Chat With Traders

We’re joined by Jack Schwager—author of the legendary Market Wizards series and co-founder of FundSeeder—along with his partner and fellow co-founder & CEO, Emanuel Balarie. Jack shares what it really takes to be considered for a Market Wizards book: not one formula, but a mix of standout performance, disciplined risk, and an almost obsessive commitment to process and adaptation. Along the way, we dig into why survival so often hinges on position sizing and pre-planned exits, whether strategies like trend following can still hold up today, and the paradox of how fundamental convictions can actually work against risk management. Emanuel then explains how FundSeeder discovers talented but undiscovered traders worldwide, using analytics to measure performance and the FundSeeder Rise accelerator (now part of RQSI) to help top performers make the leap from trading their own accounts to managing outside capital. Think of it as a “farm system” for the next generation of fund managers. Few will ultimately make the cut, but every great manager starts somewhere—and if you’ve been honing your craft and building a real track record, this episode might spark the thought: why not you? Time Stamps: Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads. * 00:00 – Introduction and background * 10:50 – What qualifies as “Market Wizards” performance * 15:20 – Longevity vs. hot streaks * 17:20 – Position sizing & cutting losses * 19:20 – Obsession level + trainee mindset * 24:20 – When edges die (index adds, VIX pattern) * 27:20 – Trend logic vs. whipsaw reality * 32:20 – Fundamentals vs. risk management * 38:20 – “Know your exit before entry” * 39:50 – FundSeeder origin story * 42:20 – Evaluating traders (quant + qual) * 48:20 – Why the Rise accelerator exists * 52:20 – RQSI’s role in seeding talent * 55:20 – Free analytics & benchmarking for traders * 57:20 – How to apply / contact Trading Disclaimer: Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Podcast episodes and other content produced by Chat With Traders are for informational or educational purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice. Links + Resources: * FundSeeder: https://fundseeder.com [https://fundseeder.com] * FundSeeder Rise (accelerator): https://www.fundseeder.com/rise [https://www.fundseeder.com/rise] * FundSeeder on X:  https://x.com/fundseeder [https://x.com/fundseeder] * Jack Schwager: https://x.com/jackschwager [https://x.com/jackschwager]  | http://www.jackschwager.com/ [http://www.jackschwager.com/] * Emanuel Balarie: https://x.com/emanuelbalarie [https://x.com/emanuelbalarie] Sponsor of Chat With Traders Podcast: * Trade The Pool:  http://www.tradethepool.com [http://www.tradethepool.com/?afmc=1am] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

A former competitive gamer, Mario Dimitroff from Bulgaria got his start on a local trading floor before discovering that the U.S. premarket session best fit his skills. Now trading for a living and doing nothing else, his news-driven, event-based scalping focuses on low-liquidity movers. Leveraging gaming-honed speed and pattern recognition, he quickly decides whether to ride momentum or fade to mean, enters/exits fast, sizes within liquidity, and sustains his edge by cutting losers quickly, avoiding drawdowns, and stacking small consistent wins. In this episode, you’ll hear how Mario turned his competitive gaming instincts into an all-in commitment to the markets and full-time trading career. Links + Resources: * Mario’s YouTube Channel:  The Wall Street Cat - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheWallStreetCat_/videos] Sponsors of this episode of the Chat With Traders Podcast: * Trade The Pool:  http://www.tradethepool.com [http://www.tradethepool.com/?afmc=1am] * TastyTrade:  http://tastytrade.com/podcasts [http://tastytrade.com/podcasts] Time Stamps: Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads. * 01:30 Introduction and background * 03:50 Early Experiences and Learning from Failure * 07:38 Return to Trading During COVID-19 * 08:38 Working on a Trading Floor * 10:51 Trading Strategies and Market Insights * 11:14 Imposter Syndrome and Mental Challenges in Trading * 14:57 Career Decisions and Trading Philosophy * 18:49 Finding Trading Edge and Style * 20:39 Scalping and Pre-Market Trading * 21:40 Meme Stocks and Market Euphoria * 24:07 Navigating Market Downturns * 25:49 Understanding Euphoria and Market Psychology * 43:54 Avoiding Drawdowns and Maintaining Profitability * 45:48 Scalping Strategies and Risk Management * 51:56 Biggest challenges as a trader * 59:15 How to reach Mario * 59:30 Chat With Tessa Trading Disclaimer: Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Podcast episodes and other content produced by Chat With Traders are for informational or educational purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Online funding prop firms have captured the attention of traders in recent years. In this episode, the CEO of Trade The Pool, Michael Katz, joins the podcast to answer key questions and offer perspective from inside one of the leading firms. The conversation explores how these firms operate, what they mean for traders, and the common debates surrounding them.  The goal is not promotion of prop firms, but to pull back the curtain and provide a clearer understanding of the role prop firms play in today’s trading landscape.   Links + Resources:  ●     Trade The Pool:  http://www.tradethepool.com [http://www.tradethepool.com/?afmc=1am]   Sponsors of Chat With Traders Podcast: ●      Trade The Pool:  http://www.tradethepool.com [http://www.tradethepool.com/?afmc=1am] ●       Plus500:  Try futures trading with Plus500 >> Start with a FREE demo or claim a bonus up to $200 with an open account 👉https://us.plus500.com [https://us.plus500.com/en/multiplatformdownload?product=Futures&id=138516&tags=version2&pl=2] Trading futures involves the risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor.   Time Stamps: Please note - Exact times will vary depending on current ads.   ●     00:00   Introduction and background ●     05:02   Attraction to Funding Prop Firms ●     06:06   Risk Management and Evaluation Fees ●     10:08   Misconceptions About Prop Firms ●     11:58   Education and Community Support ●     15:35   Trading Evaluation Process ●     18:47   Success Rates and Trader Psychology ●     20:04   Adjusting Strategies for Prop Trading ●     22:07   Rules and Boundaries in Trading ●     27:51   Success Stories and Learning Curves ●     28:58   Psychology of Funded Trading ●     31:52   Trader Retention and Patterns ●     33:54   Scaling and Risk Management ●     38:42   Payout Rules and Compliance ●     40:29   Adapting Rules for Trader Success    Trading Disclaimer:  Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Podcast episodes and other content produced by Chat With Traders are for informational or educational purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Growing up in Germany without a financial background, Julian Komar became fascinated by stocks as a teenager. He moved past complex German trading products to concentrate on U.S. equities. Specializing in momentum and growth stocks on the daily timeframe, he blends fundamentals, technicals, and story analysis to uncover opportunities that put him in the best position for high-potential setups and riding powerful trends. As a disciplined breakout trader, he prioritizes risk control, market trends, and intuition gained through decades of experience. About Julian Komar Julian is a trader, mentor, and entrepreneur. With over 20 years of stock trading experience, he trades growth and momentum stocks using a systematic strategy, holding winners for weeks to months and cutting losers within days — a style that perfectly matches his personality. Julian’s passion lies in uncovering innovative companies with the potential to grow sales rapidly and achieve significant long-term success. He devotes 95% of his energy to research, searching for the next potential “super stock.” Trading Disclaimer Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Podcast episodes and other content produced by Chat With Traders are for informational or educational purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice. Links + Resources * Follow Julian on X:  https://x.com/BlogJulianKomar * Julian’s Website: https://julian-komar.com/contact/ Time Stamps Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads. * 00:00 Introduction and background * 10:20 Fundamentals and technicals * 17:30 Sister stocks * 28:30 Trading the GFC * 34:02 Worst drawdowns * 33:00 The setup for the trade * 43:00 Position sizing * 52:30 Trading performance * 1:08:35 How to reach Julian * 1:09:00 Tessa Chats with Julian Sponsors of Chat With Traders Podcast: * Plus500:  Try futures trading with Plus500 >> Start with a FREE demo or claim a bonus up to $200 with an open account 👉⁠https://us.plus500.com⁠ [https://us.plus500.com/en/multiplatformdownload?product=Futures&id=138516&tags=version2&pl=2]Trading futures involves the risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. * Trade The Pool:  ⁠http://www.tradethepool.com [http://www.tradethepool.com/?afmc=1am] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

From academic struggles at SUNY Albany to holding the world record for the largest prop firm payouts—roughly $4.5 million in total, Kyle Ng a.k.a. JadeCap’s journey started out like many aspiring traders. Sparked by a childhood friend's success in forex about 14 years ago, he found his way into the financial markets.  Like many traders, he went through the pain, losses and sacrifices and struggles, but at the same time he’s also unlike many traders, slowly building his edge through discipline, risk management, and a long-term mindset. Over the years, he’s leveraged prop firms to scale his returns, transitioning fluidly between forex and futures while adapting his approach to changing market conditions. Influenced by ICT’s teachings, his style blends patience, adaptability, and the wisdom to step back when the market calls for it. In this episode, we dive into the mindset behind the milestones, the real-life lessons from his trading evolution, and what it truly takes to thrive in trading. Trading Disclaimer Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Podcast episodes and other content produced by Chat With Traders are for informational or educational purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice. Time Stamps Please note: Exact times will vary depending on current ads. * 00:00 Introduction and background * 10:25 Early trade experiences * 12:30 Evolving strategies * 16:55 Blowing up accounts * 21:10 Evolving into a full time trader * 25:55 Utilizing online prop firms to minimize risk * 01:55 The real money is made with processes * 35:05 ICT trading system * 39:40 Success tied to intuition? * 43:30 When to put the foot on the gas * 50:00 Resisting the urge to change strategies * 56:05 What Kyle struggles with * 58:20 How to reach Kyle * 58:40 Bonus Section:  Tessa Chats with Kyle – more on prop firms Links + Resources * Reach Kyle on X:  https://x.com/jadecap_ * Kyle’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JadeCap * Kye’s Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jadecapofficial/?hl=en Sponsors of Chat With Traders Podcast: * Plus500:  Try futures trading with Plus500 >> Start with a FREE demo or claim a bonus up to $200 with an open account 👉https://us.plus500.com [https://us.plus500.com/en/multiplatformdownload?product=Futures&id=138516&tags=version2&pl=2]Trading futures involves the risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. * Trade The Pool:  http://www.tradethepool.com [http://www.tradethepool.com/?afmc=1am] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]