ALEXANDER ELDER, MD, is a professional trader and teacher of traders. He is the author of several best-sellers, considered modern classics among traders. He also wrote books about Russia and New Zealand.

Dr. Elder was born in Leningrad and grew up in Estonia, where he entered medical school at the age of 16. At 23, while working as a ship's doctor, he jumped a Soviet ship in Africa and received political asylum in the United States. He worked as a psychiatrist in New York City and taught at Columbia University. His experience as a psychiatrist provided him with unique insight into the psychology of trading.

Dr. Elder is an active trader, but he continues to teach and is a sought-after speaker at conferences in the US and abroad. Dr. Elder is the originator of Traders' Camps - week-long classes for traders. He is the founder of the SpikeTrade group, a community of traders whose members share their best stock picks each week in competition for prizes.