David Garza
"Turning Spare Time into $2,251: David's Secret to Mastering the Trading Game While Juggling Real Estate"
Post Excerpt: Meet David Garza, a trader who’s seamlessly blending the worlds of real estate and high-stakes trading. Discover how he turned a deep dive into cryptocurrency analysis into a side hustle that netted him $2,251. Join us as David shares his straightforward strategies for maintaining focus, limiting risk, and maximizing returns in our latest blog post.
Tell Us About Yourself, David
I’m 30 years old. I live in San Antonio, Tx. I mainly focus on real estate investing and wholesaling, but have been trying to really focus on trading. I have a girlfriend that I want to marry one day. Currently, my two best friends live with me, one of whom helped me get started in trading. He is hoping to pass his Demo soon.
What motivated you to start trading?
I learned about it from a friend of mine, then we joined a trading education platform that got me interested in learning about crypto. Once I learned about trading view and reading the charts, I fell in love with the patterns and strategies of analysis. It took me a little bit to get the right mindset for it, but I haven’t stopped since and am finally seeing the fruits of my education.
How long have you been engaged in trading?
Since 2021, when bitcoin made its first run up to 60k.
Why did you choose to trade with Top One Trader over other firms?
I have been following Matt Morris for a while now in some of his other ventures. I also had purchased his leadership courses. When I saw him being interviewed on AustinFX on Instagram, I looked more into it and made the choice after having issues with joining another firm that had closed down. I felt I could trust what Matt Morris was promoting.
Could you detail the core components of your trading strategy & how they've contributed to your success?
Keeping emotions out of it, limiting over trading, using Fibonacci patterns, and minimizing indicators when I trade. Once I was able to trade using the firm, earning 1% was much easier when you have a bigger account to trade with.
Every trader faces setbacks. Can you share a significant challenge you encountered throughout your trading career and how you overcame it?
Not having a big enough account was a major problem of mine that would create over leveraging to try to make more. That never benefits you in the long run. Focusing on a specific strategy with rules helped my focus when taking a trade. I had finally passed in a previous prop firm but before I could go live they got shut down. It took me a while until I could find another prop firm I could trust to get me started again. Even when I passed with Top One, I had to wait another month until I could go live because of broker issues. I am thankful it got fixed as quickly as it could and now looking forward to more payouts with a solid company.
What has been your most profitable trade to date?
This most recent one is my most profitable. I had taken a break and once I joined Top One I was ready to initiate the strategy I had been back testing. I could have pulled out more but want to create enough cushion to grow on.
Trading can be as much a mental game as strategic. Which mental or psychological strengths do you consider vital for trading, and how have you developed them?
Limiting emotion, trading within your strategy, and trusting the setup. If it didn’t work, reevaluate and don’t let fear or anger take over to prevent you from finding the correct setup. Also, minimize the things you trade. One or two pairs is all you need to have success.
How has your experience been with the Top One Trader team, from support interactions to the resources provided?
They are quick to respond and always willing to help.
What would you say to someone who is considering but hesitant to start trading with Top One Trader?
If they are serious about trading there is very little risk. You can get refunded or try again. Most people that have traded probably lost more than what it costs to get started. So the risk to reward is much more in your favor.
Based on your experiences, what key piece of advice would you offer to someone just beginning their trading journey?
Focus on a strategy that works for you, back test, and don’t have analysis paralysis. Don’t be afraid to take a trade if the setup is there. With the proper risk to reward, you can have success.
Takeaways
Education and Continuous Learning: David highlights the importance of getting educated about trading and continuously learning to refine strategies. His journey started from a place of curiosity and evolved as he gained more knowledge and practical experience.
Mindset and Emotional Control: A significant part of David’s approach involves controlling emotions and maintaining discipline. By focusing on specific, rule-based strategies and keeping emotional responses in check, he has found greater consistency in his results.
Strategic Simplicity: David advocates for simplicity in trading strategies, such as using a few key indicators like Fibonacci patterns, and focusing on one or two trade pairs. This helps in minimizing overanalysis and making more confident trading decisions.
Adaptability and Resilience: Overcoming setbacks such as insufficient funds
Michael Koch
"From Fine Dining to Forex: How a Florida Server Bagged a $10,200 Payout!"
Post Excerpt: Meet a 48-year-old restaurateur who swapped wine sales for forex trading and never looked back. Step into his story of transformation, from being new to trading to banking a $10,000 trade, and learn about the importance of mindset, discipline, and the power of taking the first step.
Tell Us About Yourself, Michael
I am 48 years old and currently live in Florida. I moved here about 7 years ago to get out of the Chicago weather. I have spent most of life working in the restaurant hospitality field. I am currently a server at a fine dining restaurant and spent the previous 15 years of my career in wine sales in the Chicago market. I just got into trading forex about four months ago in December.
What motivated you to start trading?
I have always been intrigued by traders but it seemed something out of reach for me. I have a couple of friends you are extremely successful traders but it seemed like that’s their job and mine is different and trading was just not for me. I had been watching a few “guru” types on YouTube and got introduced to Tradingview. In the beginning Tradingview seemed very complex but the more time I spent on it the more comfortable I became and I enjoyed using and wanted to learn more.
How long have you been engaged in trading?
I bought my first challenge account through any prop firm on Toponetrader in December 2023. While I started back testing on demo accounts in September of 2023.
Why did you choose to trade with Top One Trader over other firms?
Top One Trader seemed to have the biggest bang for the buck financially. However, the true worth of the company has been everything you get after you purchase your first challenge and have the team in your corner.
Could you detail the core components of your trading strategy & how they've contributed to your success?
I like to keep things pretty simple. I try to trade during times of volume. I have found that the end of the London and opening of New York is a good time frame to see some good movement and opportunities. I trade based on moving averages over different time frames. Looking for entry and exits based on the same. I also try to stick with only trading one pair at a time. I have found myself trading different time zones and multiple pairs but I always seem to end up chasing losses instead of racking wins, so now I stick with the early morning market and stick with one currency pair.
Every trader faces setbacks. Can you share a significant challenge you encountered throughout your trading career and how you overcame it?
I spent $1000 and paid full price back in December 2023 for my first challenge and got crushed. I was new to trading and didn’t understand a lot or all of the nuances. Towards the end of the first losing challenge I was trending the right direction and then one bad trade breached my daily limit. I knew I was going to buy another challenge and saw the Christmas sales were gone and full price was back. For a moment I felt like emailing and asking for a discount to try another challenge but here is the lesson and the most important thing I may say: “that is a negative bitch attitude “ and there is no room in trading for it. I was literally asking to pay less money so I wouldn’t be out as much money when I lost another challenge. NO. I pulled the trigger on full price again and convinced myself I would crush it!
What has been your most profitable trade to date?
Last week I banked a $10,000 trade.
Trading can be as much a mental game as strategic. Which mental or psychological strengths do you consider vital for trading, and how have you developed them?
You have to find a successful trading system for yourself and trust in that. Second, would be to have the discipline to know when you are off course and correct it immediately. Remember it’s ok to drawdown, but know the difference of a drawdown and a losing trade.
How has your experience been with the Top One Trader team, from support interactions to the resources provided?
The support you get through Top One Trader is exceptional. I got my first payout 5 days after migrating the US over to Match Trade. From the course you get to Clay’s weekly market recaps, being part of this community is incredible. I feel like I could reach out to Matt or Clay and they would get back to me the same day. Great team and support.
What would you say to someone who is considering but hesitant to start trading with Top One Trader?
You will never reach your goals and dreams if you don’t take action. So, just do it, take that first step; you won’t regret it.
Based on your experiences, what key piece of advice would you offer to someone just beginning their trading journey?
As someone who is a beginner himself, the best advise I would give is to backtest, backtest, and backtest. I spent 15-18 hours a day for months backtesting different strategies.
Takeaways
1. Always be prepared to invest in yourself and your trading education. It’s not just about the money, it’s about the knowledge and skills you gain.
2. Keep your trading strategies simple and stick to them.
3. Backtesting is crucial. Spend time testing different strategies before applying them in the real market.
4. Mindset matters. Have a positive attitude, trust in your trading system, and know when to correct your course.
5. Don’t be afraid to take the first step. You will never reach your goals if you don’t take action.
Fandi Hartopo
Trading as a Career: 21-Year-Old's Strategy Nets $3,661+ in 30 Days
Post Excerpt: Meet Fandi Hartopo, a 21-year-old trading prodigy from Indonesia, whose latest trading strategy netted a cool $3,661. Watch the interview & discover how Fandi’s unique strategies and determination led him to becoming a full-time trader.
Tell Us About Yourself, Fandi
My full name is Fandi Hartopo, people close to me usually call me Andy. I’m 21 years old, living in Manado city, Indonesia. I’m a full-time trader now, trading for a living. I have two brothers and a mother.
What motivated you to start trading?
The motivation to make my family proud, to see my mother no longer working, to change my life for the better, and to prove myself to people who underestimated me were my main driving forces.
How long have you been engaged in trading?
2 years.
Why did you choose to trade with Top One Trader over other firms?
I was impressed by the hands-on approach of the CEO and the founder. It’s rare to see a CEO or founder engaging directly in chat and replying to people one by one. Additionally, I chose Top One Trader because this prop firm is founded by a trader, which speaks volumes to me.
Could you detail the core components of your trading strategy & how they've contributed to your success?
My strategy revolves around ICT sell-side liquidity and buy-side liquidity. Understanding the concept of liquidity changed my view of the market significantly. I avoid random trades. However, the most critical component for me is money management; without it, success is unattainable.
Every trader faces setbacks. Can you share a significant challenge you encountered throughout your trading career and how you overcame it?
The early years were tough; I lost all my money and didn’t pursue college or work. However, my mother’s trust and her financial support pushed me to take trading seriously and commit to succeeding.
What has been your most profitable trade to date?
Trading BTCUSD on 11 March 2024.
Trading can be as much a mental game as strategic. Which mental or psychological strengths do you consider vital for trading, and how have you developed them?
Anger and greed are significant challenges. I’ve managed these emotions by watching sad videos or movies, oddly enough. It helps me keep these feelings in check.
How has your experience been with the Top One Trader team, from support interactions to the resources provided?
It’s been a 10/10 experience. The team responds quickly and truly cares about their traders.
What would you say to someone who is considering but hesitant to start trading with Top One Trader?
Top One Trader is one of the best prop firms out there, created by traders, for traders. You’ll find a family here.
Based on your experiences, what key piece of advice would you offer to someone just beginning their trading journey?
It’s okay to be afraid and scared because trading is indeed frightening. But if you muster a little courage, success can be yours. Don’t just take my word for it; try it, and you’ll see.
Takeaways
From Fandi’s experiences, several key takeaways emerge for anyone looking to navigate the complex world of trading:
- Embrace Emotional Discipline: Managing emotions like greed and anger is crucial. Find personal strategies that help maintain your emotional equilibrium.
- Value of Money Management: A robust strategy is incomplete without sound money management. It’s the foundation upon which trading success is built.
- Engagement from Firm Leaders: The accessibility and involvement of firm leadership can significantly impact a trader’s experience and confidence.
- Community Support: Finding a trading platform that offers not just tools but a sense of community and support can enhance your trading journey.
- Persistence Pays Off: Trading is fraught with challenges, but perseverance, coupled with a serious commitment to learning and improvement, can lead to success.
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Aaron Borg
From Coal Mines to $11,700 Payouts: One Trader's Journey to Financial Freedom
Post Excerpt: Discover how a single father and former plumber turned his trading game around to secure a $11,700 payout. Delve into his unique journey from the depths of coal mines to the peaks of the Forex market, revealing the strategy and mindset that led to his success.
Tell Us About Yourself, Aaron
I’m 34, live in Australia Qld. Currently, I work as an Underground Heavy Machinery Operator in a coal mine. I wasn’t always a coal miner; I worked as a plumber beforehand for 18 years. Currently, I’m a single father and have a 4-year-old son whom I want to be home for, so that is why I’m taking my trading very seriously so that I can be home with him. I have been trading the Forex Market for almost 9 years now; I had a lot of ups and downs along my journey to now becoming consistently profitable.
What motivated you to start trading?
What really motivated me to start trading would go back about 9 years ago. I was involved in a network marketing company, and I learnt about the 4 ways you make money through a book called the Cash Flow Quadrant by Robert Kiyosaki. It was then I realised working a JOB, aka (Just Over Broke), wasn’t going to get me to where I wanted to be financially, so I took the journey on finding out how I could get on the other side of the Quadrant, and that’s when I found the Entrepreneur lifestyle was for me.
How long have you been engaged in trading?
Around 9 years now.
Why did you choose to trade with Top One Trader over other firms?
I love the support Top One provide and the transparency they have with giving regular updates to the community. It’s just like being in a big family where everyone helps each other out to achieve success.
Could you detail the core components of your trading strategy & how they've contributed to your success?
With my trading strategy, I like to mark out my charts from the higher time frames, etc., weekly and mark out critical points in the market using weekly channels. From there, I can see the bigger picture of the market. From there, I look at which direction the market is heading long term by using market structure, marking my Higher Highs and Higher lows for an uptrend, and Lower Lows and Lower Highs for a downtrend. I then drop down the time frames from the weekly to lower time frames and mark out Liquidity zones. It’s a strategy I have discovered myself from doing countless hours of backtesting. This finds my key areas to take high-probability trades from. Once I have located my area of interest, I use a 9 confirmation rule-based system I designed and put together to enter a trade. The 9-based ruled system happens on the 15-minute chart and it happens every day on every pair, so there are plenty of opportunities to enter a trade. I then incorporate my risk management and calculate my lot size and percentage of risk before I place a trade, which will give me my stop loss and take profit areas. Once my trade reaches 40 pips profit, I move my position to breakeven to secure my trade at risk-free.
Every trader faces setbacks. Can you share a significant challenge you encountered throughout your trading career and how you overcame it?
For me, my setback would be not sticking to my rules even though I knew they were profitable. I felt like I had to be in every trade the setup, but this wasn’t the case. I just need to be patient and not hop in every trade that presented itself. The other problem I had was holding trades far too long. Some trades I entered, I would be 50 to 60 pips in profit, and my target was 100 pips to 150 pips, and what ended up happening as I wouldn’t take any partials. I would either set my trade and go back to breakeven and make nothing, or my trade would hit my stop loss then head the direction I had marked out in the first place. So, I guess greed and the fear of missing out were my main challenges and trading too many Assets.
What has been your most profitable trade to date?
The payout I got today has been my biggest payout on a Profirm.
Trading can be as much a mental game as strategic. Which mental or psychological strengths do you consider vital for trading, and how have you developed them?
Having a rules-based system I follow to take all my emotions out of the trading has been a game-changer for me. Less stress and trust my analysis.
How has your experience been with the Top One Trader team, from support interactions to the resources provided?
The Top One Team has been very transparent with everything, from giving regular updates in the Discord community to sharing trade ideas in the Telegram channel with Clay. So, I would say from my personal experience, a very professional company to work with who cares about their people.
What would you say to someone who is considering but hesitant to start trading with Top One Trader?
If you’re looking for a Prop Firm to set yourself up to become a full-time trader or even part-time, don’t hesitate. Top One is the most transparent proprietary companies out there, and they only want to see you reaching your goals.
Based on your experiences, what key piece of advice would you offer to someone just beginning their trading journey?
Back test the charts and mark out charts on higher time frames to find major sell areas and buy areas. That way, you get a bigger understanding of which way the market is heading long term. Study risk management and adhere to it. Understand that banks manipulate the market, so find out where they manipulate it, react to their reactions, study Candlestick patterns. There are some very powerful candles patterns I discovered that can get you almost 0 drawdown entries if you use them correctly. Master 1 or 2 pairs and wait for your setups. Look back over your profitable trades and study what you did, and take notes on that trade, and if you like, you can journal them. Don’t overthink; just look at the market and find what works for you.
Takeaways
- Discipline and Patience: Key to navigating the volatile waters of Forex trading, underscoring the importance of sticking to a well-tested strategy.
- Strategic Analysis: The combination of high-level market overview and granular, rule-based tactics for entry points illustrates the depth of analysis required for successful trading.
- Psychological Resilience: Emphasizes the mental strength needed to handle the ups and downs of trading, suggesting the adoption of rule-based systems to mitigate emotional decision-making.
- Community Support: Highlights the benefits of trading with a firm that provides a supportive community and transparent communication, contributing significantly to trader success.
- Education and Risk Management: Urges new traders to deeply understand market mechanics, emphasizing backtesting, risk management, and specialization in specific currency pairs.
This interview not only showcases the trader’s achievements but also serves as a beacon for aspiring traders, illustrating that with the right approach, tools, and mindset, trading can indeed fulfill both financial and personal goals.
