One man’s change of career from the football pitch to the financial markets and how he teaches others to earn their living from trading stocks, forex and commodities.
The cost of living has been steadily rising in the UK since the start of 2021 but with inflation reaching a 41-year high at 11.1%, people are really starting to feel the pinch. Not just through the increasingly high cost of everyday goods and services but the diminishing purchasing power of the cash in their savings accounts.
A recent study found that 26%, that’s 7.7 million Brits, are planning to change careers as a direct result of the crisis with 42% of respondents citing the necessity to increase their earnings. Some of the biggest drivers for this sentiment were the jump in the cost of energy (31%) and the sharp drop in the value of the pound (4%).
Interestingly, in the face of such negative economic forces, more and more of us are turning to the markets to supplement our incomes and boost our savings. Since 2020, there’s been some big developments in the world of amateur trading - the number of first-time traders has risen dramatically whilst the average age of new UK traders dropped to 35 for men and 39 for women.
“We have seen a massive uptick for our own business,” says Lee Sandford, founder of Trading College. “People of all ages and from all walks of life. These include - owners of businesses which are no longer viable because of the cost of gas, electricity, or petrol, young people on stagnating wages looking to boost their monthly pay. Also, recent retirees or those approaching retirement who have built up a cash nest-egg but who are really struggling to see a worth-while return.”
“The simple fact is that the ‘typical trader’ doesn’t exist. Everyone has something different to bring to the table as well as their own little foibles that they need to overcome, or at least keep in check. It’s been so interesting to watch this demographic shift in the 13 plus years we’ve been operating.” continues Lee.
“What’s really compelling is that the reasons for learning how to trade the markets have also shifted. Following Coronavirus, lots of people were drawn to trading for the lifestyle benefits - being able to earn a crust from just a few hours in the morning of a 4-day work week. There was a greater emphasis on getting the right work-life balance, choosing your own hours, and earning your living remotely.”
“Whilst that’s still attractive, factors relating to the economic downturn are much more commonly raised now and with trading being recession-proof, as in you can generate profit whether the markets are going up or down, you can see the appeal.”
Based in leafy Teddington, Trading College has been teaching students to trade consistently and profitably since 2009. Following an 18-year career as a professional footballer and then a stint in the trading pits at the Chicago Board of Trade, Lee has earned his living through trading. After being bitterly disappointed by the quality of the courses he’d attended, Lee became STA qualified and set out to create an educational programme with honesty, integrity, and innovation at its core.
The company later developed its own suite of software, screeners, and indicators to simplify charts, help its students identify market trends, interpret price patterns, and automate certain aspects of trading to save them valuable time.
“The beautiful thing is that absolutely anybody can be taught to be a successful trader. I’m no maths whizz but I spent years learning how to trade correctly. There’s a methodology behind trading that can be learned by anyone if they apply themselves.” But he urges caution, “There’s a lot of sharks out there. With new students, all too often, we must focus a lot of time addressing bad habits and correcting half-baked strategies picked up from across the web.”
Lee continues, “All our courses are priced competitively, CPD accredited and, most importantly, are taught by qualified professional traders with years of experience behind them. Likewise, the trading software that we’ve developed, that you’re taught to use, is yours to keep and trade with after the course at no extra cost or on-going fee.”
Trading College offers a FREE ONLINE BEGINNER COURSE and on-demand webinars. Premium courses include the Pro-Trading Course, their flagship group coaching package and the Mentorship Programme, which teaches a highly personalised curriculum through one-to-one tuition. All trading software is included in both courses though a range of packages can also be purchased separately.
For more information on TRADING COLLEGE, visit www.tradingcollege.co.uk or get in touch by calling 020 3005 4905 or emailing info@tradingcollege.co.uk.
