From From Frustration to Clarity:
Daniel’s Trading Journey with IDTA
Interview with IDTA Member Daniel F
In this case study interview, we sit down with Daniel — a Melbourne-based automotive industry professional who decided to take his trading journey seriously after struggling with Forex and scalping strategies on his own.
Learn how Daniel was able to take his inconsistent Forex trading and make the switch to the Futures markets with the help of the professional traders and educators at the International Day Trading Academy
Daniel opens up about:
- His background and what drew him to trading
- The challenges he faced with risk management and consistency
- Why he turned to the IDTA Essentials Program
- How Live Trading Rooms and expert guidance helped shift his mindset
- The “aha” moments that changed his trading approach
- His advice to anyone sitting on the fence about getting professional trading education
If you’ve ever felt stuck or overwhelmed in your trading, Daniel’s story will definitely resonate with you. Watch now to hear how IDTA helped him gain confidence, clarity, and a deeper understanding of market context.
If I didn't join IDTA...
Transcript:
Dani: Hey, Daniel. How are you going?
Daniel: Good. Thanks, Danny.
Dani: That’s awesome.
Thanks for joining me today on this, case study interview. So if we could just start with a little bit about you, your background, who you are, where you’re from.
Daniel: Yeah. So I live in Melbourne. I’ve been in the automotive industry for fourteen, fifteen years, and I’m trying to find a way to get out of the office, so to speak.
I’ve been trading a little bit with, Forex and commodities and using a scalping type strategy that wasn’t really working for me. So rather than continuing on my own and, you know, continuing to fail, I guess, I decided that I’d reach out to IDTA, and, you know, I haven’t looked back since then.
Dani: What first got you interested in the world of trading?
Daniel: I don’t know. I guess everyone sort of sees it as free money, but I was more interested in, you know, just seeing what it was about to begin with, and it interested me.
So I’m not sure if it was the numbers or if it was the analytical side of it that, you know, I decided that I would just spend some more time looking at it.
Dani: Awesome. So with your prior trading journey, what were some of the biggest challenges or frustrations that you had with the forex trading?
Daniel: I think that’s really easy to answer. The biggest struggles that I had were market context and in particular risk management, trying to figure out where to put your stop losses, you know, figuring out where a good target might be.
You know, so I guess entries is a big one as well.
Dani: Mhmm. So were you struggling with consistency?
Daniel: 100%. So some days or some months, I guess, you know, it will be all red.
And some months, it was, you know, I guess, 70 or 80% win ratio, which was good, but struggling with the market context, where to find entries. Obviously, you know, the mentality behind it’s a big thing as well.
Dani: So how do you feel things are different now that you’ve been through the IDTA essentials program and you’ve been in the live trading rooms with us? Has your view on risk management, your strategy, has any of that changed considerably?
Daniel: Clear market context.
It’s enabled me to figure out where to put my stop losses and figure out where to put my targets, you know, figure out which way the market’s moving and make it easier for me to trade without becoming quite so frustrated. Awesome. So do you feel like you’re less signal focused and more sort of broader picture, more holistic view of what the market might be doing and trying to achieve? I have a a clearer view of what the larger time frames are doing, which helps me focus more on, which direction I should be trading in. Signals help, but not quite so much when you know what the market’s doing.
You know, signals are okay if you just wanna get in and scalp, but I haven’t found that profitable.
Dani: So did anything surprise you in your trading journey with IDTA? Anything about the course, the coaching, the community, anything that has surprised you?
Daniel: So I had a fellow called Glenn reach out to me, and I was a little bit skeptical at first, but then after watching John in the live trading rooms, you know, the way that he was helping all of the other traders and, his his view of the market gave me the idea that IDTA wasn’t just here to take my money. They were here to help me learn how to trade.
Dani: Awesome. Has there been a specific moment where things have just clicked for you?
Daniel: I’m still learning.
Dani: It’s a journey, isn’t it?
Daniel: it’s a massive journey, and I think you say it all the time. Everyone says it in the, live trading room. You know, no point trying to walk before you can crawl, but it’s definitely helped speed things up a little bit, with the clearer view of the markets that I have. I had a few moments where I’ve gained greater clarity what I’m doing.
I’m still learning, so I’m still learning the the language. But, definitely, every time I jump into the live trading room, I learn something new.
Dani: So overall, has your trading confidence improved or changed over time?
Daniel: 100%. So there are moments when every trader is gonna feel like they can’t do it and they wanna give up.
Yeah. You know, there are gonna be wins. There are gonna be losses. Definitely feel more confident when I’m looking at the charts than I’m when I’m trading. Overall, I’m willing to sit there and and really take it all in a little bit more.
If I didn’t join IDTA, I’d still be struggling. I’d still be frustrated, and I definitely would probably not be trading.
Dani: So would you say that you are trading in a more calm, relaxed state, not needing to have such a high win rate with your scalping moves from prior?
Daniel: Overall, I feel more comfortable and confident.
Dani: So what would you say to someone who is on the fence about joining IDTA?
Daniel: Reach out. Give it a go. You’ve got nothing to lose. If you’re struggling with market context and, like me, figuring out where to put your stops and and where to put your targets and losing trades because of that, just jump on board. Give it a go.
You’ll never look back.
Dani: Amazing. So it’s safe to say that you would recommend IDTA to other traders or even those that are new to trading?
Daniel: So for anyone that’s looking at trading, I’d definitely say give IDTA a go. They’ve helped me.
Dani: Awesome. Thank you so much for joining me today, and I wish you all the best in your trading journey and and beyond. So have a great day. Thank you so much.
Daniel: Thanks.