Episodes
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One of the biggest trends in trading today is the proliferation and evolution of prop firms. They seem to be popping up everywhere. It's hardly surprising when you realize that more and more people are looking for a side hustle, but don’t have much capital to play with. They take a crack at trading, blow a lot of their savings and decide it might be less stressful trading a fund, not tied to their bank account.
For prop firms, competition is hotting up, and, on the whole, that tends to be a good thing for traders looking to get funded.
In this episode I chat with Michael Buchbinder, one of the founders of the prop firm Tradiac. Before chatting, I ran some reviews on Tradiac and was very impressed by their high score on Trust Pilot
Michael continues to swing trade, so we do get to talk about stocks, but for more than half this forty minute episode we talk about at the business end of prop trading.
Highest drawdown levels versus competition - 30% max and 15% dailyNo min trading daysNo min amount of trades, simple rules90% payouts on all accountsAll accounts are scalable up to $1mDon't lose your progress scaling with our Redemption Tests
Use my coupon code to get 10% your trial with Tradiac
Here are 6 key benefits I noted which, as a bundle, I haven't seen matched by competitors:If you want to give Tradiac a go, click the link below and use ATraderslife10off in the coupon/discount field to get 10% off your first trial.
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https://go.tradiac.com/auth?ref=traderslife
==Please follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li. -
In Episode 81 I talk with a trader who is of the opposite sex. Wow. What a rare event. And it’s not been for want of trying, I might add. But it’s really quite a job to find women who trade.
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Trading is still a profession or activity where men vastly outnumber women. Will that change before AI take over?
New Yorker Kimberly Sokoloff talks to me about her experiences of trading in a man’s world. From trader's assistant on the floor, executing order for stocks and options to a trader in her own right. Today she works from home and runs a mentoriship group.
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Grab this 10% discount on a test to become a funded trader
I wish I'd done this earlier - trading with a prop firm. Seriously, you don't want to be risking your own salary teaching yourself trading, enduring setbacks every few weeks.
So use my 10% Discount Coupon ATL10off for your 'audition' with Surge Trader prop firm. They get great reviews and have just recently allowed you to hold drawdown up to 8% of your account and over the weekends.
Click the link to get started:
https://www.surgetrader.com/?afmc=vd
Once you pass the audition, you have access to funded accounts from $25,000 and upwards.Please follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li. -
Missing episodes?
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In Episode 81 I talk with a trader who is of the opposite sex. Wow. What a rare event. And it’s not been for want of trying, I might add. But it’s really quite a job to find women who trade.
Support the show
Trading is still a profession or activity where men vastly outnumber women. Will that change before AI take over?
New Yorker Kimberly Sokoloff talks to me about her experiences of trading in a man’s world. From trader's assistant on the floor, executing order for stocks and options to a trader in her own right. Today she works from home and runs a mentoriship group.Please follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li. -
A few weeks ago I got chatting with Emmanuel Joshua, a Nigerian trader, whom I’d come across on Twitter.
Typically he trades in the early hours of the morning before catching a few hours’ sleep, then rushing out to work as a nurse.
Support the show
He trades synthetics, a kind of derivative popular among African traders, using ICT strategies.
What stood out to me, as we talked, was just how passionate he is about helping people – the students in his trading group, and the patients under his care. I give you Emmanuel Joshua.
You can find out more about Emmanuel's mentorship program by contacting him on Twitter @OrderFlow Godd
==
Grab this 10% discount on a test to become a funded trader
I wish I'd done this earlier - trading with a prop firm. Seriously, you don't want to be risking your own salary teaching yourself trading, enduring setbacks every few weeks.
So use my 10% Discount Coupon ATL10off for your 'audition' with Surge Trader prop firm. They get great reviews and have just recently allowed you to hold drawdown up to 8% of your account and over the weekends.
Click the link to get started:
https://www.surgetrader.com/?afmc=vd
Once you pass the audition, you have access to funded accounts from $25,000 and upwards.Please follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li. -
A few weeks ago I got chatting with a Nigerian trader whom I’d come across on Twitter.
Typically he trades in the early hours of the morning before catching a few hours’ sleep, then rushing out to work as a nurse. He trades synthetics, which are a kind of derivative popular among African traders. What stood out to me, as we talked, was just how passionate he is about helping people – the students in his trading group, and the patients under his care. Check out Episode 80 for the main episode.
Support the showPlease follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li. -
About a year ago I got to know and like a guy who had been trading for about twenty years. I enjoyed chatting with him about trading. Then one day, he proposed trading a small fund on my behalf. The arrangement would entail his taking a cut of the profits, if any, and while he was trading, he would happily teach me how to read the markets. Sounded good to me.
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We got off to a positive start. Oh, dear, how often that happens in trading, right? The markets were turning bearish - and choppy, I should add. He was convinced the indices were about to collapse, the Yen would roar back to life and we would be, if not rich, then sitting pretty.
His analysis was very convincing, well argued.
It just happened to be wrong.
He held on to it. Even as the indices pushed through the 200 EMA, he was telling me the bears would regain control any day now.
They didn't.
And so the account was reduced from £2,000 to £2 in under three months.
It was disappointing. More so that he didn't think to call me up to apologise, as you might expect, given all the talk about turning me into a successful trader.
Perhaps he was embarrassed, but still.
So, he just disappeared. and I licked my wounds. I felt foolish. I hadn't been scammed, I'd simply let myself be carried along by someone with experience (and audits to prove he'd been successful) and told myself, 'It'll be alright...It'll be alright...'
The dangers of bias.
There's a guy I work with who deals in forex. He has a client who recently blew a few million, shorting cable. A few million. So he's a rich guy, who must be pretty smart to have made so much he has 20 million casino money, and yet, when it comes to trading, he's not so smart.
This wasn't his first attempt at shorting the British pound, apparently. It would seem he had a bias against the pound, possibly something personal.
There's an interesting thing about bias. It's actually a form of hubris. Deep down, guys like the two just referenced can't wait to show the world they had it right when everyone else had it wrong. They want to be George Soros shorting the pound. And I get it. Wouldn't it be nice, if we could all pull that one off?
But when you make it personal, when you refuse to revise your plan even in face of evidence to suggest you have it wrong, you aren't trading anymore, you're putting your ego out there, your hand cupped to one ear in anticipation of a collective gasp and the pop of a Champagne cork.
having interviwed a lot of traders now, I'm surprised how many traders still fall prey to bias.
Beware of bias. Listen to episode 79. Thank you.
==
Grab this 10% discount on a test to become a funded trader
I wish I'd done this earlier - trading with a prop firm. Seriously, you don't want to be risking your own salary teaching yourself trading, enduring setbacks every few weeks.
So use my 10% Discount Coupon ATL10off for your 'audition' with Surge Trader prop firm. They get great reviews and have just recently allowed you to hold drawdown up to 8% of your account and over the weekends.
Click the link to get started:
https://www.surgetrader.com/?afmc=vd
Once you pass the audition, you have access to funded accounts from $25,000 and upwards.Please follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li. -
My next guest studied science as a graduate. When he walked away from a Phd course that left him uninspired, he wasn’t sure what to do.
Whatever it was, it had to present some sort of scientific challenge and an income that would give him plenty of freedom - with hours and locations he was in control of.
Today Thiru Nagappan is one of the founding members of Master The Markets teaching over 20,000 people around the world, consulting on trading floors and presenting live trading seminars.
==
Grab this 10% discount on a test to become a funded trader
I wish I'd done this earlier - trading with a prop firm. Seriously, you don't want to be risking your own salary teaching yourself trading, enduring setbacks every few weeks.
So use my 10% Discount Coupon ATL10off for your 'audition' with Surge Trader prop firm. They get great reviews and have just recently allowed you to hold drawdown up to 8% of your account and over the weekends.
Click the link to get started:
https://www.surgetrader.com/?afmc=vd
Once you pass the audition, you have access to funded accounts from $25,000 and upwards.Support the show
Please follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
Support the show
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li.Please follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li. -
My next guest studied science as a graduate. When he walked away from a Phd course that left him uninspired, he wasn’t sure what to do.
Support the show
Whatever it was, it had to present some sort of scientific challenge and an income that would give him plenty of freedom - with hours and locations he was in control of.
Today Thiru Nagappan is one of the founding members of Master The Markets teaching over 20,000 people around the world, consulting on trading floors and presenting live trading seminars.Please follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li. -
My next guest is a man who spent 20 years at the top – trading for JP Morgan – retiring in his forties so he could spend more time with his family, more time travelling and generally finding more things to do than stare at a screen all day. He still trades today but more sensible hours. Clive Ponsonby.
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Before you leave this page...
Use my 10% Discount Coupon ATL10off for your 'audition' with Surge Trader prop firm. Click the link to get started:
https://www.surgetrader.com/?afmc=vd
Once you pass the audition, you have access to funded accounts from $25,000 and upwards.Support the show
Please follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
Support the show
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].Please follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li. -
Michael A Gayed is a a Portfolio Manager at Tidal Financial Group. His approach is to focus in on zones/period of volatility to find the best investment opportunities in the markets.
For powerful market insights to improve your long-term investment strategy, take a read of his Lead Lag Report.
==
Before you leave this page...
Use my 10% Discount Coupon ATL10off for your 'audition' with Surge Trader prop firm. Click the link to get started:
https://www.surgetrader.com/?afmc=vd
Once you pass the audition, you have access to funded accounts from $25,000 and upwards.Support the show
Please follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li.Support the show
Support the showPlease follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li. -
Mid February 2023 Corey Andrews at Surge Trader put me in touch with trader Jean-Francois Boucher. I was very grateful he did, because my conversation with Jean-Francois has been one of the most absorbing I’ve had since I started this podcast.
If you subscribe to A TRADER’S LIFE, you’ll know by now that I’m particularly drawn to traders who have distinctive stories to tell. Jean-Francois certainly delivers on that front. It’s a wonder really that he’s trading at all after all the ups and downs he’s put himself through. His tenacity, humility and a profound desire to learn from obstacles in his way make for a thoroughly engrossing episode.
==
Use my 10% Discount Coupon ATL10off for your 'audition' with Surge Trader prop firm. Click the link to get started:
https://www.surgetrader.com/?afmc=vd
Once you pass the audition, you have access to funded accounts from $25,000 and upwards.Support the show
Please follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
Support the show
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li.Please follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li. -
Mid February 2023 Corey Andrews at Surge Trader put me in touch with trader Jean-Francois Boucher. I was very grateful he did, because my conversation with Jean-Francois has been one of the most absorbing I’ve had since I started this podcast.
If you subscribe to A TRADER’S LIFE, you’ll know by now that I’m particularly drawn to traders who have distinctive stories to tell. Jean-Francois certainly delivers on that front. It’s a wonder really that he’s trading at all after all the ups and downs he’s put himself through. His tenacity, humility and a profound desire to learn from obstacles in his way make for a thoroughly engrossing episode.
Support the show
==Please follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li. -
This is a short episode (under 10 minutes) in which I share some thoughts on trading tops and bottoms, and how to identify and manage your limitations during an intense trading week.
Support the show
==
Use my 10% Discount Coupon ATL10off for your 'audition' with Surge Trader prop firm. Click the link to get started:
https://www.surgetrader.com/?afmc=vd
Once you pass the audition, you have access to funded accounts from $25,000 and upwards.Please follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li. -
Subscriber-only episode
A short episode in which I run through a check list of bad habits in trading. And I've been guilty of all of them! Enjoy!
==
Use my 10% Discount Coupon ATL10off for your 'audition' with Surge Trader prop firm. Click the link to get started:
https://www.surgetrader.com/?afmc=vd
Once you pass the audition, you have access to funded accounts from $25,000 and upwards.Support the show
Please follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li.Please follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li. -
Michael Katz is a veteran day trader. Stocks and futures. He also helps run Trade the Pool, a prop firm based in Israel.
I think you’ll find some useful tips and insights dotted about in this conversation, a handful perhaps that are worth noting down, especially if you’ve not been trading more than 2 or 3 years.
==
Use my 10% Discount Coupon ATL10off for your 'audition' with Surge Trader prop firm. Click the link to get started:
https://www.surgetrader.com/?afmc=vd
Once you pass the audition, you have access to funded accounts from $25,000 and upwards.Support the show
Please follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
Support the show
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li.Please follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li. -
This is a clip from my conversation with Michael Katz, a day trader, stocks and futures. Michael also helps run Trade the Pool, a prop firm based in Israel.
Support the show
I think you’ll find some useful tips and insights dotted about in this conversation, a handful perhaps that are worth noting down, especially if you’ve not been trading more than 2 or 3 years.Please follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li. -
In this very short episode (under 8 minutes) I describe how I came round to realising that NOT trading your own money was the best thing I could do if I ever wanted to make some proper money at this obsession of mine. If you're trading your own money and haven't yet given funded trading a go, this brief account of mine might inspire you to give it a go.
==Use my 10% Discount Coupon ATL10off for your 'audition' with Surge Trader prop firm. Click the link to get started:
https://www.surgetrader.com/?afmc=vd
Once you pass the audition, you have access to funded accounts from $25,000 and upwards.Support the show
Please follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li.
Support the showPlease follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li. -
Subscriber-only episode
This short episode is a compilation of clips from various episodes with traders talking to me about how they got started in trading.
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Don't Trade with your own Money
I don't know why it took me so long - confidence, perhaps, i.e., lack thereof - to realize I would be so much better off trading someone else's money, not my own.
Mid February 2023 I started the 'audition' at Surge Trader on a virtual account of 100K. If I pass - that means hitting a profit of 10K - I get to trade 100K, again, not my money.Surge Trader get great reviews online and you can get 90% Profit Split once you're trading one of the their funds.I don't know why it took me so long - confidence, perhaps, i.e., lack thereof - to realize I would be so much better off trading someone else's money, not my own. Mid February 2023 I started the 'audition' at Surge Trader on a virtual account of 100K. If I pass - that means hitting a profit of 10K - I get to trade 100K, again, not my money.
Surge Trader get great reviews online and you can get 90% Profit Split once you're trading one of the their funds.
Use my 10% Discount Coupon ATL10off for your 'audition'. Just click the link to get started:
https://www.surgetrader.com/?afmc=vd
Once you pass the audition, you have access to funded accounts from $25,000 and upwards.Please follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li. -
Subscriber-only episode
Here are my thoughts on reframing your mindset as a trader. Hardly definitive, but nice and short and, with any luck, more than a couple of useful takeways for you.
==
Don't trade with your own Money
I don't know why it took me so long - confidence, perhaps, i.e., lack thereof - to realize I would be so much better off trading someone else's money, not my own. Mid February 2023 I started the 'audition' at Surge Trader on a virtual account of 100K. If I pass - that means hitting a profit of 10K - I get to trade 100K, again, not my money.Surge Trader get great reviews online and you can get 90% Profit Split once you're trading one of the their funds.
Use my 10% Discount Coupon ATL10off for your 'audition'. Just click the link to get started:
https://www.surgetrader.com/?afmc=vd
Once you pass the audition, you have access to funded accounts from $25,000 and upwards.Please follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li. -
Subscriber-only episode
Discipline in life is hard. Discipline in trading is harder still. Here are 8 'don'ts' to help keep you on course to a slow steady climb in your equity.
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I don't know why it took me so long - confidence, perhaps, i.e., lack thereof - to realize I would be so much better off trading someone else's money, not my own. Mid February 2023 I started the 'audition' at Surge Trader on a virtual account of 100K. If I pass - that means hitting a profit of 10K - I get to trade 100K, again, not my money.Surge Trader get great reviews online and you can get 90% Profit Split once you're trading one of the their funds.
Use my 10% Discount Coupon ATL10off for your 'audition'. Just click the link to get started:
https://www.surgetrader.com/?afmc=vd
Once you pass the audition, you have access to funded accounts from $25,000 and upwards.Support the show
Please follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li.Please follow A Trader's Life on Twitter.
And if you're a trader with some stories you'd like to share and you'd like to be on the how, don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected].
Link up with me on Li. - Show more
