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What is Trade With Profile – Is it the Best Training Program For Active Traders?

Trade With Profile is a skill-building/training firm created by Josh Schuler (a former institutional trader) that helps developing traders see markets more clearly and make better trading decisions through the application of auction theory and profiling tools.

What is Trade With Profile - Best Trader Training Program?

Even though the focus of Josh and the Trade With Profile community centers around futures markets – the auction process and profiling tools often used to observe/analyze them are applicable to other markets as well (stocks, cryptocurrencies, etc.).

If terminology like auction market theory, volume profile, and market profile are completely new to you, then I highly recommend checking them out. In my opinion, these are the building blocks for an in-depth understanding of how markets truly behave.

Most new/struggling traders don’t even realize it, but their market framework is weak. They often get caught up in a one-dimensional, price-obsessed approach. But price alone doesn’t tell the whole story. In fact, a surface-level view of price can be quite deceiving.

Before heavily adopting auction theory and profiling tools into my own approach, it often seemed like market movements were far too chaotic/random – like there was something I was missing. Fortunately, this framework lifted a fog from my market vision.

You’ll probably never view markets the same way you once did ever again – everything else will seem impotent/inadequate.

What is the Profile Trading Development Pathway Offered By Trade With Profile?

The Profile Trading Development Pathway is Trade With Profile’s training program. I suppose you could call it a “course”, but I don’t think that word does it justice. It’s an immersive, methodical, and comprehensive development program for committed traders.

There are 3 different versions of the program depending on your preferred learning format – Self-Directed, Group, or 1-on-1 Mentorship – but they’re all rooted in the same core curriculum that includes 16 interdependent auction principles.

What is Trade With Profile - Profile Trading Development Pathway

This is not your typical trading chat room or trade alert/call/signal service – this is robust training for individuals who want trading to be a significant portion of their income. The objective is to deliver competent, self-sufficient traders to the marketplace.

I don’t often take this stance with most trading courses/programs/services because they tend to be quite expensive for how basic/lousy they are. But the Profile Trading Development Pathway is drastically underpriced for the real training that it provides.

It doesn’t just teach you what auction theory and profiling are on a theoretical level – it trains you to effectively observe/analyze any market (with a high level of depth/context/nuance) and turn your newfound auction knowledge into something actionable.

Each student develops a solid “playbook” of setups for themselves grounded in auction structure/posture/probable behavior.

Gain Auction Mastery and Use Insight From Profiling to Make Better Trading Decisions:

Trade With Profile is a skill development firm for active traders. There are no ridiculous advertisements, profit proclamations, or other nonsense/gimmicks going on here. This is legitimate training for individuals who desire to be real traders.

|Learn the 4 Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before Placing Any Trade|

#1 Rated Trader Training Program For Developing Real Market Edge - Trade With Profile

|Start Your 1-Week Free Trial in the Trade With Profile Group Development Pathway|

Most online “trading education” these days is toxic. The landscape is saturated with low-quality alert services, newsletters, and chat rooms – where most subscribers are just looking to blindly follow some self-proclaimed guru’s alerts/calls/picks.

But real traders aren’t dependent on anyone else to tell them what to do. They’re independent thinkers that know how to observe/interpret market dynamics/structure and recognize when good risk-reward opportunities present themselves.

When you build your trading approach within an auction framework and use profiling analysis to see what’s really going on beyond price, you’ll attain a level of market depth that many market participants simply don’t have. It’s extremely powerful.

When I think back to the way I traded before coming across auction theory and profiling – it’s embarrassing to admit – but I was essentially trading blind. I experienced a moderate level of success, but this way of approaching markets is substantially better.

If your current approach feels insufficient, it might be time to upgrade your confidence and consistency with Trade With Profile.

Written by Matt Thomas (@MattThomasTP)

Related Pages:

Matt Thomas

Founder of TradingParadigm.com, Creator of the Trading Success Framework Course & Trading Paradigm Skool Community, and Intraday Futures Trader Using Auction Market Theory & Profiling (Volume & Market Profile).

20 Comments

  • skamalka says:

    As a beginner with an interest in trading and market analysis, I find the concept of profile trading intriguing. It seems to focus on helping traders understand market dynamics better by applying auction theory and profiling tools. My question is related to the Profile Trading Development Pathway offered by Trade With Profile. The article mentions that there are three different versions of the program: Self-Directed, Group, or 1-on-1 Mentorship. I’m curious to know more about the differences between these versions and how they cater to different types of learners. For instance, what does each version offer in terms of learning materials, interaction with the instructor, and personalized guidance? If someone is new to trading and auction theory, which version would you recommend as the best starting point to gain a solid understanding of these concepts and develop effective trading strategies?

    • Matt Thomas says:

      Hi Skamalka – great question.

      All versions of the Profile Trading Development Pathway focus on the same 16 core modules – with each module covering a specific auction market theory & profiling principle. There are supplemental lessons & learning materials outside of these 16 core modules covering open types, day types, specific playbook trades, and more. But the “nucleus” of the program is these 16 core modules.

      The difference in versions is in the delivery of the material and support provided. And, of course, there are higher costs associated with the ones that offer more support. The most cost-friendly version is Self-Directed, which provides immediate access to all 16 modules (and additional learning materials) for a one-time fee. Group is slightly more expensive and broken down into 4 monthly payments. The main benefit of Group is that the material is delivered on a delayed schedule, with 1 new module being released every week. So it’s more of a controlled learning environment with a strong weekly focus, and the current week building upon the last one(s) until a comprehensive understanding is acquired. Generally speaking, I think a lot of people rush through courses/programs and don’t really give the lessons the respect they deserve (full focus & application). So, in my opinion, it’s the more ideal option in comparison to Self-Directed. There’s also the TWP Slack community, live trading sessions, weekly Q&A’s, monthly coaching calls, and more to take advantage of with Group. Then there’s 1-on-1 Mentorship, which is fully customized support. In terms of development, this is obviously the most ideal option, but cost typically scares people away. A lot of people immediately reject this sort of thing because of the price, but it depends how quickly/effectively you want to develop. It can be well worth it for committed students.

      Overall, every student needs to decide for themselves what the right fit is for them and their individual situation. But they’re all great and revolve around the same core learning materials.

  • SebMiller23 says:

    I have recently been looking into getting started with investments but have found it to be quite daunting, not really knowing where to start. This software looks brilliant! What would you say is the particular selling point for this software compared to other currently out there? How long have you yourself been involved in future markets? Did you start with a software similar to this or did you find other ways of learning? 

    • Matt Thomas says:

      Hi Seb – thanks for sharing your thoughts/questions.

      I’m not exactly sure what you’re referring to when you say “software” because TradeWithProfile is skill-development firm for active traders founded by Josh Schuler that offers a top-notch training & mentorship program called The Profile Trading Development Pathway. So it’s not really a piece of software. But maybe you’re referring to profiling (volume profile & market profile) in general? That kind of makes the most sense, so I guess I’ll answer your question under the assumption that’s what you’re asking (if it’s not, let me know in a follow-up comment/question). But the “selling point” of profiling tools is that they display critical market-generated information in powerful ways that no other indicators or charting studies can match. In my opinion, they’re by far the best tools out there for organizing, analyzing, and ultimately executing high-quality trades, followed closely by volume-weighted average price (VWAP). For me – based on my experiences using/testing all kinds of technical indicators over the past decade – it’s clear that these are the strongest indicators out there. I’ve only somewhat recently come across auction market theory, volume & market profile, and futures (about 2-3 years ago now), but I couldn’t imagine going back to trading any other way. Everything else just seems so weak/arbitrary.

      I hope this helps answer your questions – take care!

  • Miki says:

    This does provide an in-depth examination of the Trade With Profile training program, as well as insights into its advantages and disadvantages for active traders. However, I’m interested in how Trade With Profile compares to other training programs on the market. What distinguishes Trade With Profile from its competitors and makes it the best choice for active traders? Are there any specific strategies or techniques taught in Trade With Profile that other training programs do not cover? A comparison with other programs, in my opinion, would help provide a more complete understanding of Trade With Profile’s unique value proposition.

    • Matt Thomas says:

      Hi Miki – thanks for sharing your thoughts.

      When I do comparisons, I typically only compare to other courses/programs that I consider top-tier. Like in this case: Tradacc’s Profile Method & Apteros’ NADRO Training are a couple others that I would place in the same high-quality category as Trade With Profile’s Pathway. I don’t really like to even mention or draw attention to any courses/programs that I consider low-quality, so that’s why I only tend to discuss the good ones. But what distinguishes Josh Schuler & Trade With Profile from most other “trading education” out there is the genuine focus on building legitimate market competence & trading skills, without the typical smoke-and-mirror show involving false promises, flashy lifestyle marketing, and other nonsense like that. The curriculum that he teaches rooted in auction market theory & profiling is the real deal. So many other “gurus” out there try to act like their courses contain the “holy grail” of trading success, but all they contain when you actually go through them are basic, surface-level patterns and indicators that lack meaningful edge. It tends to be cookie-cutter stuff (aka all hype/marketing and no substance). But Trade With Profile is the exact opposite – virtually zero hype/marketing and pure substance. The sad reality, however, is that Trade With Profile doesn’t get anywhere near the recognition it deserves because Josh Schuler doesn’t entertain the hype. He’s one of the most authentic trading educators/mentors I’ve ever come across.

  • Jeremy says:

    I am fully alert on what Trade With Profile is now after watching your video. The downside is I am not, nor have I been interested in trades, stocks, or anything in the marketplace that involves an attention span beyond what I have. That said, and perhaps I missed it including in the readings, but would this be the program to use if you were a beginner or wanting to get into it?

    • Matt Thomas says:

      Hi Jeremy – I apologize for not getting back to you sooner. I must’ve thought I responded to your comment already or it slipped through the cracks for some other reason. But to answer your question, I have a post that covers my thoughts on how Trade With Profile is for beginners. I think that might help clarify things.

      Generally speaking, I think auction market theory & profiling are often billed as “advanced” or “complicated” trading concepts. A lot of market participants don’t know what these terms/concepts/tools are and haven’t even heard of them before. The reality, however, at least in my opinion – is that auction market theory is the foundation for understanding market movement/behavior and profiling tools (volume profile & market profile) as an extension of that are simply the best tools for observing, analyzing, and ultimately taking advantage of that movement/behavior through the execution of high-quality trade ideas.

      So simply put, I think Trade With Profile is a great place for beginners to look for education, training, and mentorship. Unfortunately, I don’t think most beginners do/will because of the lack of knowledge and misconceptions around AMT & profiling mentioned earlier. And as a result, most Trade With Profile students are individuals who have been involved with markets for a while and still feel lost/confused – actively searching for something more real/authentic. But it’s definitely the type of program I wish existed and I had the intelligence to pursue right at the start of my own trading journey.

  • jamie morgan says:

    Hi Matt
    Going through the course now. Really great job. I cant recommend it enough to any aspiring traders. I will take the trial regarding the auction theory method.
    If I progress and go through the whole pathway, what trading software, platforms will I need to use, trading with Josh Shuler’s methods?

    • Matt Thomas says:

      Hi Jamie – I appreciate the kind words about the Trading Success Framework course.

      In regard to Josh Schuler’s Profile Pathway, Josh personally uses quite a few platforms like WindoTrader, EdgeProX, TradingView, Investor/RT, and ThinkorSwim. But the main ones he uses to trade futures using profiling analysis are WindoTrader and EdgeProX. Just to break these down a bit, WindoTrader is like the “Cadillac” of profiling software, but it’s only a charting package (meaning you can’t actually place trades through it). EdgeProX is a robust yet cost-friendly platform offered through Edge Clear which offers both charting and trading capabilities. I exclusively use EdgeProX for my futures trading and it’s more than sufficient. As far as the other three, TradingView is a popular platform for retail traders, but it doesn’t have TPO/market profile capabilities (only volume profile). And Josh uses Investor/RT for statistics and ThinkorSwim for options.

      I don’t mean to overwhelm you with all of these platforms; just want to provide a comprehensive overview of what Josh uses. But it’s absolutely not necessary to have them all. I would lean toward EdgeProX because it’s relatively cheap, has great capabilities, and it’s what you’ll see Josh using in the vast majority of his lessons, daily/weekly outlooks, live trading sessions, etc. (making it much easier to follow along with what he’s teaching). But the Pathway is meant to be platform agnostic – meaning Josh doesn’t care what software/platforms students choose to use. His primary goal is to teach auction market theory and profiling principles as best he can – and it’s up to each individual trader to decide which platform(s) help them see what they need to see in order to make good decisions. So it really comes down to personal preference. If EdgeProX didn’t exist, I would lean toward Sierra Chart. Those are the 2 professional-quality charting/trading platforms that I personally like.

      If you have more questions about software/platforms definitely let me know. But the main requirements to get started trading futures through a personal account are a broker (I use Edge Clear/Phillip Capital), a charting/trading platform (I use EdgeProX), and a data provider (I use Rithmic). I’m not sure how familiar you are with futures trading, but unlike other markets – you need to pay for real-time data. The cost of the data package can vary depending on the exact exchanges you’re trying to trade, but it’s usually about $50. To give you an example, I pay $35 per month for the EdgeProX platform and $33 per month for Rithmic data. One other route to consider if you’re not ready to open up a personal futures account just yet (and have to worry about funding it with your own capital, paying for a charting/trading platform, connecting it to a data feed, etc.) is to sign up for a relatively cheap funded trader evaluation – like the $50K tryout through Topstep, for example, which is currently $165 per month – and it offers the TSTrader platform and real-time data included in that price. A lot of developing traders tend to prefer this route to start because it’s a little simpler to get setup and then eventually transition to their own brokerage account down the line. But again, it’s really up to you based on personal preference.

      Also, let me know which Pathway you’re looking to go down (Group or Video on Demand) and that you’re 100% committed to it – and I’ll reach out to Josh for a potential discount code. It’s already a drastically underpriced program, in my opinion, but he typically likes to reward individuals who are serious about pursuing it and developing into highly skilled/competent/self-sufficient traders. So you might be able to save a couple hundred bucks or so that could be put to good use elsewhere (like supporting platforms/tools).

    • Matt Thomas says:

      Hi Jamie – I hope all is well!

      Just reaching out because I remembered your comment from a few weeks ago about Josh Schuler’s Profile Pathway. Not sure if you’ve gone through a free trial or anything yet, but if you’re serious about pursuing the VOD or Group Pathway – let me know if you want me to reach out to Josh about a discount code. No pressure if now’s not a good time or if you decided to go in another direction. But a couple other individuals just inquired to me about TWP discounts and I’d rather contact Josh about them all at once. Let me know.

  • Parameter says:

    I love the way you introduce most of these training packages. You go beyond teaching the training; you always shed light on topical issues, making it easy for newbies like me to follow and understand the box. Top of it is that you concentrate on proven training that is varied and highly resourceful. I have bookmarked your page always to come back and check for new packages

  • Alice says:

    I do not consider myself a trader although I am actively involved in the Stock Market for more than 5 years now. That was when I had a 9-5 job and now that I am officially retired, I want to try my luck in trading. But I have no idea how to go about it. 
    I joined a Facebook group of traders and investors in the hopes of learning some tips or guidelines from these “trading gurus” but most of the time, I don’t understand what they’re saying. I guess it’s because I don’t speak their language, and I am embarrassed to ask questions. So, I decided to look into some courses and programs that teach newbies how to trade. I have already read 2 reviews about Trade with Profile and it seems like a good program for active traders and anyone who wants to learn how to trade. One of the things I like about Trade with Profile is its 1 Week Free Trial. I can test and try it out to see if it’s the right program for me.

    • Matt Thomas says:

      Hi Alice – thanks for sharing your personal market experiences.

      If you’re not sure where to begin, I would highly recommend my free Trading Success Framework course. There’s no hype/gimmicks with this course – it simply lays a strong foundation for long-term, sustainable market success. Most beginners think they know what being a trader is all about, but they really have no clue. So this course helps beginners realize what becoming a consistently profitable trader truly entails.

      Upon completion of this foundational course, there are only a handful of training & mentorship programs that I actually recommend (out of the dozens that I’ve been through) – and Trade With Profile with Josh Schuler is one of those recommended programs. It’s probably the most underpriced and underrated program I’ve ever come across in the trader training space – and I think anyone interested in developing a robust market methodology can find extreme value in it.

  • Anusuya says:

    The auction market theory is the one I have more questions. Not that I know a lot about the volume profile. I try to see the chart and can not clearly and correctly read them most of the time. I have been reading about this program for a while. I need to have a dedicated commitment to completing one week to learn about this.

    I have seen and read about many day traders losing serious money. I am kind of scared to enter this kind of business without adequate knowledge of the process. There are many great reviews of this program. You never lose taking a completely free trial. I look forward to learning this.

    • Matt Thomas says:

      Hi Anusuya – thanks for sharing your thoughts on volume profile, auction market theory, and the Trade With Profile skill development site.

      Auction market theory is essentially the concept that financial markets operate as auctions. The terminology is a little bit confusing because of the word “theory”. But there’s really no theory involved – markets ARE auctions with bids and offers. The major idea behind it is that price and value are different. Price is merely an advertising mechanism. Price goes up when buyers are aggressive and down when sellers are aggressive. Value, however, includes time and volume in relation to price – and this is where tools like volume profile and market profile come into play to display where market participants are interested/disinterested in being involved. Not all prices are created equal – quality of price depends on participation. This is critical market-generated information to be aware of because most people just get enamored by price. They have a shallow view of how markets move/behave – and it shows in their results.

      It’s completely normal/healthy to be scared when you don’t have the adequate knowledge and skill to operate effectively within markets. If you weren’t scared, then that would be quite concerning and you’d probably lose a ton of money by entering unprepared and trading blind. So it’s good that you aren’t simply diving in halfcocked. It takes hard work and dedication to become a consistently profitable trader. But most people don’t want to accept this, so they end up taking shortcuts and ultimately failing. This is why I’m constantly preaching about habit/skill-building and legitimate training. It probably annoys a lot of people who merely want to get rich quick and avoid the work, but that’s just not realistic. Overall, trading is a peak performance activity that requires specialized knowledge and skills.

  • LineCowley says:

    It seems that Josh Shuler has created a very high quality training program for aspiring traders and even experienced traders. It is good to see that although the training is geared toward the futures markets, the training can also be applied to other markets like crypto and stocks. 

    Having access to a 7-day free trial, means that anybody that is interested in learning more about the course, can try it for a week and see if it fits into their needs and trading preferences. Thank you for sharing a great resource. 

    Although I am not currently an active trader, but rather an investor, it could still help me to understand the markets better and make better investment decisions.

    • Matt Thomas says:

      So many other trading courses/programs online essentially just cover the basics (what candlesticks, trends, and channels are, for example), but what I like most about Trade With Profile is the focus on building real trading skills and developing legitimate market edge. This isn’t a course that regurgitates cookie-cutter price patterns that don’t actually work. It’s a training program that allows you to gain real market understanding through the lens of auction market theory and profiling tools (volume profile and market profile). It’s an in-depth look at what really moves price from one area to the next (from balance to imbalance, back to balance, etc.).

      Josh Schuler doesn’t do any of the typical “flashy” marketing like the rest of the industry, so he and his program aren’t nearly as popular as I think they should be, but I think this is one of the best active trader training programs/mentorship opportunities out there. I personally can’t imagine going back to trading without utilizing auction theory as a framework and the volume/market profiling tools often used in association with it. Everything else just seems weak/insufficient; far less robust – like trading blind.

  • Shelley says:

    Hi Mat

    It sounds like Josh Schuler has created quite a remarkable training program for active traders. I think it is great that he offers 3 levels of memberships to his students. Some people prefer group training whereas I prefer one on one, as a matter of deterring distractions. 

    The one week trial is an excellent opportunity as well. At least it gives people an opportunity to see how they would fit into this particular training environment. The trial would certainly be worth my time. I will definitely let you when I sign up for the trial period.

    Shelley

    • Matt Thomas says:

      Hi Shelley – thanks for sharing your thoughts!

      Yes, Trade With Profile is an incredible training program for traders looking to develop a legitimate market understanding and real edge for themselves based on herd behavior. It’s not the typical one-dimensional approach that gets taught in so many other lousy/basic courses out there – which tend to focus almost exclusively on price and price-based indicators. But markets aren’t mathematical constructs (there is no magic formula); they’re human constructs dictated by emotions and order flow – and profiling tools help reveal these patterns in human behavior that many market participants can’t see by looking at a standard bar or candlestick chart (the actual structure beyond price). The clarity that this type of training program brings to the table in terms of market dynamics/structure/posture is what I think many beginner traders are missing in order to find consistency/confidence/edge, and even veteran traders can use it to take their process/results to the next level.

      Keep me posted when you sign up for one of the development pathways (self-directed, group, or 1-on-1 mentorship). I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences once you access and start implementing the training for yourself. Take care!

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