Smart Money Trading Strategy Guide
Understanding the intricacies of the stock market can be daunting, but Gavin Holmes’ “Trading in the Shadow of the Smart Money” offers a unique perspective. This approach helps traders recognize the footprints of the so-called “smart money” – the professional traders and institutions who significantly influence market movements. By learning to identify these signals, traders can make more informed decisions and enhance their trading strategies.
Who is Gavin Holmes?
Background and Expertise
Gavin Holmes is a seasoned trader and author known for his expertise in volume spread analysis (VSA). He has dedicated his career to educating traders on how to decode the activities of professional traders and institutions.
Publications and Contributions
Holmes has authored several books and conducted numerous seminars and webinars, making his insights widely accessible to traders at all levels.
Understanding Smart Money
What is Smart Money?
Smart money refers to the capital controlled by institutional investors, central banks, and other financial professionals. These entities have the resources and information to influence market trends.
Why Follow Smart Money?
By following the smart money, retail traders can align their strategies with the market’s underlying trends, increasing their chances of success.
Volume Spread Analysis (VSA)
What is VSA?
Volume Spread Analysis is a methodology that examines the relationship between price movements, volume, and the spread of a security. It helps traders identify buying and selling pressures.
Components of VSA
- Volume: The number of shares traded.
- Spread: The difference between the high and low prices of a trading period.
- Price: The actual trading price of the security.
Key Concepts in “Trading in the Shadow of the Smart Money”
Identifying Professional Activity
Holmes emphasizes the importance of recognizing the signs of professional activity in the market. This involves analyzing volume and price action to detect accumulation and distribution phases.
Accumulation and Distribution
- Accumulation: When smart money is buying large quantities without significantly moving the price.
- Distribution: When smart money is selling large quantities without causing a sharp price decline.
Practical Application of VSA
Analyzing Chart Patterns
Holmes teaches traders how to read and interpret chart patterns to identify potential smart money moves.
Using Indicators
Incorporating technical indicators with VSA can enhance the accuracy of your analysis.
Common VSA Signals
Up Thrusts and Shakeouts
These signals indicate potential reversals or continuations of trends, providing valuable entry and exit points.
No Demand and No Supply Bars
These bars help traders identify weak points in the market, signaling potential trend changes.
Building a Trading Plan
Setting Objectives
Define clear trading goals based on your risk tolerance and market understanding.
Risk Management
Implementing robust risk management strategies is crucial for long-term success.
Trade Execution
Plan your trades meticulously, considering entry and exit points, stop-loss orders, and position sizing.
Real-World Examples
Case Studies
Holmes’ book includes various case studies that illustrate the practical application of VSA in different market conditions.
Live Trading Sessions
Engaging in live trading sessions can provide hands-on experience and deeper insights into Holmes’ strategies.
Advantages of Trading in the Shadow of the Smart Money
Increased Accuracy
By following the smart money, traders can make more informed and accurate trading decisions.
Enhanced Market Understanding
Holmes’ approach helps traders develop a deeper understanding of market dynamics and professional trading activities.
Challenges and Solutions
Complexity of VSA
VSA can be complex for beginners. Holmes’ resources and educational materials help simplify these concepts.
Market Volatility
High market volatility can obscure smart money signals. Adapting your strategy to different market conditions is essential.
Conclusion
Trading in the Shadow of the Smart Money with Gavin Holmes offers invaluable insights into the world of professional trading. By leveraging VSA, traders can enhance their strategies and align their actions with those of the market’s most influential players.

Commonly Asked Questions:
- Business Model Innovation: Accept the truth of a legitimate business! Our strategy is organising a group buy in which participants share the costs. We use these cash to acquire popular courses from sale pages and make them available to people with limited financial resources. Despite the authors’ worries, our clients love the cost and accessibility we give.
- The Legal Environment: Yes or No The legality of our activity is ambiguous. While we don’t have specific permission from the course authors to resell the material, there is a technicality at work. The author did not specify any limits on resale when purchasing the course. This legal intricacy is both an opportunity for us and a boon for individuals looking for low-cost access.
- Quality Control: Uncovering the Truth
Getting to the heart of the issue – quality. Purchasing the course straight from the sale page guarantees that all documents and resources are the same as those obtained through traditional channels.
However, we distinguish ourselves by going beyond personal research and resale. It is crucial to note that we are not the official course providers, which means that the following premium services are not included in our package:
- There are no scheduled coaching calls or sessions with the author.
- Access to the author’s private Facebook group or web portal is not permitted.
- No access to the author’s private membership forum.
- There is no direct email support available from the author or their team.
We operate independently, with the goal of bridging the pricing gap without the extra services provided by official course channels. Your comprehension of our distinct approach is much appreciated.

Inefficient Markets with Andrei Shleifer
Best of the Best: Collars with Amy Meissner & Scott Ruble
AI For Traders with Trading Markets
Price Action Forex Trading Strategies Training Course & Members Videos with Nial Fuller
Advanced Iron Condors, Trading Concepts with Todd Mitchell
Quantitative Trading Systems (1st Edition) with Howard Bandy
7 DAY INTENSIVE ONLINE TRADER TRAINING PROGRAMME with The Trading Framework
Consistently Profitable Trader with Pollinate Trading
Price Analysis Webinar with Carolyn Boroden
The Orderflows Trade Opportunities Encyclopedia with Michael Valtos
Lazy Emini Trader Master Class
Chart Your Way to Profits (2nd Ed.) with Tim Knight
WondaFX Signature Strategy with WondaFX
Butterfly and Condor Workshop with Aeromir
The Tickmaster Indicator with Alphashark
Advanced Spread Trading with Guy Bower - MasterClass Trader
Sample and Mock Exams 2008 with CFA Institute
5-Step-Trading Stocks II - Avoid Common Trading Mistakes - Online Course (April 2014)
Ron Wagner - Creating a Profitable Trading & Investing Plan + Techniques to Perfect Your Intraday GAP
Tom Busby – DAX Supplement Trading Course 2007 with DTI
Traders Secret Library
QuickBooks 2003 Official Guide
Day Trading and Swing Trading the Currency Market with Kathy Lien
Read The Market RTM Master Trader Course + Journals
Perfect Publishing System Elite with Johnny Andrews
TRADING NFX Course with Andrew NFX
The Traders Mindset Course (the-traders-mindset.com) with Chris Mathews
Complete Series
Candle Charting Essentials & Beyond Volume 1 & 2 with Steve Nison - Candle Charts
Natural Language Processing in Trading with Dr. Terry Benzschawel
Your Next Great Stock: How to Screen the Market for Tomorrow's Top Performers with Jack Hough
Online Investing Hacks with Bonnie Biafore
Charting Made Easy with John J.Murphy
X-Factor Day-Trading
Crypto Trading Academy with Cheeky Investor - Aussie Day Trader
A Forex System For Catching Pips All Day Long with Forex Pip Fishing
C'MON MAN SHEEEIIIITTT PACKAGE with King Khang
Encyclopedia of Planetary Aspects for Short Term TradingPatrick Mikula – Encyclopedia of Planetary Aspects for Short Term Trading
Price Action Trading Volume 1 with Fractal Flow Pro
Patterns to Profits with Ryan Mallory - Share Planner
DiNapoli Levels Training Course with Joe DiNapoli & Merrick Okamoto
The Ultimate Guide to the Stealth Forex System (stealthforexguide.com)
DAY TRADE (LONG & SHORT) STRATEGIES PACKAGE - The Chartist
Monthly Cash Flow Trading Options (Intermediate Option Trading Course) with Randy Perez
Advanced Scalping Techniques Home Study Course with Sami Abusaad - T3Live
Compass Trading System with Right Line Trading
TradeCraft: Your Path to Peak Performance Trading By Adam Grimes
The Profit Magic of Stock Transaction Timing with J.M.Hurst
Alpha Quant Program with Lucas Inglese - Quantreo
Charting the Major Forex Pairs: Focus on Major Currencies with James Bickford
Trading Masterclass POTM + PFTM + PTMI with Anton Kreil
The PPS Trading System with Curtis Arnold
W. D Gann 's Square Of 9 Applied To Modern Markets with Sean Avidar - Hexatrade350
Weekly Options Boot Camp with Price Headley
B.O.S.S (Break Out Scalping Strategy) with Lee Scholfield
Practical Approach to Ninjatrader 8 Platform with Rajandran R
China & the World Trading System with Deborah Cass, Brett Williams & George Barker
ICT Prodigy Trading Course – $650K in Payouts with Alex Solignani
Deep Dive Butterfly Trading Strategy Class with SJG Trades
Traders Guide to Emotional Management with Brian McAboy
Mastermind Bootcamp + Core Concepts Mastery with DreamsFX
5 Day Volume Profile Analysis Indicator Course with Mark Stone
Successful Stock Speculation (1922) with John James
Ultimate Trading Course with Dodgy's Dungeon
The Best Mechanical DayTrading System I Know with Bruce Babcock
High Probability Trading Using Elliott Wave And Fibonacci Analysis withVic Patel - Forex Training Group
The Student Guide to Minitab Release 14 with John McKenzie, Robert Goldman
Classic Trading Tactics Theory and Practice with Linda Raschke
Advanced Technical Analysis PART2 with Corey Halliday
Capital Flows and Crises with Barry Eichengreen
WYCKOFF TRADING COURSE (WTC) PART I – ANALYSIS (Fall 2021) with Roman Bogomazov
Options Trading & Ultimate MasterClass With Tyrone Abela - FX Evolution
Breakthroughs in Technical Analysis: New Thinking From the World's Top Minds (1st Edition) with David Keller
WealthFRX Trading Mastery Course 2.0
Commodity Speculation for Beginners with Charles Huff, Barbara Marinacci
0 DTE Options Trading Workshop with Aeromir Corporation
Exploring MetaStock Basic with Martin Pring
DOM Trading Boot Camp with MasterClass Trader
You Don't Need No Stinkin' Stockbroker: Taking the Pulse of Your Investment Portfolio with Doug Cappiello & Steve Tanaka
The Stock Rocket Trading System with Dave Wooding
Advanced Pattern Recognition with John Cameron
You can be a Stock Market Genious with Joel Greenblaat
Master Trader with InvestingSimple
Candlestick Patterns to Master Forex Trading Price Action with Federico Sellitti
Capital with Charles D.Ellis
Market Gems Manual with Barbara J.Simon
How To Read The Market Professionally with TradeSmart
Secrets of Great Investors (Audio Book 471 MB) with Louis Rukeyser
Black Gold Strategies
WickOrTreat Trading Course with WickOrTreat
Bond Market Course with The Macro Compass
Covered Calls Income Generation for Your Stocks With Don Kaufman
Crystal Ball Pack PLUS bonus Live Trade By Pat Mitchell - Trick Trades
White Phoenix’s The Smart (Money) Approach to Trading with Jayson Casper
Yield Farming MasterClass Course (2022) with Boss Financial
Level 2 Trading Warfare
A Treasure House of Bayer. 32 Articles and Forecasts with George Bayer
7 Commandments of Stock Investing with Gene Marcial
CFA Level 1 - Schweser Study Notes 2006 (schweser.com)
The Stock Selector System with Michael Sheimo
A Traders Astrological Almanac (2001 – 2006) with Jeanne Long
Dan Sheridan Volatility Class
CFA Pro Qbank 2007 & 2008 with Schweser
Trading For A Living Course with Yvan Byeajee - Trading Composure
IBD Advanced Buying Strategies Home Study Program
Better Trading with the Guppy Multiple Moving Average WorkBook with Daryl Guppy
7 Things You MUST Know about Forex Candlesticks
George Wollsten: Expert Stock and Grain Trader with George Bayer
War Room Psychology Package (Volume 1-4) with Pat Mitchell – Trick Trades
Hedge Fund Trading Systems with Trading Tuitions
Tornado Trend Trading System with John Bartlett
Stock Detective Investor: Finding Market Gems Online with Kevin Lichtman & Lynn Duke
Analysis of Equity Investments: Valuation with John Stowe, Thomas Robinson, Jerald Pinto & Dennis McLeavey
The Telecoms Trade War with Mark Naftel
Traders Workshop – Forex Full Course with Jason Stapleton
Basic Day Trading Techniques with Michael Jenkins
Level II Trading Warfare - The Undergroundtrader's Powerful Weapons for Winning - Jea Yu
$20 – 52k 20 pips a day challange with Rafał Zuchowicz - TopMasterTrader
Naked Forex: High-Probability Techniques for Trading Without Indicators (2012) with Alex Nekritin & Walter Peters
Explosive Growth Options & Stocks with Base Camp Trading
Secret Weapon to Trading Options on ETF's Class with Don Kaufman
Trading With DiNapoli Levels
Forecast 2024 Clarification with Larry Williams
The Day Trading ES Futures Blueprint Class with Corey Rosenbloom
The Illustrated Guide to Technical Analysis Signals and Phrases with Constance Brown
Wyckoff simplified from Michael Z
What Products to Watch and Why Class with Don Kaufman
Reading & Understanding Charts with Andrew Baxter
Emini Bonds
The Prop Trading Code with Brannigan Barrett - Axia Futures
All in One Forex Course with VintagEducation
All About Stocks (3rd Ed.) withEsme E.Faerber
Advanced Breakthroughs in Day Trading DVD course with George Angell
Advanced Trading Applications of Candlestick Charting with Gary S.Wagner & Bradley L.Matheny
Forex Mentor Seminar with Peter Bain
CM APR (A Pivot Reverse) Trade Method with Austin Passamonte
New Market Mavericks with Geoff Cutmore
Advanced Trading System 2020
Getting Started in Forex Trading Strategies with Michael Duane Archer
Activedaytrader - Elite Earnings Pusuit
6 Dynamic Trader Real Time and End Of Day
Zap Seminar - Ablesys
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.