Meet Brenton Hansford

Brenton has been a valued member of the TMC Club since inception. He joined back in August 2018 (when Trading MasterClass was first launched) and quit his day job less than 2 years later! Brenton organizes and hosts a weekly TMC meetup where collaboration is the name of the game and everyone is welcome! He's a team player in every sense, and we're proud to have him in the club. Check out the full interview TMC recently conducted with Brenton below...

When did your trading journey first begin?

I came across Infinite Prosperity on Instagram in November 2017, learning about Passive Investing & Swing Trading. I then began Day Trading after joining Trading MasterClass in August 2018.

When did you leave your day job, and what was it that made you want to pursue full-time trading?

Flexibility with my time & financial freedom have always been something I’ve strived for since I began on this journey. When I discovered that successful trading could provide these along with a ton of additional benefits, the trading lifestyle became a no-brainer. In June 2019, I completed my university studies & took a 12-month career break from my job in banking. During this time I travelled through South America & put a bigger focus on my trading. I was able to fulfil my dream in April 2020 when I completely quit my job.

What is something unexpected that you love about trading?

I absolutely love that the skills I’ve had to develop to improve my trading have turned out to be equally, if not more, practical in everyday situations. To give an example; I never expected to develop so much self-awareness & emotional control, but in doing so I’ve found that not only has my technical analysis improved but also my relationships & gratitude for everything in my life.

What are one to three books that have profoundly impacted your trading journey / life in general? Why? 

1. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance - Angela Duckworth. I absolutely love this book. Maybe because it’s a hidden gem in the jungle of self-help books but more so because of how effortlessly Angela is able to melt down a fixed mindset and leave you believing with 100% conviction that whatever you want to achieve is possible.
2. The Gratitude Effect - Dr John Demartini. For someone that grew up with hardly any gratitude towards his life at all, this book knocked me into another world. A fantastic book for finding inner peace but it becomes mind-blowing when you realise the true power of what a daily gratitude practice creates in your life.
3. How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie. There is hardly a day in our lives where we do not have some sort of human interaction, and yet, as a species, we’re embarrassingly bad at it. This incredible book is stupidly simple yet equally eye-opening. Full of instantaneous tips, it will have you improving any and all of your social interactions and relationships.

What new belief, behaviour, or habit has helped you gain the most forward momentum since becoming a trader?

My biggest lessons / improvements have come from reflecting & reviewing my performance on a regular basis. Everybody makes mistakes, but not everybody recognizes the benefits of making that mistake. One of my favourite quotes I’ve taken from Irek over the years is “It’s only a mistake if you don’t learn from it.” If you don’t constantly look back to find what & why that mistake was made, you won’t improve. I’ve found it to be most useful keeping the process simple & enjoyable. If I had to recommend one daily action over any other, it would be this. 

"Everybody makes mistakes, but not everybody recognizes the benefits of making that mistake."

What advice would you give to an inspired, driven individual about to step into the trading world? 

“With hard work and effort, you can achieve anything” - Antoine Griezmann

“You never fail until you stop trying” - Albert Einstein

I’m thankful to have learnt these lessons early in my journey. Coming in, it was so easy to put the experienced traders & mentors on a God-like pedestal, when in reality they weren’t that different to me. They didn’t get lucky or were born with the skills that allowed them to do so well, it was the result of determined, constant effort. The book I mentioned above (Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance) is perfect for understanding & building this mindset.

How has Trading MasterClass assisted your evolution?

Trading MasterClass is the biggest reason I am where I am today. The clarity of the lessons & strategies, along with the continuous support from Irek, Jonny, the MC Team & the community has been invaluable. Putting such an emphasis on psychology & constant evolution has helped me to grow beyond anything I thought was possible, both in my personal life & my trading.

What’s next for you now that you’ve begun a new chapter as a full-time trader?

Nothing special planned just yet to be honest. My main focus right now is to grow my capital & improve my trading skills as much as I possibly can whilst enjoying the new found freedom. Beyond that, travelling & experiencing as much of this world as possible is next on my long list of goals.

Any final words of wisdom?

“Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare.” -Angela Duckworth, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

How can we keep up with you?

Instagram: @brenton.hansford

I’m also active in the Trading MasterClass community. I regularly join the TMC Community Zoom call every Tuesday which has been a great way to meet like minded people from around the world and pool our knowledge & experiences.