In loving memory of Van K. Tharp (1946 - 2022)
A beloved leader who touched the lives of so many traders around the world.
Dr. Van Tharp passed away on February 24, 2022
Dr. Tharp passed away in February 2022, leaving behind a legacy of profound influence and positive change.
Born on August 15, 1946, in Wisconsin, Van Tharp was the son of Van Tharp Sr. and Euleta Webb Tharp. A pioneering figure in the field of trading psychology, Dr. Tharp was the visionary behind the Van Tharp Institute, where he earned global recognition as one of the foremost trading coaches. He authored 12 influential books, including a New York Times bestseller, and was dedicated to transforming lives through his innovative trading metaphors. As a founding father of trading psychology, Van was revered for his forward-thinking concepts, exceptional teaching skills, and genuine leadership. He was known for his sharp intellect, creativity, and the rare gift of being fully present in every moment. Van was a beloved husband, father, and a treasured friend to many.
Outside of his professional legacy, Van was an avid traveler with a deep love for exploration. He visited all 50 states and frequently traveled abroad, embracing adventures such as bungee jumping in Australia and diving in the waters of Fiji. Whether cruising, taking guided tours, or embarking on road trips across the U.S. in his Tesla, Van was always on the move. He was captivated by the vibrancy of Las Vegas, where he never missed a top musical performance. Music was a significant part of his life, and his passion for dancing was a well-kept secret. A devoted dog lover and enthusiastic genealogy researcher, Van discovered connections to historical figures like Abraham Lincoln and Daniel Boone. He was also an avid collector, curating a remarkable collection of art, stamps, and historical documents.
Van was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Keitha Mae Tharp. He is survived by his loving wife, Kalavathi Tharp; his son, Robert Eric Tharp; and his niece, Nanthini Arumugam, along with her husband, Brenden Green.
Dr. Van Tharp Was a Teacher, Coach, and Awakener
Dr. Tharp was a teacher, coach and awakener to many on their trading journey, helping them to transform their trading and their lives. He was also a loving husband, father, and a good friend to all who knew him.
"You don't trade the markets: you trade your beliefs about the markets."
– Dr. Van K. Tharp
Founding Father of Trading Psychology
Dr. Van Tharp is remembered as a founding father of the field of trading psychology and one of the world's top trading coaches.
“Van” as most people knew him, was an astute student of human behavior who amassed over 5,000 trader profiles. His extensive research helped him develop hundreds of useful models for trading success. He taught these models at live workshops and explained them in home study courses through the Van Tharp Institute. The intensive two to four yearlong Super Trader program that Van created was respected as one of the top trader development programs in the world.
In addition to encouraging traders to develop their technical acumen in areas like risk management, Van was a strong proponent of working on your Self. Helping people make personal changes over many years, he observed and experienced that personal transformations required a spiritual element in order to be long lasting. In time, Van became a steadfast spiritual seeker and a role model for awakening to your true identity. He openly shared his own spiritual experiences in his writing and courses.
Dr. Van Tharp was a trading concept innovator, a brilliant teacher, and a humble leader. His work helped tens of thousands of traders across the globe dramatically improve their trading as well as their lives. We invite you to explore a sample of his work on this website.
"The most significant work that anyone can do to increase market returns is self-work. Really understanding yourself and how you think can give you an edge that others in the market don't have."
- Dr. Van K. Tharp
Honoring the life and work of Van K. Tharp
Share your memories of how Van affected your trading or your life.
Thank you all for sharing your stories and experience. I am finding a lot of comfort and peace in all your stories. Nothing will give Van so much joy as listening and reading about all the lives he has touched. You all make him so proud. You are all the reason he did what he did. I told him one day please don’t die, and he said I don’t want to die but then death is all an illusion. He reminded me to always live in the present, do my gratitude meditation and live life. Van lived his life to the fullest everyday. During his last days he could hardly walk but would seat and write his new book, he managed to write 4 chapters. It was his life story. He told me the liver cirrhosis was a blessing. There is not enough space to share my experiences with you here, but you all get the picture. Seeing all your responds I am so confident and humbled that Van Tharp’s legacy will live on through you all and all the amazing teachers Van has produced at VTI, RJ, Ken Long, Gabriel, and the list goes on. I will miss him dearly because living with him has been an adventure, you never know what to expect next, it is always full of surprises. He was the kindest, most generous, amazing man I will ever know. I feel so honored and humbled to have been his wife. He was a shy, simple and down to earth man. I will miss him so much. But he facilitated my growth to be a strong and independent woman. Will forever be grateful to this genius legend I shared 30 years with. He left me with a lot of tools, to help me continue to grow. Once again thank you all for generously sharing your stories.
Thank you Kala for sharing this with us. I miss him too! As you can see and feel, he made a positive impact on everyone he met. I had the wonderful pleasure to know you too. You were his strength, his rock. I owe all of who I am today because of him and you. Thank you both so much for sharing yourself with me. 😉
Kala Ji, Thank you so much for sharing this with us. May God give you and your family immense strength and courage during this difficult time . 3 decades ago I was given Van’s book as one of the top 5 must read. Feel blessed. Van Tharp’s legacy will live on for generations come. He will be missed dearly.
Van was a true visionary. Although he was a small part of my life in terms of time, his significance was huge. I will miss him and I am forever grateful for what he shared and taught me. He may have left his body but he lives on in all of us.
I pray the good Lord continue to comfort and strengthen you and the family in Jesus name Amen.
Thank you so much for sharing this with us! May God give you strength and courage during this difficult time . Thanks
In the spring of 1963, a shy 16-year-old boy brought home an application from his high school to host an exchange student for his senior year, because he wanted a brother. In August 1963, I became his brother, and for the next almost 60 years. We shared a room for that magical one year. He was always brilliant. Things came easy to him. Even Calculus. But one would never know, because hew was so low key, and caring. We lived our own lives, but the brotherly bond was always there, and I was always in awe of what he had created with the SuperTrader Program. I was able to spend a precious last weekend with him last month, talking for several hours, which I will cherish. Rest in peace, my brother. You will be missed every day, and your place in my heart is forever.
Photo of Van Tharp and Vijay Thakur
Thank you Van for your friendship and your impact on so many people. Rest in peace my friend.
Thank you for sharing your insight and passion, Van. Rest in Peace
Never had the chance to meet Van in person but his teachings changed my life and will keep changing people’s lives for the better .
Your program changed my entire life , I’m financially free , I have a strong relationship with my inner guidance , I’m focusing on manufacturing R instead of gambling , I can control my mental states much better and I’m happy for no reason 80% of the time which is a lot for who I used to be … I will miss your guidance but know that you will continue to coach me from the other side. Rest In peace my beloved mentor and friend, until the day we meet again !
Arturo
Thank you Van for sharing what you learned with me. You Changed my life for the better. I needed you in my life and I hope to see you again in the next one.
Thank you Dr. Tharp for what you have done to the life of so many people. I pray for your peaceful passing.
Thank you for waking me up from the nightmare I was living prior to meeting you at the Oneness retreats. For ever in gratitude for your teachings, seminars and books that changed my life for good;
rest in peace 🙏🏻
Dr. Tharp has had a huge impact on people from all over the world who has persued financial freedom through trading. Gratitude for your brilliant work. I will never forget all the weekends reading and taking notes of Trade Your Way to Financial Freedom. A Trader fan from Brazil.
It was my honor to get to know Van through the Oneness Awakening workshops. I had no idea that someone so centered, spiritual and smart was right here in my town. Blessings to your family and your team.
I attended several VTI workshops over the years and always appreciated Van’s Yoda-like presence. He could be serious, playful, enigmatic – but always with growth as a priority. I suspect that his spirit will continue to be felt. Rest in peace.
Your works were a big influence on my early trading, and I’m glad I was able to learn from you. I am a much better trader and person because of you.
You will be missed.
Rest In Peace, Van.
I had the privilege of meeting Van several times here in Australia and in Cary. The impact on my life has been profound. Thank you and Rest In Peace.
I am so sorry for the untimely death of this follow giant. It is indeed very sad that he Leaves us in crucial moment. He was a Teacher, a Mentor and a Brother to us, his students Traders. May his soul rest in peace. Thank you.
Thanks to Van, I could start this trading journey. He shared so much of trading. I have not achieved financial freedom yet, but I will not give up until I become. Through the road, I will remember Van’s advice and teaching. I am deeply grateful and appreciate your being, Van. Rest in peace, my teacher.
Just sad to hear about Van – feels like the loss of a family member. He had a clarity and presence which was soothing. Whenever I read the newsletters I could almost hear him “we don’t trade the markets but we trade our beliefs about the market”. Will miss him a lot.
Thank you Van for your profoundly in-depth insights and writings – and for caring so much. May your growth continue in your new realm …
Van was as generous with his insights as he was intellectually gifted. I am one of the many people who he educated and am blessed to have had several personal conversations with Van.
My heart goes out to Kala and his family and close associates who loyally worked alongside him.
True to Van’s vision, I am grateful the VTI will continue to be a source of knowledge and personal transformation.
Rest in Peace Van. I’ll always remember you.
I played Van’s trader game, read his book, and listened to him talk about crypto this year. He will be missed by many. His spirituality has led me to discover more about myself and I appreciate him for that.
Thank you Van for everything. You were able to send positive energy to all your followers. We will miss you. Rest in Peace.
Van, without you, your work, and your ST program I would have never been able to have so many transformations. I am a completely different person and trader after meeting you. You not only introduced me to your books and spiritual teachings but those of other great authors and teachers. You also introduced me to many wonderful people and VTI coaches who would become my closest friends. I woke up this morning with a heavy heart knowing I will not see or talk to you again in physical form but I know every time I watch your videos, read your books, listen to your voice, etc. I will be reminded of what a tremendous impact you had on my life. I am forever grateful! You’re the best! Thank you!
Through his workshops and the Super Trader Program, Van introduced me to tools that enabled me to understand and learn from what I was creating, resolving some major issues for me. The learning goes on! And this is part of Van’s great legacy to us all.
An amazing mind, an amazing soul. Thank you Dr. Tharp.
Thank you for helping me to see the myself and the world in a different way.
Attended Van’s Peak Performance 101 Seminar back in 2008 in Munich! – Van, you’re an amazing Light Being! – rest now, enjoy the heavens!
How can one sufficiently give thanks to another who has profoundly changed their life for the better? What initially seemed to be a simple pursuit of trading ideas turned into a wondrous journey of enlightenment, inspiration and discovery that I could have never imagined. I will always cherish the time that I had the privilege of spending with Van and Kala at both their homes as well as at the Oneness and trading workshops that Van was so passionate about. He has now found the immeasurable bliss he so deserves for helping and serving so many all these years. God bless Van, God bless you Kala, and God bless everyone at VTI.
Van’s works were truly transformational for me, and he there with some of the best times of my life, both while learning from his metaphors, and also interestingly in person while on vacation on the other side of globe. I give gratitude daily from what I learned with the great opportunity to gain huge R multiples from more smiles from time with Van’s works.
Dear Van your legacy and teachings will endure I am very grateful for your inspiration thought and energy – this pervades is resilient and is there in my memory to become a person of sincerity integrity and honesty by simply knowing self. Thankyou for opening these doors I express my sincerest gratitude and condolences during this period of grief.
Sad to hear about Van. Thank you for sharing your insight and passion, Van. Rest in Peace
Thanks Van, for your books and programs. Your contributions to the field of trading psychology and money management helped to transform my own trading. RIP.
Van’s great gift to me was how he opened my world to new ideas, people, and journeys. Whether in Sydney, Raleigh, or Hawaii, I always enjoyed catching up with my quirky old friend who saw the world differently and always inspired me question the norm. I remember with great fondness dinners at his house, discussions that challenged me, and the friendships I have since made around the world through his generosity of spirit. His teaching and guidance went well beyond the price on a chart. My prayers and thoughts are with Kala and his family, also RJ, Cathy and the VTI team.
I attended my first Van Tharp workshop in 2006. There, he spoke about the books A Course in Miracles and Disappearance of the Universe, and what this world is really about. My life was profoundly changed for the better after that. Thank you Van for all of your teachings, and may you awaken into Eternal Life.
Thank you Van for shifting my perspective on spirituality and consciousness. I am forever grateful for your work and your mission.
Thank you Van for everything. I’m truly grateful for all the blessings you have provided to myself and so many others. You will always be in our memories, hearts, and prayers. God bless you
Dr. Tharp has had a profound affect on my life from Oneness, non useful beliefs, gratitude, and thinking in R. I strive to follow his teachings every day. RIP Dr. Tharp.
I am moved by your generosity and sincerity. Thank you for being a great example in presence, word, and action.
Thank you Van, for sharing so much with us all.
Van was the first person to tell me (through one of his excellent books) that God could be anything I want, or at least that’s what I understood him to say. I grew up with a very different view. Great man, will be missed by many.
Van, was an original. A unique, creative and loving soul.
Van caused me to look at my world differently. To challenge my beliefs. To look inside myself to discover who I really am. He introduced me to so many new concepts that truly challenged me to learn, to grow, to have a relationship with something bigger than myself. He gave so much of himself so others could experience the joy, love and freedom that he had achieved. Van is off to his next adventure, and I am sure enjoying it with the same degree of love and passion he brought to his human experience. I am forever grateful for having the honour of knowing Van and for all the gifts he provided to me. Until we meet again my friend.
Dr Van Tharp will be missed but he will always be alive in our hearts. I’m forever grateful to his teachings in helping me make personal breakthroughs in my life and trading. He was truly a gift to humanity and a rare gem of a conscious being who left the world a better place than he found it. He lived a spiritually rich life and inspired all to do the same while creating wealth. My deepest condolences goes to beautiful Kala and Dr Van Tharp’s family. My heart is overwhelmed with gratitude to have found teacher like Dr Van Tharp.
Thank you Van for your wisdom and generosity. Rest in peace.
Thank You for your time with us and your work, passion, love and dedication! You will be with us forever!
a gentle soul, a good husband and father, was kind and giving to others, a great friend in troubled times, and whose belief in me and others brought out their best. a transcendent person. i’ve worked and played with him for 30 years, and I miss my friend. I try to be better person because of his example
Thank you for everything that you brought to us all Van. Rest in peace.
Gracias Van por tus libros, cursos y enseñanzas.
Andrés.
Van was a miracle in my life, just as he was for many others. I am immensely grateful for his purpose, spirituality, and teachings, which together opened my awareness. Thank you.
Through your guidance, you have awakened so many, I know you will continue to guide us from other side. You have such a influential figure in my life, and will remain so. Thanks Van.
One of the really good guys in the industry. I appreciate how he took on not just making you a successful trader, but also a fulfilled soul. My life was enhanced by our paths crossing. Rest in Peace.