Michael Covel

Michael W. Covel (born September 1, 1968) is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and film director. In 1996, he co-founded TurtleTrader.com, later expanded into TrendFollowing.com, a popular online resource focused on investment style known as trend following, which allows investors to profit in both up and down markets.

Early life
Covel was born in Quantico, Virginia. He graduated with a B.A. in Politics and Government from George Mason University and received his M.B.A. from Florida State University.

Career

Writing
Trend Following
Covel's first book was Trend Following: Learn to Make Millions in Up or Down Markets (FT Press, April 2004, Nov. 2005, Mar. 2007, Mar. 2009) featuring traders David Harding, John W. Henry, Ed Seykota, Richard Donchian, Jesse Lauriston Livermore and Larry Hite, among others. The book analyzes years of detailed performance data to demonstrate that trend following works. The book was an immediate international bestseller, with over 100,000 copies sold to date. It was first published by Financial Times Press on April 23, 2004.

The Complete TurtleTrader
The Complete TurtleTrader: The Legend, the Lessons, the Results (HarperBusiness, October 2007) tells the story of Chicago commodities trader Richard Dennis, along with an oral history of the investment world in the late 20th century. The book reviews an experiment conducted by  Dennis and then partner William Eckhardt in 1983 with "the Turtles," a group of novices turned top traders based on Dennis' trading advice.  The title refers to a strategy that is based on technical analysis of market prices and is used by traders who aim to ride on market trends. Covel has cited Jack Schwager’s book Market Wizards as partial inspiration for the book.

Other Books
In June 2011, Covel released Trend Commandments: Trading for Exceptional Returns, as a trend following primer for novice traders. In August 2011, Covel released The Little Book of Trading: Trend Following Strategy for Big Winners, which teaches the average person investment practices claimed to beat the market, regardless of the financial climate. Covel's  books have been translated into more than 10 languages.

Film
Broke: The New American Dream
Covel directed the documentary film Broke: The New American Dream, which premiered on Discovery Channel. It covers many   economic themes,  including  the 2008 United States housing bubble, stock-market volatility, and growing economic uncertainty. In the film, Covel interviews financial and economist figures like Harry Markowitz, Vernon L. Smith, Mark Mobius, David Harding, Michael Mauboussin, Larry Hite, Peter Borish, Richard Baker, Barry Ritholtz, Chris Van Hollen, and Eric Bolling. The film criticizes financial news networks like CNBC, stating that they cater to an audience of news junkies in an attempt to score ratings. The film also analyzes behavioral finance, and critiques Americans for not taking personal responsibility for their investment decisions.

Publishing history

Books
2004: Trend Following: How Great Traders Make Millions in Up or Down Markets
2005: Trend Following: How Great Traders Make Millions in Up or Down Markets, New Expanded Edition
2007: The Complete TurtleTrader: The Legend, the Lessons, the Results
2009: Trend Following: Learn to Make Millions in Up or Down Markets, Updated Edition
2009: The Complete TurtleTrader: How 23 Novice Investors Became Overnight Millionaires
2011: Trend Commandments: Trading for Exceptional Returns
2011: The Little Book of Trading: Trend Following Strategy for Big Winners
2012: Trend Following Analytics: Performance Proof for the World's Most Controversial and Successful Black Swan Trading Strategy
2017: Trend Following: How to Make a Fortune in Bull, Bear and Black Swan Markets, 5th Edition
2021: Trend Following Mindset: The Genius of Legendary Trader Tom Basso
2023: Trend Following Masters - Volume 1: Trading Conversations
2023: Trend Following Masters - Volume 2: Trading Psychology Conversations

Films
2011: Broke: The New American Dream

Podcast
2012-2023: Michael Covel’s Trend Following

References

External links

Trend Following
Gray, Wesley (Dec. 2016). 5 Investing Podcasts You Should Listen To, Wall Street Journal.
Hogan, Mike (Nov. 2010). Making the Trend Your Friend, Barrons.
Torbenson, Eric (Nov. 2008). Why We Shouldn’t Bail Out The Big Three Automakers, New York Post.
Murali, D. (April 2008). Make the Right Call, The Hindu.
Steenbarger, Brett (Oct. 2007). Turtle Trading Lessons From Michael Covel, TradeFeeder.
Pressely, James (Nov. 2007). Bloomberg Review of “The Complete TurtleTrader, ” Bloomberg.com.
Collins, Art (Nov. 2005). The Truth About The Turtles (Michael Covel Interview), Yahoo! Finance Financial News.
Cripps, Richard E. (Oct. 2004). Trend Following, Legg Mason Wood Walker, Inc.

American male writers
Living people
1968 births