I am impressed with the position sizing, diversification, management of risk and the timing of the market. If this performance continues for the coming months, I will be extremely satisfied.
THE SUBSCRIBER PERSPECTIVE
Strategy reviews
Real experiences. In subscribers' own words.
Read what worked, what didn't, and what it was like to follow a strategy.
So far this system looks very promising. I like the diversity - using a basket of different ETFs, and using 3x leveraged funds while keeping risk down. I was a bit worried about the use of these funds, but the developer seems to keep a close watch to provide intraday signals, which all developers should do when using leveraged funds. I will continue to keep an eye on this day by day, and if the system continues to perform as it has, it will make the developer and its subscribers some good money.
ETF Timer
Since the system now uses only end-of-day signals "to facilitate manual trading" or facilitate not having to spend time on the system that many are paying good money for, it is being destroyed by a whipsaw market that would require quick intraday signals to be profitable in. I will also agree that the system could be profitable again but not as much as in the past, and only if the market begins to trend once again.
ETF Timer
System getting whipsawed at the moment. Seems to require a trend of at least a week or more to be profitable and the market is not providing that right now. Too bad. I also got in just in time to take the four consecutive losses. System will likely return to profitability when the market starts to trend once more but who knows how long it will be before the market chooses to cooperate.
ETF Timer
The developer needs to focus and go back the fast trading pace of 2009 and 2008 by taking profit fast and use precise intraday signals for entry/exit. Recent trades have been very slow and all buy high and sell low. Please do not spend so much time on 2 other systems, and asking subcribers to diversify to those. I am willing to pay top dollar for one proven system, but not 3 mediocre systems.
ETF Timer
I have been a subscriber to ETF Timer for about 1.5 years and use it to trade one of my accounts. Of course, lately the performance has not been very good. However, in reading recent reviews I think that some of the comments are unwarranted. Due to C2’s limit on the size of comments I am breaking my comments into a few parts.
-Not consistent with the ‘market picture’-
What is the ‘market picture’? At any moment in time a completely persuasive case can be found, both technically and fundamentally, for an extreme bullish to an extreme bearish case, and everything in between. If the ‘market picture’ is so clear, it should be unnecessary to subscribe to a service such as ETF Timer.
ETF Timer
Im not sure this is an effective system in a non-trending market. To be certain, the market will trend in some direction sooner or later but until then, I think the losses will be racked up. Unfortunately I sgned up just before the 1st of the four straight losses.
ETF Timer
Only 3 months ago I gave the system 5 stars, but now I am disappointed. The recent consecutive losses is uncharacteristic of the system. I feel the vendor probably is busy taking care of two other newer systems and stopped being nimble with ETF Timer trades.. I wish he goes back to being fast in protecting profits from turning into losses instead of insisting on trades only near end of day. My profits with the system has been cut by 2/3 due to my increasingly higher allocation of funds to the system in recent months. I don't know if the system can survive a few more losses.
ETF Timer
I have just started with ETF Timer (3 weeks now) and a little bit disappointed with the entry points. I didn't t expose at 50% of equity as recommended... long positions in a low volume rally was not a good sign for me... and cut off my losses before they sell signal. I will give one more month for this system that seemed to have a good track record. The entry and exit signals in the past trades are not consistent with the market picture.
ETF Timer
It appears that in the flat market the System is not sensitive enough to pick out trends, or mini trends as they may be. Given that an exposure of 30 to 50 per cent equity on a consitent basis appears to be rather risky. As a result we are seeing a series of small losses which, as the time progresses, may become the norm and eventually erode the overall equity in the System. While there may be no better system on collective2, this just raises performance concerns should the flat market continue until the rest of the year. I realize that one does not have to trade the System all time if fells uncomfortable now, but still . . . .
ETF Timer
System has is in its 4th losing trade in a row which is uncharacteristic of system. Developer insists on holding significant positions through risky events, such as the FOMC statement release. At a minimum, he doesnt even want to reduce exposure into these events. Getting concerned his proprietary indicators are not working as well, or stopped working altogether, in this highly volative environment.
ETF Timer
I also like ETF Timer, but I want to correct the logic in the last review. Anytime is a good time to invest in a good system (up or down). A draw down is NOT an indication of a future gain.
ETF Timer
This is a great system - better than anything else on C2 that I have tried. My only regret is not putting more equity into the system. The recent draw down is nothing to fret over - happens to all systems - arguably now is one of the best times to invest in ETF Timer as systems tend to mean revert to their normal performance. If you can't handle a 5-10% draw down then all of your money should be in short term treasuries
ETF Timer
Ive been with ETF Timer for 2 months, and took all 3 losses. Am i mad ? NO ! why ? because losing is part of the game. If you cannot handle this type of trading, may I recommend that you go see your banker , and put your money in a 5 yrs GIC. STOP WHINNYING !
barracuda
I've been a subscriber since the end of '09, and I'm convinced this system works. There have been a couple of months with relatively flat performance, but the "home-run" months of February and July have kept the overall return quite high. Vendor is very responsive to subscribers' emails. All trades have stops and there is no overnight risk. Highly recommended.
ETF Timer
Good trades are sugar, and bad ones are flour... but if you want to eat the cake, you need the last ingredient: time in the oven. I have just started with this system, but I think Jim has been statiscally inside. Markets are more sensible to the news than before. Go ahead Jim, do not let emotions affect your decisions for the next trade.
ETF Timer
Diversify!!! There is enough system here to build a diversify portfolio. I am a REALLY satisfy customer of ETF Timer, and my portfolio is up this month even do ETF timer is down. Plus what can you expect, to run at 65 percent return a year, you need to be able to sustain some drawdown, Otherwise try to build such a sucessfull system, you will see that it is not an easy task.
ETF Timer
Obviously there are a few ignorant subscribers. I have been here a couple years and this system is clearly one of the best. If you cant handle a small drawdown you should not trade. Call you mommy!!
ETF Timer
I have been a member for over 4 months and have been happy with the programmer. That being said, multiple losing trades in a row is somewhat of a concern and I am curious to see how/if he can make money in a non-trending market. I agree that you have to look at the long-term perspective and how hes done over the past 2 1/2 year, but any more consecutive losing trades and I"m definitely going to have to start questioning following this system moving forward.
EMD Day Trader
Vendor communicates well with subscribers, provides updated back test results and is willing to make adjustments if drawdown exceeds a certain limit. With a nice performance history of 9 month he deserves at least 4 stars in my book.
ETF Timer
Why are you people being so critical of this short term slump. If your playing for the short term you probably should not be in the market anyway. The guy has annualized 66 percent over the last 2 1/2 years and people have the nerve to give him 2 stars for a 2 month slump. How pathetic.
ETF Timer
I am a new subscriber and I got the three losing trades in a row, consequently I cannot say I am happy with this system. It is true that markets are in a trading range and its not so easy to trade this kind of patterns. But I noticed that ETF Timer owner is very slow in catching the right trend, apart the fact that he completely wronged the last three. For example, now it is time to go long and it is not clear why staying cash.
ETF Timer
Look at all the latest comments, you will realize that trading is not EASY!
People expect a system to catch all those ups and downs and when there is a drawdown they would panic. Drawdowns are inevitable for any systems. Higher returns and higher drawdowns. Jim is doing a great job in handling these periods.
ETF Timer
The system metrics show a 15 percent probability of a 10 percent loss. Seems we are in the middle of one. It looks like Jim will tighten the stop loss which is the right thing to do until we get back on track. Not a good idea to change the system due to a slump. In a contrarian sense, I think the market will find a trend now that the crowd declaring a trendless market.
ETF Timer
As a newer subscriber so far this has been an extremely disappointing system. Obviously the historical results are impressive, but having joined recently and matching the starting equity...being down well over $10K in short order is brutal. To all those who have gains from the system that are being eaten into, much easier to stomach than it coming straight out of your pocket. The timing of the last 2 trades have been very questionable imo.