Overview
Interview with trader Sai ("Trades by Sai") on his journey from foster care and homelessness to multimillion-dollar trading success, approach to stocks/forex, asset management, and free education initiative (ICC).
Early Life and Background
- Raised in foster care; met biological mother at 17 after homelessness.
- Foster parent misused government support; food insecurity and instability.
- Expelled in 10th grade after fights; spent a year in juvenile detention.
- Homeless at 16; slept at McDonald’s and Taco Bell via shift arrangements.
- Reconnected with mother via Facebook; moved in and stabilized life.
Introduction to Trading
- First exposure: customer with BMW said she traded stocks; showed Robinhood.
- Turned 18, opened Robinhood/WeBull after retrieving documents.
- First learning sources: Humble Trader, Alux; focused on money management.
- Replaced heavy gaming with intensive study and market observation.
Stock Trading Journey and Milestones
- Started with small positions in Apple, SPY, penny stocks; followed Twitter calls.
- Built account from ~$3K to $100K within ~3 months during 2021 momentum.
- DWAC trade: entered around IPO spike; exited near $120 from $10 open.
- Realized ~$400K profit; later reached first $1M by December 2021.
- Market regime change (SPY ATH to drawdown) hurt performance; tax scam reduced funds to ~300K; sought Forex.
Forex Transition and Major Trades
- Began Forex on Jan 12, 2022 using MT5; funded with $10K from stock profits.
- Grew through mixed results; hit $1M by April 2022.
- May 2022 flip sequence:
- Turned $2K to $16K in London session (GBPAUD).
- New York NASDAQ short: $19K to $100K same day on ~700-point drop.
- Continued NASDAQ shorts to ~$400K, then ~$800K, and ~$1M on day 4.
- Next session: 9:30 a.m. open 5-minute candle dropped ~200 points; total closed PnL ~$11M.
- Posted results and withdrawal; experienced broker limitations and eventual account access loss.
Trading Philosophy and Process
- Focus on higher timeframes for structure; 1H entries, daily zones, 4H confirmations.
- Prefer day trades that can extend into swings; trades around breaks/retests of swing highs/lows.
- Emphasizes patience, consistency, and trend-following over catching bottoms/tops.
- Advocates building account equity and compounding vs. unsustainable flips.
- Warns against frequent strategy-hopping and overleveraging disguised by “sniper entries.”
Asset Management Shift
- Moved to managing client funds after broker issues; uses regulated brokers.
- Structures portfolios by risk: conservative vs. aggressive.
- Learnt from early mistakes (mutual agreements, high variance outcomes, communication gaps).
- Current model: manager profits only when client profits; prioritizes client protection and reserves for reimbursements.
- Notes investor psychology: large investors seek low risk/low % returns; smaller investors often prefer higher risk.
ICC Method and Education
- ICC stands for Indication, Correction, Continuation.
- Framework: break of level indicates bias, corrective pullback, continuation through level.
- Provides free education:
- Instagram: Trades by Sai with Telegram link to Google Drive (70+ videos).
- YouTube: “si” channel with long-form breakdowns.
- Periodic free 3-day Zoom bootcamps covering strategy and psychology.
- Community-first approach: active Discord/Telegram presence; real-time breakdowns.
Perspectives on Trading Psychology and Habits
- Analyze mistakes like test corrections; adjust the specific error, not entire system.
- Build accounts like savings; withdraw a portion of profits, avoid risking needed funds.
- Be realistic about drawdowns, timelines, and the role of patience.
- Intuition develops from repetition; big days often follow steady smaller days.
Notable Events and Anecdotes
- Viral Instagram post after $11M day and withdrawal screenshot.
- Travel safety lesson: jewelry theft in Tulum by police; reconsidered wearing valuables.
- Engaged audience at FX Summit; widespread recognition in the trading community.
Practical Guidance for New Traders
- Start by day trading to learn preferences (pairs, times, setups, duration).
- Align with the trend; avoid forcing countertrend “sniper” buys in selloffs.
- Use higher timeframe structure; avoid low timeframe noise-driven entries.
- Treat trading capital as saved, non-essential funds; build steadily.
- Avoid chasing gurus and constantly switching systems; master one approach.
Example Risk/Portfolio Structuring
| Portfolio Type | Typical Risk Range | Investor Profile | Notes |
|---|
| Conservative | ~1–10% per period (often 1–2% on large AUM) | Larger capital, low risk tolerance | Aim for modest annual returns; prioritize capital preservation. |
| Aggressive | ~30–50% risk; 55–60% viewed as too high for most | Smaller accounts seeking rapid growth | Must disclose risks clearly; high variance outcomes. |
Timeline Highlights
| Period | Event |
|---|
| Age 0–17 | Foster care; instability; manipulation by foster parent. |
| 16 | Homeless; slept at jobs; contacted mother; moved in. |
| 18 | Opened brokerage accounts; began stock trading; focused on money management. |
| 2021 | Penny stock boom; DWAC trade to ~$400K; first $1M by December. |
| Early 2022 | Transitioned to Forex; hit $1M by April. |
| May 2022 | $2K to $11M sequence on NASDAQ shorts; broker issues followed. |
| Post-2022 | Pivot to asset management; launched free ICC education and community. |
Action Items
- For learners: access ICC materials via Instagram (Trades by Sai) Telegram link and YouTube channel “si”.
- For aspiring AM clients: determine risk tolerance and portfolio fit (conservative vs. aggressive).
- For new traders: pick one approach, track errors, and build account steadily with periodic withdrawals.
Decisions
- Sai provides ICC education free; no paid course required.
- Asset management profits only when clients profit; client-first structure adopted.