Hussain Shahid's Journey: From Trading Novice to Making £203,000+ Full Case Study

 

Introduction to Hussain 

The video begins with Fuaadh introducing a student progress video featuring Hussain, a member of the academy for about nine to ten months. The interview aims to be informal, providing insight into Hussain's journey and experiences.

Hussain's Background and Introduction to Trading 

Hussain introduces himself as a 19-year-old originally from London, who moved to Wales in 2005. Currently, he studies computer science at Bristol University. His interest in trading began at a young age while observing successful people. Hussain was intrigued by the freedom trading offered, allowing him to work from anywhere. He first encountered trading around 2019 during his A-levels but only began exploring it seriously during the mid-2020 lockdown.

Initial Steps and Challenges in Trading

Hussain explains that the lockdown provided him the opportunity to delve deeper into trading. With his A-level exams canceled, he had ample time to watch YouTube videos and research trading. By the end of April and early May 2020, he decided to try trading seriously. In June 2020, he started live trading, following signals from a young trader he found relatable. However, without proper discipline and understanding, his trading journey was a roller coaster with both good and bad days.

Early Trading Experiences and Losses 

Hussain shares that his initial trading involved following signals, but he also conducted his analysis. Despite his efforts, he experienced significant losses. He started with a £450 deposit, which he quickly depleted. Undeterred, he deposited another £200, but a lack of risk management led to further losses. Hussain acknowledges that his early trading was marked by a greedy mentality and a lack of a proper trading plan.

Reflecting and Learning from Mistakes 

After blowing two accounts, Hussain decided to reevaluate his approach. He spent time backtesting different strategies and trading on a demo account, where he found some success. Encouraged by his progress, he deposited money again, this time focusing on trading independently rather than relying on signals. Despite initial success, poor risk management led to more losses. Hussain realized the importance of having a structured plan and logging his trades.

Seeking Mentorship and Joining the Course 

In August, a relative who believed in Hussain's potential introduced him to the course run by Nadeem, Hussain's father. Hussain's relative also provided financial support, which Hussain unfortunately lost quickly due to his inexperience. Recognizing the need for mentorship, Hussain joined the academy's structured program. Although initially frustrated by the foundation program, he understood its importance and completed it thoroughly, including extensive demo trades and logging activities. This foundation was crucial for his long-term success in trading.

Completing the Foundation Program 

Hussain elaborates on the assessments required for the foundation program, which included logging, journaling, and self-evaluation. He found the initial assessments straightforward but noted that self-evaluation was challenging for many. This process helped him identify his weaknesses, something he didn't often consider.

Starting Stage 1 and Stage 2 

Hussain began Stage 1 at the end of July, followed by a brief break before starting the full course in person on August 7th. He completed Stage 1 in five days and Stage 2 in seven days. Determined to benefit from the course, he dedicated long hours, often staying up late. The extensive logging, which involved over 300 tasks, was particularly challenging. Motivated to meet deadlines, Hussain quickly progressed through these initial stages.

Beginning Stage 3 and Practical Implementation 

In September, Hussain transitioned to Stage 3, shifting from theoretical learning to practical implementation of trading strategies. He aimed to complete this stage before starting university to avoid falling behind. Stage 3 was particularly challenging due to high targets, such as achieving 500 pips in a week. Hussain found this target daunting and struggled initially, especially as he balanced his trading with university commitments.

Challenges and Strategy Adaptation 

Hussain discussed the difficulties of achieving the 500 pips target. Before joining the academy, his trading was inconsistent, with good weeks followed by bad ones. Achieving 500 pips in a single week was a significant challenge compared to his previous experiences. The academy's strategies, however, enabled him to take multiple trades weekly. These strategies were intraday and often combined, allowing for numerous trading opportunities.

Learning the Importance of Strategy Combination 

Hussain realized the importance of learning and understanding strategies individually before combining them. This approach, taught in Stages 1 and 2, provided a solid foundation for his trading. His quick grasp of these concepts allowed him to effectively combine strategies, giving him a head start in Stage 3. This separation of learning and implementation was crucial to avoid confusion and ensure a clear understanding of each strategy.

Achieving the 500 Pips Target

During his first proper week in Stage 3, Hussain followed advice to take as many trades as possible without worrying about being selective. He took around 44 trades that week and spent the weekend evaluating his performance and identifying effective strategies. This approach helped him achieve the 500 pips target quickly, boosting his confidence and reinforcing the effectiveness of his learning and adaptation process.

Evaluating Weekly Performance and Strategy Adjustment 

Hussain explains how he evaluated his weekly performance during Stage 3. He analyzed what worked and what didn’t, planning his strategies for the following week based on his findings. He set specific targets for the number of trades he needed to take to meet his goals.

Detailed Tracking and Initial Results

Fuaadh shows Hussain’s Stage 3 tracker, highlighting his meticulous record-keeping. Despite a challenging start, with a minor loss of 17 pips in the initial days, Hussain quickly adapted. In his first full week, he took numerous trades, learning from each one and refining his approach. This rigorous process helped him achieve 597 pips, although his wins were capped to ensure consistent trading.

Facing Psychological Challenges and Close Calls 

After achieving his initial target, Hussain moved on to focus on cross pairs. He came very close to his goal but faced psychological challenges that caused him to miss key setups. This period was marked by near successes and minor setbacks, reflecting the mental hurdles he had to overcome.

Balancing University and Trading 

The beginning of university added pressure on Hussain, affecting his trading performance. Despite this, he continued trading alongside his academic commitments, highlighting the program's flexibility and the importance of time management. Weekly webinars provided valuable feedback, helping him stay focused and motivated.

The Importance of Community Feedback 

Hussain emphasized the significance of feedback from peers and mentors during weekly webinars. This collaborative environment allowed him to learn from others and refine his strategies. The support from the community played a crucial role in his progress, helping him stay accountable and improve his performance.

Achieving the Cross Pairs Target 

Hussain finally hit his cross pairs target after several weeks of effort. This achievement boosted his confidence and marked a significant milestone in his journey. He utilized his holidays to focus intensively on trading, which helped him achieve 800 pips in a week. This success motivated him to set new short-term goals and move to the next stage.

Transition to Focusing on Majors 

With the cross pairs target achieved, Hussain shifted his focus to majors. The election period posed challenges as cross pairs didn’t always follow technicals, but Hussain was confident in his ability to meet the targets for majors. He approached this stage with a renewed determination, utilizing his experience and the strategies he had learned.

Preparing for Stage 4 and Setting New Targets 

As Hussain prepared for Stage 4, he set new targets and created detailed checklists and plans to guide his progress. This stage involved percentage-based targets and aligned with the FTMO challenge, marking a significant step in his trading journey. Hussain reflected on his progress from July to January, acknowledging the challenges and successes that shaped his experience.

Psychological State and Moving Forward 

By January, after completing Stages 1 to 3, Hussain felt a mix of relief and confidence. He had successfully navigated through various challenges, refined his strategies, and was now prepared to tackle Stage 4. His journey exemplified the importance of persistence, continuous learning, and strategic adaptation in achieving long-term success in trading.

Relief and Best Month in December 

Hussain reflects on the relief he felt after a successful period in December. Despite having exams and holidays, December turned out to be his best month. He felt the need to complete his targets before his exams started so that he could start fresh on Stage 4 afterwards. This sense of urgency helped him push through and stay focused on his goals.

Initial Struggles in Stage 4 

Upon transitioning to Stage 4, Hussain faced initial struggles. His first week back involved both majors and cross pairs, which he hadn’t worked on simultaneously for a while. This confusion led to uncertainty about the number of trades to take. Despite reducing the number of trades due to exams, he managed a 4.6% return for the week by maintaining a 0.5% risk per trade.

FTMO Challenge Beginnings 

In early February, Hussain officially started the FTMO challenge after successfully managing 15% in previous weeks. His familiarity with the FTMO platform, gained from Stage 3 trials, eased the transition. The first challenge week was marked by hesitation and caution, as he adapted to trading on a real account again.

Challenges and Verification 

Hussain's first FTMO challenge resulted in hitting the daily loss limit, leading to a significant setback. Determined, he started a second challenge, which he passed in the first week. However, the transition to verification was challenging due to psychological pressure and the stress of back-to-back trading without breaks. Despite initial gains, Hussain's second verification attempt also failed, adding to his frustration and confusion.

Persistence Despite Setbacks 

Despite back-to-back failures in both the FTMO challenge and verification, Hussain remained resolute. He repeatedly signed up for new challenges, refusing to revert to demo trading. This period was characterized by continuous efforts to succeed, with Hussain determined to achieve his goals despite the setbacks. His third challenge showed promise with consistent returns, although he still faced the familiar pattern of initial drawdowns followed by recoveries.

Verification Challenges and Psychological Struggles

After passing the challenge, Hussain struggled with the verification phase, resulting in a series of setbacks. The transition period between the challenge and verification often led to Hussain relaxing too much, losing focus, and subsequently failing the verification. Despite these challenges, Hussain's persistence remained strong. He continued to sign up for new challenges, even after failing verification multiple times. He realized the need to be more cautious and manage his psychological state better during this phase.

Adjusting Strategies and Risk Management 

Hussain faced significant psychological stress, especially when comparing his performance to other students. He found it challenging to maintain motivation and discipline, given the financial and emotional stakes. To cope, he began lowering his risk per trade, eventually reducing it to 0.125%. This conservative approach helped stabilize his performance, allowing him to rebuild confidence and improve his results gradually. The key to his recovery was a strategic reduction in risk, enabling him to handle losses better and maintain a positive outlook.

Gradual Improvement and Confidence Building 

With the adjusted risk strategy, Hussain experienced several good weeks, regaining confidence in his trading abilities. He meticulously planned his weekly targets, focusing on small, consistent gains. This refined approach led to a 3.67% gain in one week, marking a significant improvement in his trading plan. By breaking down his targets and staying disciplined, Hussain steadily improved his performance, demonstrating the effectiveness of his new strategy.

Achieving Verification Success and Funded Account 

Hussain's persistence and improved strategy eventually paid off. By mid-June, he successfully passed the verification phase and started trading on a funded account. His performance remained consistent, with minimal drawdowns and steady gains. Hussain's detailed performance tracker showed positive growth month after month, highlighting his disciplined approach and ability to adapt his strategies. His journey underscored the importance of treating the verification process as a long-term task rather than a short-term challenge, leading to sustained success.

Continuous Learning and Adjustments 

Throughout his journey, Hussain faced multiple challenges and setbacks. From September to June, despite some poor performance weeks in October and May, he maintained a positive trajectory overall. His performance graph showed only a few instances of negative returns, demonstrating a generally healthy progress. Hussain's resilience and adaptability were key to his eventual success.

Reviewing Performance and Strategy 

Hussain's detailed performance review highlighted his journey through multiple challenges and verifications. He showed his screen on FTMO to provide insights into his trading performance. Although he faced difficulties with the first few challenges, he managed to pass subsequent ones, showing improved consistency and better risk management. His smoother equity curve indicated a significant improvement in his trading strategy.

Adapting Risk Management and Learning from Mistakes 

Hussain explained his approach to risk management and how he adapted his strategies over time. Using a risk multiplier, he calibrated his trades to maintain a balance between risk and reward. This strategy allowed him to navigate through periods of drawdowns and capitalize on profitable trades effectively. His disciplined approach to managing risk played a crucial role in his recovery and success.

Achieving Verification and Beyond 

Hussain's perseverance paid off as he successfully passed the FTMO verification and started trading on a funded account. He shared his experience of transitioning from a verification account to a personal account, emphasizing the flexibility and control he gained. By maintaining a conservative risk approach and focusing on consistent performance, he achieved substantial gains. Hussain's journey underscored the importance of strategic planning, psychological resilience, and continuous learning in forex trading.

Throughout his journey, Hussain's commitment to learning and adapting his strategies led to his success. His experience highlights the importance of perseverance, disciplined risk management, and the ability to learn from mistakes in achieving long-term success in forex trading.

Consistent Gains and Reflection on Strategy 

Hussain discusses his recent performance, highlighting consistent gains and strategic decisions. He mentions that even though he experienced some fluctuations in his trading, he maintained a positive end-of-week balance. This approach of focusing on weekly performance rather than daily ups and downs has helped him stay resilient and confident in his trading strategy. Hussain's average risk-reward ratio has significantly improved, reaching above 1:8 on average, which has contributed to his consistent profitability.

Navigating Challenges and Psychological Growth 

Reflecting on his journey, Hussain acknowledges the critical role that the difficult phases played in shaping his current success. He mentions that the challenging periods, including the months of February through April, were pivotal in developing his trading discipline and psychological resilience. These experiences have equipped him with the confidence and skills needed to handle larger accounts and more significant trading responsibilities. Hussain emphasizes that his systematic approach to logging and journaling his trades has been instrumental in his growth, allowing him to refine his strategies and stay consistent.

Future Goals and Strategic Planning 

Hussain outlines his future goals, including plans to achieve 400K funded accounts and consistent monthly gains of 5-10%. He contemplates the possibility of maintaining separate accounts for risk management purposes but also considers consolidating them for simplicity. His strategic planning involves setting realistic targets and being flexible with timelines to ensure he stays on track without undue pressure. Hussain's meticulous approach to goal setting and evaluation demonstrates his commitment to continuous improvement and long-term success.

Reflections on Persistence and Learning 

Hussain reflects on the importance of persistence and the value of structured learning. He contrasts his current disciplined approach with his earlier, less structured trading efforts. Hussain acknowledges that the comprehensive training, structured logging, and consistent self-evaluation have been crucial in building his confidence and refining his trading strategy. These elements have enabled him to navigate setbacks and continue progressing towards his goals.

Personal Growth and Future Plans 

At 19, Hussain is still a university student, balancing his academic responsibilities with his trading activities. Despite considering leaving university to focus on trading full-time, he remains committed to his educational journey for now. Hussain's story is a testament to the power of dedication, structured learning, and the ability to adapt and grow from challenges. His journey provides valuable insights for aspiring traders on the importance of resilience, strategic planning, and continuous self-improvement.