Originally from Greece, Ioannis now works as a consultant spine surgeon at Uppsala University Hospital in Sweden. But when he’s not in the operating room, he’s actively trading.

At 44 years old, Ioannis has mastered the art of balancing a demanding job with efficient trading strategies. In this interview, he shares:

• How he finds time to trade while managing a full-time medical career.
• The strategies that help him stay profitable without spending hours in front of the charts.
• His biggest lessons learned — from rookie mistakes to refining his approach.
• Advice for aspiring traders who want to grow their accounts without quitting their jobs.

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Blitz Round 

Interviewer: If you were a trading chart pattern, which one would you be?

Ioannis: I don’t believe in chart patterns. So instead of a pattern, I’d probably be an overnight trade.

Interviewer: What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever googled about trading?

Ioannis: I’ve googled almost everything! In the beginning, it was overwhelming to process so much information. I even asked ChatGPT for trading tips — things like “How should I trade tomorrow?” But let’s be honest, you can never get proper answers from AI.

Interviewer: Describe how you feel during a drawdown day in just one word.

Ioannis: Disappointed.

Interviewer: What’s the first thing you’d buy if you made $1 million?

Ioannis: A nice boat.

Interviewer: If you had to explain trading to an alien, how would you do it?

Ioannis: It’s a mix of adrenaline and meditation — the thrill of risk-taking combined with the 100% focus on what you do.

 

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The Early Days: From Rookie Mistakes to Real Profits

Interviewer: Tell us about your trading journey. How did it all begin?

Ioannis: I started back in 2015, almost ten years ago. It all began with the Yearly National Investing Contest here in Sweden. A friend gave me a tip about it, and we thought, Why not give it a shot? The contest used virtual money but tracked real market prices, so it felt like actual trading.

We played around with it for a few weeks — and I won first place that year! So I thought I could do it in real life on the real market. So I started, but the result wasn’t so good.

When you trade with fake contest money, you don’t feel the real pressure. There’s no actual risk involved. But in real trading, risk influences your decisions big time.

That’s when I realized that I have to work much harder, truly understand how markets move, and refine my strategy.

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I’d say it took me about five years before I felt truly confident in my trading.
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Interviewer: What’s the dumbest trade you’ve made in these nine years? How fast did you regret it?

Ioannis: The worst mistake I ever made was risking all my weekly profits on a single Friday trade. It wasn’t a calculated decision — it was just wishful thinking. I hoped the market would move in my favor, but I had no real conviction.

I lost everything I had made that week in just 15 minutes. I regretted it the second I clicked the Sell button. Deep down, I knew it was a bad move, but I held on, hoping the market would turn in my favor. It didn’t. And the loss was big.

Interviewer: That’s a common mistake — we’ve all been there in our rookie days. Speaking of which, if you could go back in time, what would you do differently?

Ioannis: Risk management. If there’s one thing every trader needs to understand, it’s that managing risk is the key. You have to accept losses sometimes and exit a trade instead of just wishing for a reversal.

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Also, I’d tell my younger self: don’t overtrade and never do revenge trading.
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Interviewer: What made you choose Sabio? Was it the features, or just the overall vibe?

Ioannis: I really like the platform — it’s simple and easy to use. One of the biggest factors for me was the 1-step evaluation process. 

I also did my research beforehand and read a lot of reviews. Most of them were positive, which gave me confidence in the company. Trust is crucial when choosing a company.

Balancing a Full-Time Job and Trading: Tips from Ioannis Georgopoulos

Many hesitate to trade, thinking it demands full-time commitment. But Ioannis balances his surgeon career with profitable trading, proving that simplicity and discipline can make it work. 

In this section, he shares his strategy, time management tips, and biggest wins.

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Interviewer: Now that you’re a seasoned trader, what’s your strategy? How did you develop it?

Ioannis: I like to keep it simple. I don’t have the time or energy to analyze how each asset works, so I focus on just two indices: DAX (Germany) and NASDAQ.

I prepare by gathering market data from the previous day, along with important news updates that could impact price movements. 

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I also only trade during opening hours, when the market is most active.
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For example, I like to trade DAX right at market open. I’ve noticed that the German market tends to have a strong initial reaction. This movement might not last all day, but the first 30 minutes are usually the most active and offer good opportunities.

Interviewer: What’s your biggest win so far?

Ioannis: Nothing too crazy — maybe €2,000–€3,000 in a single trade. 

Interviewer: Still, those are good numbers! What’s one thing about trading that most people don’t understand? And why is it so interesting?

Ioannis: Many people think trading is just gambling, but that’s completely wrong. Trading requires 100% focus and independent decision-making — no one else is responsible for your success or failure. 

Interviewer: So, it’s more of a science than a game of chance?

Ioannis: Yes.

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And there’s another thing — freedom. Once you’re profitable, you can trade from anywhere, even on vacation. But I still prefer having a job I enjoy and using trading as a side income, because the risk is always there.
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Interviewer: What’s your long-term game plan? Any specific profit targets?

Ioannis: Right now, I’m using my funded account to keep learning. But my goal is to buy Sabio’s biggest account, the Prime one, and aim for 10% profit per month with a larger balance. I already know it’s possible, so that’s my next step.

Interviewer: Do you follow any specific sources for market news or analysis?

Ioannis: Yes, but as I mentioned earlier, I keep it simple. I use Investing.com — it has all the information I need. 

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I don’t have time for deep analysis, so I just check how my indices are moving, read the news, and decide if I want to buy or sell.
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Interviewer: What do you think makes SabioTrade stand out as a trading platform? What features or resources do you find most valuable?

Ioannis: SabioTrade has several key advantages that help traders maximize their profits. The 1:30 margin, easy payouts, and 1-step assessment make the process smooth and accessible. But what really stands out to me is the Sabio Academy — I highly recommend every trader go through all the videos before they start trading. It covers risk management (which was my favorite part), trading techniques, and overall market understanding.

As for account options, Sabio offers Essential, Plus, Advanced, Ultimate, and Prime — and Prime is the one I’m aiming for next.

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Final thoughts

Trading while managing a full-time career is challenging, but as Ioannis proves, it’s absolutely possible with the right strategy, discipline, and risk management. 

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up, his journey is a reminder that success in trading comes from consistency, learning, and keeping it simple.