Many traders believe that all great strategies are either secret or locked behind a paywall. It’s a seductive idea: somewhere out there lies a hidden formula for guaranteed profits, known only to hedge funds or elite traders. But is it true?

Let’s uncover the reality behind this widespread trading myth.

Why This Belief Exists

The trading world is filled with marketing promises, “exclusive systems,” and expensive mentorship programmes. This creates the impression that top-performing strategies are deliberately concealed or sold for a premium.

In some cases, proprietary strategies are protected—for example, institutional algorithmic models or high-frequency trading software. However, these represent a small segment of the trading landscape and are not automatically more effective for retail traders.

Great Strategies Are Often Public Knowledge

Many of the most effective trading strategies are not hidden at all. In fact, they are widely published in books, courses, and forums. Examples include:

• Trend-following systems like moving average crossovers
• Breakout strategies
• Momentum trading using RSI or MACD
• Mean reversion using Bollinger Bands or statistical edges
• Price action strategies based on support and resistance

What makes a strategy “great” is not its secrecy—it’s the trader’s ability to understand, adapt, and execute it consistently.

Execution Beats Exclusivity

The majority of traders don’t fail because they lack access to secret systems. They fail because they:

• Don’t follow their strategy with discipline
• Risk too much or too little
• Don’t adapt the system to changing markets
• Abandon strategies after short-term drawdowns

Two traders can use the same strategy with very different results. Why? Because successful trading depends on execution, psychology, and risk management, not just the system itself.

Paid Doesn’t Always Mean Better

Paying for a strategy or course isn’t inherently bad—if it offers valuable education, guidance, and support. But price is no guarantee of performance. Many paid systems are just rebranded versions of free strategies with a marketing twist.

In fact, the most successful traders often build their edge through study, testing, and refinement—not by buying someone else’s “magic formula.”

How to Build a Great Strategy Yourself

Instead of searching for a secret weapon, focus on:

• Understanding market structure and price behaviour
• Testing and refining public strategies to suit your style
• Creating rules for entries, exits, and position sizing
• Journaling and improving your process over time

A truly great strategy is one you understand fully and can trust under pressure.

Conclusion: Great Strategies Aren’t Hidden—They’re Developed

All great strategies are not hidden or paid. The real edge lies in your ability to personalise, test, and stick with a strategy—whether it’s public or not.

If you want to learn how to build high-performance strategies from the ground up, check out our Trading Courses designed to equip you with the tools, mindset, and structure used by consistently profitable traders.