Frequently Asked Questions

The standard version of the Socrates Platform is designed to enable individual members to sign up directly using a credit card (instead of a traditional software license approach typically used for institutions and professionals). Upon commercial launch in 2017, the standard version offered only one membership level (referred to as the "standard membership level"). There are now multiple membership packages available, allowing members to upgrade, downgrade or cancel at any time. Learn more about the membership packages and pricing here.

Socrates Platform membership packages are designed to enable users to pick the level of access that meets their needs and budget. When you click to Register a New Account, you’ll be presented with current pricing along with a description of each membership package that is available at that time. Memberships are billed on a month-to-month basis to your credit card, and members can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel at any time. Learn more about our membership packages and pricing here.

The Socrates Platform allows members to research hundreds of financial instruments around the world – including top indices, stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), commodities, bonds, and currencies. We call these "Covered Markets". It is important to understand, given our unique focus on price history, cyclical patterns and trends, we do not cover every available financial instrument, index or exchange.  You aren't likely to find options, penny stocks, or initial public offerings (IPOs) covered on the Socrates Platform. While we may make some exceptions, we generally look to cover instruments that have at least a few years worth of trading activity, typically on prominent exchanges around the world and with a fair amount of consistent trading volume - this gives us enough data to produce results at a minimum on Daily price, Weekly price and Monthly price time periods. The longer an instrument is publicly traded, the more data our proprietary models have to identify patterns and trends.

Note: You may see reference to financial “instrument” or “security” – it is one in the same with Covered Market for the purpose of the Socrates Platform.

Our proprietary models and artificial intelligence engine generate three types of text analysis on each Covered Market:

• Summary Analysis: provides high level insights in a manner intended to help investors of all levels supplement their long-term research by sharing how our models see potential market behavior over time. Summary Analysis is available to Basic, Plus and Pro Members via Summary Market Subscriptions (recurring) or Summary Snapshot Report (point-in-time).
• Detailed Analysis: designed for experienced / active investors looking for more detailed information on a Covered Market to supplement their research on mid-to-long-term strategies. Building upon the Summary Analysis, the Detailed Analysis may reference the nearest Reversals and/or other technical indicators and considerations for a Covered Market. Detailed Analysis is available to Plus and Pro Members via Detailed Market Subscriptions (recurring) or Detailed Snapshot Report (point-in-time).
• Premium Analysis: designed for experienced / active investors and traders looking to supplement their market research with the most comprehensive insights generated from our proprietary computer models. We expect these individuals are well versed in market volatility, liquidity, and associated risks with financial trades and investing. We also expect them to have a reasonably functional understanding of technical analysis and our proprietary models. Premium Analysis is accessed through our Premium Market Tools – an interface we've designed to bring together all of the key information available on the Socrates Platform (including full Daily, Weekly and Monthly Reversals and Arrays). Premium Analysis is available to Pro Members only, via Premium Market Subscriptions (recurring) or Premium Snapshot Report (point-in-time).

Each night following the close of the Covered Markets in our system, we collect the end-of-day data from various third-party sources and update our market databases. We then compile this data and run it through our proprietary models, generating output for the Global Market Watch, Reversals and Arrays - which is then fed into our artificial intelligence engine that generates the different versions of text analysis across all of our Covered Markets (Summary Analysis, Detailed Analysis, Premium Analysis). Finally, the Socrates Platform is updated with all of this information throughout the course of that night, with the goal to have it available on the next applicable weekday (in which the Covered Market is open for trade). Like any company reliant on various third-party systems, technology providers, as well as large amounts of data from numerous sources and global exchanges around the world, there may be unplanned delays or errors that occur. While we do our best to avoid such occurrences, we cannot guarantee this will never happen.

Market Subscriptions offer recurring access to our proprietary text analysis for a given Covered Market. Each Socrates Platform membership package comes with a set of included Market Subscriptions, but members can choose to add more to their account. We currently have three market subscription options to choose from:

• Summary Market Subscription: recurring access to our Summary Analysis for a given Covered Market (available to Basic, Plus and Pro Members)
• Detailed Market Subscription: recurring access to both Summary and Detailed Analysis for a given Covered Market (available to Plus and Pro Members only)
• Premium Market Subscription: recurring access to Summary, Detailed, Premium Analysis + Premium Market Tools for a given Covered Market (available to Pro Members only)

To add a Market Subscription to your membership, just click the “Purchase Analysis” link when viewing a Covered Market’s data in the Socrates Platform, and click “Add to Cart” the subscription type (Summary, Detailed or Premium) you would like to buy. Note: this only adds the market subscription to your cart – you must go to your cart and proceed all the way through checkout to complete the transaction and add the market subscription to your account. The other way to do this (for logged in members) is to go to the Purchase page and search for the market to add to your cart.

Snapshot Reports offer a point-in-time record of our proprietary text analysis for a given Covered Market. While the Market Subscriptions represent the best value to stay on top of the Covered Markets you regularly follow, Snapshot Reports allow you to “dive in” on a one-off basis for any Covered Market you don’t have a Market Subscription to, but want to research at that time. Members can only add Snapshot Reports to their account with Market Access Credits (MACs). Members must first purchase MACs using your credit card (see “What can MACs be used for and how do I purchase them?”).

We currently have three Snapshot Report options to choose from:

• Summary Snapshot Report: our Summary Analysis published on a specified date for a Covered Market  (available to Basic, Plus and Pro Members)
• Detailed Snapshot Report: our Detailed Analysis published on a specified date for a Covered Market  (available to Plus and Pro Members only)
• Premium Snapshot Report: our Premium Analysis published on a specified date for a Covered Market  (available to Pro Members only)

When you add a Snapshot Report to your account, it will be stored for future reference in your “My Account” area.

Our Premium Market Tools (sometimes referred to as Premium Tools, or PMT) is an interface we've designed to bring together all of the key information available from the proprietary models and artificial intelligence on the Socrates Platform for a given Covered Market. Access to the PMT is only available for Pro Members, via a Premium Market Subscription (recurring) or a Premium Snapshot Report (point-in-time).

• Premium Analysis text
• Full Global Market Watch trend view
• Consolidated view of data and market indicators
• Reversal points with price chart (D/W/M)
• Forecast Array graphs (D/W/M)
• Technical Analysis chart

This is our proprietary pattern recognition model. The Global Market Watch (GMW) records price movement across all Covered Markets and identifies when/if there is a historical pattern potentially repeating itself, as well as when a new pattern might be forming. This produces a virtual “cheat sheet”, that is both color coded and includes a signal, such as “New Pattern Forming”, “New Lows Ahead”, “Temp High” and others. This is intended to give you a visual indication of most recent patterns our model has identified on a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly basis – but keep in mind, the GMW is a reference point only - you still need to further research potential opportunities of interest. Members can supplement the GMW by reading our text analysis on a given Covered Market, and for those who have access to them, we encourage going even further and studying Reversals and Arrays. The GMW is not designed to be a tool to make investment or trade decisions on alone. Click here for more information on the Global Market Watch

• Basic Members have access to Monthly, Quarterly and Yearly GMW for all Covered Markets
• Plus Members have access to Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly and Yearly GMW for all Covered Markets
• Pro Members have full access to the GMW across Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly and Yearly time periods for all Covered Markets

The Reversal System is our proprietary price-based model. A Reversal is a price point generated by our model that reflects a potential pressure point in market price, and if enough pressure builds in either direction a Reversal point that is crossed or breached (on a closing basis) could signal a potential change in trend. 

• A Reversal point is generated each time a Covered Market produces a new isolated high or low.
• A Reversal point is "Elected" if it is crossed on a closing basis (if the market closes precisely on the Reversal point it has not been Elected).
• A Reversal point can only be Elected on the same time level in which it was generated (e.g. Monthly Reversals can only be elected on Monthly closes).
• Bullish Reversals are generated from a market low and Elected only when the market closes above it (which may indicate a reverse of a downtrend into a bullish move or trend, but ample research is always recommended).  
• Bearish Reversals are generated from a market high and Elected only when the market closes below it (which may indicate a reverse of an uptrend into a bearish move or trend, but ample research is always recommended).
• Major Reversals are generated from the highest high (Major Bearish Reversal) or lowest low (Major Bullish Reversal) in a given time period.
• Elected Reversals may reflect a change in mid-to-long term trend, but only when looking at the Monthly time level (which is recommended for investors). Daily and Weekly activity reflects a more short-term viewpoint, and more susceptible to false moves and frequent changes.

Before determine potential trades, investments, or market entry or exit points, you need to take into account price levels, timing, volatility, and other considerations (market-specific, as well as macro environment along with other appropriate market research you or financial professionals may conduct on your behalf).
Not every Reversal is a market entry or exit point, and we do not recommend using it solely for this purpose. We recommend aligning Reversals (potential price points) with Arrays (potential timing) when you are researching investment or trade strategies with your financial advisor. Read more about the Reversal System here.

This is our proprietary time-based models. Arrays identify a potential timeframe for upcoming market turning points (highs or lows), as well as potentially important changes in trends and volatility. Each row in the Array table reflects an output of proprietary models – some have over 70 actual separate models behind the scenes. Each column reflects a time unit within the time period you are researching (e.g. daily, weekly, monthly). The size of a bar in each column and row increases or decreases based on the strength of the cycles. Our Arrays are sometimes referred to as Timing Arrays.  Read more about Timing Arrays here

Sometimes referred to as the Pi Cycle, the Economic Confidence Model (ECM) is a proprietary model designed to help comprehend the global economy and related business cycle. Focusing on global capital concentration, the ECM provides a long-term timeframe for potential shifts in confidence that could lead to notable economic events, as demonstrated over the course of history. Keep in mind the ECM does not track an individual security or market (and should not be used to define a specific investment or trade strategy). It is a macro-perspective to consider. Read more about the Economic Confidence Model here.

If you are a returning customer and were once a member of Socrates, you do not have to open a new account. Your account profile is likely still in our system, but you will need to purchase a new site membership to access the content within your account.

To log in, enter your email address for your username. If you do not remember your password, click the Forgot My Password link from the Login page.

To receive the password reset link, you will be asked to enter your email address in the field provided. An error message will show if an account does not exist under your email address. In this case, you can try a different email. If no account is found, please proceed to the Create a New Account page to open a new account profile.  

The Create a New Account page is for first-time Socrates users or past users whose account profile is no longer in our system.

If you are a new customer, please go to the Register a New Account page (which you can find in the navigation at top of this page).  If you already have an account, but your membership has expired, please go to the Login page, sign into your account and go to the Purchase section to pick the membership package the makes sense for you.

You'll need to have your credit card ready as this will be used for the monthly membership fee, along with any additional purchases you may make to add Market Subscriptions and/or Market Access Credits to your membership account.

Sorry, at this time, we do not offer refunds. We’ve priced and packaged our service in a way we believe provides ultimate flexibility to members – and we believe each membership package offers great relative value. In addition, our service is only charged on a monthly basis, and members can cancel at any time.

Our contact information is listed on our Contact Us page. Our customer support team strives to provide timely, and helpful assistance to members. While our policy is to ensure coverage during normal business hours, you may see responses from us in odd-hours or weekends as well as we try our best to make members happy. This does not mean we are committing in any way to be “available” during odd-hours or weekends. Also important to note that our preferred communication method of support is via email. We aim to be as responsive as we can, and prioritize appropriately. We also intend to keep our Help Center (including these FAQs) updated to provide customers a resource to find answers to many common questions.

In order to keep our operating costs within reason, allowing us to grow and keep our products and services reasonably priced, we have to manage our resources and commitments appropriately. This is why we do not have standing commitments to support response time frames or error resolution time frames (this can vary greatly based on the nature of the support inquiry or error encountered), nor do we have dedicated phone support resources to answer questions in real-time. If we receive phone calls from customers, we will typically take a message and respond via email (also helps to have a record of correspondence). Finally, the only contact inquiries we support and respond to are those found on our Contact Us page. Please be mindful that there could very well be impostors out there – credit card fraud and identity theft are real, so please do not trust contact information or correspondence you receive from any third party or different source. Please only use the contact information and methods found on our website.