Foundation Trading
Programme
The purpose behind this handbook is to provide our students with a complete understanding of the ethos behind the Academy of Financial Trading, an outline of the course which you have selected to enrol into, a guide to the assessment procedure and an in-depth review of the policies and standards which the Academy of Financial Trading holds itself up against.
Above everything, we pride ourselves on the support which we provide our students. We are available at all times during normal business hours via phone or email, in order to ensure that your queries are dealt with in an efficient manner.
We strive to provide concise, comprehensive courses without the need for the student to attend multiple 'levels' with increasing price tags to reach 'greatness'. We guarantee to provide on-going comprehensive support and assistance during any programme of study offered.
Additionally, all traders who attend one of our courses are provided with extended access to the recordings of each live programme which we broadcast. This offering is quite unique and is of great benefit to the student. This concept was coined by us based on our understanding of just how busy life can be, and sometimes you cannot commit to attend every single live class. This provides a complete solution – but to guarantee your attendance and also help with your revision.
We are keen to instil our own “Continuous Improvement Alignment” policy in every program which we provide to the general public. This policy document is available to read on our website.
The Academy of Financial Trading goes to great lengths to ensure that we promote a clear, honest and unambiguous education – within an environment based upon complete diversity and equality at all times.
Foundation Trading Programme
Over the course of 10 one-hour modules spanning four weeks, students dive right into both the technical and fundamental aspects of trading with our help and support throughout, providing you with a solid understanding of what is required in order to successfully trade the markets.
Course Highlights Include:
Live lessons from professional traders with fully interactive bonus Q & A sessions
Course suitable for all levels: beginners, intermediate and advanced
Learn at your own pace with access to recordings of live classes available 24/7
Full support provided throughout and upon completion of the course
Includes Certificate of Completion – excellent for CVs
Free Simulated Trading Software – risk free practice!
One to One Evaluation with a professional trader
Winner Best Online Trading Educator 2012 and 2013 Lesson 1: The Foundation of Your Foundation Trading Programme
a. Why Trade?
The old buy and hold style of trading which made the inexperienced look like trading "experts" up until the advent of the global crisis in 2008 aren`t working now, as many who bought and sat on bank shares would now agree. CFD`s offer the trader the opportunity to go short as well as long. With the current state of the global markets, there are a huge amount of both buying and selling opportunities that are discussed.
b. What to Trade?
Here we look at tradable instruments (forex, commodities, indices, individual stocks) and examine each individually to explain unique characteristics and inter-dependencies.
c. Who Else is Trading?
In almost all other areas of business and trade, participants like to have an understanding of who the other participants are. In trading most traders don`t consider and don`t know who else is trading and who the most dominant parties are. With this in mind new traders learn how to swim with the tide and avoid trading against the market movers.
Lesson 2: The Mechanics of Trading
What is leverage? What are the benefits and risks associated with it? Here we will have a frank examination of leverage, how it makes the markets accessible to most and how to use it to our advantage. This is an area often overlooked and is especially important in times of high global market volatility. In short, without leverage most typical traders would not be able to physically trade. Whilst leverage gives individuals the opportunity to profit by giving them access to financial trading, it is also has an ever present risk. Inexperienced traders need to understand how to get leverage to work for them. All of the unnecessary jargon is also simplified and clear demonstrations are provided to work out trade sizes and individual trade risk relevant to markets being traded.
Lesson 3: Market Analysis Methodologies
We explain what constitutes fundamental analysis and sources of information to help clients specialise in their favoured trading instruments. We also examine the factors that affect the supply & demand for each instrument which ultimately reflect its current price. We also explain why this heading often holds some of the largest pitfalls for new traders and how those pitfalls can in fact create opportunities for the well trained new trader with profitable solutions.
Lesson 4: Candlesticks - Shedding Light on Opportunities
Technical Analysis is all about seeing, accepting and trading. This is trading what is in front of you not what you or a pundit predicts. An introduction to price action, reading candlestick charts, dojis, engulfing pattern formations and counter retail trading are covered in this valuable lesson.
Lesson 5: Technical Charting 101
The previous lesson is expanded to develop technical channel and trend trading techniques highlighting breakouts, support and resistance, with counter retail strategic entry and exit techniques for each trade made.
Lesson 6: Building Your Trading Toolkit
Building on the previous technical lessons this session focuses on descending/ascending triangles, volatile measuring indicators, oscillators and Fibonacci retracements with a particular emphasis on counter-retail trading techniques that both avoid making and exploit the mistakes that typical retail traders make - all very much opportunity focussed.
Lesson 7: Practice Trading In the Real World - Pros and Cons
How to get access and configure a free practice Metatrader trading account with a broad range of instruments to trade and live data feeds. How to practically make basic trades, place orders, predefine stop losses & limits (take profit), modifying orders and the placing of technical indicators along with accessing independent news and audio feeds are also explained.
Lesson 8: Becoming a Counter Retail Trader
This lesson brings together all of the previous Technical Analysis lessons focussing on some very straightforward methods of finding Counter Retail Trading Opportunities - our speciality. Some of the methods include an examination of moving averages, cross -overs, simple, exponential and correct order MAs - all focussed on attempting to find that confirmation to trade that we need. This lesson is always one of the best received and is not to be missed.
Lesson 9: Risk Management - Protecting Your Capital
Trading like all other forms of investing carries risk. It is through that very risk that profits may flow. An understanding of the interconnected and inseparable nature of risk and return is fundamental to profitable trading. Here we will introduce traders to the concepts of risk management so they can minimise their losing trades and maximise their winners in a premeditated format.
Lesson 10: The Final Steps – the Practicalities of Real World Trading
There is no room for emotion or surprises in trading. Any trade entry or exit is pre-planned and logged in your trader`s journal. The reason you entered or exited a trade needs to have been planned in advance. If you make some winning trades and don`t know why, your capital is at risk! Real life explanations and examples of the difficulties which real traders face each day are discussed. Practical steps are illustrated to reduce the psychological difficulties faced by real traders. This is best done through an understanding of why these issues arose in the first place. With emotions in check, every profitable trader needs numeric trading targets and goals with a realistic plan that fits their lifestyle. Good and bad results are all part of the plan and if constructed correctly there should be no such thing as a bad trade.
Qualification
By successfully participating in our Foundation Trading Programme, we will be able to provide you with an assessment when the course reaches a conclusion. This assessment is based upon the following criteria -
Knowledge
Broad range of knowledge. Mainly concrete in reference (based on theory and explanation / definition of trading terms) and with some elements of theory application
Know-How and Skill
Demonstrate a moderate range of practical and cognitive skills and tools. The ability to select from a range of procedures and apply known solutions to a variety of predictable problems
Competence
Apply knowledge in both familiar and unfamiliar contexts. Has the ability to act with considerable amount of responsibility and autonomy and to take responsibility for their own learning within a supervised environment (via access to the recordings). Assume partial responsibility for consistency of self-understanding – asks questions and requests support when required through live webinar, catch up recordings and follow up emails and calls
Assessment
A selection of 57 Multiple Choice Questions dealing with a wide and varied range of subjects as covered during the Foundation Trading Programme. The learner is required to achieve a score in excess of 70% in order to be presented with a Certificate of Completion. It is possible to re-sit the exam as often as is required in order to achieve the award.
There is no set time limit within which the Certification of Completion assessment must be completed.
Continuous Improvement Alignment
The Academy of Financial Trading “Continuous Improvement Alignment” (C.I.A.) internal policy aims at analysing and assessing each individual program which it provides, and ensures that the
development, formation, presentation, support, assessment, awarding and analysis of each program is constantly reviewed under strict criteria. The purpose of this policy is to guarantee that each programs specification is – and remains – concise and appropriate to the award designated by the Academy. This policy document also provides the Academy of Financial Trading with a snapshot of the programmes further potential.
The Suitability of an identified business need can be defined as the extent to which this policy document responds to the identified program requirement – literally an assurance that the Academy is critically self-aware at all times. The requirements are weighted and classified in a series of
mandatory questions ("yes/no") along with more in depth questions. These questions are essentially a way for the Academy to be constantly aware that its standards are being adhered to at all times.
The Potential of a business need identifies the indirect consequences linked to the use of the proposed program, whether it is in terms of analysing and assessing the impact of its use, or evaluating its possible evolution
.
The ideas behind the Suitability criteria can also be expressed with the following questions:
Applicability:
1.1: What is specified in the identified program requirement? Is it clear who should use the proposed program and for what applications?
Relevance:
1.2: To which degree does the participation in the proposed program need help meet the identified requirements?
1.3: Does the identified program requirement cover the key features necessary to support the identified student’s functional need?
1.4: What is its completeness functionality-wise?
1.5: Has the identified program requirement been designed so as to take into account the required assessment? What are the existing or planned mechanisms to implement the assessment?
1.6: How does the identified program requirement take into account accessibility needs?
An additional analysis of the future outcomes and the indirect consequences of participating in the proposed program finalises the requirements assessment; the criteria associated to this analysis - grouped under the Potential criteria – focus on the various aspects linked to the impact of the choice as well as to the possible evolution of the program.
Assessing the impact of use means identifying the risks and opportunities provided by the proposed programme. This identification is a first stage, and an evaluation is required at a global level. It may be refined in a second stage with a similar analysis linked to the implementations of the identified program requirement.
Analysing the possible evolution of the identified program requirement implies looking at its scalability; in other words to which extent the system implementing it can either handle growing amounts of work in a straightforward manner or to be readily enlarged.
Extensibility is also a possible evolution; it indicates the degree to which the identified program requirement can adapt to other areas. Extensibility to another field of formal specification is enhanced if there is an associated methodology.
The stability of a business need is strongly linked to the quality of the maintenance process. Maintainability addresses the ease with which a formal specification can be modified; and analyses governance of the evolution of the identified program requirement, including dissemination of new versions and stability of the maintenance process.
The ideas behind the Potential criteria can also be expressed with the following questions:
Impact
1.7: What is the impact of choosing this proposed program? i.e. what are the risks and opportunities identified?
1.8: What is the financial impact? What are the costs incurred? Which are the benefits?
1.9: What is the Organisational impact? Is there a continuity of process? Are there business
processes to be changed? What is the scope of Change Management to be foreseen (i.e. training...)?
1.10: What are the Privacy aspects? i.e. consequences of the choice and further actions to assure privacy?
1.11: What is the impact on administrative burden?
Scalability
1.12: To which extent can the proposed program adapt to the size of the needs, i.e. its ability to support an increasing number of implementations and/or interactions among those
implementations
Extensibility
1.13: To which degree or with which ease is the proposed program extensible to another area?
Stability
1.14: For how long has this business need existed?
1.15: How long can it and its later modifications be used and still maintain its quality?
1.16: How often are new versions released and with what type of change?
1.18: Are there any "backward compatibility" problems reported/documented for previous version of the identified program requirement?
1.19: Which effort is needed for an organisation using the identified program requirement to upgrade to a new version?
Maintainability
1.20: Is the maintenance process of the identified program requirement stable?
1.21: Does the identified program requirement benefit from a strong customer support system?
1.22: Is there any entity in charge of regularly assessing the identified program requirement against the evolution of needs and available technologies?
There must be a pre-defined process in place to ensure that a legitimate assessment can be provided to each individual student. This process must provide a clear, accurate and unambiguous platform from which the student has the opportunity to take part in a relevant exam, which will test the level of knowledge achieved by their participation in the identified program requirement. The associated exam must fulfil two distinct criteria -
1. Assess what the learner knows and can do 2. Credit what the learner knows and can do
It must be a company-wide policy that the student / potential student is central to everything which is done. The company must provide reliable and clear information about the identified program requirement and the associated qualifications from successful completion.
An internal verification process is required in order to ensure the fairness of the marking of each assessment. A separate internal evaluator is required to action this criteria in order to ensure that there is no conflict of interests and that the marking remains completely consistent and fair. Consistent monitoring and self-evaluation must take place on an ongoing basis – ideally as each program of study reaches a conclusion. This self-evaluation must take a holistic approach and should not be limited to a singular, specific identified program requirement. The entire company should come under critical scrutiny to ensure that pre-defined standards are met at all times.
The ideas behind the Assessment criteria can also be expressed with the following questions: Assessment
1.23: Is there a capability to provide a clear, accurate and unambiguous platform where a student can access their relevant assessment?
1.24: Is all information concerning the associated qualification described reliably and clearly? 1.25: Is it possible to access the described assessment in a timely and straight-forward manner?
Verification
1.26: Has an Internal Verifier been identified?
1.27: Is there a clear separation between the question setter and the Internal Verifier?
1.28: Has the Internal Verifier the ability to access the completed assessments in order to monitor the results to ensure impartiality?
1.29: Does the Internal Verifier possess the relevant qualification or experience required to complete their duty in a satisfactory manner?
Evaluation
1.30: Is there an awareness throughout the company that the responsibility to ensure that the pre-determined standards of the identified program requirement remains high, and primarily lies with the provider
1.31: Is there a specific person appointed which has the responsibility to ensure that the required planning, resources and commitment are provided at all times?
1.32: It is common knowledge that continuous improvement is the ultimate goal of the entire C.I.A. process, and that this process should enhance transparency?
1.33: Is each staff member aware that both ownership and understanding of this policy by its management and staff are absolutely crucial?
Appeals and Complaints Procedure
Should you as a student, staff member or employer have any complaint to make with the Academy of Financial Trading or would like to appeal any of the assessment procedures, outputs or any other matter with the Academy of Financial Trading please contact us detailing the issue as follows:
Appeals: Please email [email protected] or phone +353 76 615 2264 Complaints: Please email [email protected] or phone +353 76 615 2264
Any complaint or appeals notification to the Academy of Financial Trading will be treated in the strictest of confidence. Your claim will be investigated and responded to within 48 hours of such notification (on a business weekday). We shall engage with you and any other interested and affected parties until a mutually satisfactory resolution is achieved with all communications being responded to within 48 hours (on a business weekday).
Should it not be possible to come to a mutually agreeable resolution, an appropriate independent arbitration expert based in Dublin Ireland shall be engaged by the Academy of Financial Trading to assist in resolving any dispute. Should the arbitration process be deemed unsatisfactory by either party, either party reserves the right to take legal counsel governed and construed in accordance with Irish law and the interested and affected parties hereby irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of the Irish courts.
We always strive to be fair and objective in our advice and actions, and we are never influenced in our decisions, actions or recommendations by issues of gender, race, sexuality, creed, colour, age or personal disability.
Code of Practice Confidentiality
We are committed to maintaining the highest degree of integrity in all our dealings with potential, current and past clients, both in terms of normal commercial confidentiality, and the protection of all personal information received in the course of providing the business services concerned. We extend the same standards to all our customers, suppliers and associates.
Ethics
We always conduct our own services honestly and honourably, and expect our clients and suppliers to do the same. Our advice, strategic assistance and the methods imparted through our training, take proper account of ethical considerations, together with the protection and enhancement of the moral position of our clients and suppliers.
Duty of care
Our actions and advice will always conform to relevant law, and we believe that all businesses and organizations, including this company, should avoid causing any adverse effect on the human rights of people in the organisations we deal with, the local and wider environments, and the well-being of society at large.
Payment
We aim to be as flexible as possible in the way that our services our charged. Some clients prefer fixed fees; others are happier with deposits and agreed payment schedules, and we try to fit in with what will be best for the client. We make no attempt to charge interest on late payments, so we expect payments to be made when agreed.
Intellectual property and moral rights
We retain the moral rights in, and ownership of, all intellectual property that we create unless agreed otherwise in advance with our clients. In return we respect the moral and intellectual copyright vested in our clients' intellectual property (if applicable).
Quality assurance
We maintain the quality of what we do through constant ongoing review with our students, of all aims, activities, outcomes and the cost-effectiveness of every activity. We encourage regular review meetings and provide regular progress reports. Further details are available on request.
Professional conduct
We conduct all of our activities professionally and with integrity. We take great care to be
completely objective in our judgement, so that issues are never influenced by anything other than the best and proper interests of our students.
Equality and discrimination
We always strive to be fair and objective in our advice and actions, and we are never influenced in our decisions, actions or recommendations by issues of gender, race, sexuality, creed, colour, age or personal disability.
