Carmine Rosato, a 26-year-old from New Jersey, has never held a conventional 9-to-5 job, yet his alternative career choice has been highly profitable.
Rosato provided income statements to Business Insider, revealing that he has earned up to six figures in just one month.
Though his journey has had its ups and downs, he has adapted to the highs and lows typical of a full-time day trader.
In an interview, he remarked, “The freedom and potential for unlimited success drew me in. I discovered a way to take full control of my time.”
Recently, the stock market has attracted many younger Americans, with online platforms like Reddit, YouTube, and Discord buzzing with Gen Z and millennials claiming they trade full-time or are trying to, often seeking an escape from traditional career paths.
Andrew Menaker, a psychologist and trading coach, believes this trend reflects the economic difficulties young people face today, highlighting challenges such as the impact of AI on jobs and broader economic uncertainties. He observes that “day trading appears to offer a sense of regained control.”
The College Dropout
Rosato’s journey into stock trading began with a high school project where students had to create a model investment portfolio.
Witnessing several family members trapped in unsatisfying corporate roles inspired him to pursue trading, fueled by aspirations like owning luxury items and enjoying vacations, influenced partly by “The Wolf of Wall Street.”
He dedicated himself to learning day trading, eventually reaching a point where he could negotiate with his father to drop out of college by the end of his sophomore year.
With nine years of trading experience, Rosato emphasizes the importance of loss management in his strategy, utilizing stop-loss orders to limit trades to losses he can accommodate.
He restricts his trading sessions to a maximum of two hours daily and enjoys the leisure of working from home, expressing gratitude for his lifestyle, unlike many who feel trapped in a 9-to-5 routine.
