Jo Varias is a 35-year-old trader with a three-continent backstory: Filipino-born, raised in Amsterdam, recently relocated to California. He started in Forex back in 2016, blew through accounts over the years, hit rock bottom in 2021 (losing his entire savings), then took a break and spent a full year backtesting before transitioning into prop firms. He officially became funded with FTMO in April 2023. Today his focus is tight - NQ and Gold, with the occasional GBP/USD or USD/JPY - traded primarily during the Asia and London sessions using key levels and Draw on Liquidity.
Q Quick intro - who are you, age, where are you from, and what do you trade?
A My name is Jo Varias. I'm a 35-year-old Filipino, born and raised in Amsterdam, and I recently relocated to California. My primary focus is trading NQ and Gold, though I occasionally trade Forex pairs like GBP/USD and USD/JPY.
Q When did you become a funded trader? What changed for you at that point?
A I officially became a funded trader in April 2023. That milestone marked a massive shift in my professional life - it forced me to refine my discipline, overhaul my risk appetite, and most importantly commit religiously to a single strategy.
Q How did you feel when you became a funded trader for the first time?
A Reaching that point brought a sense of ultimate satisfaction. I had started the evaluation process a year prior - blowing multiple accounts before finally passing one and securing my first real payout.
Q How many times did you fail before getting funded? What kept you going?
A To be honest, I've lost count of how many times I failed before getting funded. If I include my early Forex days back in 2016, the number is significant. What kept me going wasn't just the potential for profit - I knew trading would shape my mindset in a way nothing else could. I realized success was simply a loop of understanding market structure, repetition, and execution, regardless of individual wins or losses.
Q What was your lowest point in trading? Did you ever consider quitting?
A My rock bottom was in 2021. I traded away my entire savings while dealing with personal issues, which led to a dangerous cycle of emotional trading. I never considered quitting, but I did take a break. When I was mentally ready, I spent a full year backtesting before deciding to transition into prop firms.
"The way I trade is a direct reflection of my mental and emotional state. Success became a matter of managing myself as much as managing the charts."- Jo Varias
Q Did trading ever affect you mentally or emotionally?
A Trading has absolutely tested me emotionally. Every failure led to self-doubt and questions about whether this was truly for me. At the time, I was stuck in a job I hated, dreaming of financial freedom. Eventually, I realized that the way I trade is a direct reflection of my mental and emotional state. Success became a matter of managing myself as much as managing the charts.
Officially Funded
Jo's Top One Futures funded trader certificate - the milestone that ended a year of disciplined backtesting and reset his trading career.
Jo Varias Top One Futures Funded Certificate
Q What does your trading style look like today?
A My style is structured and focused. I stick to two primary assets - NQ and Gold. While I attempt the New York session, I find my highest probabilities during the Asia and London sessions. My decisions are based on key levels and Draw on Liquidity - I analyze the hourly timeframe for context and execute on the 15-minute down to the 1-minute charts.
Q What's a typical trading day for you? Walk us through your routine.
A When trading the Asia session, I wait for the 2:00 PM NY rebalance and the 6:00 PM key open. I look for a breakout from that key opening price and aim for a 40-to-50 point target. I apply the same logic to the 12:00 AM London open.
Q Do people around you understand what you do? How do they react?
A People often mistake trading for gambling. My response is always the same: it's only gambling if you don't know what you're doing. I'm fortunate to have a small, tight-knit circle of traders to share ideas with.
"It's only gambling if you don't know what you're doing."- Jo Varias
Q How has trading impacted your lifestyle?
A The impact has been profound - specifically the time freedom. Trading lets me structure my life without a fixed 9-to-5, giving me the flexibility to focus on personal development and hobbies. My pure passion for the markets is what keeps me motivated every day.
Q What keeps you motivated to continue trading?
A Passion. That's what keeps me motivated to keep trading.
Q What would you tell your younger self when you first started trading?
A Backtest, get a mentor, and be patient. Early on, I was looking for a shortcut to easy money. I only found consistency once I respected market structure and stayed disciplined to my own strategy.
Q If I gave you a $1,000,000 funded account today, what would you do in the first 7 days?
A Business as usual. I'd stick to my exact risk parameters - 10-point stop losses, 40-50 point targets - using the same sessions and timeframes. Staying consistent with what works is the only way to play the game.
Connect with Jo
Follow his journey and connect with him on LinkedIn.
