Tharp collected more than 5,000 successful trading profiles in a 10-year study of individual traders and investors, including many of the top traders and investors in the world. From these studies he developed a model for successful trading and investing that other people can adopt and learn. He also developed The Investment Psychology Inventory Profile to help people better understand their strengths and weaknesses in relation to trading or investing and has produced a number of home study courses.

His unique learning strategies and techniques for producing great traders are some of the most effective in the field. Over the years Tharp has helped people overcome problems in areas of system development and trading psychology and success-related issues such as self-sabotage.

Tharp, who now lives in North Carolina, received his Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center in 1975. He is a certified Master Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), a Certified Master Time Line Therapist, a certified Modeler of NLP, and an Assistant Trainer of NLP.

He is the author of three books, Safe Strategies for Financial Freedom with co-authors Steve Sjuggerud and D.R. Barton, Trade Your Way to Financial Freedom, and Financial Freedom Through Electronic Day Trading.

Outside of trading, Tharp has a strong interest in spiritual studies, is an avid stamp and art collector and is a big supporter of the Green Bay Packers. He is also a movie buff, loves going to theatrical productions and shows and is a big fan of music and dancing (everything from ballroom to the disco dance floor).  

He has a son, Robert, from his first marriage and has been married to Kala for 12 years. Her niece, Nanthini, from Malaysia lives with them and is like a daughter who they are putting through college.