Diving In

After graduating from the University of Texas with degrees in Economics and History, John F. Carter went to work as a corporate financial analyst. But his personality was more suited to wrangling snakes—and unpredictable options trades—than shuffling day-to-day office paperwork. He’d grown up on his grandfather’s farm in Nebraska, and he missed the wide open skies and daily connection with the natural world.

In 1999, while living in La Jolla, California with his wife (his children hadn’t been born yet), John registered Simpler Trading as his first business. Not only was he shifting from a dependable salary to an income from trading, but he was active in the online forums full of people who shared his obsession with the account growth potential he saw in charts and options spreads. His involvement in trading communities put him into regular contact with traders such as Henry Gambell, Eric Purdy, Bruce Marshall, Raghee Horner, David Starr, and many others who mutually respected each other’s work.

Like many successful traders, John increased his independence by demonstrating his tried-and-true strategies, trading live in front of an invited audience. As John helped aspiring traders win their independence, he understood that a greater educational niche wanted to be filled. He had gone through years of trial-and-error in order to teach himself. What if he could offer mentorship, not just from himself, but also from many successful traders with different methodologies? He knew quite a few people who were interested.