“You begin your journey not knowing where it will take you. You have plans, you have dreams, but every now and again you have to take uncharted roads, face impassable mountains, cross treacherous rivers, and be blocked by landslides and earthquakes. That's the way my life has been.” - Lee Kuan Yew
Ernest's journey into the world of algorithmic trading was unforeseen, yet he defied expectations and found success along this uncharted path. As a financial advisor at Finexis Advisory Pvt. Ltd., based in the bustling city of Singapore, Ernest's academic background includes a Bachelor of Science degree. This diverse foundation lends him a distinct viewpoint within the financial industry, enriching his expertise.
The following is his journey to Algo Trading with EPAT.
Hi, I'm Guohao Ernest from Singapore, working as a financial advisor at Finexis Advisory Pte Ltd, an independent advisory firm in Singapore. My role involves conducting market research, recommending the best goods and services, and helping customers find products that suit their needs.
I discovered algo trading through a friend who had completed the EPAT course and spoke highly of it. Intrigued, I decided to enroll in the course without exploring other options.
Since I had some time on my hands, I thought EPAT would provide insight into how active traders develop and implement strategies. As someone who has always been more inclined towards passive trading, this experience was eye-opening for me.
Coming from a Science background, I lacked programming knowledge, particularly in Python. Starting from scratch was a genuine challenge, but the EPAT programme enabled me to learn and apply what I had learned effectively.
My time at EPAT was fantastic, and I want to highlight some experiences:
- Learning and Automating Trading Strategies: I dedicated my time at EPAT to learning programming and automation techniques, as I had a strong interest in developing and automating trading strategies. This was the main reason I chose EPAT in the first place.
- Weekend Course Structure: The weekend course format was advantageous for me as it was well-paced and time-efficient. The recorded lectures allowed me to review the material as many times as I needed, facilitating my understanding of programming elements.
- Focus on Concepts and Modules: I primarily focused on understanding the fundamental concepts of algo trading and the modules provided. Once I grasped the basics, I progressed to studying various trading strategies.
- Programming Skills Development: The concepts were easy to understand, allowing me to concentrate on learning programming languages such as Python, backtesting techniques, and MATLAB.
EPAT offers several benefits, including:
- Renowned Faculty: EPAT boasts an exceptional faculty of trading professionals, such as Dr. Ernest Chan and Dr. Euan Sinclair. Their guidance was invaluable, particularly in understanding complex concepts, including the differences between retail and institutional investor strategies. The faculty and support team were always available to address any doubts and provided further explanations when needed.
- IBF Scheme Sponsorship: The IBF scheme provided a generous offer with maximum subsidies, making joining the program more appealing. The financial assistance I received through this sponsorship was significant.
- Placement Cell Support: I regularly received updates and emails from the placement cell, which I believe is advantageous when I will pursue a career in trading.
In conclusion, my time at EPAT was a valuable learning experience and I'm grateful for the opportunity to have enrolled in the course.
Your message to all the aspiring Algo Traders out there!
The programming aspect of algo trading should not intimidate individuals. With passion and motivation, even those with limited programming experience can pursue algorithmic trading. Those who aspire to build a career in this field should consider taking a course like EPAT, which not only streamlines their path but also equips them with diverse trading strategies, enabling them to reach their full potential.
This course is beneficial for anyone with a keen interest in algo trading, regardless of their prior programming experience. Given sufficient time, dedication, and practice, anyone can acquire new skills. A personal example is me - with the assistance of the EPAT course, I was able to overcome programming challenges and succeed.
Thank you, Ernest, for generously sharing your EPAT experience. We genuinely wish you the best as you continue to invest in expanding your knowledge and skill set. Congratulations on achieving your EPAT Certificate of Excellence!
If you too wish to equip yourself with lifelong skills which will always help you in upgrading your trading strategies and offer practical experience, and learn topics such as Statistics & Econometrics, Financial Computing & Technology, and Machine Learning, this algo trading course ensures that you are proficient in every skill required to excel in the world of trading. Enroll in 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.
