From Curiosity to Control: Meet Ciro, a Fintokei Star ⭐

Ciro, let’s start at the beginning. What made you think: “Yes, I’m going to start trading”?

I’ve always been passionate about charts and financial markets. For a long time, though, I didn’t have the courage to begin. Trading felt complicated, almost intimidating. The real turning point came thanks to a colleague of mine, Francesco Tinelli. He had already started trading and kept motivating me. He became a true mentor and still is today. Without him, I probably wouldn’t be here.

How were your beginnings? What did that first phase look like?

I started about four years ago, and from the start, we decided not to treat it as a hobby. Together with Francesco, we invested seriously: time, energy, and money. We bought multiple online courses, attended in-person training sessions, and spent countless hours studying and practicing. We truly believed in this path, and we committed to it fully.

Do you remember your first trade?

More than a single trade, I remember the emotional chaos of the early stage. 😀 Excitement, fear, doubt – the whole mix. Over time, I realized something important: the first trade doesn’t matter. What really matters is building a solid process, strong risk management, and the ability to stay consistent over the long term.

So you and Francesco were working together toward the mutual goal. Could you define that goal?

It’s independence without a doubt. My dream is to make trading my real job. Working from anywhere, controlling my time, and having more freedom for myself and my family. That would be nice.

Do you remember when it all started making sense, and you felt clear progress towards your goal?

Absolutely, it was this year. As I said, with Francesco we’ve followed the same learning path, studied with the same instructors, and even gone through the same challenges together. But this year, after all these years of preparation, we finally started treating trading as a real profession. I tested different prop firms, and when I discovered Fintokei, it immediately felt right. Since then, I’ve achieved several solid results and payouts. I’m genuinely happy with how things are going.

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How did you first hear about Fintokei?

Through one of your Fintokei Star – Alessandro D’Onofrio. He has been both a mentor and instructor for me. I followed his courses, I’m part of his academy, and he also organized tours with Fintokei. That connection pushed me to try a challenge. And I’m glad I did!

And what about your first win at Fintokei?

That happened in August when I became funded. My first payout followed shortly after. Mainly thanks to trading Gold. Man, I still remember the adrenaline rush and happiness. What a milestone! 😀

Glad to hear that! 😀 Let’s now talk a bit more about your trading approach. What and how do you trade?

I’m a swing trader. I work mostly with H4 and Daily timeframes, using supply & demand concepts. I also consider tools like COT reports and relevant macro news as context.  When it comes to risk management, it varies depending on whether I’m doing a challenge or am already funded.  During challenges, I usually risk 1–2% per trade. When funded, I’m much more conservative: 0.5–1% max, and only when everything aligns perfectly with my plan

Do you ever feel stress and pressure when trading with Fintokei?

It’s part of the game. Psychology is the hardest part of trading – no question. In the past, every loss hit me emotionally. Now, thanks to experience and better risk management, I handle pressure much better. Discipline and emotional control are everything. And it’s not about losses. What I’m still working on currently is managing trades when I’m in profit. Sometimes I close too early out of fear – leaving profit on the table. But awareness is the first step, and trading psychology? That’s often the real trading edge. Whenever I feel that I need to keep myself grounded and focused on the process. I remember one sentence my friend Francesco once told me: “It’s just another trade.” That helps me a lot as well.

Can you walk us through one of your best trades at Fintokei?

One of my best trades followed my swing strategy on Gold. I identified a clear zone on higher timeframes, waited patiently for the price to react, and entered only when all conditions matched my plan. Risk was predefined, invalidation was clear, and the trade was managed exactly as planned.

What was the real key to that success?

Execution. The setup was technical: higher-timeframe context, supply & demand, but the difference was discipline. Fundamentals are a filter for me. Psychology and execution make the real difference.

Life Beyond the Charts

So Ciro, let’s now walk more about yourself. What does a typical day look like for you?

I currently work a full-time office job, around 10 hours a day, and trade mostly in the evenings. I analyze charts, set alerts on TradingView, prepare scenarios, and only execute when everything aligns. But time outside trading is also really important for me. I spend time with my family, play football, and I’m a huge Napoli fan. Trading stays sustainable because it’s structured and planned. And since I also work in the military, structured and planned is my middle name. 😀