Matteo’s Journey to Consistent Profits

Please introduce yourself: Who are you, your age, where you are from, and what you do for a living?
My name is Matteo Scalia, I’m 25 years old and I come from Sicily, Italy. Besides trading, I manage restaurants, which takes up most of my daily activities. However, during key market hours, I dedicate myself fully to trading with focus and discipline.

How did you get introduced to trading?
I first became interested in trading about six years ago, during my school years. The idea of anticipating market movements and turning that knowledge into profit fascinated me. From there, I began self-studying, reading books, taking online courses, and closely observing financial markets. What started as curiosity soon turned into a passion, which I continue to nurture with dedication and discipline every day.

Do you have any hobbies, and what do you enjoy outside of trading? Do these hobbies benefit your trading?
Outside of trading, I enjoy sports, especially going to the gym and running. Physical activity helps me release stress, stay disciplined, and maintain a clear mindset, which directly benefits my trading. I also love traveling and discovering new places. Traveling gives me perspective and reminds me of the importance of patience, something that translates well into trading. These hobbies keep me balanced, emotionally controlled, and better prepared for the markets.

What is your trading routine?
My trading day starts in the morning, when I analyse the markets before the European session. I check key levels, identify potential setups, and set alerts. Throughout the day, I monitor price action and wait patiently for setups that align with my strategy.

When conditions match my plan, I execute trades with predefined risk and targets. In the evening, I review my trades, update my journal, and reflect on both technical and psychological aspects. This structured routine keeps me disciplined and focused on quality over quantity.

What are your goals with funded trading?
My main goal is to gradually scale and manage larger capital in a professional and disciplined way. Funded trading allows me to accelerate my growth without being limited by personal capital.

In the short term, I focus on building consistency and proving I can follow my plan under pressure. In the long term, I want to make trading a stable source of income, creating financial independence and more freedom to pursue personal projects. Ultimately, I aim to treat trading as a serious career path, growing step by step.

Do you have a trading plan in place, and do you strictly follow it?
Yes, my trading plan is the foundation of everything I do in the markets. It clearly defines when I trade, which setups I take, entry conditions, and how I manage risk. Every trade has a predefined stop-loss and target, and I never risk without knowing my exposure.

In the past, emotions sometimes tempted me to deviate, but I quickly learned that consistency disappears the moment I move away from my plan. Now I treat it like a rulebook; it keeps me accountable, avoids impulsive decisions, and ensures a professional approach.

How would you describe your trading style?
I’m a short-term trader focused on intraday opportunities. I primarily use the 2-minute and 15-minute charts:

On the 2-minute chart, I look for precise entries and quick bursts of momentum.

On the 15-minute chart, I wait for more structured setups that often provide cleaner opportunities.

If volatility is high, I trade on lower timeframes for quicker profits. If the market is calmer, I switch to higher timeframes for more reliable setups. This flexibility allows me to adapt while keeping disciplined risk management at the core.

What was the most challenging obstacle in your trading journey?
The biggest challenge has been maintaining strict consistency, especially when aiming for payouts in funded programs. Early on, I often focused too much on short-term results, which led to impulsive trades.

What did you find easier: the Funding Frontier Challenge or the Verification phase?
I found the Verification phase easier. By then, I had confidence in both my strategy and my ability to follow my plan under pressure. The Challenge required more discipline to prove consistency, but once I reached Verification, everything felt smoother and more natural.

How would you rate your experience with Funding Frontier?
I would rate it 7.5/10. Overall, the process was good, though there’s always room for improvement.

What advice would you give to other traders attempting the Funding Frontier Challenge?
Read and understand all the FAQs and rules before starting. Knowing the requirements, risk limits, and payout conditions prevents mistakes and stress. Many issues can be avoided simply by being well-prepared and trading with awareness.

Do you plan to take another Funding Frontier Challenge to manage bigger capital?
I might take another challenge in the future; I’m definitely considering it.

Describe your best trade.
My best trade was on XAUUSD during the London session. I had been watching a key support zone, and when price reached it, I saw strong rejection candles forming on the 15-minute chart. This confirmed my setup, so I entered long with a tight stop-loss.

The trade quickly moved in my favor. I secured partial profits along the way and let the rest run to target, closing with a $65 profit. It wasn’t the biggest in monetary terms, but it was my best because I followed my plan perfectly, managed risk, and reinforced my discipline.

What is the number one piece of advice you would give to a new trader?
Focus on risk management before anything else. Protecting capital is the key to staying in the game long enough to improve. Always use a stop-loss, never risk more than you can afford, and aim for consistency over shortcuts. Patience and discipline will take you further than chasing quick wins.

How did you first hear about Funding Frontier?
I found Funding Frontier while researching new prop firms.

Can you describe your risk management plan?
Yes, my risk management plan is very structured:

• Maximum 1% risk per trade.
• Always use a predefined stop-loss and never move it further away.
• Minimum 1:2 risk-to-reward ratio on all setups.
• Daily loss limits – if I hit them, I stop trading for the day.
• No overtrading – only setups that strictly fit my rules.

This structured approach keeps me consistent, avoids emotional decisions, and helps me focus on long-term growth over short-term results.