Trading Instructor
Darek Zelek
Equities, Platform Immersion, ProActive Investor, Power Trading Workshop, Technical Analysis Strategies and Personal
Trading Plan Instructor
Darek brings to Online Trading Academy his incredible amount of passion for trading. As a young, successful entrepreneur from
DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, he quickly discovered that understanding economic conditions and recognizing market
imbalances of supply and demand leads to opportunities for those that can spot them. His finance education background gave him
the opportunity to become the CEO of a construction development firm that yielded, on average, over 135% annual increase in
revenues for seven straight years, creating for his shareholders a great amount of wealth.
During the peak of his career in 2003, Darek started to invest in the Equities and Futures markets and that is how he met a
Chicago Board of Trade commodities trader who later became his mentor. Darek says, “Trading using today’s technology is an
incredible business. You have no employees, no worries of worker compensation issues, freedom to work from any place in the
world, and ability to find buyers and sellers instantly.”
Darek is also a graduate of Online Trading Academy and because of his skill and ability to teach, he mentored students who
struggled as new traders. He took them under his wing and showed them simple, yet powerful techniques that allowed these
newcomers to become more disciplined and therefore successful traders. To provide further commitment to his students and to
further excel as a trader to the Online Trading Academy community, Darek is in the process of obtaining the Charted Market
Technician Certification, which is the “Gold Standard” designation for market technicians.
Darek understands what it takes to become a successful trader, and he has the ability and willingness to share his experience
and trading techniques with his students. He is one of those individuals that has patience, dedication and passion for trading
and teaching. He often says, “Learn to trade for a skill and the art of trading, and naturally success and profits will follow."
What students are saying about Darek Zelek:
"Darek is exceptional! He is so knowledgeable, and helpful. He was very patient with all in the class. Great personality for getting the information across to all levels." Joan P., March 2012
"Darek is knowledgeable, professional, and enthusiastic. He possesses a good teaching style--strong communication skills, ability to use appropriate analogies to get points across, and balances individual attention with furthering the common goals of the class as a whole. He is very patient with those of us who know very little." Cheryl H., March 2012
"What I liked best: Darek! They don't come any better: patience, attentive to all students, knowledgeable in all areas, humor and lightness in the classroom, genuinely interested in our progress." Steve N., March 2012
"I truly enjoyed Darek's style. He was concise and clear. He also expanded well on some basic information given in the Hour with the Pros recordings. I enjoyed the live trading - with 1 of 2 trades successful (the second interrupted due to closing), I gained insight into both trading and myself - invaluable information to success long term." Karen D., February 2012
"Darek Zelek is a gifted and knowledgeable teacher who makes even the most difficult parts of the class clear to all of us before moving on to the next concept. This is rare, refreshing and very helpful for me. Thank you Derek!" Susan G., February 2012
"Darek was extremely knowledgeable. I would have liked to pick his brain much longer. I was exposed to many techniques that I look forward to using." Ruth B., February 2012
"Darek is one of the best OTA instructors that I have had. His attitude towards trading and helping the students is certainly to be commended." Dennis B., January 2012
"Darek is wonderful; I want to give 5+. I very much appreciate that he is willing to answer all my questions and share some very useful tips. My skills and my confidence for trading definitely have gone up, thanks to you, Darek! This the best class so far!" Jane L., January 2012
"Darek was an outstanding instructor who had a great attitude. I thoroughly enjoyed his "overview" of the market in the morning and predictions for the day. Darek ensured that he answered all of my questions and constantly shared his experiences and "tricks of the trade."" Vincent M., December 2011
"Darek is an excellent instructor and provided great insight into the trading world. He imparted very practical knowledge and strategies that can make one a better trader." Ray H., December 2011
"Darek is an excellent instructor--a true teacher's heart. He is knowledgeable, courteous, and his energy holds the class's attention." Jan W., November 2011
"Darek is an incredibly knowledgeable and patient instructor, able to communicate to a wide range of experience and understanding. His technical approach to such subjects as setting zones and stops is reproducible and not subjective. A real tool I can apply to my own trading on a consistent basis. Thanks, Darek!" Michael L., November 2011
"Darek is an incredible instructor. He is very understanding of the various experience and skill levels that students have and he does an excellent job in communicating his message to us. Above everything else, Darek is a great teacher, really knowledgeable and easy to understand. Love his humble approach to teaching, considering the huge knowledge gap between student and teacher. I would recommend his teaching methods to any instructor who wants to not only educate beginner traders/investors, but also to enrich the lives of those he teaches. You really get the sense that Darek is genuinely interested in sharing his knowledge. Wish my college classes had as high quality human beings to learn from as Darek." Nathan S., October 2011
"Darek is a wonderful and talented teacher. He is so patient and gracious with each student. He made sure that each one of us understood everything that he was covering. I wish I would have had this class a year ago and I would have saved thousands of dollars that were lost through my broker. Now I feel comfortable for the first time managing and preserving my assets." Marilyn C., October 2011
"One of the best instructors I have ever had. He speaks sufficiently loud and clearly; great vocabulary; clear presentation of why, as well as what. Thank you, Darek!" Art B., August 2011
"Darek is tops. I liked his enthusiastic style and his often funny way to deliver a point. He also brought up much more additional information outside of the book. I learned a lot through him and his patience!" Terri J., August 2011
"There was God, and then there came Darek. I am indebted for life to you, Darek, for the way you have changed my outlook on the markets. I have been trading for 12 years now and this is my retake to the course, but you still do not fail to amuse me. (The first time I took this training, the instructor was Darek, too!) Thanks for helping me get my confidence back. I promise to be a good trader and do you proud." Milan F., August 2011
"I enjoyed my sessions with Mr Darek. He tries to map things on charts with real life incidents and that helps to catch things easily. He also makes class interesting with his sense of humor!" Suja P., July 2011
"Darek made the class. His ability to relate the material to the real world made the difference. He was also very good about not talking over anyone's head." Bob T., June 2011
"Darek is a great teacher. He seems to connect with everyone in the room, and he never gives up when someone doesn't get it, nor does he make them look dumb for asking the question, even if it is asked several times." Valerie F., June 2011
"Darek is a terrific instructor! Well qualified, personable and extremely knowledgeable." David A., May 2011
"Darek is an 11 out of 10. I feel I got my money’s worth because of Darek." Richard E., May 2011
"I think Darek is a great instructor; he truly is knowledgeable and very patient. You can tell that he practices what he teaches; in most courses, teachers are not experienced in their fields and cannot apply it to the real world. Darek, on the other hand, is a great instructor who would call the shots as they were occurring. I think he is an amazing instructor and individual." Ruben Z., April 2011
"Darek is a very passionate teacher; his methods are very simple, but very effective. He trades on the platform live using simple strategies and gets positive results almost every time. I admire and respect him greatly." Bhajanpal S., March 2011
"Darek is a fantastic instructor. His knowledge, skill, attitude and understanding of student's attitude, is commendable. He reads between the lines into the minds of the students and is quick to respond most relevantly." Vikesh D., March 2011
"Mr. Darek is well experienced. He has a great attitude and very good manners, and he answered all of my questions in detail. I have been trading in the stock market for over 7 years, and I learned more from Darek in just a few days than I have known over my entire trading career. It was superb. Thank you, Online Trading Academy and especially, thanks to Mr. Darek Zelek!" Shivaji B., February 2011
"Darek has empowered me to be a successful trader." Neeraj G., February 2011
"Darek Zelek = BEST OF THE BEST!" Kalpesh D., January 2011
"Darek is an outstanding and very caring instructor and able to build and connect with the participants." Ramaswamy S., January 2011
"DZ - YOU ROCK! You are synonymous with DZ...DEMAND ZONE!! Finally, I met someone who has helped me to learn how not to lose my money in the markets. My trades are now more systematic and have improved probability of profits. DZ you are the GURU!! Online Trading Academy has given more meaning to my trades, and has helped me to think on the lines of making this as my full-time career. Thank you very much. I am HAPPY and fully preparing myself now for the markets. Thank you!!" Shashank P., December 2010
"Darek Zelek has done a wonderful job in helping us. He made us understand mistakes that we are making and how to overcome them. I wish we could spend some more time with him." Amita M., December 2010
"Darek is a Brilliant Teacher. He makes everything so simple and easy to follow." Monisha G., November 2010
"The course far exceeded my expectations. Darek Zelek was a phenomenal teacher. It helps to have an instructor who has actually done what he is teaching. I highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to improve his or her ability to intelligently engage in trading!" Leo B., August 2010
"Darek is an excellent instructor and he is more than willing to share his vast knowledge with the students. He is an exceptional teacher / instructor who is able to explain everything in a layman form. He provided a lot of examples from his own trading experience during the learning phase. This helped us to understand trading rules much better." Yefim R., August 2010
"OMG!!!! Darek was fantastic. His passion, knowledge and patience exceeded all my expectations." Ted G., August 2010
"Darek was awesome! Very patient. Very good at explaining the same thing many ways so we could all understand the point. Kept things very easy." Annie S., August 2010
"Darek was courteous, informative and thorough. He took the time to make sure we understood what was presented, yet was able to keep the course on track and moving ahead. He was able to adapt to the needs of the overall class." Paula L., July 2010
"Darek is fantastic. I was amazed by his patience, thoroughness and completely professional and courteous demeanor." Whitney W., July 2010
"Thank you Darek! Online Trading Academy should just clone Darek and have him teach at all the centers. He was knowledgeable, patient and personable. The instructor was able to answer all questions thoroughly, even the curve balls. Thank you again." W.H., June 2010
"The instructor was the best part of the class. Real hands-on experience makes a big difference. Darek is good at what he does and is a true professional." Diego H., May 2010
"Darek's personal attention and input while trading was the best - helped confirm what I was doing right with my entries and identify where I was making mistakes on losing trades. Also his hints and tips - from the pre-market opening routine, and pointing out high probability setups as they occurred - especially showing how the 30 minute cycles tended to create execution opportunities. But most of all, how he kept things as simple as possible. From his explanations to sharing his personal trading system - it feels very accessible from a novice perspective and I am confident that in time, I can become a profitable trader as long as I keep these key concepts in mind." Stephanie S., April 2010
"Darek is an excellent instructor, especially for one beginning trading. He used the materials to highlight his experience and added information that was not in the book. Darek is an excellent instructor and I would love to take another class with him as I continue to learn." Herbert Y., April 2010
"Darek was very good with information and detail as class advanced. He is very knowledgeable and most of all, very willing to share most of his trading "secrets" and techniques. I am very pleased how the class was delivered. This was a very positive learning experience." Gerardo A., March 2010
"Darek is a great passionate teacher. I like his "direct, to the point" teaching method. He allows all questions to be answered BEFORE he goes to the next topic. This question/answer session is extremely important to our learning success because the material is very new. I strongly recommend Darek and his teaching methods and procedures to anyone new to trading." Robert G., March 2010
"Darek is a phenomenal instructor. He can turn any technical trading information into simple language, yet still provide tools for the more seasoned trader. Darek will answer all your questions and still keep the pace of the class where it needs to be." Kristina P., February 2010
"Exceptionally learned, complete, and careful to reach every student at every student's level." Susan P., February 2010
"Outstanding instructor. Genuine, knowledgeable, expert, sharing, articulate. Opened up with us about his personal trading styles and insights." George E., February 2010
"Highest ratings for Darek. brains, heart and patience." Nandor Z., January 2010
"Mr. Darek Zelek is an epitome of an excellent educator...par excellence! Has a great mastery of the subject matter." Ken R., November 2009
"Darek was a great instructor. He kept my attention the whole time and taught the class at a very easy to learn pace. I was blown away at the material and Darek's ability to consistently demonstrate the concepts working at multiple levels for any stock we selected." Dan M., October 2009
"Darek is a truly magnificent instructor. He is very knowledgeable and has the right skills to impart that knowledge to his students. Darek is intensely passionate about trading and transfers that excitement to his students. He is concerned about each and every student understanding and applying the concepts that he is teaching." Bernadine P., October 2009
"Darek is a very good instructor. He injects a lot of his own experience into the discussions and was very patient and helpful." Catherine, August 2009
"Darek was awesome!! Darek's ability to simplify complex material and make it pragmatic in our approach was a significant factor in the value proposition of the course." David W., July 2009
"Darek is an insightful trader with broad capabilities using the Trade Station platform. I will certainly be a more efficient trader as a result of him sharing his expertise." Russ W., June 2009
"Excellent instructor. Darek is very helpful with the material and really shows us what it is like to treat trading like a business. A realistic view inside a professional trader's life, and a realistic expectation." Yung C., June 2009
"The instructor was great, he has a personality and drive to make everybody want to do their best." Herman P., May 2009
"Darek has an incredible insight of the markets and trends. He is truly a teacher of the strategies and he loves what he does with a passion. Thanks for everything." Bashar D., May 2009
"Darek was excellent. He has command of the platform, command of the course material, and has an excellent rapport with the students. He presents the material in a fresh and understandable way, and took time to make sure every question received a comprehensive yet understandable answer. I could tell everyone in the class liked him very much. A great find, Online Trading Academy." Clark K., April 2009
"Darek rocks! Rarely does an instructor have both the knowledge AND the ability to teach. Darek knew how to cover the material without being a slave to it and added valuable insight that only a highly successful trader would have." Mike F., April 2009
"Darek's explanations were fabulous -- he really explained complex ideas in a simple, basic way that made everything make perfect sense. A real "aha" moment!!!!!!!" Diane L., March 2009
"Darek is extremely knowledgeable about trading and gave many pointers that are not found in books." Timothy B., February 2009
"The course was encouraging, mind opener, great path to independence, provides great odds to succeed. Darek, you're great! Excellent! Excellent! Thanks." Dione B., February 2009
"Darek is the best instructor I have had so far at Online Trading Academy. He is clear, focused and very articulate with a wonderful positive and enthusiastic energy. He brought amazing clarity to complex information so I could see the forest through the trees. I feel much more confident about trading now. Darek also shared little personal "tricks of the trade" to help us further with high probability trades. He's a gifted trader, teacher and a charming man." Marie C., February 2009
"This is the third time I've take the Professional Trader 2 class and Mr. Zelek was the best of the instructors. The reasons I learned the most from Mr. Zelek: 1. Excellent Communicator 2. His focus on support and resistance, not on indicators 3. Close monitoring of students during trading periods 4. Realistic, real world, suggestions to trading. 5. Positive approach to the profession." Wayne Z., February 2009
"This was my 3rd time in this course... Darek did an excellent job. He is a natural teacher with sense of humor and advanced techniques. Very helpful." Thomas P., February 2009
"Outstanding teacher." Mary Ann R., January 2009
"Darek did an excellent job. He presented the material in a very clear and simple manner. I would recommend him to anyone." Gary N., January 2009
"Darek was extremely good in all aspects - knowledge, presentation, structure, manner, humor, etc. He is one heck of a good guy." Nick R., December 2008
"Darek is the best...very, very enjoyable having him as an instructor. Darek, you are a great guy...both professionally and personally." David G., December 2008
"Darek was one of the best teachers I ever had, very professional." John B., December 2008
"I liked the depth of knowledge of Darek and his sincerity in developing the student's skills." Donna W., October 2008
"The main instructor, Darek was great. He made sure that everyone was learning as well as keeping updated with the market. The daily advice that he gave us added great value to our classes." Honor T., October 2008
"Darek was outstanding. He excels at pointing pupils in the right direction without being heavy-handed. Friendly and engaging." R.D., October 2008
"Darek is a fine instructor, patient and knowledgeable. He maintains an excellent control of the learning environment. Clearly desires for the students to exceed, and obviously enjoys his work." Patrick G., September 2008