Frequently asked questions
Short answers about the academy, your free account and market data.
What is TradeCraft Academy?
TradeCraft Academy is a financial-education website that explains markets, trading and investing in clear, beginner-friendly language. It is run by Moustafa Hijazi from Rhede, Germany. You will find guides, structured lessons and market data views that help you understand how things work before you risk any money.
Is this investment advice?
No. Everything on this site is general education only. We explain concepts, products and risks, but we never tell you what you personally should buy, sell or hold. Personalised investment advice is a regulated activity — in Germany it requires a licence — and we do not provide it. If you need a recommendation for your own situation, please talk to a licensed adviser.
Who is the academy for?
The academy is for beginners and anyone who wants a solid, honest foundation in financial markets. Many of our readers live in Germany and the EU, so we often point out EU-specific topics such as regulation, VAT or tax basics. No prior knowledge is needed.
Is everything really free?
Yes. All 512 lessons in 42 courses, the quizzes, all tools and calculators, the market dashboard and the Weekly Market Briefings are free for everyone. You do not need an account, and there is no monthly lesson limit. There is no paid plan, no price and no subscription.
What do I get with a free account?
With a free account (free membership) you can receive news about new courses, new lessons and new videos on our YouTube channel. Email news is optional, and you can unsubscribe at any time. You log in via Netlify Identity. The account is not needed for learning and does not include tutoring, individual feedback, Q&A or certificates.
Do you promise profits?
No. Nobody can honestly promise profits in financial markets, and we never do. All investing and trading involves risk, including the risk of losing money. Be very careful with anyone who promises "guaranteed" returns.
Do you give trading signals?
No. We do not send buy or sell signals, trade alerts or tips. Our goal is to help you understand markets well enough to make your own informed decisions.
Are the market prices live?
It depends on the data. Crypto prices and tokenized gold prices (such as PAXG) stream live from the Kraken exchange where available. Currency rates are official ECB reference rates published once per working day, and stock, ETF and spot-metal prices need a market-data subscription and may be delayed. Every price on the site shows its source and timestamp, so you can always see where it comes from and how current it is. Keep in mind that the spot gold price is not the same as the price a dealer will charge you.
What is the difference between the spot gold price and a dealer price?
The spot price is the wholesale market price for gold, usually quoted in US dollars per troy ounce. A dealer price is what you actually pay or receive when you buy or sell physical gold. Dealers sell above spot (a premium) and buy below it (a spread), and premiums are usually higher for small bars and coins. The lesson Costs that eat returns explains this in more detail, and our gold guide has a calculator for the metal value of gold.
How is my lesson progress saved?
Your lesson progress is stored in your browser on this device. It is not synced through your account. If you switch to another browser or device, or clear your browser data, your saved progress will not be there — but you can export it as a file and import it in another browser or on another device.
Which languages are available?
The whole website is available in seven languages: English, German, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, French and Turkish. Use the language selector at the top of every page.
How can I contact you?
You can find our contact details on the about page. We answer questions about your account and the website. The courses are self-study courses, so we do not offer tutoring or individual answers about lesson content, and we never give personal investment advice.