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Life as a Professional Multi-Asset Trader & Portfolio Manager: Meet Elliot Hewitt

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The profession of trader is often portrayed in Hollywood with references that go from the Wolf of Wall Street to The Big Short or even Wall Street. But what is it really like to live as a professional trader in 2020? We’ve asked Multi-Asset Trader and Portfolio Manager Elliot Hewitt.

Elliot Hewitt is a full-time trader based in London, living between Monaco, London and Panama that gathered experience in the institutional side of Finance (Investment funds in London) and on the retail side. His career as a pro trader started from a passion for Finance at a very early age and he reached his first major success at the genesis of Brexit where he profited big from short selling the British Pound which crashed more than 12% in a single day. In this recent interview, we look into the life of this professional trader, the myths, the ups and the downs.

Do you enjoy being a trader and do you find it fulfilling?

“I could honestly not wish for a better job. This is what I wanted to do as a kid, and it is how my life turned out to be. I could talk about financial markets for hours if you let me. The way I see my job as trader is similar to that of a pirate but with more financial data and mathematics: You see I basically spend my days looking for clues and hints into where trading opportunities could be, like a treasure hunt. Once I have gathered all the information and have made my research I can go ahead and take that risk to earn that potential reward. Now, the downside that I recognise being a trader is you need to be comfortable with loneliness. Trading is a very solitary practice; you may feel disconnected from your entourage, but you need to stay strong because stability of mind is key to success in this field” explains Elliot. “Now in order to break the loneliness of my job I have actually created a community of profitable traders that have gone through my rigorous training and with whom I exchange on a daily basis on a virtual trading floor. This has made my career as a trader so much more fulfilling knowing that I have impacted many lives through my programs and through my social media @youngtraderwealth. Reading testimonials from student traders is something I am very proud of.”

Is being a trader stressful and could you lose everything you have?

“Emotions and psychology are a key part of trading that you need to master. In fact, the emotional side is more important than the technical knowledge of trading. The reason why so many traders lose usually comes down to psychology and an incapability of managing one’s emotions. This can of course lead to stress especially when you start mixing other emotions such as managing OPM (other people’s money) or getting into a losing streak that affects your mind. However, the image most people have of traders is that it is a very risky job where you could essentially lose everything you have in a single day and then jump off the highest building in New York. Well sorry to break the myth but that’s not how things work. A major part of being a trader is managing risk. My job is really about finding opportunities that offer positive risk to rewards. So, for me to lose everything I have I would need to ignore all my risk management knowledge and essentially break all my established rules to go all in on a single trade. Professional traders generally don’t do this. This is a mistake beginner make and at that stage you most likely don’t have much to lose. This is why starting to trade financial markets with no real training is so dangerous.”

Do you have a lot of free time and/or take many vacations?

“When it comes to free time, I must say there is a huge difference between working in a financial institution and trading for yourself. Trading for a financial institution such as a fund is very time consuming; you need to be at the office to prepare for the London session open so generally that means 7am at your desk and you end the day between 6pm-9pm depending on the day knowing that you will always have a colleague that stays longer than you do. You see when you work for an institution, there will always be something to do as you are literally getting paid for your time there so the company will try to squeeze as much juice out of you” explains Elliot. “However, working as an independent retail trader is another story. You get to be your own boss which has so many perks but in exchange you need to be self-motivated and self-disciplined to succeed. As of right now, I trade independently and thus can take some time off whenever I wish depending on my earnings of course. My career allows me a level of freedom that is hard to grasp and understand for the majority. I can essentially move residency whenever I want, I can go to Bali and continue working from my hotel, I can arrange my week to only work 2 days, I can make last minute plans in the middle of the week and I can spend my week ends however I want as financial markets aren’t even opened. This is the reason why I am able to live in between residencies in Monaco, London and Panama City and avoid any winter months haha.”

How much money do you make and in your opinion is Hollywood’s caricature of traders accurate?

“My earnings will vary depending on the month’s profit but is on average nicely positive every month. Consistency is key as a trader and I would usually only have one losing month in the year and maybe two mega months where the real cash is made. In terms of how much money I make every month, I prefer to stay discrete, but I can say that I don’t have to worry much about my finances and am able to satisfy my desires and impulses. Now caricatures made by Hollywood movies are exactly that, caricatures. So, the wild parties, the eccentric hobbies and the drug addiction issues are simply some vices and excess people with money can get into, but I don’t think it is specific to traders. Excess is a rich person’s weakness. Just turns out traders generally do make quite a bit of money.

Instagram: @youngtarderwealth

Twitter: @youngtraderwlth

Website: www.youngtraderwealth.com

The idea of Bigtime Daily landed this engineer cum journalist from a multi-national company to the digital avenue. Matthew brought life to this idea and rendered all that was necessary to create an interactive and attractive platform for the readers. Apart from managing the platform, he also contributes his expertise in business niche.

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Jellyfish Pictures Suspension Reveals Outsourcing Opportunity, Says BruntWork

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Jellyfish Pictures, a well-known UK visual effects studio, has temporarily shut down due to financial struggles. The company, recognized for its work on major films and streaming projects, is searching for buyers or investors while halting all ongoing work. This situation has raised concerns across the visual effects industry, which is already dealing with economic pressures, labor disputes, and production changes. BruntWork, one of the top outsourcing companies, sees this as an opportunity for companies to reassess how they operate and how outsourcing can help VFX studios lower costs and stay financially stable.

A Leading Studio Brought to a Standstill

Jellyfish Pictures started as a small operation in 2001 and became a respected name in visual effects. With multiple offices in London and a portfolio of high-profile projects, the studio built a strong reputation. However, rising costs and growing competition from lower-cost studios made it harder to stay profitable. Financial pressure mounted, forcing the company to suspend operations.

Clients relying on Jellyfish Pictures are now left searching for alternative vendors to complete their projects. The suspension has also put hundreds of employees in a difficult position, leaving them uncertain about their future. Company leaders have stated they are looking into all possible options, including selling the business or bringing in outside investors.

Why VFX Studios Are Struggling

Visual effects companies have long worked with tight profit margins. The financial setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic made things even tougher. Many VFX studios kept projects moving remotely but struggled with delayed payments and cancellations. In 2023, the global VFX industry was valued at $11.3 billion, but continued production delays and tighter budgets are making it difficult for companies to grow.

The writers’ and actors’ strikes in 2023 added more complications. With productions on hold, many VFX studios found themselves with fewer projects in the pipeline. A recent industry survey found that 72% of VFX companies faced financial struggles due to the combined effects of the pandemic and the strikes. Mid-sized studios with high fixed costs, like Jellyfish Pictures, have been hit the hardest.

Winston Ong, CEO of BruntWork, believes this situation exposes weaknesses in traditional business models. “Studios operating in expensive cities like London face overwhelming costs that outsourcing could help reduce,” he says.

The Role of Outsourcing in Keeping VFX Studios Afloat

Some experts believe outsourcing can help visual effects companies manage financial risk. According to Ong, studios that rely entirely on in-house teams in high-cost cities struggle to keep expenses under control, while those that blend in-house work with outsourcing can operate more efficiently.

The shift to remote work during the pandemic showed that collaboration across different locations is possible. Data from outsourcing firms suggests that studios using a mix of in-house creative direction and outsourced production can lower expenses by 40-60% without sacrificing quality. Some companies have already moved in this direction, allowing them to stay competitive without driving up costs.

Beyond production outsourcing, some VFX studios are also exploring ways to streamline marketing efforts. Hiring a digital marketing virtual assistant allows companies to manage campaigns, social media, and client outreach more efficiently. This helps studios maintain a strong industry presence without the overhead costs of full-time marketing teams.

Still, outsourcing comes with potential risks. Some industry veterans warn that relying too much on external teams can lead to quality issues and production delays. Studios must find the right balance between saving money and maintaining the level of quality audiences expect from high-end visual effects.

What Comes Next for Visual Effects?

Jellyfish Pictures’ troubles have sparked discussions about how VFX studios can stay in business. More flexible production models, outsourcing, and smarter budgeting could become the standard technique. Advances in technology continue to make remote collaboration smoother, allowing studios to complete projects without keeping all operations in expensive locations.

“This reflects a larger problem across the industry,” says Ong. Studios that adjust their operations and use outsourcing effectively may be better prepared for economic swings. Companies that maintain strong creative leadership while using global production teams seem to have an advantage.

For many, this also extends to marketing. Some of the most successful VFX firms are those that recognize the benefits of outsourcing digital marketing to specialists who can handle branding, social media, and client engagement without the high costs of in-house teams. This allows studios to maintain visibility and credibility even in uncertain market conditions.

Larger firms may continue to acquire struggling studios, but smaller businesses that improve their financial strategies could stay independent. The challenge is finding a way to keep artistic vision intact while managing expenses.

Moving Toward Stability

Jellyfish Pictures’ shutdown is a warning for the visual effects industry. High operating costs and unpredictable changes in production schedules show why studios need flexible business strategies. Some will turn to outsourcing, while others may merge with larger firms or adopt hybrid models to stay competitive.

For mid-sized studios, financial stability must be a priority without sacrificing creativity. The next few years could bring more studio buyouts, with bigger companies taking over smaller ones. However, independent studios that adjust how they work could still succeed by reducing costs without lowering the quality of their output.

Adaptability is what matters. Studios that adjust their structures and use global talent wisely will be the ones that remain strong in this industry, ” Ong concludes.

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