Futex Invesment and Trading Academy prides itself on producing highly skilled, consistently profitable, professional traders.

Please take a look at what some of our traders, who have graduated from the Trading Floor Training, have to say about Futex and their careers to date:

Brad Young

I placed my first trade on the Australian stock exchange in 1998.  From that moment I knew I wanted to be a trader and being one of the greatest traders of all time became a central goal of mine.
I traded the Australian equity markets for a number of years whilst completing degrees in both Law and Commerce at Newcastle University, New South Wales, and decided, upon their successful completion, to move to London to pursue my trading career.  Having encountered the frustration of being unable to open short equity positions during a bear market and being excited by the leveraged trading opportunities afforded by futures, I applied to work as a trader at Futex.  I joined them in August 2002 and have never looked back...
Futex gave me the opportunity to realise my ambitions.  They provided me with the training, support, funding and facilities I needed to achieve the goal I set myself, to be a highly profitable, professional futures trader.  It gives me great pleasure to have made a success of this challenging career and to be trading alongside guys, like Chris and Pedro, with whom I joined Futex more than seven years ago!  Realising your life's ambitions is never easy and trading is no exception.  It has taken blood, sweat and tears to achieve success in this elite industry and trading is, and always will be, my life.  As those who join me for a 'quiet beer' at the market close can testify, I never stop talking about the markets - so you better bring your market opinions with you!

The following article is taken from Trader Monthly magazine's 30 Top Traders Under 30:

Legend has it that just outside London in the small, affluent city of Woking resides a pure prop trader who works two hours a day, two days a week - and still makes twice as much as anyone else at his clearing firm. The legend, it turns out, is true - and that gifted trader has the 30 Under 30-appropriate surname Young. 'He wears jeans, his lucky jersey and no shoes,' says one colleague. 'He even puts on trades and sleeps at his desk.'

Young, an Aussie who spends more time on vacation than he does trading, has been known to pull down $250,000 a week even after the bosses at Futex exact their tribute. 'The guy just left for a month in Australia,' says one coworker. 'He comes back for a day or two, then heads to Cyprus for two weeks.'

Says Young: 'From the very first day I traded a futures contract, I've always believed that I was going to be one of the greatest traders of all time. As each day passes and my career progresses, this belief becomes stronger.'

Chris Morris

My interest in the financial markets and my desire to become a professional trader began whilst studying Economics and Finance at the University of Manchester.  Financial derivatives formed a key component of my degree and inspired me to pursue a career as a futures trader.  Upon graduating I applied and was successful in securing a position on the August 2002 Futex Investment & Trading Academy graduate training scheme.   I had no previous experience of trading and thus found the intensive 12-week course an essential foundation for my trading career.  I built on my existing knowledge of macroeconomics and monetary policy whilst developing a new skill-base in technical analysis, trading psychology and trading styles.

Looking back more than seven years I am ecstatic that I chose to pursue a career as a futures trader and that I selected Futex Investment & Trading Academy as my training provider.  I have built on my initial trading education and now trade a wide range of markets including equity indices, commodities, bonds, currencies and interest rates.  I use my experience to run multiple positions across all of these markets allowing me to profit from my macroeconomic and technical view of the principle asset classes.

The intellectual challenge that trading provides is what motivates me to analyse and be involved in such a wide range of products on a daily basis.  Also, being surrounded by other highly successful traders in Futex's London office has inspired me to set and achieve more and more ambitious goals.  Trading is definitely not for the faint hearted.  However, if you are determined, hard working and prepared to have an opinion on the markets and see it through, then it provides a fantastic lifestyle and challenge.

Gabriele Gandini

During my time at University in Italy I developed a keen interest in the financial markets and so upon graduating I moved to the UK to pursue a trading career.  I joined Futex in April 2007, completed the initial 12-week graduate training programme and am now a momentum-based, equity index futures trader focusing on the Eurostoxx 50.  At Futex I have been able to develop some of the features I consider prerequisites to becoming a consistently successful trader such as method, discipline, calm and patience.  Other vital traits include a passion for the job, respect for the market, humility, determination and a willingness to succeed.  My goal is to improve as a trader by learning from the market, from other people and from my mistakes on a daily basis.  Having the opportunity to train and trade at Futex has helped me to learn more about myself, my strengths and my weaknesses.  It is giving me the opportunity to establish myself as a successful, profitable trader and to become a better person in life.

Ioannis Kyvetos

I developed an interest in the stock market at an early age and so decided to study finance at university.  I moved to the UK from sunny Greece to do a Masters degree in Finance and Investment at the University of Durham, and after graduating decided that a career in trading was the only avenue that would allow me to fulfil my dreams.  Futex was an excellent choice - experienced mentors helped me progress from the theoretical to the practical stages of trading and to test different strategies until I found my own style.  I have been trading the FTSE100 for over a year and have developed a consistent and successful approach to the markets that is uniquely my own.  I can honestly say that trading has not only significantly changed my lifestyle but also made me stronger mentally.  I love my job!

Sijia Wang

Before joining Futex I completed a Masters degree in Finance & Management at Queen Mary University, London.  After graduating I joined Futex and completed their intensive 12 week graduate training programme.  I had a limited knowledge of futures and trading before I arrived at Futex, but the comprehensive training covered a broad range of topics including Technical Analysis, Macroeconomics and Economic Indicators.  I have found the ongoing mentoring process especially valuable in helping me overcome my initial frustration at losing money.  I am pleased to say, however, that I am now highly profitable!  The trainers are always very supportive and provide lots of encouragement as I progress in my career.  In particular they have helped me develop good risk management by reviewing my mind set whilst trading.  I currently trade the S&P500 and FTSE100 equity indices.  Has trading changed my life?  Well, apart from having more money, I definitely get up earlier and go to sleep a lot earlier than before!  Trading is more a lifestyle than a job and I am always thinking about the markets.

Martin Radlak

I joined Futex in December 2008 straight after graduating from Birmingham University where I studied an MSc in Investments.  My passion for the markets started around 6 years ago during my early years at university whilst studying Computer Science.  I tried financial market games, managed my small portfolio of stocks and finally attempted to trade futures on my own; the results were not satisfying!  At that point, I realised I had to learn from the best and after extensive research, I chose Futex Investment & Trading Academy. And I must say, that it was the best decision I could have ever made.  The theoretical part of the training program was invaluable and very interesting, even for someone who was already familiar with the financial world.  The course content was not just pure theory but included insight from real traders and a real trading floor!  However, the biggest value of the program was practice - actual trading.  The mentors helped me to choose the market I felt most comfortable with (currently 10 year German Bond Futures - Bund).  They also helped me to identify my mistakes, those I hadn't seen myself, motivated me during tough days and, what is most important, helped me to develop the optimum trader's routine.  It did not take long to realise how much I love this job and how trading is a lifestyle I have always dreamt of.  It definitely is not something I do for living - I live to do it.  But, as a word of caution, I must say that becoming a successful trader requires hard work.  However, with the right people supporting you, i.e. Futex Investment & trading Academy, it is possible and I am an example confirming this statement.

John Kinnell

I joined Futex in March 2009 having studied Mathematics at the University of St Andrews; despite always having an interest in the markets, I had no previous experience.  Along with the other graduates I was given an intensive introduction to macroeconomics and how its principles affect professional day traders, as well as a thorough grounding in fundamental and technical analysis.  This was excellent preparation for the floor itself; I have had hundreds of hours of access to the fixed income markets which, combined with the technology and in-house analysis provided, have enabled me to develop a very personal, discretionary trading style.

I could not imagine myself in any other career; every day is a challenge, and I am constantly learning and adapting my methods.  I am now a successful live trader and I know that this would not have been possible in merely a few months without the mentoring and facilities made available to traders here.

It's clear to anyone who comes here that Futex care about their traders, and will do everything possible to help you succeed; this truly is an excellent opportunity, and I firmly believe that if you have it in you to be a successful trader, Futex Investment & Trading Academy will find it in you.

Brannigan Barrett

I graduated Cum Laude in econometrics from the University of Pretoria (South Africa) in 2009 with a keen interest in the markets. After blowing up my hard earned money not once, but twice, attempting my hand at Gold and Oil futures; I decided that my lifelong challenge would be to recover every last penny lost in my spread betting account.

After graduating, I went directly into the markets and worked for 18months as a Foreign Exchange broker. But stealing bid/offer spreads off clients just wasn’t enough of an adrenaline rush and so I flew north to London in pursuit of a career as a prop trader. Futex was an obvious choice as the structure and model of the firm is designed to help traders to progress at their own speeds. They also offered an invaluable 12 week course which outlined the very key fundamentals required before stepping into the markets. The course coupled with individual mentoring make Futex a very easy pick for any trader looking to start a trading career.

To this day, not only have I gained invaluable experience about the functionality of the market place, but I have gained life skills that no money can buy. Trading is more than just buying and selling based on pattern recognition. It’s about understanding and feeling, psychology and strong positive habits being built up. Being at Futex has afforded me this priceless opportunity.

For those of you that like sports, trading is like golf. You spend hour upon hour practising various elements of the game (putting, chipping, driving etc), building your skill set in order to achieve that ultimate goal-which is to shoot a low under-par score. However, constant practicing is not enough to guarantee achieving the ultimate goal. Practicing is only half the job done. Psychology is the single most important aspect. ‘For what the mind of a man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.’ Napoleon Hill.  Futex have experienced life coaches on hand, readily available to improve one’s psychology. Whether it’s for a moan or a celebration they there every step of the way ensuring that not only are you trading fit but also mentally fit.

Futex is more than a business; it’s an institution in which you are granted the opportunity to achieve unimaginable things, with no limitations other than those you define. Being at Futex you are surrounded by a wealth of knowledge with some of London’s most successful traders and also some of London’s most humble people. This is more than just a place to make crazy money. It’s a playground to grow and evolve as a trader and as a human being.

‘The harder you work at it, the luckier you get.’ Gary Player

J P Serbera

Before joining Futex I completed a Ph.D. in financial economics at Montpellier University in the south of France. I was financed by a doctoral grant, and part of my Ph.D. student's job was to teach both undergraduate and master's students. I really appreciated teaching, but I have always been passionate about financial markets and wanted to challenge myself in the stock markets as a participant, not just as a spectator.

I joined Futex in June 2012 and attended the 12 weeks training. It was a bit strange for me to be back on the benches of school with a teacher in front of me, but I really enjoyed the way the economics was taught in a practical and realistic way, a far cry from the academic theory. I was really motivated and I worked hard to assimilate all the macroeconomics background necessary to understand which factors drive the markets.

In addition to the classes I started trading on a simulator and with the good advice and support of our trainers and mentors I improved a lot. What I really liked is that if you have a question or a doubt our trainers will always listen to you and give you good advice, but not impose their views or methods, and they let you decide which market you want to trade.

Indeed, in the world of trading you have to find your own and personal way that is consistent with your personality. Actually I am trading the eurodollar currency which is a market I really appreciate as I mostly trade on breakouts.

Testimonial Briefs

"I joined in February 2012; the Futex course was one of the only ones that really attracted me because of the structure of the course and that it is taught by an excellent professional trader.  It is above my expectations; I’m really enjoying the course."

"Overall a good course; just the correct amount of time spent in class before progressing onto simulators."

"The Futex Trading Academy has provided solid foundations for the start of my trading career."

"Outstanding introduction to the fundamentals of trading backed by the experience and insight of professionals in the field."

"The training programme has enabled me to develop a foundation of knowledge on a variety of trading related topics.  I am confident this will allow me to further build upon in my trading career."

"Good course; lots of time to improve and learn.  Strong foundation provided."

"I joined Futex Investment & Trading Academy on February 6^th 2012 and have not looked back once.  From the word go, the quality of teaching and the methodologies used – combining a wide variety of methods – helped me absorb a multitude of theoretical and practical information which I have found invaluable to my trading progress."

Trading Floor Training Highlights

"The mixture of fundamentals, psychology and technicals in order to make proper decisions."

"Market Profile, price action and the psychology behind trading."

"Simulator trading; getting to develop my personal strategy."

"Price action; sitting alongside David & Chris 1-on-1 and group trading."

"Realising your failings on a day-to-day basis on the simulator - taking these on board and going through a process of self-directed improvement."

"Classroom theory and group trading; economics and technical analysis (market profile)."

"Group simulator trading; good opportunity to see how other see the market and take on board different perspectives."

"Group and 1-to-1 trading."

"Psychological elements; talking through failed trades and mistakes."

"The group trading sessions were exceptionally useful as I was able to pick up a lot on Price action from Chris, David and others."

"I think from the outset I have been constantly learning and improving my trading skills.  I suppose the greatest learning point is when I was able to put theory into practice."