I started my journey in the mid-1990s as an IT professional on a London trading floor. I developed one of the first currency trading systems and worked with top traders worldwide. This is when I first got interested in trading and started playing with small amounts of money.
My mum was instrumental in my early trading days. With her support, I turned a small amount of money into a big profit in months. This gave me the confidence to leave my job and Trade full-time. I eventually set up a trading group from home, which grew rapidly, and then Learn to Trade was born 22 years ago.
Key Points
- I started in IT and developed early currency trading systems
- My mum helped me get started in trading
- Learn to Trade began to from home and is now a global business
Guest Bio
Greg Secker
I started my journey about 25 years ago as a young IT guy on a London trading floor. I worked with some of the world’s currency traders, helping build one of the first currency trading systems, the Virtual Trading Desk. I went to seven different trading floors worldwide and learnt from the best.
My big moment came when my mom lent me £15,000 to start trading. I turned it into £65,000 in 10 months. This gave me the confidence to leave my job and trade full-time.
I left my well-paid bank job and started trading from home. Initially, some universitymates and I traded in my lounge. But word got out about my strategies, and soon, I had 45 people camped out on my floor.
This led me to set up Knowledge to Action, a company that puts trading knowledge into practice. I started teaching people around the country, and 22 years ago, it grew into Learn to Trade.
Since then, I have opened training centres in Sydney, South Africa, and the Philippines. These centres combine workshops with live trading so people can see and experience trading strategies in action.
Greg’s Ground and Trading Experience
Building the Virtual Currency Trading System
I started my career as an IT professional on a London trading floor about 25 years ago. In the mid-1990s, I was asked to join a project to build one of the first currency trading systems, called the Virtual Trading Desk. This was when the internet was slow, and most trading was done over the phone. My job was to work with currency traders from London to Toronto to figure out how to build this new trading system.
This project took me to seven different trading floors around the world. I sat with some of the best position and discretionary currency traders and learnt what they did to make daily money. I had to understand their strategies, the currencies they traded, and the timing of their moves. My team’s job was to program all this information into the new system.
Learning Trading First Hand
While working on the trading system, I realised I could use this knowledge. I started small, asking my mom for £15,000 to try trading, and she agreed. We decided to split any profits.
I was fortunate to be on one of London’s largest currency trading floors. This gave me inside information on positions before they happened. Within about 10 months, I turned that £15,000 into £65,000. My mum was delighted with her share of the profits.
This gave me the confidence to leave my job and trade full-time. I enjoyed building trading systems but didn’t know where to go and when to show up. I started trading during work hours and built up my portfolio.
I eventually left the Bank of New York Mellon and started trading from home. Initially, I had friends over to trade with me. At one point, I had 45 people trading on my lounge floor. It was fun, but I soon realised I needed to formalise this.
From IT to Trading
The mid-1990s—I began my journey as a young IT professional on a busy London trading floor. I worked with some of the world’s currency traders to build one of the first currency trading systems. This project took me to seven different trading floors around the world.
As I sat with these experts, I learned their money-making strategies. I observed patterns in their trading behaviour, the currencies they traded and the times of day they made their moves. My job was to program all this information into a system.
Personal Trading Early Days
With all this knowledge, I couldn’t help but want to try trading myself. I approached my parents for a small investment to start trading. My father was hesitant, as we had a history of gambling in the family, but my entrepreneurial mother agreed to give me £15,000 to get started.
I was in a great position, working on one of London’s largest currency trading floors. This gave me inside information on positions before they happened. Within about 10 months, I turned that £15,000 into £65,000. My mum was delighted as we split the profits, but my dad didn’t discuss it.
This gave me the confidence to leave my day job. I enjoyed building trading systems, but I wanted more freedom. I started trading during work hours and built up my portfolio until I could leave the bank.
He was unimpressed when I told my dad I would trade from home. At the time, the bank was paying me well—about 10 times what my mates were earning—but I was determined.
Family Views on Market Trading
Dad’sDad’sion
My dad didn’t trade. He thought it was too risky. He said no when I asked him for £5,000 to £10,000 to start trading. He told me our family doesn’t make quick trades. We only do long-term investing.
This was based on my grandfather. He owned racehorses and was a bookie. He lost all his money gambling, which made my dad very cautious of anything that seemed like betting.
Mum’sMum’sness Spirit
My mum had a different view. She ran a big makeup company with 15,000 women selling products. It was as big as Avon. She was good at business and liked taking risks.
When I asked for money to trade, she gave me £15,000. She doesn’t want me to pay it back. Instead, she said we should split what I made. This worked well. Within 10 months, I turned that £15,000 into £65,000.
My mum was delighted with the results. She got half the profits. My dad didn’t talk about it. He still thought it was too risky.
Trading Growth and Success
Early Wins
I started my journey in the mid-1990s as an IT professional on a London trading floor. I was tasked with building one of the first currency trading systems, the Virtual Trading Desk. This project gave me access to some of the best currency traders in the world, and I learnt a lot from them.
I worked on seven trading floors globally and saw how the experts made daily profits. I also learnt about specific currency moves and timing strategies, which inspired me to trade personally.
My mum, an entrepreneur, lent me £15,000 to start trading. Within 10 months, I turned that into £65,000. This early success made me more passionate about trading, and I was on my way to independence.
As I got better, I started trading during work hours. I built up my portfolio until I could leave the bank. At first, I traded from home, often with university mates joining me. It got lively, with up to 45 people sometimes trading in my living room.
To formalise this growing interest, I founded Knowledge to Action. The Company’s purpose was to teach trading strategies. I realised that people needed more than just information—hands-on coaching to succeed.
This led to the creation of Learn to Trade, now in its 22nd year. We’ve partnered globally with the UK, Australia, South Africa, and the Philippines training centres. We combine classroom learning with one-on-one coaching so traders can put their knowledge into practice.
Building Learn to Trade
From Casual Meetings to Proper Business
I started learning to trade about 22 years ago. It grew from casual gatherings at my home to a formal business. At first, I had mates from university coming over to Trade. We’d go around, drink coffee, and work the markets. It was a lads’ lads, with up to 45 people camping in my living room. My girlfriend wasn’t, but I loved it.
I formalised things as more people learnt about our strategies and got results. I set up a company called Knowledge to Action. The name came from the idea that knowing what to do isn’t enough—you have to act on it.
I started teaching people around the country. Soon, I realised that just running events wasn’t good enough. People needed ongoing support to really apply what they learned. So, I started inviting them to my house for one-on-one coaching.
Putting Knowledge into Practice
Learn to Trade became a training and coaching business. We teach people what to do and when to do it in the markets. There are specific times of the day when you can generate substantial profits, while there are others when you should remain cautious.
The training part is about sharing knowledge and explaining strategies and market moves. However, genuine magic occurs during the coaching process. That’s when people sit with a trader coach and put their learning into practice.
I set up training centres in different countries. We started in the UK and then expanded to Sydney, South Africa, and the Philippines. Each centre had a training area and a trading floor next door.
Before COVID, we ran big workshops where people learnt the basics. Then, they went to the trading floor to work one-on-one with a coach. This hands-on approach helped turn book knowledge into practical skills.
Worldwide Growth
Setting Up Training Hubs Globally
I started in London but soon realised the opportunity to take my trading education business global. My first step was to open a training centre in Sydney, Australia, during a tour with Robert Kiyosaki, author of “Rich” Dad Poor Dad“.”
The” timing was perfect. While the world struggled with the 2008 financial crisis, Australia was relatively stable. Many Aussies, encouraged by government incentives, wanted to learn about investing and trading.
I built on this success and set up training hubs in South Africa and the Philippines. Each centre had a large training room next to a trading floor, allowing us to combine theory with practical application.
Our approach was simple but effective:
- Teach trading basics in group workshops
- One-on-one coaching with expert traders
- Actual world practice on our trading floors
This combination of learning methods helped students understand and apply trading concepts. It wasn’t about understanding the theory but putting it into practice in a live market.
Coaching and Trading Guidance
The Power of Trading Mentors
I’ve seen firsthand how vital trading mentors are. They don’t teach strategies; they shape a trader’s set and approach. A good mentor shares real-world experience points out common mistakes and gives practical tips. They can accelerate the learning curve and help new traders avoid costly mistakes.
Mentors often tailor their guidance to each individual’s individual and risk tolerance. This personalisation is key. It’s not just about learning the technical stuff; it’s about developing discipline, emotional control, and a trading plan.
One-on-One Trading Sessions
In my experience, the real magic occurs during e-sessions. It’s having a personal trainer for your trading. These sessions allow for:
- Immediate feedback on trades
- Tailored advice for specific market conditions
- Help with developing and refining trading strategies
I’ve noticed that traders often make significant progress in these sessions. They can ask questions freely, practice in a safe environment, and get instant clarity on tricky concepts.
One-on-one coaching also helps with psychological barriers. Many traders struggle with fear, greed, or overconfidence. A coach can spot these issues and work with the trader to overcome them.
Remember, even experienced traders can benefit from coaching. Markets change, and having a fresh perspective on your trading approach is helpful.
You can find more about Greg Secker here, and if you are interested in the deal he mentioned in the podcast for £87 you can get that at The Fast Track Trader.
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