Xavier is a part-time trader hailing from Australia who seeks to set up his own algorithmic trading desk.
He has done Engineering and Masters in Computer Science and has 8 years of working experience. From trying out a variety of careers and jobs, Xavier finally settled on becoming an Algorithmic trader.
This is his journey.
Hi Xavier, tell us about yourself
Hi, I'm Xavier Anthony and I’m from Canberra, Australia. I did my Engineering and Masters in Computer Science. I have tried out a lot of jobs like working in big consulting companies as a programmer, an architect, and then finally went into management.
I have done some research into the area of neural networks and I love playing and interacting with technologies. I’m presently working as an IT architect.
How did you transcend to Algorithmic Trading?
When I was studying engineering, I got interested in the financial market. So, I did some professional work in order to understand financial markets. My uncle’s stories of the markets always interested me and that got me hooked to learning about the markets.
Those days, data analysis and data mining, etc. were not fully established and I thought I’d enter this field as I was able to spot the potential in the market. I intended to be my own boss, rather than working for someone and plus it was something that I liked.
My mindset was also research-oriented as I had pursued it during my Masters. Extracting data through research and analysis was very exciting for me.
I found that the financial market is a massive industry where there is a lot of data. I was also getting interested in artificial intelligence around the time when I was pursuing my Masters in Australia.
I used to go through balance sheets, check what companies were doing, their investments, dividends, etc. As my friends and I were into investing, we’d often create mock scenarios for trading to test our skills.
I couldn’t directly get into trading due to work limitations as I was working at a reputed MNC at that time in critical roles. I was also not aware of how I could pursue my interest in trading. However, after 4 years of experience, I started getting into Day trading.
Getting into the financial market, into algorithmic trading, was a positive for me. I made some money, lost some money, got into commodities, and had a not-so-good experience trading Oil which compelled me to think. This was an eye-opener for me.
I was still lacking the proper financial knowledge and how to step into this field of algo trading. I needed something to get into this world. Luckily at the right time, I found EPAT.
I had many doubts and conflicts at that time.
What about my education?
Where should I put my money into?
How should I learn?
Whom should I go to?
And that's where, when I was exploring more options, I came across EPAT. And definitely, I would say that I learnt a lot and it taught me a lot of things. Now, my way of dealing is completely different.
How was your experience with EPAT?
The EPAT course is really for everyone, and do believe me, it's very helpful.
EPAT has a good curriculum structure and it's very easy to navigate. The faculty is amazing and they have experienced professionals that guide you in every step of learning. Managing time was a challenge but EPAT & the brilliant Support team is quite helpful.
Dhiraj, my support manager was very supportive and guided me throughout my journey of EPAT. I have had some challenges during the duration of the course because of my personal situation, and he helped me overcome them.
For some reason, I came out of commodity trading and equity trading and got interested in options trading which is a massive area of learning.
After EPAT, I'm more confident, and confidence was the one thing that I was not having before. These days, I develop strategies. Now I know the values and am aware of answers to questions like - why I am going to go for this strategy, and what the backtest report will be.
The placement cell is a huge help. They are frequently sending me job opportunities via emails and job offers according to my needs. I would like to show my gratitude towards the support managers and other faculty who have always helped me and supported me.
I would definitely need some guidance when I start live trading, with the live trading systems, and on what mistakes I have made and where I need to improve, and I'm pretty sure that EPAT will support me in that aspect.
What would be your message to the aspiring Quants out there?
- Never give up!
- Get into the market and be prepared for some losses.
- Spend time on your education.
- When the experts give advice, try to understand why they are saying that.
I learnt all these things by making mistakes and then learning from them. You may want to give up when a problem arises or don’t get to complete the EPAT course. Don’t give up.
You can always come back to it a couple of months later, or maybe even years later. EPAT offers lifetime access to the course and you may get back into it later at any point in your life.
This series of videos are recordings of the discussion table conducted by QuantInsti exclusively for the students of the Executive Programme in Algorithmic Trading (EPAT).
Thank you so much Xavier for sharing your journey with us. We’re sure the readers will be moved by your story. We hope you achieve your dream of setting up your own algorithmic trading desk and building your own business. Wish you all the very best!
If you too desire to equip yourself with lifelong skills which will always help you in upgrading your trading strategies, this algo trading course is just what you need. With topics such as Statistics & Econometrics, Financial Computing & Technology, and Machine Learning, it ensures that you are proficient in every skill required to excel in the field of trading. Check out EPAT now!
Disclaimer: In order to assist individuals who are considering pursuing a career in algorithmic and quantitative trading, this success story has been collated based on the personal experiences of a student or alumni from QuantInsti’s EPAT programme. Success stories are for illustrative purposes only and are not meant to be used for investment purposes. The results achieved post-completion of the EPAT programme may not be uniform for all individuals.
