Dr. Andrew Menaker is a licensed clinical psychologist with a PhD in psychology. He’s more of a stretch than a shrink. Since 1995 he’s been a performance coach for top money managers and professional traders.
His unique background and practical approach to performance improvement translates self-awareness, EQ, body-mind connection, and the latest neuroscience into practical application. What makes him special is that Andrew is also recognized as an experienced and successful trader himself, and a recognized expert in emotion management and intuitive development.
Andrew’s clients say what makes him unique is a focus on the practical – taking research and theory and putting it into action for tangible results.
Dr. Menaker is a global thought leader in his approach to market and trading psychology and is frequently asked to speak at conferences around the world. He’s been interviewed by major media outlets including The Wall Street Journal (click to read).
His coaching clients are among the top traders and PMs in the world. His work extends beyond trading, he’s also an experienced executive coach assisting CEOs and entrepreneurs with emotion mgt and his specialty, intuitive and creative development.
Andrew is an Essentia Analytics recommended performance coach for professional money managers
Although Andrew is based in California, using a variety of technology platforms, his coaching clients are worldwide.
Andrew is a contributing author in the book, “Investor Behavior: The Psychology of Financial Planning and Investing” (Wiley Finance) Read the abstract (quick summary) here
in 1995 Andrew began working as an internal EAP psychological consultant for Wells Fargo Bank and HSBC Trade Bank. During his bank consulting career, Andrew spent over ten thousand hours working as a psychological consultant with professionals making financial decisions that impact world markets.
Before Andrew’s entry into the world of finance and trading in 1995, he spent two years as a psychological consultant and independent contractor for the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Navy. Assisting senior military officers with threat assessment and crisis management, Andrew gained valuable experience consulting with key decision makers and applying situational awareness concepts.
Andrew’s advice has been sought by U.S. Military Intelligence, NCIS (not the TV show), the U.S. Secret Service, and other federal agencies; he was instrumental in the positive outcome of some high profile situations that received attention in the media resulting in Andrew receiving a letter of commendation from the U.S. Navy (Click here to read).
When he entered the financial and trading world in 1995, Andrew quickly realized that the psychological aspects of situational awareness, crisis management, and threat assessment share many things in common with trading psychology. In his own trading, Andrew is able to draw from his experience and ability to simultaneously manage risk and take advantage of opportunity.
Andrew’s specialty as a coach goes well beyond the usual emotion mgt and mindfulness practices popular today, his real passion and niche as a coach is in intuitive and creative development.
The niche that Andrew has found in his own trading primarily involves equity index futures and utilizes a combination of auction theory, market profile, volume profiling and market internals. After talking with some independent traders it reminded Andrew that many traders focus much of their time on trading set-ups but are either unaware of the importance of the psychological aspects of trading or need education in that area. Andrew never intended to work with independent traders, but he began to do so on a limited basis after several requests. When most traders contact Andrew, it is usually with some variation of, “I’m having trouble following my plan”. The idea of ‘plan the trade and trade the plan’ is the typical advice traders hear, but often falls short of what traders really need; the ability to execute on their plan.
Recognizing the similarities and differences of professional and self-directed independent trading, Andrew offers his unique services primarily to professional traders, and select independent traders. Andrew does not outsource any of his coaching or consulting. His focus is on performance enhancement rather than traditional psychotherapy or mental health. He refers to himself as a ‘stretch’, not as a ‘shrink’. His interest in performance enhancement began over 25 years ago when he conducted empirically validated original research in the area of sports psychology.
Today, Andrew is recognized as an intuitive trader and coach with the skill set to help others develop the delicate balance between discipline and intuition.
In his consultation and coaching Andrew draws from his experience as a successful trader, his interactions with other successful traders, knowledge of the latest neuroscience, and a wide variety of performance enhancement techniques, and develops a customized approach unique for each client. He knows that (self) hypnosis, affirmations, EFT, NLP and other ‘quick cures’ don’t work so well for traders.
Helping others improve is a passion Andrew has had for many years and he derives great satisfaction from it.