Some traders go two years into prop trading without ever securing a Payout. They pass into Reward Accounts repeatedly, only to see the account blown right before a withdrawal. This is the story of Swia, an office worker in his 30s who transitioned from domestic equities to futures.

Those two years were not wasted. In August alone, Swia secured roughly 13 million KRW in Payouts. While his very first withdrawal felt euphoric, he now says the emotional high has faded. What changed?

Reading his answers, there is no flashy secret. The key actually came down to a LifeUp rule he initially disliked. Here is his honest account, including his daily struggle with front-running entries.

Q. Hello, Swia! Could you introduce yourself to our readers along with your handle?

A. Hello. I'm an office worker in my 30s trading under the handle Swia.

Q. How did you feel when your latest Payout was approved?

A. It is hard to describe the feeling of receiving that first Payout. I was on cloud nine. I continue to receive steady Payouts now, but honestly, that initial high is gone.

Swia, who secured approximately 13 million KRW in Payouts in August alone

Q. What kind of trading or investing did you do before prop trading? Did that experience help your current execution?

A. Before prop trading, I only traded domestic equities. But equities and futures are entirely different beasts. After starting prop trading, I went two full years without a Payout. Over time, my pass rate for Reward Accounts improved, and as my consistency grew, I finally reached regular Payouts.

Q. You must have discovered LifeUp during those two years. How would you describe LifeUp to other traders? On the flip side, what caveats should they know before jumping in?

A. I can confidently say I prefer LifeUp over other prop firms. To be honest, I didn't like LifeUp at first. The main reason was the 7-day minimum trading requirement, which felt longer than other prop firms.
Looking back, that mindset was precisely why I failed for two years. I was overly focused on rushing through the minimum trading days just to request a Payout. Greed took over, and I blew through countless Reward Accounts.
That is why I now recommend LifeUp's structure: take a longer time horizon, respect the minimum trading days, and build profits methodically. Being a dedicated Korean prop firm is a great bonus, too.

Q. What does your chart setup look like? Do you use multiple indicators, or keep it minimal? What is the one indicator you cannot trade without?

A. I tried various setups over two years, but the single indicator that guided me to my first Payout was VWAP (Volume Weighted Average Price). I primarily execute using TradingView. I combine indicators using TradingView's Pine Editor to develop custom setups that improve my win rate.

Q. Looking at your performance review, your win rate exceeded 87%, and you were undefeated during specific trading hours. It almost looks like you have a designated winning window. Do you have a set formula for that session?

A. Not really. I think the high win rate is a byproduct of an unfavorable risk-to-reward ratio. I prefer trading the Asian session due to lower volatility. That combination of a low risk-reward ratio and high win rate is likely why certain hours show a 100% win rate. I wish every single trade could be a winner, too.

Q. On August 24, you were down over $3,000 intraday before staging a massive comeback to close green. What was going through your mind during that drawdown, and how did you feel at the end of the day?

A. It reminded me that I need to reset and stick to the basics. I kept front-running signals and building positions outside my valid setup, which deepened the drawdown. Scaling in and barely scraping out once VWAP and RSI finally lined up was mentally exhausting. I tell myself every day: 'Be patient. Wait for your setup before entering.' It is easier said than done.

Q. Do you trade solo? Are there other traders around you?

A. Trading still carries a negative stigma in Korea, so I rarely mention that I do prop trading to people around me.

Q. What do you do on weekends when markets are closed? Do you step away from the charts completely?

A. I look forward to weekends when the market is closed. Midweek market holidays are great, too. When markets are completely shut down, I can turn my brain off, decompress, and focus entirely on life outside of trading.

Q. Finally, how do you plan to use this Payout?

A. Haha, I have some debt to clear, so this Payout—and future ones—will go straight toward paying off loans. Until prop trading wipes out that balance completely: keep going!

The most striking part of this interview was his reflection on August 24. While many would brag about clawing back into profit, Swia's takeaway was: "I need to reset and stick to the basics." Few traders bypass the temptation to boast about a green finish and instead analyze the front-running and averaging-down that put them at risk in the first place.

Rather than blaming the market for two years of missed Payouts, he pointed to his own greed—and the 7-day minimum trading rule he once resented is now the very feature he recommends. The initial high of that first Payout may be gone, but paying off that final loan balance will surely feel different. Keep going until that day comes!