– I believe people are done with the eight-to-four life. Very few want to spend their lives working like that.
maksims Ponomarenko plays hockey for Sparta Sarpsborg, but that’s not where he earns most of his money.
He spends countless hours in front of the computer screen, staring at graphs and numbers that go up and down.
When should he buy, and what becomes a success? That was the daily routine of the 27-year-old for many years.
– The younger generations are a bit more opportunistic than the older generations and dare to take risks, he says.
Today he spends almost as many hours in front of the screen, but now he helps others achieve what he has done.
On Wednesday, the tax lists for 2023 came out.
This is what the sports profiles earned
There, “max” is listed with an income of 6,234,686 kr, but the road to that large income and his own company has been long.
His dream was entirely different when he moved from Latvia to Norway at the age of 14.
A success story
When the 27-year-old opens the front door of his house in Sarpsborg, he is greeted by his partner’s two dogs.
The Australian copper dogs Jäger, aged four months, and Bailey, aged three years, provide a cheerful welcome committee.
The couple has lived in the city for many years after moving from Oslo, and they are very happy. Sarpsborg is very much like the city “Max” grew up in.
– I come from a city called Liepaja. It had around 60,000 people, and everyone knew everyone. The next city was about ten miles away, so it was a very closed community, he says.
COSY: Maksims Ponomarenko enjoys life in Sarpsborg with his dog Bailey and Jäger. Photo: Mads Thygesen/TV 2
When he moved to Norway, he settled in Lørenskog, where his father had already found a job.
Eventually, he started at Wang in Oslo, and at the age of 18, he became aware of day trading through a colleague.
Quickly, “Max” realized that this was something he was good at.
And over the years,his interest developed alongside his knowledge of how to make money through trading – something he finds more interesting than stocks and funds.
– You buy and sell during the day. You never have an open position when the market closes at night, says “Max”.
At the same time, he shows off huge graphs that snake their way across the computer screen with high peaks and deep valleys.
What is day trading?
Day trading is a trading strategy where traders buy and sell positions within the same trading day. When the stock market closes at the end of the day, the trader does not have any open positions.
The goal of a day trader is to take advantage of short-term price fluctuations and make money through frequent trades.
Day traders typically focus on stocks or securities with good liquidity, and they often use technical analysis to identify potential entry and exit levels.
Source: Nordnet.
“Max” earns more than major stars like Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and Petter Northug.
A quarter is enough
Today, he is involved in running a company that lends capital to day traders who do not want to use their own money.
– They must prove that they can trade by taking a test. And if they pass, they can trade risk-free with us, he says.
Their company has grown since it was established almost three years ago, and today they have several employees.
When asked what the key to his success story is, he replies:
– We have put together a very good team of partners who are passionate about the company. We have entered the industry and revolutionized, maybe a strong word, but we have changed the standards, says “Max”.
SMILING: With an annual salary of over 6 million, there’s reason to smile. Photo: Mads Thygesen/TV 2
A process the 27-year-old finds educational but difficult because he has never led a company before.
– You learn something new almost every single day. The challenging part is that all people are different. You have to find your own way to communicate and give criticism to people and praise them for what they do, he says.
Similar to the 27-year-old, there are many, especially young men, who place their money in stocks or funds, for example.
– People are looking for option ways to make money. trading or investments are perfect because you can generate income, says “Max”.
– If you are skilled, you can spend a quarter every day and earn enough to live off it. So I think that’s why it has become so popular, as people can live off it without spending much time on it, he continues.
Earning a yearly salary in a month
For many years, he chose to focus on day trading even though the money did not pour in.
If you had asked him at 18 if he thought he would have the life he has today, the answer would have been:
– No, absolutely not.I didn’t envision this, but it’s cool to look back on now. I could have taken othre paths, he says.
“Max” realized early on that he couldn’t solely rely on his career as a hockey player and needed an additional source of income.
– There were many years where I worked almost for free and dared to invest in this, which ultimately turned out to be the right bet, says the 27-year-old.
Compared to the income he has as a hockey player for Sparta Sarpsborg in the Elite Hockey League, the income from his company is much larger.
In a month, the 27-year-old earns about as much through his company as he does in a year as a hockey player.
– can you today retire and live off day trading?
– Yes, absolutely. I could do that.
ON ICE: Maksims Ponomarenko has no plans to put his hockey career on ice just yet. Photo: Mads thygesen/TV 2
– You have to show up
It’s the love for the sport that makes him choose not to hang up his skates and stick just yet.
Ice hockey means a lot to the 27-year-old, who feels emotions on the ice that day trading cannot provide.
– The performance pressure you live with. You have to show up, be at your best, perform. I like being with the guys every day and competing in practice and in games,he says.
Still, he is fairly certain that trading is what he will work with the day his career on the ice is over – even though that thought hasn’t been present yet.
Even though life is good and he and his partner enjoy life in Sarpsborg, the 27-year-old is keen to have progression.
– You don’t want to stagnate in a way. I am not young either, but in hockey terms I am not old, he says.
How can conventional workers transition to a day trading lifestyle?
Title: Breaking the Mold: An Interview with Maksims Ponomarenko on Day Trading and Life Beyond 9-to-5
Setting: A cozy café in Sarpsborg, Norway, where the aroma of coffee fills the air. Time.news Editor sits across from Maksims Ponomarenko, a 27-year-old successful day trader and co-founder of a capital-lending company for day traders.
Time.news Editor: Maksims, it’s grate to meet you. Your journey from a young hockey player to a savvy day trader is quite fascinating. What drove you to step away from the traditional career path?
Maksims Ponomarenko: Thanks for having me! I believe many people are just fed up with the 8-to-4 grind.It doesn’t excite them anymore. I found my calling in day trading, which allows me to work on my terms and have more control over my life.
Time.news Editor: That’s a bold mindset, especially given that you where initially focused on sports. How did you discover day trading,and what made you shift your focus?
Maksims Ponomarenko: I got interested in day trading at 18 through a colleague. I realized I had a knack for it, and as I dove deeper, I became more engaged with trading as an possibility to grow my wealth actively. It’s much more dynamic than conventional stocks and funds.
Time.news Editor: Sounds thrilling! Can you elaborate on the day trading lifestyle? How does it differ from traditional trading methods?
Maksims Ponomarenko: Absolutely! Day trading involves buying and selling securities within the same day. You have to be quick and make decisions based on market analytics and price fluctuations. There’s no holding overnight; you close all positions by the end of the trading day.This immediate nature makes it a different ball game compared to long-term investing.
Time.news Editor: Your success is notable—over 6 million kr in earnings last year, surpassing even major sports stars in Norway.What do you attribute to this success?
Maksims Ponomarenko: It all comes down to the team I’ve built and the innovative approach we’ve adopted in our companies. We’ve created a model where we lend capital to traders who have proven their capabilities, which allows them to trade without risking their own money. It’s about collaboration and shared passion.
Time.news Editor: Lifting others while succeeding yourself sounds like a winning formula. How do you select traders to join your company?
Maksims Ponomarenko: We have a rigorous test. prospective traders must showcase their skills before we allow them to trade with our capital. It’s essential to ensure they understand the market and can navigate it proficiently. we prioritize individuals who are adaptable and willing to learn.
Time.news editor: It sounds like a modern take on mentorship, especially for younger generations who are more willing to take risks. What advice would you give to those looking to venture into day trading?
Maksims Ponomarenko: Start small and educate yourself. Understand the market mechanics,find what works for you,and don’t rush into it.Trading is as much about strategy as it is about instinct. Practice consistently and don’t be afraid to learn from failures.
Time.news Editor: Wise words! As a young entrepreneur, how do you see your role in influencing the future workforce, especially among your peers?
Maksims Ponomarenko: I think it’s crucial to inspire a shift in how people perceive work. The younger generation is more opportunistic and daring. I hope to encourage others to pursue paths beyond traditional jobs and explore avenues that align with their passions and lifestyles.
Time.news Editor: That’s a refreshing vision,Maksims. Before we wrap up, what does an average day look like for you now?
Maksims Ponomarenko: It starts with a good breakfast and some time with my dogs, Jäger and Bailey, to shake off the morning cobwebs. Then I dive into the markets, analyzing trends and executing trades. Interaction with my team plays a big role as success is a collective effort. After work, it’s often about unwinding—maybe hitting the ice rink or exploring the city.
Time.news Editor: It sounds like you’ve found the perfect balance between work and personal life. Thank you, Maksims, for sharing your story with us today. Your journey is genuinely inspiring!
Maksims Ponomarenko: Thank you for having me! I hope it encourages others to rethink their own paths too.
As the interview wraps up, the lively atmosphere of the café blends with a sense of inspiration, leaving a lasting impression of Maksims’s innovative approach to work and life.
