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.

A Convicted Stock Manipulators Guide to Investing with Marino Specogna
Wealth Management with Dimitris Chorafas
Basecamptrading - How to Become a More Consistent Trader
The Orderflow Masterclass with PrimeTrading
Vertex Investing Course (2023)
Day Trading Futures, Stocks, and Crypto
Crystal Ball Pack PLUS bonus Live Trade By Pat Mitchell - Trick Trades
Bond Trading Success
ICT Prodigy Trading Course – $650K in Payouts with Alex Solignani
W. D Gann 's Square Of 9 Applied To Modern Markets with Sean Avidar - Hexatrade350
All Time High Trading Course with TRADEVERSITY
Hit & Run Trading: The Short-Term Stock Traders Bible (1996) with Jeff Cooper
Big Fish Trading Strategy with Dave Aquino
SQX Mentorship with Tip Toe Hippo
Crypto Trading Academy with Cheeky Investor - Aussie Day Trader
Advanced AmiBroker Coding with Matt Radtke & Connors Research
The Vest Pocket CFO (3rd Ed) with Jae Shim
D5 Render Course with Nuno Silva
The Streetsmart Guide to Timing the Stock Market with Colin Alexander
Learn To Trade Markets with Karl Richards
Advanced Spread Trading with Guy Bower - MasterClass Trader
Advanced Options Trading Strategies Explained
Weekly Options Trading Advantage Class with Doc Severson
Precision Pattern Trading Workbook with Daryl Guppy
Derivate Instruments by Brian A.Eales
Best of the Best: Collars with Amy Meissner & Scott Ruble
Advanced Strategies in Forex Trading with Don Schellenberg
Bank Financial Model with Cash Flow Investing Pro
Wyckoff simplified from Michael Z
Ultimate and Options Trading MasterClass Bundle with FX Evolution
Evidence Based Technical Analysis with David Aronson
Cycles: What they are, what they mean, how to profit by them - Dick Stoken
4 Class Bundle
My Life as a Quant with Emanuel Derman
White Phoenix’s The Smart (Money) Approach to Trading with Jayson Casper
$20 – 52k 20 pips a day challange with Rafał Zuchowicz - TopMasterTrader
Volume Profile Trading Strategy with Critical Trading
The Orderflows Trade Opportunities Encyclopedia with Michael Valtos
REMORA OPTIONS TRADING (Silver Membership)
Bond Market Course with The Macro Compass
Keynes & The Market with Justyn Walsh
Marus FX 2023
5 Basic Elliott Wave Patterns + Technical Tools = Trading Success with Jeffrey Kennedy
Advanced Volume Profile + Order Flow Video Course with Trader Dale
How To Create Your Own Trading Strategy with Simon Klein - Trade Smart
The Vital Few vs. the Trivial Many: Invest with the Insiders, Not the Masses with George Muzea
Advanced Course with Dimitri Wallace - Gold Minds Global
Classic Indicators Back to the Future with Linda Raschke
AI For Traders with Trading Markets
Vega Modified Butterfly Class with Jay Bailey - Sheridan Options Mentoring
How To Read The Market Professionally with TradeSmart
The New Technical Trader with Chande Kroll
Baby Blue Trading Technique for the E-Minis with Dave Wright
Active Trading Course Notes with Alan Hull
The Prop Trading Code with Brannigan Barrett - Axia Futures
The Introduction to the Magee System of Technical Analysis CD with John Magee
Volcano Trading with Claytrader
YTC Price Action Trader
The Profitable Trading System Blueprint with Macro Ops
Algo Trading Masterclass with Ali Casey - StatOasis
Quantamentals - The Next Great Forefront Of Trading and Investing with Trading Markets
Vaga Academy with VAGAFX
Common Sense on Mutual Funds: Fully Updated 10th Anniversary Edition with John Bogle
4×4 Course with Gregoire Dupont
5-Step-Trading Stocks I and II with Lex Van Dam
Trading For A Living Course with Yvan Byeajee - Trading Composure
AdjustMax
The Trading Blueprint with Brad Goh - The Trading Geek
Chris Swaggy C Williams - The Swag Academy
What Works in Online Trading with Mark Etzkorn
Trade from Anywhere
W.D.Ganns Astrological Method
Dan Sheridan 360 Degrees of Trading Class
Advanced Gap Trading Strategies with Master Trader
TradeCraft: Your Path to Peak Performance Trading By Adam Grimes
The Best Option Trading Course with David Jaffee - Best Stock Strategy
Video On Demand Pathway with Trade With Profile
Edges For Ledges 2 with Trader Dante
The Ultimate Step By Step Guide to Online Currency Trading with Cynthia Marcy, Erol Bortucene
The Naked Eye: Raw Data Analytics with Edgar Torres - Raw Data Analytics
Selling Options for Income, Profits & Opportunistic Hedge Trading Management with Powercycletrading
Online Course - Why Wave Analysis Belongs in Every Trader's Toolbox with Jeffrey Kennedy - Elliott Wave
60 Seconds Sure Shot Strategy with Albert E
Adx Mastery Complete Course
Andy’s EMini Bar – 60 Min System
Trade Hot IPOs-The Promise Of The Future (IPO Course) with Dave Landry
Trading Volatility - The Ultimate Course with Master Trader
Calendar Trading in 2018 with Dan Sheridan
Pete Fader VSA Course
PPC Lead Pro Training Program
TRADING NFX Course with Andrew NFX
On Board Fanta Sea One Seminar with Felix Homogratus
Money Management Strategies for Futures Traders with Nauzer Balsara
Traders World Past Issue Articles on CD with Magazine
Professional Sniper FX
Learn how to trade Volatility 75 Index Technical Analysis with Patrick Muke
Becoming a Disciplined Trader: Techniques for Achieving Peak Trading Performance with Ari Kiev
War Room Technicals Volume 2 with Pat Mitchell – Trick Trades
Profit Wave Trade Strategy with Base Camp Trading
London Super Conference 2018
The STRAT Execution Basics with Jermaine McGruder
Preview of Markets with George Bayer
WEBINAR series 5 – EXECUTION: A DETAILED PROCESS with FuturesTrader71
Bootcamp and eBook with Jjwurldin
BearProof Investing with Kenneth Little
The Thirty-Second Jewel in PDF with Constance Brown
Essentials in Quantitative Trading QT01 By HangukQuant's
Chart Analysis Boot Camp Course Webinar with Mike Albright
Harmonic Vibrations with Larry Pesavento
War Room Technicals Vol. 3 with Trick Trades
Wyckoff Analytics Courses Collection
Value Based Power Trading
ProfileTraders - 5 course bundle
Accelerated Learning Techniques in Action with Colin Rose, Jayne Nicholl & Malcolm Nicholl
Trading Strategies with Larry Sanders
Automatic Millionaire (Audio Book) with David Bach
Programming in Python For Traders with Trading Markets
5 Week Live Web Seminar (Video & WorkBook ) with Larry Connors
Trading MasterMind Course
The Truth About Day Trading Stocks with Josh DiPietro
Dynamic Support and Resistance Indicator for MT4
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.