Overview

OmniTrader is a totally automated trade prospecting tool that uses it's vast library of systems and indicators to generate trading signals for your consideration. You can use the default strategies and settings or "tweak" OT to your hearts content. It is an amazingly customizable piece of software and each new release makes it that much more powerful.


Features

Automatic buy and sell signals
Preset trading strategies
Customizable - build you own strategies
Full charting capabilities
Two trading simulators
Built-in money management
Fast run times


Benefits

Generates an excellent list of trade candidates based on your trading style
Manages the entire trade from entry to exit
Greatly reduces the time it takes to manually screen stock charts
Can learn how to trade using two different trade simulators, far superior to paper trading


Review

I bought OmniTrader 2001 during the summer of 2001 and spent several weeks trying to get the software to produce profitable trading signals. After many hours of frustrated testing I requested and promptly received a refund.

Have you figured out what I did wrong? I did what many OT first time users do, I tried to make OT an automated trading system despite Nirvana's repeated statements that OT is a prospecting tool.

OmniTrader is not an automatic trading system though the Nirvana Club is moving towards that direction (more on the Club later). It is a prospecting tool. It generates potential trade candidates, you still need to evaluate them before making a trade.

Anyway, back to my story..

I got a mailer a few months later describing the new features of OmniTrader 2002 which was a major upgrade in capability over the 2001 version and I couldn't wait to get my copy and have been a satisfied customer ever since.

It is a wonderful tool for discretionary traders that uses over 120 systems to provide you with a "short list" of trading candidates based on either OT's default settings or your own custom settings. Nirvana is a big proponent of trade confirmation using chart patterns to validate any trading signal produced and the different charting options proves this. In fact, Ed Downs wrote a really nice little book on the best chart patterns to look for which I highly recommend.

The program accepts data formats from all of the major vendors and uses a unique method of combining systems, confirming signals and filters among other things to arrive at a consensus vote to create buy and sell signals for your review.

OmniTrader has default strategies based on things like breakouts, swing trades and divergence signals but it is also fully customizable including the use of optimization on the included trading systems. About the only thing you can't do is add new systems but Nirvana even has that covered with their optional SDK product that let's you add just about any system, indicator or exit you want if you know Visual Basic.

The power of the software is enormous and to the beginner can be intimidating. But like any other package you need to spend time going through the tutorials and playing with the software (Nirvana's training courses do a great job showing you the ins and outs of OT) and soon you will be quite comfortable with it.

OmniTrader also has something included that can be a real benefit to traders, their stock market Game and Lab modes. The Game mode presents you with a single randomly picked stock that you trade while Lab mode is a simulation of an actual trading strategy over as many stocks as you have in your Lab profile.

This is "paper trading" taken to the next level and I don't know of any software package that does this as of this writing.

Another thing I like about Nirvana Systems is they produce a major upgrade each year in the fall and let me tell you, each year it just gets better and better! For instance:

2002 - A major rework with system and signal confirmation capabilities and new drawing tools including the "rule of eighths"

2003 - New trade filters, more customizable indicators and visual exits

2004 - New trade processor that uses a strategy flow chart concept and a custom strategy builder (optional)

2005 - New charting capabilities, redesigned reports, new indicators and the pattern recognition module (optional)

Along with the upgrade Nirvana also usually has a new plug-in or add-on you can purchase. Some of these packages include:

Guppy Multiple Moving Average
Darvas Box
Pring KST

These packages come with a manual and several custom systems, indicators and strategies specific to the module.

Nirvana also has a variety of courses available. I have taken all of the courses available from Nirvana and find them to be very well produced and informative. From learning the basic operation of OmniTrader to how to use OT on a daily basis to find and confirm trades Nirvana has done an excellent job in their course offerings.

Another thing I like is the bundle specials Nirvana puts together in the fall. I don't know how they can offer such sweet deals but every year they never fail to deliver.

Now let me tell you about the Nirvana Club.

The Club's goal is to produce the Ultimate Trading Machine - a profitable 100% rule based trading system. Each year Nirvana gets closer and closer with new research being done constantly on cutting edge trading technologies. Club rules prevent me from saying much more but despite the price tag to join I am glad I did.

Not only do you have access to the future direction of Nirvana's products (they are very forthcoming with Club members) but you also can interact with other Club members in a private forum. Some of these members are pretty successful traders and there is some great knowledge sharing amongst the group. Did I mention you also get great discounts on Nirvana products? I think these savings alone would pay for the membership cost in a couple of years.

I have personally met with most of the Nirvana staff at the annual "Bash" which is held for Club members (free of charge!) and I find them to be a very sincere, honest and open group of people that really care about their customers. Ed Downs is probably one of the nicest people you will ever meet in this business.


Bottom Line

Omnitrader 2005 is a great trade prospecting and management tool with tons of useful features backed by a solid company that is committed to their customers.

Visit the OmniTrader web site now...