 IFTA's 38th Annual Conference Speakers
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The Deceit of Technical Analysis Keynote: Tom Hougaard Since 2015, I’ve earned over €60 million trading my own account. By mid-2025 alone, I’m up 800%—most of it live-streamed on YouTube. But here’s the part most people don’t see before that success: I spent 14 years failing at intraday trading. I mastered every form of technical analysis yet kept losing. Why? Because the problem wasn’t the market—it was me. Everything changed when I stopped obsessing over charts and started analyzing my own behavior, emotions, and mindset. Here’s the harsh truth: technical analysis alone is the great deception. Even today, 75% of retail traders still lose money—despite having unlimited access to tools, courses, and information.
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High-Stakes Trader | Author of Best Loser Wins|
Reusing Basic Technical Analysis — Envelope Fitting Strategies and Trend Turning Points Presenter: Shinji Okada, CMTA, CFTe, MFTA The strong performance of the stock market attracts both institutional and individual investors. Even without advanced technical analysis, investors can identify trends and turning points by refining basic tools. In this session, the speaker will demonstrate an innovative approach to using envelopes—adapting them to recent price movements—to better capture trends and key turning points, offering a practical strategy for effective market analysis.
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Shinji Okada, MFTA, works for a financial information vendor in Tokyo, where he provides technical analysis training to service development teams and users, including brokers, traders, bank analysts, and securities firms. His career began at a brokerage firm following the completion of his master’s degree in political science.|
Technical Analysis for Wealth Creation - Identifying and Riding Mega Trends Using Traditional Technical Tools with Today’s New-Age Techniques Presenter: Gautam Shah, CFTe, MSTA, CMT
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Mr. Gautam Shah is the Founder of Goldilocks Global Research. He is a well-known financial market veteran with over two decades of experience. He is renowned for his sharp market insights and precise forecasts.|
Presentation Title: TBA Presenter: Alex Spiroglou, CFTe, DipTA
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Alex is a professional, rules-based futures trader with over 25 years of experience across all major asset classes—including equity indices, FX, fixed income, and commodities.|
Turning Data into Edge — Success Factors for Options Trades Presenter: Marcus Ruhnau, MBA In today’s options markets, high-resolution open interest heat maps reveal where institutional footprints cluster and where gamma magnets can pin price action around key strikes. Layered on that liquidity lens is a sector outperformance readout, the Ruhnau-Berger Model to spot industries moving from “lagging” to “outperforming” and to track how their implied volatility skews diverge across the curve. Against this backdrop, Marcus unpacks entry playbooks for three flagship tactics—directional longs, premium selling shorts, and risk-defined credit spreads—showing how timing windows tighten when open interest geometry aligns with technical triggers surfaced by objective screeners such as Trades Scanner. He then codifies the nonnegotiables that separate marginal setups from high probability trades: deep underlying liquidity, controllable borrow costs, disciplined position sizing, and a rules-based exit ladder—principles echoed in high wire options frameworks. Attendees leave with a repeatable checklist for locating asymmetric reward-to-risk opportunities across equities, indices, and ETFs.
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Marcus has applied AI-powered algorithms to multidimensional problems since 2004 and now channels that expertise into rule-based trading systems rooted in the weekly Commitments of Traders (COT) report published by the CFTC. By combining COT extremes with options open interest heatmaps and gamma distribution dashboards, he isolates sentiment pivots and liquidity “magnets” that often precede major price inflections. Each concept is stress tested through Monte Carlo simulations and reinforced with Lean / Six Sigma methodologies he once used to optimize chemical plant or automotive processes and now employs for portfolio risk modeling.|
Predicting the Price — An Old Idea Reimagined VIDEO Presenter: David Linton, MFTA Bringing Point and Figure Price Targets into the 21st century and placing them on time-based charts. This session looks at various projection methods for arriving at likely future dates that Price Targets might be met.
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David is one of the UK’s leading technical analysts and a well-known market commentator. He is the founder and CEO of Updata, based in London. He is the author of Cloud Charts—Trading Success with the Ichimoku Technique.|
The Stochastic Oscillator Second Signal: A Significant Signal Justified and Enhanced by Time Cycles VIDEO Presenter: Mohamed Ashraf, MFTA, CFTe, CETA In his session, Mohamed will introduce a special signal– one that works efficiently across different time frames and in various locations within different types of trends, which is the Slow Stochastic Oscillator Second Signal. Using this signal alongside with time analysis will enhance and confirm it. Even if time cycle analysis is not actively used as a parallel tool, the signal itself serves as a reflection of time-cycle market behavior and is generated by a specific situation within the time cycles, “the Ripples effect”.
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Mohamed Ashraf is the Technical Analysis Director for CI-Capital, the premier investment bank in Egypt.|
Exploring New Horizons in Technical Analysis Presenter: Rolf Wetzer, Ph.D., MFTA, CFTe Technical analysis is a general term for any type of financial analysis based on market data and statistics. Over the years, countless different methods have been introduced and applied. Exploring new horizons in technical analysis means that we either use different methods or strategies to enrich our analysis or trading. This presentation discusses the AI framework and briefly introduces a variety of approaches that have appeared over the years at IFTA conferences, in our journal, or in MFTA papers. They are outlined for the user. No textbook knowledge is provided.
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Rolf Wetzer is a seasoned institutional asset manager with over 30 years of experience and a recognized expert in technical analysis. He is CEO and co-founder of Ghiribizzo, a firm specializing in proprietary algorithmic trading.|
About - Jörg Scherer, CFTe
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Jörg Scherer has more than 25 years of market experience. He holds a master’s degree in economics and has been working for HSBC in Germany since 2005. As Head of Technical Analysis, he is responsible for the "HSBC Daily Trading", one of the most widely read trading newsletters in Germany. His well-founded market opinions and accurate forecasts make him a popular interview partner on (German) television, in the press, and increasingly on social media.|
Keynote: John Bollinger, CFA, CMT
John Bollinger is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a Chartered Market Technician (CMT). Investors may know him from his many years of market analysis and commentary on television -- first on the Financial News Network, where he was the Chief Market Analyst -- and subsequently on CNBC. John Bollinger is an avid financial researcher and has developed a number of widely used investment tools and analytical techniques. His Bollinger Bands and related tools have been integrated into most of the analytical software and charting platforms currently in use. His book, "Bollinger on Bollinger Bands," was published by McGraw-Hill in 2001 and has been translated into twelve languages. His website www.BollingerBands.com is the hub for everything related to Bollinger Bands. It is the home of his Bollinger Band Letter and offers free and paid educational materials as well as information about Bollinger Band Tool Kits available for various financial platforms. He is an active member of the financial community and a frequent lecturer at national and international investment seminars. His articles have appeared in Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities, Active Trader, and the Market Technicians Association Newsletter. He is a former board member of the Market Technicians Association, the Market Technicians Association Educational Foundation, and the International Federation of Technical Analysts. Mr. Bollinger is the recipient of the Technical Securities Analysts Association of San Francisco 1995 Lifetime Award for Outstanding Achievement in Technical Analysis, the Market Technicians Association 2005 Annual Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Technical Analysis, and the International Federation of Technical Analysts (IFTA) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. |
John Bollinger is the president and founder of Bollinger Capital Management. He governs all investment decisions for Bollinger Capital Management clients.|
Patrick Nill 2× World Trading Champion & 9x Top Trader
Transparent, verified, and results-driven. Unlike the countless self-proclaimed trading coaches on social media, Patrick has built his reputation not with flashy promises but through third-party audited results and a track record of consistent profitability in the real markets. With more than a decade of experience in futures, FX, and equity trading, Patrick has mentored institutional traders, advised hedge funds, and developed some of the most sought-after trading strategies in the industry today. |
Patrick Nill, founder of World Class Edge and finalist at the prestigious World Trading Championships, stands for what trading education should be:|
How I Won the World Cup Trading Championship Using Dark Pools & Order Flow: Trading the Unseen with AI Presenter: Dato’ Dr. Nazri Khan (a.k.a. DDNK), MSTA, CFTe In today’s fragmented, algorithm-driven markets, dark pools have emerged as crucial execution venues for institutional flows, yet remain largely invisible to most traders. These off-exchange platforms, designed for anonymity and large order sizes, now account for a significant portion of global equity volume, disrupting traditional price discovery and concealing critical trade intentions. This session, led by Dato’ Dr. Nazri Khan (DDNK)—a globally recognized market strategist and Robin Cup winner at the World Cup Trading Championship—explores how advanced AI and data intelligence are unveiling insights into these opaque liquidity pools. With a remarkable track record of over 1,000% cumulative returns across four consecutive quarters in 2024, DDNK will reveal how he leverages real-time dark pool data, order flow analysis, machine learning models, and alternative sentiment signals to detect institutional footprints before they impact public markets. From pinpointing hidden accumulation zones to forecasting volatility spikes, his AI-driven strategy combines quantitative rigor with tactical market timing. Attendees will gain actionable insights into the tools and methodologies needed to decode non-lit order flow, optimize execution, and enhance alpha generation in an increasingly automated and concealed trading environment. Designed for professional traders, fund managers, and quantitative strategists, this presentation provides a tactical roadmap for transforming dark liquidity into a powerful informational advantage, where mastering the unseen is the new edge in global markets.
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Dato’ Dr. Nazri Khan, widely known as DDNK, is a Certified and Licensed Fund Manager and currently serves as the Chief Investment Officer of Berjaya Mutual Berhad. With over 20 years of experience in financial markets, he is recognized for his expertise in technical analysis, portfolio strategy, and investor education. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Manchester and a PhD from Multimedia University. Additionally, he is a Certified Financial Technician (CFTe) from the International Federation of Technical Analysts (IFTA) and a Certified Member of the UK Society of Technical Analysts (STA).|
Quant-Driven Big Picture Thinking for Fine-Tuned Trading Presenter: Andrea Unger In today’s complex markets, effective trading requires more than just precise tools — it demands a deep understanding of the bigger picture. Quant-driven big picture analysis helps identify market regimes, structural shifts, and hidden correlations. By aligning these high-level insights with fine-tuned trading strategies, traders can enhance their decision-making, adapt to shifting environments, and optimize the use of technical indicators and execution tools. This session explores how a quant-informed macro view can become the foundation for smarter, more precise trading.
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Founder, Unger Academy|
How to Think Like a Pro Trader: Risk, Rules, and Real Results Presenter: Max Schulz What separates amateur traders from true professionals isn’t luck or talent — it’s structure, discipline, and data. In this talk, I’ll share the four core principles that transformed my own trading: building a solid daily routine to avoid emotional decisions and FOMO, creating clear risk management rules that protect capital, learning to cut losses early by identifying the 20% of trades that do the most damage, and tracking performance with hard numbers instead of gut feelings. If you want to trade with clarity, confidence, and real results, this session will show you how to think like a pro.
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What makes Max different from other successful traders is that he has been willing to publish his trading strategy and all his trades in real-time over the years - the good, bad, and ugly. Why? Because Max wants his followers to understand how trading really works. Losses and drawdowns are part of the game, and every trader has to deal with that aspect of trading.|
The Secret to 10X Your Profit Target Accuracy with Time Trading Presenter: Asst. Prof. Dr. Gema Goeyardi, MM, MH, CAT, CFTe, MFTA, CWM, CSA, CTAD Founder & CEO Astronacci International Master how to ride the market wave Get the 10x profit target with time trading.
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Structured Trading, Proven Results – Inside the System of the 2025 World Champion Presenter: Robin Kömel Success in trading is never random – it follows a clear and disciplined system. In this 45-minute presentation, Robin Kömel shares how he won the 2025 Trading World Championship and achieved an outstanding 183% return through a structured approach and rigorous risk management. You will discover how he analyzes markets, identifies setups, and executes trades with precision. Robin explains how having a defined plan eliminates emotional decision-making and enables consistent profitability. Using real-world examples, he highlights the rules that truly matter – and shows how you can apply them to your own trading. The presentation goes beyond theory: it provides you with a proven, battle-tested system that has been delivering strong returns for many years.
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Podium Discussion |
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The TTM Squeeze: Bridging Market Theory with Real-World Trading Execution Keynote: John F. Carter Since 2002, the TTM Squeeze has been my go-to framework for identifying periods of market compression and anticipating explosive directional moves across various time frames. The Squeeze was born out of the necessity of trading real money, day in and day out, across multiple market cycles. In this session, I’ll share:
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John F. Carter is a trader, author, and entrepreneur with over 30 years of market experience. He is the creator of the TTM Squeeze indicator, first introduced in 2002, which has since become a widely used tool among professional and retail traders alike. He is the author of Mastering the Trade (McGraw-Hill), now in its third edition, and the founder of Simpler Trading, one of the largest trading education communities in the U.S.|
Your Edge Over Institutional Traders–And How to Exploit It Presenter: Trevor Neil, MCSI, MSTA
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Trevor Neil is Director of RRG Research BV and one of Europe’s leading experts in Quantitative and Technical Analysis, with over 40 years in the financial industry.|
Artificial Intelligence for Volatility Forecasting: Turning Market Uncertainty into Strategic Advantage Presenter: Giovanni Trombetta, Electronic Engineer, CFTA, and Michael Trequattrini, CSTA Artificial Intelligence is transforming the way we understand and manage financial markets—streamlining microstructure operations and redefining how volatility is forecasted. In an increasingly complex, data-rich environment, the ability to anticipate market fluctuations is vital for traders, portfolio managers, and risk professionals. In this session, Giovanni Trombetta and Michael Trequattrini will explore the machine learning techniques at the forefront of volatility prediction, a cornerstone of effective risk management and strategic planning. From classical statistical models to advanced deep learning frameworks, the speakers will demonstrate how AI can deliver more accurate and timely volatility forecasts. Given volatility’s cyclical behavior, it presents an ideal use case for high-precision predictive models. However, the effectiveness of these models hinges on the quality, structure, and availability of data. The discussion will cover best practices in feature engineering, the role of alternative data sources, and the practical challenges of deploying AI in live trading environments. By combining theory with real-world applications, this session offers a clear and actionable perspective on how AI is reshaping volatility forecasting and risk management in modern finance.
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Giovanni Trombetta is an entrepreneur and electronic engineer specializing in artificial intelligence algorithms for quantitative finance. His core expertise includes evolutionary algorithms and machine learning models, which he applies to the development of automated trading systems, asset allocation strategies, and financial modeling.
Michael Trequattrini is a research fellow at the University of Perugia, where he develops discrete and continuous latent variable models for applications in quantitative finance. His work focuses on alpha generation, leveraging artificial intelligence to design innovative trading and asset allocation strategies.|
The Science of Charting: Inside Golden Gate University’s Technical Analysis Program Presenter: Brett Villaume, CMT, CAIA This presentation provides a comprehensive overview of the Golden Gate University (GGU) Technical Analysis Program, beginning with its history, curriculum structure, and key partnerships, including the Hank Pruden Scholarship Fund and the TSAA-SF. It outlines the program’s three-course sequence—FI 352, FI 358, and FI 360—which guides students through learning technical analysis (TA) tools, testing strategies, and justifying their effectiveness. The presentation delves into the foundational principles of scientific testing in TA, including the distinction between subjective and objective approaches, the role of falsifiable claims, and the application of the scientific method. Attendees will learn how to develop and evaluate trading rules, conduct backtesting, and apply hypothesis testing to assess statistical significance. Finally, the presentation addresses the risks of data mining and how to address the inherent bias, emphasizing a disciplined, evidence-based approach to technical analysis.
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Brett Villaume has served as an adjunct professor at GGU, teaching both online and on-campus since 2013. During his career, he was the Director of Investor Relations at a publicly traded financial institution headquartered in Southern California, and served as Research Analyst at a boutique investment banking and research firm based in San Francisco, California, covering publicly traded small- to mid-cap banks in the western region.|
Options Presenter: Andreij Anisiimov |
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