Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions as well as some unique questions we believe will be helpful to you. Below each question is our answer.
Please read through each question and answer before contacting us. If you have a question that is not answered below, feel free to contact us at CustomerSupport@StockBarometer.com for subscription-related questions or at Angelo@StockBarometer.com for content-related questions.
Please note the following:
- If you have any concerns regarding margin issues, contact your broker.
- Speak to your broker about the number of contracts that’s right for you as you are limited by the margin requirements set by you broker. This is not our responsibility.
- If you have any questions relating to your investment and/or trading account, you must discuss this with your broker. Investment Research Group Inc., Angelo Campione, and/or its associates/representatives cannot give personal advice as to how to invest as we are not brokers and/or investment advisors and the SEC forbids us from doing such.
Q: What is ACS?
A: Advantage Credit Spreads (ACS) is a credit spread strategy using the SPX Index. Positions are generally held for between three to seven weeks. To learn more about the SPX index go to www.cboe.com.
Q: How does the strategy work?
A: When our system gives a buy signal we buy a Put option at a point that is considered low risk, away from the market and sell a Put option 10 points closer to the market. For example, if the SPX is at 1400 points we may buy a 1330 Put option and sell a 1340 Put option (both options are Out of The Money). When we have a sell signal, using the above example, we may buy a 1460 Call option and sell a 1450 Call option.
Q: Are all the suggested positions left to expire?
A: No, it depends on how the market is performing but generally we do allow the positions to expire worthless.
Q: What happens if after I have joined, I have just missed a suggested position?
A: This is what the 4-week free trial is for. You can watch to see how the current position is performing and wait for the next suggestion to come out before acting. We will however, on occasion, suggest an adjustment (close earlier positions and open new ones) to existing positions, or simply close existing positions prior to expiration. On these occasions, you may act on the next suggestion.
Q: What’s the strike difference per contract relative to the typical spreads you use with SPX?
A: For the SPX, it’s always 10 points between the strike prices which equates to $1,000 margin requirement per contract.
Q: How much should I allocate for trading the ACS?
A: Check with your broker and it’s also generally accepted that it’s wise to diversify one’s investments. In our view and/or opinion one should not use more than 20% of available funds allocated for investments in the ACS.
Q: If I use your suggestions, is there a risk of losing MORE than my initial investment?
A: To the best of our knowledge, if margins are applied and calculated strictly on position risk (the difference between the strike prices of the spread i.e. 10 points), which we believe is the better and safer way, there is no risk of losing more than your initial investment. Speak to your broker/investment advisor.
Q: Is ACS a safe way to trade?
A: It depends on how you define “safe.” As the Track Record shows, the ACS success ratio is impressive, but it is not 100% “risk free” as would be investing in a Treasury Bill (T-Bill) at the bank. Of course, past results do not guarantee or reflect future results.
Q: Are there any drawbacks with ACS?
A: Well, it doesn’t give you a rush like watching a penny stock go through its wild fluctuations, and this can be quite boring for some. It’s a lot like watching the tortoise rather than the hare and as we all know the tortoise wins in the end.
Q. I have not received any (or I have stopped receiving) alerts via e-mail. What is the issue?
A. Increasingly, ISPs are using filtering systems to try and keep spam out of customers' inboxes. Sometimes, they accidentally filter the e-mail that you want to receive. Please read our information on white-listing before contacting Customer Support! Thank you.
Q: Why is there a shipping address required for an e-mail service?
A: Your shipping address is used for credit card verification purposes.
Q. I just subscribed to one of your services and I can't access the articles. Why is this?
A. Because order information is manually verified and updated in our customer database, there may be some lag time (less than 24 hours) before you can access the articles.
Note: After subscribing, if you do not receive a confirmation e-mail containing your username and password, please send an e-mail to CustomerSupport@StockBarometer.com. We suspect that some e-mail services may mistake our auto-generated confirmation e-mails as spam and prevent you from receiving them.
Q. How do I access the articles?
A. Once you sign in, you will have access to only the services to which you have subscribed. To access the articles for a service, click on the graphic tile for that item on the home page. You will then see a list of articles for that service. To view each article in its entirety, click on the headline or the "More..." link.
Q. When I call, I get an answering service. Why don't I get a live person?
A. We provide a phone number that utilizes an answering service. When you leave a voice message, that message is converted to an audio file and is e-mailed to us as an attachment. This allows us to provide 24-hour support, even on weekends, handle all customer questions via e-mail, and maintain a record of all calls.
Q. Can I pay by check?
A. Rather than paying by credit card, you may also pay by personal check, bank check, or money order. Please make your check payable to Investment Research Group, Inc. and send payment to the following address:
Investment Research Group, Inc.
6 Cunningham Street
Hopkinton, MA 01748
Please do not forget to include your name, mailing address, e-mail address, and phone number along with the name of your desired subscription.