“Act like a professional. There is no secret.”

What does it take to survive the psychological pressure of the Evaluation Process? For our latest funded FTMO Traders, the answer lies in strict risk management and treating trading as a professional discipline. In this Q&A, Niklas, Samreth, and Diego Loussano explain why they strictly cap their risk per trade, how they overcome the urge to overtrade, and why stepping away from the charts is often the best decision you can make.

Trader Niklas: “Greed eats away at your brain.”

What does your risk management plan look like?

I focus on managing my risk carefully and never risking too much on a single trade. I use Stop Losses and make sure that every trade fits within my risk management rules.

What was more difficult than expected during your FTMO Challenge or Verification?

The psychological side was more difficult than I expected. Staying patient and not forcing trades, especially after a loss, was definitely one of the biggest challenges.

Do you have a trading plan in place, and do you follow it strictly?

Yes, I have a clear trading plan that I try to follow consistently. It helps me stay disciplined and avoid making emotional decisions during trades.

What do you think is the key to long-term success in trading?

In my opinion, discipline and consistency are the most important things. You don’t need to win every trade, but you need to manage your risk and stick to your strategy over the long term.

What inspires you to pursue trading?

I like the challenge of trading and the fact that there is always something new to learn. The possibility of improving myself and becoming more consistent motivates me to keep going.

What is the number one piece of advice you would give to a new trader?

Don’t focus too much on making money quickly. Learn proper risk management, stay patient, and focus on building good habits and consistency first.

Trader Samreth: “Focus on protecting your account rather than chasing profits.”

Describe your best trade.

My best trade was one where I remained calm and confident from beginning to end. What made it memorable was not only the result, but the feeling of having approached the trade with patience and discipline.

Where have you learnt about FTMO?

I discovered FTMO online. Over time, I learned more about the company, its evaluation process, and the opportunity it offers to disciplined traders.

What inspires you to pursue trading?

Trading inspires me because it is a continuous challenge against myself. It requires discipline, patience, and constant improvement. My goal is to become more consistent over time and continue developing both technically and mentally.

What was the most difficult during your FTMO Challenge or Verification, and how did you overcome it?

The most difficult part was dealing with the pressure of the Evaluation Process. I overcame it by staying focused, being patient, and avoiding unnecessary pressure on myself.

How did you manage your emotions when you were in a losing trade?

I reminded myself that losing trades are a normal part of trading. I tried to stay calm, accept the outcome, and avoid letting one negative result affect my mindset.

What would you like to say to other traders who are attempting the FTMO Challenge?

Be patient and don’t put unnecessary pressure on yourself. Stay focused, accept that difficult moments are part of the process, and don’t let emotions take control. Consistency and discipline are more important than rushing.

Trader Diego Loussano: “Act like a professional. There is no secret.”

How did you eliminate the factor of luck in your trading?

By creating multiple strategies and using them ONLY for confirmation, managing my Stop Loss and reward-to-risk ratio, and being patient until I see what I am looking for forming, instead of hoping it will form.

Describe your best trade.

The best trade is the fastest one; it doesn’t keep me in the trade long enough to doubt it.

What was easier than expected during the FTMO Challenge or Verification?

It’s easier if you have the patience to wait, but that’s very hard to achieve.

What inspires you to pursue trading?

An extra income for my kids and myself, a better future, and more self-confidence in my life.

How did you manage your emotions when you were in a losing trade?

If you want to succeed, you have no choice but to manage them. I believe everyone has their own way; I just focused on what went wrong and took every loss as a lesson for future trades.

One piece of advice for people starting the FTMO Challenge now.

There is no magic trick to show you guys. Study the pair you are trading, learn its patterns, watch how it reacts to your strategy or multiple strategies, and learn. Don’t expect a win rate over 90%; learn how to be profitable with way less than that and have patience — extreme patience. The market is chaos, but in every chaos, there is a pattern that repeats itself. Find that pattern.

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All information provided herein is intended solely for educational purposes related to trading on financial markets and does not constitute investment advice or serve in any way as a specific investment recommendation. Please read the full disclosure here.