James, 24, from West Yorkshire, UK, shares his trading journey, which began just two years ago. After getting scammed early on, he turned to educational programs to gain a deeper understanding of the markets. His strategy combines a fundamental bias with precise technical entries, and he focuses on swing trading larger market moves. James emphasizes patience, process, and risk management, and he credits his success to following a disciplined plan and reviewing his trades weekly.https://youtu.be/Zlka6Txs9eI
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Program | CTI Evaluation |
| Result | PASSED ✅ |
| Current Status | CTI Portfolio Manager |
| Evaluation Account | $10,000 |
| Scaling Potential | Up to $4 million |
| Profit Target Achieved | 7% |
| Max Drawdown | 2.62% |
| Win Rate | 35% (Profitable via strong R:R) |
| Profit Factor | 2.54 |
| Risk Per Trade | 0.25% |
| Validation | ✅ Validated by CTI Risk Team |
Key Challenges
Getting Scammed Early On:
James started trading after being introduced by a scammer but quickly realized the need for proper education and mentoring.Initial Struggles with Risk Management:
Early on, James faced challenges with over-leveraging and emotional trading. He had to learn the hard way about the importance of keeping risk low and managing drawdowns effectively.
Turning Point
James’s breakthrough came when he switched from chasing short-term profits to focusing on fundamentals first. By identifying the strong vs weak currencies and following the big players in the market, he started to swing trading with larger moves. His consistent review of trades and tight risk management helped him achieve success in the CTI evaluation.
Strategy and Approach
James uses a strategy that combines fundamental analysis with technical entries. He first establishes a bias based on economic data such as interest rates and news releases. For his entries, he waits for key psychological levels and two-candle formations within liquidity zones. He also looks for double tops or bottoms to capture liquidity traps. His method of managing risk includes taking two positions at 0.125% each and moving to break even quickly, allowing him to trade without stress.
How He Overcame His Challenges
Learning from Losses:
Despite facing a significant losing streak early in his evaluation, James didn’t let it shake his confidence. By keeping his losses small and sticking to his plan, he recovered and moved into profit.Weekly Review and Journaling:
James consistently reviews his trades every Sunday, asking himself what he did well, where he can improve, and how to eliminate emotional decision-making. This process helped him identify weaknesses in his strategy and improve over time.
Current Process and Success
- James maintains a profit factor of 2.54 and a relative drawdown of just 2.62%, demonstrating his ability to manage risk effectively.
- Despite a 35% win rate, James’s risk-to-reward ratio and ability to manage losses have allowed him to achieve success.
- He focuses on larger market moves and allows his winners to run, ensuring that a few strong trades wipe out previous losses.
Key Takeaways for Traders
Process Over Perfection:
James emphasizes the importance of following a process and not getting caught up in win rates. A solid risk management plan will allow you to survive losing streaks and capitalize on larger moves.Learn from Mistakes:
Every loss is an opportunity to learn. James reviews his trades every week to identify patterns and improve his performance.Stay Patient and Disciplined:
Success in trading takes time and patience. By sticking to a consistent routine, focusing on fundamentals, and not chasing quick profits, James has found long-term success.
