Mayfair-based AstroFX â one of the UKâs leading Forex trading companies â says its goal is to train, hire and fund traders from across the world. We caught up with co-founder Aman Natt
What is it you do?
Iâm a fund manager in the heart of Mayfair. Myself and my team train, recruit and hire individuals with trading talents within our fund. We have over ÂŁ20 million that is allocated amongst traders worldwide, along with a full 20-person trading floor here in London. My job is to spot traders who excel within the fund and back them with more capital, thus giving my investors a return on their money.
What is your background?
My parents emigrated from India and I am a first-generation British-Sikh, born in a small city in the Midlands. English was actually a second language to me growing up, after Punjabi, which is my mother tongue. This often led to difficulty during my school life. Because of pressure from my family and culture, I attended university but I dropped out halfway through my first year due to a lack of passion and I found my calling for trading the financial markets. From there, the journey of my life really began.
How does trading work?
There are many different types of markets to trade; there are the popular stocks, futures and even commodities such as oil and gold. However, I specialise in FX, which is trading in the foreign exchange markets. For example, one of the most traded pairs is GBP/USD. In simple terms, we look at how these two economies have battled against each other in the past and we then make an educated prediction as to whether the price will go higher or lower. Get it right and you can hold your position and generate profits and a return on your capital.
How easy is it to learn?
I always say to my clients â learning it can be done in a few days or even a few weeks. However, becoming consistently profitable is a whole different ball game. We at AstroFX help students not just learn âhow it worksâ but also map out their next three, six and twelve-month targets and build a trading plan with them. We concentrate a large portion of their education on psychology and the mindset you need to create to keep your cool when you have money on the line. In my journey, I can proudly say we have helped people become profitable from all over the world, from very different backgrounds and different upbringings.
What are your proudest achievements?
People always ask me this and I often say the feeling of being able to do what I want, whenever I want to do it. Itâs the freedom of taking myself around the world and constantly travelling and discovering without the attachment to a career where you always need to be in one office. Of course, making my parents happy that I did well was important, even when I deviated from the traditional route of higher education and degree. My dad shares a passion for cars just as much as I do so I know he likes the Range Rover I bought him. I like to think my mum, who passed away in 2017 from cancer, would be proud of me too. One of the last trips I made with her was when we visited India to do a cancer check-up camp for my village. My goal is to go back and continue that in the future â and more.
What do you feel â in the current economic climate â is the best advice for the younger generation?
I personally think itâs the first time in history that we will look at our kids and the next generation and say the words, âyour life may not be better than oursâ. As worrying as that sounds, itâs based on the burden of the worldâs debt â the economics influencers will have to stop giving away âfreeâ money. Jobs will start moving out of the major countries and into emerging markets such as Brazil, India, Africa etc. I would suggest always investing in yourself even if itâs ÂŁ100 left over from a part-time job. Learn a new skill which your future self will thank you for, skills like trading and coding, and donât rely on anyone but yourself.
What are your next goals?
Iâm happy to say that Iâm very grateful for my life so far, going from being a very confused person and beginner in my chosen profession to running my own fund in Mayfair by the age of 30. However, I feel this is just the beginning. I see myself and my company opening up trading floors all across the world, giving everyone the opportunity to see if they have what it takes. I want to find the best talent, the next younger version of me who, with me, is willing to take my brand global.
Astrofx LtdÂ
49 Grosvenor Street
Mayfair
London
W1K 3HP
