We spoke with Tharindu about his trading plan, insights, and lessons gained while trading in the markets and our platform as a funded trader.

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Watch The Interview With Tharindu

 

Tharindu $60K High-stakes Account – Phase One

 

Tharindu $60K High-stakes Account – Phase Two

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tell us a little bit about you.

My name is Tharindu Tharuka. I am from Sri Lanka. I have been trading roughly since I was 21 years old. Currently, I’m 26 years old. Trading is my profession now, and I was a school math teacher before I entered to full-time trading.

How long have you been trading?

I am a full-time trader. I have been trading for 5 and a half years.

Briefly describe your Trading Plan and how it contributes to your success.

When I’m trading, I always focus on risk management. Maintain strict adherence to risk management rules to protect my funded capital. The second thing is to Identify the key supply and demand levels of my chosen trading instrument. Then, consider using limit orders to enter at the desired price level within the supply or demand zone. Finally, I placed my stops just beyond the opposite side of the supply or demand zone. No profit target because I trail my SL when the market goes according to my trade direction.

Please share with us a challenge you faced in your trading career and how you overcame it.

When I was learning trading in my first two years, that was very tough. Ups and downs. I did all the bad trading habits like overtrading, overrisking, not journaling, etc. Here are some tips on how I avoid those bad trading habits.

01. Create a Trading Plan: Develop a well-thought-out trading plan that includes my trading goals, risk tolerance, entry and exit criteria, and position sizing rules. Stick to this plan religiously and avoid deviating from it in the heat of the moment.

02. Risk Management: Limit the amount of capital I put at risk in each trade. A common rule is to risk no more than 0.25%-0.5% of my total trading capital on a single trade. This helps protect my account from large losses.

03. Reduce Position Size: If I find myself overtrading, consider reducing position size. Smaller positions will naturally limit the impact of each trade on my account balance and help me maintain discipline.

04. Trading Hours: Establish specific trading hours and stick to them. Avoid trading during periods of low liquidity or when you’re emotionally compromised.

05. Meditation: Through meditation, I can gain a better understanding of my own thought patterns and behaviors. This self-awareness can help me identify and address biases, such as overconfidence or fear, that may negatively impact their trading.

How did you adjust risk management to your trading personality?

I always use a stop loss in trading. Be honest with myself about my emotional responses to risk. If I find that I’m too emotionally affected by losses, I may need to reduce my position size or set tighter stop-loss orders. Conversely, if I’m overly cautious and missing out on profitable opportunities, I might need to adjust risk parameters to be more in line with my trading goals.

Describe a key moment in your trading career

One of the most pivotal moments in my trading career occurred during my transition from being a school math teacher to becoming a full-time trader. At the age of 21, I decided to pursue trading as a profession, leaving behind a stable job in education. It was a significant leap of faith, driven by my passion for financial markets and the belief that I could succeed in this challenging field.

The key moment came when, at the age of 26, I realized that I had not only successfully made trading my full-time career but had also managed to maintain a consistent income from it. This realization wasn’t just about the financial aspect; it was about achieving a level of self-sufficiency and professional fulfillment that I had always aspired to.

The journey was not without its challenges. I had to dedicate countless hours to learning and refining my trading strategies, managing risk, developing discipline, and practicing the meditation required to navigate the ups and downs of the financial markets. There were moments of doubt and setbacks, but they served as valuable learning experiences.
What made this moment truly special was the understanding that I had managed to translate my passion for mathematics and problem-solving into a successful trading career. My background in math provided me with a strong analytical foundation that I could apply to financial markets.

Ultimately, this pivotal moment solidified my commitment to trading as a lifelong journey of self-discovery, financial growth, and the pursuit of excellence in a profession that I am deeply passionate about.

How long does it take to become a consistent trader, and what aspects did you change that helped you become consistent?

I have been a consistent trader for 3 years.

 

 

What is your mental/psychological strength, and how did you develop it?

My mental and psychological strength lies in my ability to maintain emotional discipline and self-control during trading. I have worked on developing this strength through regular meditation practice, which has allowed me to gain a deep understanding of my emotional responses and thought patterns. Meditation has helped me become more self-aware and in tune with my emotions, which is crucial in the high-pressure environment of trading.

By consistently practicing mindfulness and meditation techniques, I have learned to observe my thoughts and emotions without reacting impulsively. This has enabled me to make more rational and well-calculated decisions in the face of market fluctuations and unexpected events. Over time, I have become better at managing stress, avoiding impulsive trades, and maintaining a disciplined approach to trading.

What was your strategy to successfully pass The5ers’ evaluation?

I’m using both smart money concepts and supply-demand-based strategy. No EAs and No indicators. Pure using price action. Firstly, go through high time frame analysis and follow the high-time frame market structure. Then, mark all the supply and demand areas in a High time frame. After that, wait till the price is mitigated to marked areas and then shift to a 15-minute market structure. If I notice there is a 15-minute momentum shift, I’ll enter to trade. Pretty simple always follow the same rules, and I only trade EU and GU. Because less is more. I always trade in the London session. One session and two pairs are enough for my trading style.

How is trading for The5ers different from trading by yourself?

Perhaps the most significant difference is the amount of capital available for trading. In 5ers, traders often have access to the firm’s capital, which can be substantial, allowing for larger position sizes and potentially higher profits. Individual traders, on the other hand, typically trade with their own capital, which may be limited. Also, 5ers offer a sense of community and support through interactions with fellow traders, mentors, and experienced professionals. Individual traders may not have the same level of support.

What would you recommend to someone who is just starting with us?

The5ers is the best. I know it’s a business model, and they really depend on successful traders(not on the trader’s fee). If you are too serious about trading, this is the right place.

Please share online resources that were/are significant in your trading development

This YouTube channel helps me a lot when I practice meditation.

 

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