Meet Evgeny, a trader who transitioned from a career as a financial analyst to a full-time, profitable trader. He is one of the first traders at Funded Trader Markets (FTM) to cross the impressive $25,000 milestone in total payouts, showcasing the power of consistent performance. His seven-year journey demonstrates how strategic patience, flawless mental discipline, and partnering with the right prop firm can transform a trader’s career. Evgeny’s story offers valuable lessons and inspiration, especially for swing traders.
Starting Point: From Financial Markets to the World Of Trading
Evgeny’s trading journey began in 2011, built on a solid foundation from his time in the finance departments of banks and investment firms. Initially exploring cryptocurrency mining, he soon discovered that trading was a more dynamic and profitable endeavor. In his early years, like many beginners, he spent money on expensive, ineffective courses. Today, he guides newcomers by saying, “You can now find everything on YouTube for free. Just take your time and apply your skills.”
Here at FTM, I’ve shared some of the most effective trading strategies for beginners, drawn from over 10 years of hands-on experience. You can explore them below:
See Also: Beyond the Hype: Best Trading Strategies for Beginners
His real turning point came about five years ago through a mentorship that taught him the fundamentals of a manual trading strategy. The strategy he uses at FTM today is built upon this foundation. Evgeny discovered prop firms two years ago, viewing them as an opportunity to “test your ideas in different markets and manage emotional patterns.” He emphasizes that the intense stress of trading caused his own money significantly diminishes within the structured environment of a prop firm.
Trading Style and Strategy
After years of experience, Evgeny has developed a distinctive trading approach:
- Primary Focus: Gold (XAU/USD) and Bitcoin (BTC/USD).
- Trading Type: Day trading with a single trade per day on Gold, and swing trading with positions lasting 2-3 weeks on Bitcoin.
- Risk Management:
- On a Funded Account: Never more than 2% risk per trade, usually 1%.
- On a Personal Account: A much more conservative approach with 0.5% risk or less per trade.
- Core Philosophy: He abandoned the misconception that “more trading means more money.” Moving away from the stress of scalping, he embraced a “set and forget” philosophy.
Evgeny prioritizes simplicity, having removed all indicators from his charts. His analytical process is highly methodical:
- Timeframes: He starts with the Daily chart for swing trades, then moves to H4 or H1. He never looks at lower timeframes like M15 or M5 for these trades. For his day trades on Gold, he uses only the M15 chart.
- Market Analysis: Alongside chart analysis, he checks the news and market sentiment. He utilizes tools like CoinGlass to assess liquidation risks in the crypto market.
- Execution: He typically sets his trades in the morning, uses alerts for his stop-loss and take-profit levels, and checks the market only once or twice a day.
Overcoming Mental Challenges
Evgeny’s biggest mental breakthrough came when he stopped viewing prop firm capital as his own money. “If you count this money as your own, you will suffer huge emotional damage after a loss, which leads to technical mistakes and losing the account,” he warns. This mindset aligns with the wisdom of FTM trader Arsh, who noted that, “Having a plan fixes everything. If you know what you are going to lose, there’s no point of you worrying.”
He admits that his biggest challenge before becoming profitable was “not knowing what he was doing.” He overcame this by creating a dedicated list of his own trading ideas and strategies, a process that echoes the advice of another successful trader with us, Njieng, who emphasizes the importance of “discovering your own edge.”
Risk Management Evolution
Evgeny’s approach to risk management was shaped by painful lessons. In the past, he used Martingale-based bots on his personal funds, which led to a massive 40% loss. That experience convinced him to abandon the Martingale system for good.
Current Approach:
- Challenge Phase: He focuses on passing as quickly as possible without violating the rules.
- Funded Phase: He applies a strict risk limit, never exceeding 2% and often staying at 1%.
- Personal Account: He exclusively uses trading bots and does not trade manually.
Want to go a bit deeper to learn risk management techniques? Here’s the complete guide:
Learn More: Best Risk Management Strategies for Forex Traders
Experience with FTM: Trust, Support, and Speed
Evgeny clearly explains his reasons for choosing FTM: “FTM does not scam traders.” As someone who has experienced the stress of having payouts denied by other firms for questionable reasons, he places immense value on FTM’s transparency.
- Fast and Reliable Payouts: The fact that payouts are processed within 24 hours is one of FTM’s biggest advantages.
- Trader-Friendly Rules: He finds the 45% consistency rule “reassuring.” The absence of swaps is a “heaven for swing traders.”
- Fair Environment: He believes the rules are designed to filter out gamblers and support genuine traders.
- Effective Support: He notes that customer support provides quick and clear answers to technical questions.
Practical Tips for Aspiring Traders
Evgeny offers the following critical advice for other traders on their path to success:
- Learn and Understand the Rules: “If you are not sure, ask multiple times. Most traders lose their accounts simply because they don’t even read the FAQ.”
- Have a Trading Plan and Stick to It: Plan your trade, and trade your plan.
- Be Prepared for Setbacks: “No one becomes a millionaire on the first try. Be ready to try again if something goes wrong.”
- Avoid Overtrading: Don’t get caught up in daily limits and learn to stay on the sidelines when the market offers no clear opportunities.
- Start Small, Grow Steadily: Instead of jumping into a large account, start with a smaller one like a 25K or 50K, make a profit, and use that profit to get a bigger account.
- View Prop Firms as an Opportunity: Treat prop trading as an opportunity with a fixed cost (the challenge fee) but unlimited profit potential. Never buy a challenge with your last bit of money.
Learn & gain more trading experience from real trader success stories.
Read more: Funded Trader Markets’ Trader Success Stories & Experiences
Conclusion
Evgeny’s transformation from a financial analyst to a disciplined and profitable swing trader proves the power of patience, simplicity, and strategic thinking. By learning from his early mistakes, meticulously managing his risk, and partnering with a reliable firm like FTM, he has built a sustainable and successful career. His story is a living testament that true profitability lies not in complex strategies, but in mental control, planned execution, and unwavering consistency.
