ZFT Profiles: MESINO

It has been exactly seventy-four days since The Gateway, the orientation for the incoming Subasta students. More than the excitement, there was the anxiety. It was looming, it was inescapable. Did I deserve the free slot? Could I prove that I do? Can I really do this? Questions that sojourned in my mind after the Gateway moderators bid goodbye. It was surreal. It was at this exact moment when a message popped up on my screen. It came from one of the moderators.

He might not be aware of it, but that little gesture was a godsend. I guess sometimes all we need are the little things. Someone who would wish you luck. A stranger who would tell you they trust in you. I didn’t know he was Mesino then, the Project Seed mentor who left his IT consultant job to become a full-time trader, whose favorite sport is football and who does his laundry at 1 in the morning. I'm planning to do trader profiles on the blog, I told him fifty days after the Gateway, can you be the first feature? Yes, he said. And he still doesn't know he's a godsend.

Let's start off with a very basic question, shall we? What do you think would solve man's existential dilemma?

Mesino: Finding purpose, ‘yung tipo na what you do every day you know na may bigger meaning siya. This was something that I've always been pondering about ever since. Kaya actually before pa, I was planning to go into teaching after I retire from the corporate world, which thankfully medyo na fast forward now that I am helping in teaching the ZF system with sina Boss Zee.

I didn't think you'd answer that question. It was meant to be a joke, an ice-breaker. Thank you for letting us in. What made you decide to leave your job and go trade full-time? Was there a eureka moment?

Mesino: I wanted to have ownership over my time. [There was] not really a eureka moment. I guess talagang ma-iinspire ka kasi with the people in the tribe, especially those that made it full-time like Boss Zee, Kap Kidlat. Kasi if they can make it why can't we diba?

What was the biggest challenge you've faced in your trading career?

Mesino: Just the usual, which is trying to meet your monthly quota. Medyo intense lang ‘yung pressure na alam mong wala kang ibang source of income except for trading.

So how did you overcome it?

Mesino: Trusting in the process I guess, kahit talo push (laughs). Pero syempre systematic na talo naman ‘yan, minimize losses, maximize gains. Plus being very kuripot (a.k.a saving up for a rainy day). Naging advice din kasi ‘to samin ni Kap. Minsan kasi talaga magkaka-dry spell ka sa trading so it helps na mag prepare ng buffer.

What is that one trade that when you think of, gives you butterflies in your tummies?

Mesino: Any trade na hindi ko sinundan rules ko - stupid/bobo moments eh. It just reminds you that trading is all about rules/discipline talaga.

Discipline beats genius so we’ve heard. May I know your overall port gain since you started trading under ZFT?

Mesino: ‘Yung usual na hirit nalang namin nina Henry: Talo na namin sweldo ng mga boss namin dati.

via GIPHY

Fair enough. I’m sure most people want to know: What are the chart indicators you rely on and why?

Mesino: Only RSI - keep the system simple. Tsaka siya yung bagay sa momentum trading eh. It's not about how many indicators you have but how well you understand/mastered the indicator and [how you] use it along with your price action analysis (para may idea ka paano possible na scenarios of the stock whichever it may go and prepared ka to react on the outcome).

Since you’ve mentioned that, could you share some of the things that you look for in a stock that will make you press that buy button?

Mesino: Simple confluences in the system - MAs, Darvas, Fibo, RSI.

If you have a friend who wants to get into the stock market, but has few lingering doubts about it, how would you encourage him/her? Or would you?

Mesino: Yeah, I'm actually always encouraging people to learn how to invest. Gumawa pa nga ako ng slides before about trend following sa blues tapos pine-present ko sa office. Show them the possibilities.

The House of Z has been known in giving back to the community, could you share the most memorable random act of kindness (RAK) you did?

Mesino: I guess those that are hands-on RAKs, where you actually get to interact with those that you help, like playing with the kids sa orphanages, etc.

What's a day in a life for someone like Mesino? Care to walk us through?

I'm an insomniac so I sleep around 3 or 4 am. I guess hindi ko na na-cure yung routine ko ever since. I usually wake-up 8:30 AM, trade 9:30 AM-3:30 PM, then secret na after (laughs). On days na may classes, teach/discuss sa Project Seed or Bastards.

Onto an important topic. Marry, Screw, Dump: Solenn Heussaff,  Jessy Mendiola, Ellen Adarna

Mesino: Dump Ellen, ayoko sa kanya (laughs). Solenn pang one night stand lang, too high maintenance I think. So I guess last choice si Jessy for marriage.

In the year 2021, where would Mesino be?

Mesino: Private fundie traveling the world. Naisip ko din mag RAK sa ibang countries. I have friends na ganun ginawa, like helping build schools sa Nepal, etc. Napaka-millennial cliché pero sarap mag-travel.

I judge a person based on their playlist. So allow me to judge you and give me 3 songs off your current playlist.

Mesino: Anything indie. Mahilig din ako sa Brit/Aus indie bands, over US.

Ayos. A fellow indie lover. So what are the top two things in your bucket list?

Mesino: 1) Travel the world 2) Make a mark/difference in the world

I’m more afraid, Mesino said, of not leaving behind something to remember me by.

I was thinking of focusing my questions purely on trading. But when someone decides to drop a statement like that, it’s hard not to want to get to know the person behind the trader. I wanted to get a glimpse of who he is, who the people in the tribe are, behind the charts, the price action, the gains. I found out, we’re in the market to make money, to ultimately have a good life, but some people don’t want their life to be just good, they want it to matter.