Introduction
Chelsi
Hey everyone! Today, we’re thrilled to welcome David, one of our dedicated students at the Unger Academy. Over the past year, David has been diligently applying the strategies he learned, and last August he even earned the title of Trader of the Month with an outstanding 40% return. Let’s dive into how his hard work and our training program have propelled him to such impressive results. Welcome, David!
David
Hello!
Chelsi
So David, let’s start by telling us a little bit about yourself and your professional background?
What David does in life
David
Of course! I’m a computer engineer and graduated quite some time ago. My interest in derivatives began shortly after, during my PhD in operational research, where I worked on valuations, including real options. That opened the door to financial options and eventually the broader derivatives market.
My trading journey began in 1998, so we’re talking over 25 years of experience. It’s been a rollercoaster, with ups and downs in both effort, time, and outcomes, some good wins, and a some losses.
Recently, with work slowing down a bit, I found more time to dedicate to my hobbies.
That’s when I decided to join the Unger Academy, and I’m so glad I did. The program’s resources were invaluable—some covered new ground for me, while others reinforced existing knowledge, and that’s ok since the program is designed to be useful to anyone, even total beginners. Anyway, I even revisited certain lessons multiple times to catch details I had missed initially.
The content is phenomenal. Every time I revisit it, I find something new. But it does require time to truly absorb, especially if, like me, you enjoy exploring every detail thoroughly.
I started the training program in May last year and went live this January. Looking back, I might have gone live sooner, but live trading has its own learning curve. It reveals things you might not pick up during preparation.
Chelsi
Absolutely. And what challenges were you facing before joining the program?
The challenges David encountered before discovering the Unger Method
David
Well, basically, most of the challenges I was facing were those Andrea Unger mentions in his videos. For instance, balancing a full-time job with trading in a more discretionary way. Systematic trading, with its automated systems and pre-defined rules, was a game-changer.
When you’re juggling work, it’s impossible to monitor markets 24/7. Checking in once a day was the most I could manage. Systematic trading also relieved a lot of psychological pressure. Unlike discretionary trading, where emotional decisions can lead to mistakes, automated systems eliminate that risk.
Chelsi
What led you to choose our program over others?
Why David opted for our program instead of others
David
Initially, I was just looking for technical training on platforms like MultiCharts. But after watching Andrea’s videos, I was impressed. I don’t know, maybe that’s because, since we’re both engineers, we have–
Chelsi
…A common language!
David
Yes, exactly. And I don’t know, but I immediately liked him. He struck me as a very down-to-earth person in a world where there are plenty of people who sometimes just talk big. The reality is, he’s been a four-time world champion, which speaks volumes. I’ve also noticed that other students of his have won championships too, which already shows that the method is genuinely interesting.
As I said, initially, I actually wanted to dive deeper only into the technical aspects because I thought, "I’ll define my own method; I’ll come up with something myself." But the real value of program course is in the methodology, particularly with all the libraries and functions provided. They save you a lot of time and help you develop systems independently. Of course, it also depends on your skill level in development.
In my opinion, to reach the same level achievable through the program would have taken me at least ten years. From the technical aspects to all the details of configuration, developing functions, or even learning what to do and what not to do—all those nuances are invaluable.
Chelsi
It’d be like reinventing the wheel…!
David
Exactly, well said. Trul0079, both he and the coaches share their immense experience, which is, of course, so vast that this has been, so far, the best investment I’ve made. But we’ll see if it continues this way. For now, I’m certainly happy with the results from these first few months. Yet, with my years of experience, I also know there are significant fluctuations.
Chelsi
Of course!
David
There are periods of bad runs, so I’d like to see a longer track record to confirm if these trends hold.
Chelsi
We hope so!
David
Let’s hope so!
Chelsi
Was there a specific aspect of our program that made a significant difference for you?
The program feature that made the biggest difference for him
David
Overall, the ability to develop and optimize all the parameters was a game-changer for me, especially coming from an operations research background. Although it’s been many years, for me, optimization should be the foundation of every process and decision, at least those of a more concrete nature.
The ability to develop systems and then fine-tune all the parameters is what I’ve enjoyed and appreciated the most. It’s also where I have the most fun because, at times, while optimizing parameters and testing various ranges—even ones that seem nonsensical—you end up discovering things you’d never have found without these tools.
This is the part I enjoy the most—developing systems, often starting with the basic ones provided by the Academy, and then experimenting. Sometimes, I tweak things, make small changes, or stress certain aspects while always trying to avoid falling into the trap, as Andrea calls it, of overfitting. That is undoubtedly something to watch out for.
Chelsi
You’ve mentioned you started live trading this January. What kind of results have you achieved since you started trading live?
The results David has reached
David
Yes, since January—well, late January. I remember my first trade was on January 29, if I’m not mistaken. Currently, I’ve got $158.000 on my Interactive Brokers account. I started with $60,000 and am up $98,000. It’s now September, so that’s not even eight months. And yes, I mean, beyond the amount itself, the return has been far beyond my expectations. I initially started with $40,000 and later added another $20,000 because I developed additional systems and occasionally ran into margin issues. So, relatively speaking, I’m over 200% in these few months. Maintaining this rate of growth is obviously difficult; otherwise, in just a few years, I’d reach unimaginable levels…
Chelsi
Who knows!
David
You know, I’ve pushed leverage quite a bit, taking on some calculated risks. For me, it started as a test with 40.000 dollars, just to see if it worked. Honestly, except for one off month, every other month closed in the green. Now, it’s about seeing where it goes from here.
It’s been a good ride so far, with standout months like August—especially during market crashes, when things got rough. One key focus has been keeping my systems balanced between long and short strategies. While optimizing, the “best” settings often leaned towards long positions, but…
Given the market’s levels last year, a correction seemed inevitable. Even though it wasn’t the most optimal choice, I adjusted parameters to ensure the short side worked as well. And when the correction came, it paid off—the biggest wins were during steep index declines.
Chelsi
Got it. Thanks for sharing. How has your life changed since you achieved these results?
How systematic trading has transformed David ’s life
David
Not much, honestly. Since I have a full-time job, trading is still a hobby. But I’ve found ways to make time for it. The systems are a game-changer—working offline whenever I want, even in the early hours, at 4 or 5 AM, and then letting them run independently. This automation is a huge time-saver.
Chelsi
If you hadn’t joined the program, where do you think you’d be now?
Where David might be today without the Unger Academy
David
In trading? I’d probably still be stuck with manual, trial-and-error systems—sometimes making money, sometimes losing.
Chelsi
So, reinventing the wheel without any instructions?
David
Exactly. If I’d tried systematic trading on my own, I’d still be figuring out the basics—configuring software, setting up the server. With limited time, progress would’ve been painfully slow.
Chelsi
That makes sense. Final question: What would you tell someone watching this interview who’s still undecided about joining our program?
David ’s tips for aspiring systematic traders
David
I’d say this: It’s been a fantastic choice for me. I get the skepticism—I had doubts, too, because, let’s face it, online offers can be questionable. But after seeing Andrea’s interviews and diving into the Unger Academy material, I was confident. Looking back, it’s been one of my best decisions. So, if you’re passionate about the world of trading, this program is the best way to approach it systematically and effectively.
Chelsi
Awesome. Thank you, David, for sharing your story with us. It’s been great!
David
Thank you.
Chelsi
And happy trading!
David
Thanks!
