend Index futures associated with them.
• Meta’s announced quarterly dividend went ex-div as of February 21, 2024, indicating a quarterly dividend cycle in: February, May, August and November.
• While other companies announced dividend increases such as Chevron, Gilead Sciences and 3M, all their dividends were in line with forecasts.

Magnitude Of Dividend Index Points (DIPs)

S&P 500 Dividend Annual Index futures - Meta’s quarterly dividend equates to around 0.53 DIPs on an annual basis, representing 0.74% of the S&P 500 Annual Dividend Index Dec 24 futures (71.65) as of February 1, 2024.

Nasdaq-100 Dividend Annual Index futures - Similarly, Meta’s dividend would equate to 3.65 DIPs on an annual basis, representing 2.48% of the Nasdaq-100 Annual Dividend Index Dec 24 futures (147.0) as of February 1, 2024.

Dividend uncertainty across the curve

Exhibit 2: s&p 500 quarterly dividend index futures, exhibit 3a: nasdaq 100 annual dividend index futures, exhibit 3b: s&p 500 annual dividend index futures.

Exhibit 2 depicts the term structure for the S&P 500 Quarterly Dividend Index futures for various dates. The market in general had not priced in a Meta dividend – both from the Dividend Index futures on an implied basis and from bottom-up estimates from analysts. Post announcement, the futures witnessed between 0.19 – 0.24 DIPs increase shift across the term structure based on the 1 day change on the settlement price, on February 1, 2024, with the futures prices rallying between 1.0% –1.3% across the curve with an increase in open interest of around 2% in the Dec 24 contract.

Exhibits 3a and 3b depict the term structure for the S&P 500 Annual Dividend Index futures and Nasdaq-100 Annual Dividend Index futures, again both reflecting dividend uncertainty. The S&P 500 Annual Dividend Index futures saw a DIPs variance of between 0.4 – 1.3 shift across the term structure over the same period, with the futures rallying between 1.0% – 1.3% across the curve. While the Nasdaq-100 Annual Dividend Index futures reflected more dividend uncertainty, seeing between 2.5 – 8.0 DIPs increase over the term.

Dividend futures pricing vs. bottom-up dividend forecast

Exhibit 4: futures pricing vs. estimates* around meta announcement.

Source: CME Group, * S&P Global Market Intelligence Dividend Forecasting, in terms of dividend index points

Exhibit 4 details the premium/discount of the dividend index futures relative to bottom-up estimates before Meta’s dividend announcement and post.

As of February 1, before the announcement of Meta’s dividend, the S&P 500 Annual Dividend Index futures were trading at a discount between -3.0 and -14.8% relative to bottom-up estimates. As of February 2, this discount had narrowed slightly to between -2.6 and -13.9%.

Similarly bottom-up estimates for Nasdaq-100 dividends, the futures discount varied between -1.5% to -13.7% and as of February 1 and this changed to between -1.3 and -12.6% the day after.

The rationale behind the difference in the magnitude between the two indices could be that the Nasdaq-100 has a higher percentage of stocks not paying dividends relative to the S&P 500 and that the market is assimilating the possibility of more stocks paying dividends.

Whilst other technology stocks could look to initiate dividends, typically their 10K’s will often point to share repurchasing as replacements for dividends, potentially limiting dividend upside.

This discount can provide interesting trading opportunities depending on supply and demand dynamics. Implied dividends can trade differently depending on their maturity. Whilst bottom-up forecasts are a key driver of value for near term implied dividends i.e., up to two-year maturities, for the longer dated implied dividends they typically trade more as a function of yield. As such, the longer dated implied dividends tend to be highly correlated with index spot levels to maintain a relatively stable dividend yield. The issuance of structured products also impacts the valuations for longer-dated maturities.

Currently, S&P 500 Dividend Index futures are expecting the growth in dividend payouts over the next decade to be lackluster . What they imply about the equities market being overvalued tends to reinforce concerns of the potential for exceptional market volatility ahead. Some of the gloomy outlook could be due to corporate earnings being near record highs as a percentage of the economy, making it difficult for further significant gains.

Summarizing the longer-term trends for dividends and broadly speaking:

• The equity payout story is structural and pivoted on corporate earnings.
• Driven by tax policies.
• Incentives for companies have been to buy back stock rather than returning capital to shareholders.

Trading Dividend Index futures at CME Group

When dividend uncertainty exists, investors can seek dividend-based opportunities.

• Investors looking to capture the difference between implied and realized dividends can take directional views on dividends which are over-valued (sell) or under-valued (buy).
• Calendar spreads – Investors can combine the buying and selling of dividends index contracts in different maturities and can also take views on future dividend spreads between different years. Implied dividends can trade differently depending on their maturity.
• Relative value trading across indices. For example, if investors believe that there could be further upside in the technology against other sectors, trading the Nasdaq-100 Annual Dividend Index against S&P 500 Annual Dividend Index futures.
• As markets have evolved, the increased liquidity of dividend index futures has given investors the opportunity to access dividend exposure efficiently , irrespective of the price movement of the underlying benchmark index.

Dividend Index futures provide an efficient way to gain exposure

Key features of futures include, but are not limited to:

Liquid granular execution strategies

• Liquidity of the S&P 500 Annual Dividend Index futures in 2023: daily liquidity of USD 61M and open interest notional of USD 3.6B (notional).
• Transparently manage positions – Flexible execution, including block trades and liquid screen trading capabilities offer multiple ways to manage liquidity risk.
• Taking a Short Position – For futures, entering a short position is operationally equivalent to entering a long position.

Trading with expiries along the curve

• S&P 500 Quarterly Dividend Index futures – first five months in March quarterly cycle.
• S&P 500 Annual Dividend Index futures – Nearest 11 December.
• Nasdaq-100 Annual Dividend Index futures – December annual contracts listed for six consecutive years.
• Russell 2000 Annual Dividend Index futures – December annual contracts listed for six consecutive years.

Capital efficiencies and margin offsets

• Optimize capital deployment –S&P 500 Annual Dividend Index futures are currently 2-3% and subject to change
• Margin offsets – Traders may qualify for margin offsets with other CME Group contracts including offsets specific to the underlying Equity Index futures.

Conclusions

• CME Group Equity Dividend Index futures and options are important tools portfolio managers use to maximize capital efficiencies, minimize portfolio risks and execute both long and short positions.
• CME Group Equity Dividend Index futures can help investors seek dividend trading based opportunities and express their views either as directional, or calendar spreads or as a relative value strategy or even isolating dividend exposure.
• Dividend Index futures allow for trading, transferring and hedging of dividend risk exposure that is standardized, exchange listed and offers a transparent listed block and screen alternative to the OTC market.

CME Group Dividend Index futures complex

Source: CME Group

Quarterly and annual contracts are available on the S&P 500 Index, allowing greater flexibility and fine-tuned dividend exposure. Annual contracts are available on the Nasdaq-100 and Russell 2000 Indices.

[1]  https://www.ft.com/content/fabb6df0-5652-44af-a40a-4783b43fd016

More on Dividend futures and options

Efficiently hedge or express a view on the U.S. dividend market.

All examples in this report are hypothetical interpretations of situations and are used for explanation purposes only. The views in this report reflect solely those of the author and not necessarily those of CME Group or its affiliated institutions. This report and the information herein should not be considered investment advice or the results of actual market experience.

CME Group is the world’s leading derivatives marketplace. The company is comprised of four Designated Contract Markets (DCMs).  Further information on each exchange's rules and product listings can be found by clicking on the links to CME , CBOT , NYMEX and COMEX .

© 2024 CME Group Inc. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer   |   Privacy Notice   |   Cookie Notice   |   Terms of Use   |   Data Terms of Use   |   Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement   |  Report a Security Concern

MoscowExchange

About moscowexchange.

See all ideas  

Frequently Asked Questions

Comprehensive day trader training from an experienced Wall Street trader. Learn to trade in any market, online and at your...

Build and enhance proficiencies in Excel for finance through tutorials and case studies

Learn the basics of investing, how to start managing your portfolio, reduce risk, and make smart decisions

Take the first steps towards becoming an active trader. Learn the basics and develop a trading system that aligns with...

Learn basic and advanced technical analysis, chart reading skills, and the technical indicators you need to identify and capitalize on...

Learn and master financial modeling with a project-based online course taught by a financial professional who has served both Fortune...

Learn options trading with this straightforward and self paced class, teaching you real strategies to increase consistency of returns and...

Move beyond puts and calls and start leveraging spreads and combination trades to start trading options to their full potential

Learn to capitalize on trends like a professional trader using advanced technical indicators and chart analysis

Get ahead of the market by understanding the true value of a stock and capitalizing on its price. Learn fundamental...

This course gives you an introduction to the world of penny stocks, shows you how to pick which penny stocks...

Become a Foreign Exchange Trader through learning the basics of currency trading on the Forex market

Learn to trade with confidence, manage risk, identify high-potential technical patterns, and increase consistency of returns with these self-paced, online...

Get comprehensive training to build a successful long-term investment portfolio, market timing, diversification and the strategies institutional investors use to...

Want to land your dream job, make a career change, or hone on-the-job skills? Master the skills financial professionals use...

Become a well rounded options trader with these two self-paced courses. Learn essential elements such as puts and calls, understand...

Learn the foundational tool that is the start of all smart trading decisions. By focusing on charts, learn to use...

Build your cryptocurrency knowledge and learn the best strategies to tackle the most exciting market out there

Learn everything from blockchain basics to what it means to mine currency, and leave this course with a sound understanding...

Capitalize on the exciting and volatile crypto market by learning expert trading strategies that apply to cryptocurrencies, tokens and commodities.

A self-paced, online step-by-step guide in using Excel like top financial professionals

Learn how to budget your money, overcome debt and balance between savings and investments.

Master Excel like top financial professionals through real-world case studies

Binary Options can be risky, but we’ll teach you how to manage the risks and which technical indicators give you...

Simplifying Excel for navigation and data: learn to use Excel like the pros in a few easy steps

A point and click path to formulas and conditionals in Excel for Finance

Learn how a smart retirement portfolio, compounding interest and easy behavioral tricks can lay the groundwork for future wealth

Mine and model data like an expert with real-world applications

Simplifying Excel for formatting and style: learn to use Excel like the pros in a few easy steps

Learn how to cash in on your area by effectively leveraging and identifying your side hustle

Create a customized budget that aligns with your income and expenses

Simplifying Excel for charts: learn to use Excel like the pros in a few easy steps

Create actionable financial data using Excel with a Visa income statement study

Learn the ways to control and eliminate student loans, personal loans and other forms of debt

Navigate the world of credit scores, credit reports and decide which credit cards are right for you

Develop a personalized savings plan based on your income, expenses and debt

Make affordable large purchases that won't leave you deep in debt

Leverage targeted analysis to sift through the thousands of exchange-traded stocks to find the right choices for your growing portfolio

Gain an understanding of the theory and mechanics behind algorithmic trading and how to create a basic trading algorithm

Check out to get access to these online courses right away.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

2 Brothers in Trump Media Insider-Trading Scheme Plead Guilty

Michael and Gerald Shvartsman, who had originally pleaded not guilty to securities fraud charges, each pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud.

By Matthew Goldstein

Two brothers from Miami pleaded guilty on Wednesday in federal court in Manhattan for their role in a nearly $23 million insider-trading scheme surrounding the 2021 announcement that former President Donald J. Trump’s social media company planned to merge with a cash-rich shell company.

Michael and Gerald Shvartsman, who had pleaded not guilty to securities fraud charges last summer , were set to go on trial later this month. But the brothers decided this week to forgo a trial, instead entering their guilty pleas before Judge Lewis J. Liman of U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Each man pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud.

Michael Shvartsman, according to federal prosecutors, was the mastermind of the scheme to profit from the announcement, in October 2021, that Trump Media & Technology Group planned to merge with Digital World Acquisition Corporation, a shell company that had just raised $300 million in an initial public offering. The authorities charged Michael Shvartsman, 53, a Miami financier, with making $18.2 million in illicit trading profits; and his brother, 46, who owns an outdoor furnishing store in Miami, with raking in $4.6 million.

Michael Shvartsman, who ran a venture investment firm called Rocket One, used some of the proceeds from the scheme to buy a $14 million luxury yacht that he named Provocateur.

The brothers each face prison sentences of up to 20 years. Their plea agreements with the government recommend a sentence of roughly four to five years for Michael Shvartsman; and three to four years for Gerald Shvartsman.

Judge Liman, who is not bound by those recommendations, set sentencing for both men for July 17.

The brothers are Canadian citizens and could face deportation at the end of their sentences.

Gerald Shvartsman told Judge Liman that what he did was wrong and “I will pay dearly for it for the rest of my life.” His brother told the judge, “I understand these trades were unlawful.”

As part of their plea agreements, the brothers agreed to forfeit their trading gains.

A third man charged in the scheme, Bruce Garelick, who had worked at Rocket One, is scheduled to go to trial at the end of the month. The authorities have said that he made less than $50,000 but was critical in giving the brothers nonpublic inside information about the merger talks between Trump Media and Digital World.

Mr. Garelick, a former hedge fund manager, became a board member of Digital World before it went public but after Rocket One had become an investor. A lawyer for Mr. Garelick did not respond to a request for comment.

Trump Media, the parent company of the social media platform Truth Social, completed its merger with Digital World a little over a week ago. The deal has added billions of dollars to Mr. Trump’s net worth and boosted the market valuation of Trump Media even though it lost $58 million last year and took in just $4.1 million in advertising revenue on Truth Social.

The federal authorities investigated a handful of other people who were associated with the Shvartsmans and had made profitable trades around the time of the merger announcement, according to court filings. Among them was Anton Postolnikov, a Russian American financier who made $22.8 million in trading profits. But none of those individuals were charged with wrongdoing, or found to have any ties to anyone associated with Trump Media.

Michael Shvartsman’s plea agreement made reference to his “causing” a friend, a business associate and a neighbor to make trades in Digital World securities in advance of the merger announcement.

No one from Trump Media was charged with any wrongdoing, either. The insider-trading investigation contributed to a more than two-year delay in completing the merger. The deal was also held up by a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into what regulators said were inappropriate merger talks between the companies. It was resolved last summer, with Digital World agreeing to pay an $18 million fine.

An earlier version of this article misstated a detail of the plea agreement. Michael Shvartsman will not necessarily have to forfeit his yacht to the government.

How we handle corrections

Matthew Goldstein covers Wall Street and white-collar crime and housing issues. More about Matthew Goldstein

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

The .gov means it’s official.

Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

The site is secure.

The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Russia-related Designations, Updates and Removal; Counter Terrorism Designation Update; Issuance of Russia-related General Licenses

The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is issuing Russia-related General License 13G , "Authorizing Certain Administrative Transactions Prohibited by Directive 4 under Executive Order 14024"; Russia-related General License 74 , "Authorizing the Wind Down and Rejection of Transactions Involving East-West United Bank"; Russia-related General License 75 , "Authorizing Certain Transactions Related to Debt or Equity of, or Derivative Contracts Involving, Certain Entities Blocked on November 2, 2023"; and Russia-related General License 76 , "Authorizing the Wind Down of Transactions Involving Certain Entities Blocked on November 2, 2023."

Additionally, OFAC has updated its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List:

The following deletions have been made to OFAC's SDN List: 

PUBLIC JOINT STOCK COMPANY ODK SATURN (a.k.a. NPO SATURN JSC; a.k.a. "SATURN NGO"), 163 Lenina Ave, Rybinsk 152903, Russia; Tax ID No. 7610052644 (Russia); Registration Number 1027601106169 (Russia) [RUSSIA-EO14024].  NPO SATURN JSC (a.k.a. PUBLIC JOINT STOCK COMPANY ODK SATURN; a.k.a. "SATURN NGO"), 163 Lenina Ave, Rybinsk 152903, Russia; Tax ID No. 7610052644 (Russia); Registration Number 1027601106169 (Russia) [RUSSIA-EO14024].  "SATURN NGO" (a.k.a. NPO SATURN JSC; a.k.a. PUBLIC JOINT STOCK COMPANY ODK SATURN), 163 Lenina Ave, Rybinsk 152903, Russia; Tax ID No. 7610052644 (Russia); Registration Number 1027601106169 (Russia) [RUSSIA-EO14024]. 

Unrelated Administrative List Updates:

NOLAN (f.k.a. OSLO) Oil Products Tanker Panama flag; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9179701; MMSI 354798000 (vessel) [SDGT] (Linked To: PONTUS NAVIGATION CORP.). -to- NOLAN (f.k.a. "OSLO") Oil Products Tanker Panama flag; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9179701; MMSI 354798000 (vessel) [SDGT] (Linked To: PONTUS NAVIGATION CORP.).