Sell in May
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Support

Answers to common questions, troubleshooting guides, and ways to get help with the Sell in May market analysis app.

Get support

Email support: sell-in-may+support@erichchampion.com

We typically respond within 24-48 hours.

Frequently asked questions

How do I analyze a stock?
Enter a stock symbol (e.g., AAPL, MSFT) in the search field. The app will automatically fetch current and historical data, detect the market regime, find similar historical patterns, and generate probabilistic forecasts. Results appear within seconds.
What does "regime-aware" mean?
Regime-aware means the app recognizes that markets behave differently under different conditions (volatility, trend, sentiment). It only shows you historical patterns from similar market environments, making comparisons more relevant. For example, patterns from a low-volatility bull market won't be compared to patterns from a high-volatility bear market.
How do I interpret the forecast results?
The app shows probabilistic scenarios, not single predictions. Look at the return percentiles (10th, 25th, median, 75th, 90th) to understand the range of possible outcomes. The median represents the most likely outcome, while the percentiles show the distribution. Higher confidence scores indicate more reliable matches, but remember: past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
What is a FRED API key and do I need it?
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) integration is optional. It provides macro-economic context (interest rates, unemployment, inflation) to enhance regime detection. The app works perfectly without it—you'll still get regime detection based on market volatility. If you want the enhanced macro context, get a free API key from fred.stlouisfed.org and enter it in Settings.
Can I use the app offline?
Yes! After the initial data download, the app caches market data locally. You can analyze stocks that have been previously downloaded without an internet connection. However, you'll need internet access to fetch new stocks or update data for existing ones.
How accurate are the forecasts?
Sell in May provides probabilistic scenarios based on historical patterns, not guarantees. The forecasts show what happened in similar past situations, but markets are unpredictable. Use the confidence metrics to gauge reliability, and always combine this analysis with other research methods. The app is a decision-support tool, not a crystal ball.
What data sources does the app use?
The app uses free, public APIs: Yahoo Finance (primary for stock prices), FRED (optional, for economic indicators), and Stooq (fallback for extended historical data). All data is cached locally on your device.
Is my data private?
Yes, completely. All analysis runs on your device. No data leaves your iPhone. There's no cloud backend, no user accounts, no tracking, and no data collection. The app only uses the internet to download public market data. See our Privacy Policy for details.
Why aren't there many pattern matches for my stock?
This can happen if: (1) The stock is relatively new and doesn't have much historical data, (2) The current market regime is unusual and few similar historical periods exist, (3) Your similarity threshold is set too high. Try lowering the similarity threshold in Settings, or the app may simply not have enough comparable historical data for that particular situation.
How do I refresh market data?
Pull down on the analysis screen to refresh, or go to Settings and tap "Refresh Data". The app can also be configured to automatically refresh data in the background.

Troubleshooting guide

Stock data not loading

  • Check your internet connection (needed for initial data download)
  • Verify the stock symbol is correct (e.g., AAPL not APPL)
  • Some symbols may not be available from data sources
  • Try refreshing the data
  • Restart the app if the problem persists

No pattern matches found

  • Lower the similarity threshold in Settings
  • The stock may be too new or have insufficient historical data
  • The current market regime may be unusual with few comparable periods
  • Try selecting a different stock to verify the app is working

Forecasts seem unreliable

  • Check the confidence metrics—low confidence means less reliable matches
  • Look at the regime consistency—patterns from different regimes are less relevant
  • Consider that markets are inherently unpredictable
  • Use forecasts as one tool among many in your research

FRED data not updating

  • Verify your FRED API key is correct in Settings
  • Check that you have internet connectivity
  • FRED data updates on their schedule (not real-time)
  • Try removing and re-adding the API key

App performance issues

  • Close other apps to free up memory
  • Clear cached data in Settings if storage is low
  • Update to the latest iOS version
  • Update Sell in May to the latest version
  • Restart your device

Data not refreshing

  • Check internet connection
  • Verify data sources are accessible (Yahoo Finance, FRED)
  • Try manual refresh from Settings
  • Some data sources may have rate limits—wait a few minutes and try again

Understanding market regimes

Market regimes are classifications of market conditions. Sell in May detects three dimensions:

Volatility · Low Volatility · Medium Volatility · High Trend · Trending Sentiment · Risk-Off

These classifications help the app find more relevant historical comparisons.

System requirements

Getting additional help

Still need help?

If you can't find the answer to your question in our FAQ or troubleshooting guide, please contact our support team:

Email: sell-in-may+support@erichchampion.com

When contacting support

To help us assist you more effectively, please include:

Feature requests and feedback

We value your feedback! If you have suggestions for new features or improvements, please email us at sell-in-may+support@erichchampion.com with "Feature Request" in the subject line. We review all feedback and consider it for future updates.

Educational resources

Want to learn more about market analysis and how to use Sell in May effectively?

Thank you for using Sell in May! We're committed to providing the best possible market analysis experience while maintaining your complete privacy.