Meet Raymond Merriman President of Merriman Market Analyst in Scottsdale

My formal education was in psychology, where I received a B.S. from Michigan State University in 1968, then did post-graduate studies in social psychology 1969-1972. While working on a post-graduate thesis in 1968, I had this idea that a new sub-culture was unfolding in the U.S. consisting of young people who were living communally and had “tuned in, turned on, and dropped out.” I wanted to see if this thesis had validity, and worked with Dr. Milton Rokeach, administering his “Value Survey” to those who fit these criteria.

I visited communes in several states and Canada until I was able to collect 100 surveys. It turned out the priority of the 18 short-term and 18 long=term values of the Rokeach Value survey of this group was way off the charts compared to any other demographic that Rokeach and his students had ever measured. They supported my thesis. But the important thing in my story was that every commune I visited asked, “What is your sun sign?” That was my introduction to Astrology, which became an important tool in my understanding of human behavior and activity.

In 1980, I was giving a lecture in Tucson, AZ, when I met legendary cycles analysts and trader Walter Bressert of HAL Commodities. He had noticed a correlation between yearly highs and lows in Gold prices and the orbital position of the planet Mars and wondered if there were other geocosmic correlations and if I would be interested in doing the research to see. I was. For the next two years, I immersed myself in this research and found several planetary cycles that correlated with major highs and lows in Gold, which resulted in the publication of “The Gold Book: Geocosmic Correlations to Gold Price Cycles” on 1982. It was the first published work that offered an actual quantitative analysis of a correlation between financial markets and planetary cycles.

I also began “The Merriman Market Analyst,” Inc at that time, with a market advisory report called “The MMA Cycles Report,” specializing in the timing of cycle highs and lows in Gold prices. It started slowly with maybe 35 subscribers. But then FNN (Financial News Network), got a hold of the book I had written and flew me into Los Angeles for an hour interview on their “Money Talk” program in February 1983. In the next week, my subscription base jumped 10-fold, to 350 subscribers. I had a new job.

My research into other markets and their correlation with both cycle studies and geocosmic studies continued. In fact, it is what I do every day. I have now written 57 books on the subjects of market timing, cycle studies, and astrology. I have added several markets to our advisory services, which now include daily, weekly, and monthly reports for subscribers, and an annual “Forecast Book” that covers the financial, economic and political outlook every year, and is translated into several different languages. Next to the U.S., our biggest markets are Japan, Germany/Switzerland, China, the Netherlands, and Australia. We have a worldwide presence that has grown nicely over the past 30 years.

In 2013, I bought a second home in Cave Creek at the encouragement of my daughter Alie, who graduated from the University of Arizona, then got her MBA from U of A in the Scottsdale campus. I liked it here so much that I sold my primary home in Michigan in 2017, and moved full time here. Alie left her position at J.P. Morgan and took over the management of MMA. It has turned out to be a very good move. I love it here.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There have been challenges along the way. For instance, during the Great Recession of 2007-2009, so many banks, brokerage houses, currency desks, and hedge funds throughout the world laid off many of their employees who were subscribers of our services. We decided to focus our marketing efforts on the independent trader and investor, rather than fund managers, banks, etc. That worked out well.

Another challenging period was when I decided to leave Wall Street in 1994 and work exclusively for my own research analysis firm of MMA. I was Vice-President of Retail Commodity Futures for Paine Webber at the time, But I wanted to head my own company and provide my services more to the public, of which several of my former colleagues then became subscribers. But the adjustment was hard at first. I had to work very hard to build the business up to the level of income I was used to as an investment and trading advisor for a major Wall Street firm. I decided to write a 5-volume series on “The Ultimate Book on Stock Market Timing.” The first volume came out in 1997, and the other four volumes came out between 1999-2012. It took me 15 years to complete this huge task, which covered over 1600 pages of research results and conclusions, but it did establish me as a leader in this field of market timing for traders.

Then, in 2013, I decided to teach these methods formally over a two-year period, 2013-2015. Forty students signed up for the two-year course. They were required to spend seven weekends of three-four days with me, in 140 hours of class time, at the Michigan State University Management Educational Center in Troy, Michigan. In between each of the seven courses, they were required to do a research project. At the end of each course, they were required to pass an exam before going to the next level. By the end, 20 students had completed all the requirements and passed a 4-5 hour final exam. They are known as the MMTA (Merriman Market Timing Academy) Graduates, and several now work for MMA as market analysts.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Merriman Market Analyst – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I think we are the only market advisory service that integrates market timing methods like cycles and geocosmics, correlated with trend analysis, technical analysis, and charting.

Every day, I wake up and am excited to get to work, to research and write. I am a combination of the researcher, writer, and market analyst. At the end of every day, I download the price activity of the various markets I analyze for our subscribers and write a daily report with trading strategies for the next day. I do the same on Saturday, with a weekly report for the next week. These include analysis of the U.S stock markets (DJIA, S&P, NASDAQ), Gold, Silver, currencies, T-Notes, Bitcoin, Soybeans, and Crude Oil. In the field of financial markets, I am known as a market timer, and our company, MMA, is known as “The leader in market timing services and products.” In the field of professional astrology, I am known as a “Financial Astrologer.”

I am most proud of the fact that we have been in business for over 30 years and have a worldwide following. I don’t know of any other company that has developed as many products, books, and services recognized throughout the world as we have in our niche. I am also most proud that we have a very organized and efficient staff who are extremely competent, reliable and inventive with marketing ideas.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I am personally looking forward to developing our team of analysts further, to create new markets to analyze and reports to deliver to our clients, such as an ETF (Exchange Traded Funds) report for those just entering the world of trading and investing.

I am looking forward to developing an “Investment Retreat” for clients, in an exotic destination, who want to interact with us personally over an extended weekend to discuss investment strategies for the next 1-4 years, as well as how to protect their capital in the event of a severe market downturn. Previously, we held two similar retreats in Florence, Italy and San Diego. But most of all, I am planning to create more time for myself to enjoy my wife, family, and write the final books that I wish to be part of my legacy.