“The stronger you become as a person, the stronger you will become as a trader.”

Trading isn’t just about mastering the charts; it’s about mastering yourself. In this Q&A, Michaela Gerardina, Esteban Andres, and Michael Viera explain how psychology and strict risk management shaped their journeys. Discover how they overcame revenge trading, learned to trust their statistical edge, and why personal growth is the ultimate key to passing the FTMO Evaluation Process.

Trader Michaela Gerardina: “Trading is about falling, learning, getting back up, and continuing to improve.”

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

For me, the key to long-term success in trading is psychology and discipline. I always stick to my trading rules and avoid revenge trading after a loss. I don’t feel the need to trade every day; sometimes the best decision is to wait patiently for the right setup. Consistency is essential. By following your rules every day and staying disciplined, you give yourself the best chance of achieving long-term success in the markets.

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

The most difficult part of my FTMO Challenge was dealing with my mindset on one particular day. I wasn’t mentally at my best, and for the first time in months, I failed to follow my trading rules. I started revenge trading and entered the market without seeing any valid setups. Looking back, I wasn’t trading based on my strategy but purely on emotion. As traders, we’re all human, and mistakes can happen. The important thing is to learn from them and protect your capital. That experience reminded me that risk management and discipline are more important than any single trade. Trading is about falling, learning, getting back up, and continuing to improve. What matters most is how you respond after a mistake and whether you stay committed to your trading plan.

How did passing the FTMO Challenge and Verification change your life?

Passing the FTMO Challenge has been a significant milestone in my life. Becoming an FTMO Trader was one of the goals I set for myself, and achieving it proved that all the hard work, discipline, and dedication were worth it. More importantly, it gave me confidence in my abilities as a trader. It showed me that I can stay consistent, follow my strategy, and achieve the goals I set for myself. I am very proud of this accomplishment, and it motivates me to keep improving and growing as a trader.

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

Yes, I have a trading plan, and I follow it as strictly as possible. Before entering any trade, I review my rules and make sure the setup meets all my criteria. I have seen a huge change in myself since I started trading. In the beginning, I was much more chaotic and felt like I needed to be in the market every day. Now, I understand that trading is about patience. I don’t trade every day anymore. Sometimes I sit down, analyze the market, and decide not to enter a trade at all. Instead, I spend my time backtesting and improving my strategy. For me, that is one of the biggest signs of personal growth. My psychology and mindset have improved significantly, and trading has made me mentally stronger. I believe that the stronger your mindset is, the better you can handle challenges, both in trading and in life. Of course, we are all human, and mistakes can happen. I had one day where I didn’t follow my trading plan and ended up revenge trading, even though it hadn’t happened for months. The important thing is to learn from those moments and make sure they remain exceptions, not habits. Overall, I trust my trading plan, I follow my rules, and I stay focused on long-term consistency.

Has your psychology ever affected your trading plan?

Yes, psychology has definitely affected my trading at times. I believe psychology is one of the most important aspects of trading and often the biggest challenge for traders. There have been moments when emotions influenced my decisions, especially during periods of frustration or after taking a loss. One example was when I revenge traded and ignored my trading plan. Experiences like that taught me valuable lessons about discipline, patience, and emotional control. However, every challenge has helped me grow. Over time, I have become much more aware of my emotions and learned how to manage them better. Today, I focus on following my plan, protecting my capital, and staying patient for high-quality setups. Psychology will always be part of trading, but learning to control it has made me a stronger, more consistent trader.

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

My advice to anyone taking the FTMO Challenge is simple: you can do it. Trading is largely a mental game. If you can control your emotions, stay disciplined, and trust your process, you can achieve your goals. Stick to your trading plan and don’t focus too much on how long it takes. What matters is reaching your destination, not the speed at which you get there. Work on yourself every day. Trading is not only about charts and strategies; it’s also about personal growth. I believe we are all lifelong students. Every day brings new lessons, new experiences, and new opportunities to improve. Keep learning, keep growing, and never stop developing yourself. The stronger you become as a person, the stronger you will become as a trader. Stay patient, stay consistent, and trust the journey.

Trader Esteban Andres: “Without discipline, even the best strategy will eventually fail.”

Where have you learnt about FTMO?

I first learned about FTMO through the trading community and online educational content related to proprietary trading firms. As I researched different opportunities for traders, FTMO consistently stood out because of its transparent Evaluation Process, strong reputation, and emphasis on risk management.

Do you plan to take another FTMO Challenge to manage even bigger capital?

Yes, absolutely. My goal is to continue proving consistency and discipline in my trading. Taking additional FTMO Challenges and increasing the capital under management is a natural step in my long-term trading career.

What does your risk management plan look like?

Risk management is the foundation of my trading strategy. I risk only a small percentage of my account per trade, always use predefined Stop Loss levels, and maintain strict daily and overall drawdown limits. Capital preservation is my top priority, and I focus on consistent execution rather than maximising short-term gains.

What do you think is the most important characteristic/attribute to become a profitable trader?

Discipline is the most important attribute. A profitable trader must be able to consistently follow a proven trading plan, control emotions, and remain patient during both winning and losing periods. Without discipline, even the best strategy will eventually fail.

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

I minimised the influence of luck by developing a rules-based trading system and relying on statistical probabilities rather than individual trade outcomes. By executing the same strategy consistently over a large sample of trades, results become driven by process and edge rather than chance.

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

Focus on consistency, not on passing the FTMO Challenge as quickly as possible. Respect risk management rules, stay patient, and trust your trading plan. The Challenge is not only about generating profits but also about demonstrating the discipline and professionalism required to manage capital responsibly.

Trader Michael Viera: “Discipline is what turns a strategy into consistent results.”

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

I would not say that either phase was easier than expected. In my opinion, performance depends more on market conditions and how well a strategy aligns with the current environment. There are good days and bad days. Saying that the Verification was easier simply because it took less time would not be entirely fair, as the strategy may have performed better during that specific period. Both phases required the same level of discipline and execution.

What does your risk management plan look like?

I keep my risk management as simple as possible. I risk no more than 0.5% per trade, and I have a daily loss limit of $2,000. Once that limit is reached, I stop trading for the day. The main goal is to stay disciplined and follow the plan consistently. If my account experiences a Drawdown of around 5%, I may reduce my risk further to 0.25% per trade until performance stabilises.

What was the hardest obstacle on your trading journey?

The hardest obstacle was consistently following my plan day after day. It sounds simple, but it is often one of the most difficult aspects of trading. There is always a temptation to look for new strategies or make adjustments when results are not immediate. Over time, I learned that consistency and trust in a proven process are far more important than constantly searching for something different.

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

I try to keep my trading as systematic as possible so that emotions have minimal influence on my decisions. Much of the emotional pressure in trading comes from uncertainty and not knowing what will happen next. By following a structured process with predefined rules, I reduce the impact of those emotions. If a trade results in a loss, I simply accept it as part of the business. My approach is focused on long-term performance, not the outcome of any single trade.

What do you think is the most important characteristic/attribute to become a profitable trader?

I believe discipline is the most important attribute for a profitable trader. Markets are always changing, and there will be periods of wins and losses. However, if you can remain disciplined and consistently follow your rules, risk management, and trading plan, you give yourself the best chance of achieving long-term success. In my experience, discipline is what turns a strategy into consistent results.

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

My number one piece of advice is to learn as much as possible about trading, then find or develop a system that fits your personality and risk tolerance. Once you have a system that you trust, follow it exactly as written. When experienced traders say, “follow your plan,” take that advice literally. Consistency in execution is often more important than constantly searching for a new strategy.

All information provided on this site is intended solely for educational purposes related to trading on financial markets and does not serve in any way as a specific investment recommendation, business recommendation, investment opportunity analysis or similar general recommendation regarding the trading of investment instruments. FTMO only provides services of simulated trading and educational tools for traders.