In the fast-paced world of trading, perseverance pays off. Meet CRE Trades, a UK trader who’s turned years of experience into consistent success with FundingTraders securing multiple funded accounts (scaling toward 300K capital) and ready-to-withdraw payouts like $1,500+, all while sharing transparent live trades. In his recent FundingTraders interview, CRE opens up about his journey, key lessons, and what keeps him profitable.
Humble Beginnings: The Spark That Ignited a Trading Career
From Penny Stocks to Futures MasteryCRE started nearly five years ago after hearing about penny stocks from a friend’s dad. He explored stocks, forex, crypto, and more, learning what fits his style. “Don’t just stick to one thing… have an adventure, finding out what works for you. “Forex felt too slow: “To hit a one-to-three or one-to-four on Euro USD… it took my whole day.” Futures (especially Nasdaq) changed everything—quick volatility, 2-3 hour sessions, and better life balance. He now prefers 1:1 risk-reward for higher win rates and emotional ease: “Your win rate goes through the roof… it’s easier psychologically.”
The Real Path to Profitability
Early years brought losses and blown accounts from poor risk management. Profitability hit around age 21-22 when he shifted focus: “It wasn’t necessarily the markets, it’s more so managing your money that you get.” He learned to appreciate small wins, reinvest wisely, and avoid ego trades.
Key mindset shift: “If it’s a small amount payout… just take it… and then you can reinvest that.”
The Evolution: From Forex Frustrations to Futures Freedom
CRE’s journey wasn’t without trials. He traded forex extensively but found it mismatched his lifestyle. “I traded Forex for such a long time and to hit like a one to three or a one to four on, um, like Euro USD, I just felt like it was taken up my whole day,” he explains. The slow pace clashed with his need for quick, efficient trades.Discovering futures, particularly the Nasdaq, was a game-changer. “I like the volatility of futures. I like how, if you are right, your. Right in a, in a good timeframe.” This shift allowed him to wrap up sessions in 2-3 hours, freeing time for side businesses and personal life. “Trading’s like my main task. But I also like to have good cash flow income coming in every single month. ’cause trading can be difficult times, you can have a bad month.”CRE now favors a 1:1 risk-reward ratio, boosting his win rate and psychological edge. “I’ve been trading one-to-ones recently and it’s actually been, yeah, it’s been really, really good for me. It really helps, like, because your win rate goes through the roof.” This mature approach mirrors seasoned traders, prioritizing consistency over high-risk home runs.
Crafting a Winning Strategy: Simplicity and Intuition
CRE’s method evolved through exhaustive learning from Elliott Wave to Fibonacci, ICT, and SMC. He advises beginners to start with basics: chart analysis, data research, and fundamentals. “Go for the basics. Learn. The basic foundation just to understand chart analysis, data research, uh, you know, fundamental analysis is very important as well.”He warns against hype: “Stay away from influencers like TJR for example. You know, he doesn’t know how to trade… When it’s too good to be true, it’s too good to be true.”
His current timeframe approach is streamlined: Daily for overall direction, 1-hour for session insights, and 1-minute for entries. “Every trade that I take has a reason of why it’s gonna move there.” Intuition, built from reps, guides when to trade or sit out.
