In the fast-paced world of online trading, success isn’t just about market charts and technology. It’s also about people, meaningful relationships, and the willingness to keep learning, as the global online broker ATFX knows quite well.
During his recent visit to the Philippines, ATFX chair Joe Li made clear that these values remain essential to long-term growth in the financial industry. He met with local partners including the team behind SmarTrade, a financial training and consultancy company, sharing his perspectives on leadership, relationship-building, and the importance of continuous learning.
For Joe Li, meaningful and lasting business relationships ultimately depend on trust, credibility and human connections. “At the end of the day, dealing with people is about the impression and what kind of impression you can give to your friends, your clients, everyone around you, as it always lasts long,” he said.
He also expressed appreciation for Filipinos, whom he described as optimistic, hardworking, compassionate, and willing to share and enjoy experiences together.
9-year partnership
This people-first philosophy drives the nine-year relationship between ATFX and its local education partner, SmarTrade. Since 2017, the collaboration has bridged the financial literacy gap in the Philippines, with the conduct of 2,913 free learning sessions that involved nearly 50,000 participants in roughly 800 locations. Through its ongoing initiatives, SmarTrade makes financial education accessible through structured learning programs covering financial literacy, financial markets, market analysis, risk management, trading psychology, and financial discipline.
Joe Li also highlighted the importance of staying curious and continuing to develop in a financial industry that does not stand still. “In our financial industry, you get new things to learn every single day. It never ends,” he said. “So if you’re not fast, you don’t run fast enough, or aren’t catching up with the pace, you’ll be left behind.”
His message underscored the value of continuous learning in helping Filipino traders strengthen their knowledge and develop the skills needed to make it in an increasingly competitive global trading environment.
World Trading Cup
This commitment to continuous development is reflected in initiatives such as the ATFX World Trading Cup, an international trading competition that recently brought together traders from nine subregions across five regions to compete for a share of $210,000 in cash rewards.
Under the theme “Fight for Your Region. Trade for the Crown,” the competition provided a platform for participants from different countries, including a Filipino trader, to showcase their trading skills on the global stage.
Joe Li’s perspective on continuous development also extends to leadership. During his engagement with the SmarTrade team, he emphasized the importance of earning people’s support through trust, listening, expertise, consideration, and guidance, and of leading by example. He said that for an organization involved in financial education, these principles carry particular significance because educators and leaders play an important role in shaping how learners understand financial markets, risk, and responsible financial decision-making.
As ATFX and its partners move forward together, the collaboration remains rooted in what matters most: putting people first, nurturing lasting relationships, and keeping learning accessible to everyone. Through its free online and in-person sessions, SmarTrade continues to provide Filipinos with opportunities to build their financial knowledge, develop their skills, and become more confident in navigating the financial landscape.—CONTRIBUTED
