I am back from some good times in Chicago that included events for TD AMERITRADE and optionsXpress. There's plenty new strategies and insights to tell you, but I want to bring to your attention this interview of Jamie Hodge, our Director of Trader Education and long-time trading veteran, by Dave Mabe of StockTickr.com.Interview with Jamie Hodge, Trade-Ideas - May 5th, 2008Jamie tells us what "gimmick" trading is all about and how the ability to recreate your trading plan with the market's changes makes or breaks your success as a trader - a good read.Related LinksThe StockTickr Interview with Dan MirkinThe StockTickr Interview Series (RSS feed)

Yesterday I participated in a great day of trader education organized by Tom Busby and the folks at DTI and sponsored by optionsXpress.My presentation discussed the best way to develop a theme about the market and test whether and how much profits can be made using our backtesting tool, The OddsMaker. It was a great discussion and it gave me personal satisfaction that I am finally able to put into practice advice that Dr. Brett Steenbarger gave me many months ago. Tomorrow I will start a small series on how I'm using The OddsMaker in this way.

Below are some of the questions (and my answers) the group asked during the show:Q: [11:35] Zoo the new guy: If I already just opened an OXPS (optionsXpress) account may I use the discount?A: You are referring to our special pricing subsidized by OXPS for new

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I am just back from a great conference in Phoenix sponsored by optionsXpress. I learned alot about Trade-Ideas while interacting with the audience and our Director of Education, Jamie Hodge.We added so many new filters and alerts to Trade-Ideas recently, I fell behind a bit on everything we can do. I also learned new tricks on helping others get their ideas from their head and into Trade-Ideas much more easily. Even the other sponsors at the conference got excited about the things going on at Trade-Ideas!So the good folks at DTI and Tom Busby (who were also in attendance at the weekend conference) are inviting Trade-Ideas to present during their very popular Fed Day Live TradeRoom sessions tomorrow, March 18 beginning at 8:15 AM CST.I will be speaking at 11:00AM CST.Topic: How to Find a Profitable Strategy in Under ...