Sam Seiden
Independent Analyst
How you make money trading and investing in the markets is no different than how you make money buying and selling anything in life and this basic concept never changes. The only difference between Costco and JP Morgan is what they sell, not how they operate or make and lose money. Costco buys the products at wholesale prices, marks them up and sells to us at retail prices. JP Morgan gets stocks and bonds at wholesale prices, marks them up and sells to us at retail prices. 
It is really the exact same business model, just a different product. Having this mentality when short term trading for income or investing for long term wealth is the key to creating that pension or pay check from the financial markets.
The key for either group is to get the public to believe that the retail prices they are offering are a good deal so that the public will buy and pay those retail prices. Marketing plays a big role in this game for the Costco’s of the world, same with JPM. Let’s look at a trade I took from just the other day, 6/21/17.
Copper Income Trade: 6/21/17 – Profit: $4,675.50
Above is a screen shot of our Supply and Demand Grid and a trade I took in the Copper Futures market the other day. The Supply and Demand Grid is a service I produce 5 days a week for our members that gives them supply and demand levels for 35 of the major global markets for both short term income trading and long-term wealth. The levels represent where banks are buying and selling in the markets so our members can buy and sell there also. Our Supply and Demand grid told us there was significant supply in the yellow box area. Once the grid and our rules identify this, we now know where “retail” prices are, supply. With demand or “Wholesale” prices lower, I had a solid trading opportunity in front of me. All I needed next was for someone to believe that the retail price I identified was actually a wholesale price worth buying at. Eventually that happened and I sold short to a buyer that thought the market was worth buying at that price (circled area: short entry). Obviously, traders buying at the level I was selling at had mistaken retail prices for wholesale prices. Whether news or some report created this perception for the buyer is irrelevant. The only thing that matters is where wholesale and retail prices are in a market so we can buy and sell at those prices. Adding anything to this simple and straight forward concept is just noise that leads to losses.
Hope this was helpful, have a great day.
How you make money trading and investing in the markets is no different than how you make money buying and selling anything in life and this basic concept never changes. The only difference between Costco and JP Morgan is what they sell, not how they operate or make and lose money. Costco buys the products at wholesale prices, marks them up and sells to us at retail prices. JP Morgan gets stocks and bonds at wholesale prices, marks them up and sells to us at retail prices. It is really the exact same business model, just a different product. Having this mentality when short term trading for income or investing for long term wealth is the key to creating that pension or pay check from the financial markets.
The key for either group is to get the public to believe that the retail prices they are offering are a good deal so that the public will buy and pay those retail prices. Marketing plays a big role in this game for the Costco’s of the world, same with JPM. Let’s look at a trade I took from just the other day, 6/21/17.
Copper Income Trade: 6/21/17 – Profit: $4,675.50
Above is a screen shot of our Supply and Demand Grid and a trade I took in the Copper Futures market the other day. The Supply and Demand Grid is a service I produce 5 days a week for our members that gives them supply and demand levels for 35 of the major global markets for both short term income trading and long-term wealth. The levels represent where banks are buying and selling in the markets so our members can buy and sell there also. Our Supply and Demand grid told us there was significant supply in the yellow box area. Once the grid and our rules identify this, we now know where “retail” prices are, supply. With demand or “Wholesale” prices lower, I had a solid trading opportunity in front of me. All I needed next was for someone to believe that the retail price I identified was actually a wholesale price worth buying at. Eventually that happened and I sold short to a buyer that thought the market was worth buying at that price (circled area: short entry). Obviously, traders buying at the level I was selling at had mistaken retail prices for wholesale prices. Whether news or some report created this perception for the buyer is irrelevant. The only thing that matters is where wholesale and retail prices are in a market so we can buy and sell at those prices. Adding anything to this simple and straight forward concept is just noise that leads to losses.
Trading and investing, you see, is simply a transfer of money from those who don’t know what they are doing into the accounts of those who do. When you take action in the markets, make sure you know who you’re buying from and selling to. If you don’t know the difference between wholesale and retail prices, you can’t possibly know the difference between risk and opportunity.
Hope this was helpful, have a great day.
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Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD moves sideways below 1.1800 on Christmas Eve
EUR/USD struggles to find direction and trades in a narrow channel below 1.1800 after posting gains for two consecutive days. Bond and stock markets in the US will open at the usual time and close early on Christmas Eve, allowing the trading action to remain subdued.
GBP/USD keeps range around 1.3500 amid quiet markets
GBP/USD keeps its range trade intact at around 1.3500 on Wednesday. The Pound Sterling holds the upper hand over the US Dollar amid pre-Christmas light trading as traders move to the sidelines heading into the holiday season.
USD/JPY corrects further to near 155.80, gives up entire BoJ policy-led gains
USD/JPY surrenders its entire gains made on the BoJ policy announcement day, and retraces to near 155.80. Investors are in vogue over the outlook of the BoJ’s monetary tightening campaign. The Fed is expected to cut interest rates by at least 50 bps next year.
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD Price Annual Forecast: Growth to displace central banks from the limelight in 2026 Premium
What a year! Donald Trump’s return to the United States (US) Presidency was no doubt what led financial markets throughout 2025. His not-always-unexpected or surprising decisions shaped investors’ sentiment, or better said, unprecedented uncertainty.
Gold Price Annual Forecast: 2026 could see new record-highs but a 2025-like rally is unlikely Premium
Gold hit multiple new record highs throughout 2025. Trade-war fears, geopolitical instability and monetary easing in major economies were the main drivers behind Gold’s rally.
GBP/USD Price Annual Forecast: Will 2026 be another bullish year for Pound Sterling? Premium
Having wrapped up 2025 on a positive note, the Pound Sterling (GBP) eyes another meaningful and upbeat year against the US Dollar (USD) at the start of 2026.
US Dollar Price Annual Forecast: 2026 set to be a year of transition, not capitulation Premium
The US Dollar (USD) enters the new year at a crossroads. After several years of sustained strength driven by US growth outperformance, aggressive Federal Reserve (Fed) tightening, and recurrent episodes of global risk aversion, the conditions that underpinned broad-based USD appreciation are beginning to erode, but not collapse.
Bitcoin Price Annual Forecast: BTC holds long-term bullish structure heading into 2026
Bitcoin (BTC) is wrapping up 2025 as one of its most eventful years, defined by unprecedented institutional participation, major regulatory developments, and extreme price volatility.
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