One Prop Trader a Day: Mina Kamal - From Forex to the Elite Market

Quick intro – who are you, and what do you trade?

I am Mina Kamal from Egypt, 39 years old. I started learning about forex in 2016, then stopped, and came back after 2020. I have been a funded trader for a year now, and recently moved into the futures market.

When did you become a funded trader, and what changed for you?

Funded trading helped me feel free, and my self-confidence increased when I moved into futures, which I consider an elite market.

What is the first thing you bought with trading money that felt like proof it was working?

I rewarded myself with my first earnings from funded trading by taking a trip to Sharm El Sheikh last year. It was a very good trip.

How many times did you fail before getting funded? What kept you going?

Honestly, I succeeded on my first try with the fund. It was amazing. I had faith that funded trading would bring me financial freedom, and that is what motivated me to keep going.

What is the most important lesson you have learned?

The most important lesson I learned was: do not chase the price, wait for the right time.

What was your lowest point in trading? Did you ever consider quitting?

I went through a tough time when I passed the test and then lost the funded account. But I did not lose my determination; I fought again until I won.

Did trading ever affect you mentally or emotionally?

Trading has had a positive effect on a personal level; it has improved my ability to handle pressure and make decisions.

What does your trading style look like today?

My method involves analyzing the market on the hourly timeframe and entering trades on the five-minute timeframe, using price action and classic technical analysis.

What is a typical trading day for you?

I usually wake up at 7 AM GMT, exercise, have a coffee, and prepare for the London session.

Walk us through your most recent losing trade.

I made a huge mistake recently. I lost a trade, but I was confident in my analysis, so I re-entered and lost again. You should not challenge the market; you have to admit your mistakes sometimes.

What is a popular trading rule you completely ignore, and why?

There is a rule I ignore: if you lose two or three trades, you should stop trading for the day. I keep going as long as I find a good opportunity.

Do people around you understand what you do? How do they react?

Those around me do not fully understand the type of work I do, especially older people, due to generational differences in mindset. But I have made friends with other traders like myself.

How has trading impacted your lifestyle?

More than anything, trading gave me a sense of freedom and confidence. It allowed me to reward myself, like that trip to Sharm El Sheikh, and it made me feel part of an elite market.

What separates you from someone who washed out at their third evaluation?

What sets me apart from others who gave up is my persistence. I keep trying and I do not give up.

What advice would you give yourself one year ago?

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to start using a funded account much earlier.

If prop firms disappeared tomorrow, would you still be trading? Doing what?

It would be unfortunate, but I would keep trading anyway. This is my passion.

If I gave you a $1,000,000 funded account today, what would you do in the first 7 days?

I would use my preferred method, compound interest, and double the account in a short period.