We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Krishna & Haik a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Krishna & Haik, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
Sniper Trades is more than just a trading group—it’s a vibrant community where traders of all levels can come together to learn, grow, and succeed. Our mission is to provide retail and options traders with a space to enhance their skills through educational content and the collective wisdom of like-minded individuals. We cover a wide range of topics, from technical and chart analysis to interpreting options flow, understanding macroeconomic factors, and mastering trader psychology and account management.
At Sniper Trades, we combine macroeconomic insights, technical analysis, chart patterns, and options flow data to execute profitable trades in the market with objectivity and precision. Our educators share valuable options trading tips, swing trading strategies, and day trading insights, complemented by daily reading materials, educational videos, and market walk-throughs.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Sniper Trades was started by 2 men, Krishna (goes by Problem Sniper) and Haik (Goes by Easy Money Sniper).
Krishna’s story:
I began my career and trading journey almost simultaneously. My job was the foundation that sustained me, while trading became the path to personal growth and the pursuit of financial freedom. In 2013, I started with a salary of $60k a year, which after taxes came to about $50k. I allocated 40% of my income to buying shares in companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Netflix, 30% to my lifestyle, 20% to trading, and 10% to travel. As I received bonuses and salary increases, I reinvested most of it, while occasionally upgrading my lifestyle—though I sometimes regret splurging on luxury cars like Audis.
When it came to investing, I didn’t set specific goals; it was more about being prepared for future opportunities, whether that meant getting married or investing in a startup. Trading, however, was different—I had clear goals. Initially, it was as simple as proving I could be profitable, even if it was just by $1. The first year, I was down $2,000—about 20% of my account. The second year, I had a big win, but still closed down around $200. By the third year, my account was up and down, ending flat.
The fourth year, 2017, was a turning point. I had call options on $KITE, which was bought out overnight, just a week after I got married. The result? A staggering 3,700% gain. 2018 brought another significant win with $TLRY, and life began to change. I started sharing my insights on StockTwits and Twitter.
But not every year was easy. In December 2018, I was influenced by market fears over rising interest rates and sold my Nvidia shares at $120, missing out on what would now be a $2 million position. That mistake, along with losing 70% of my $TLRY profits, cost me around $60k—a significant blow given my $85k salary at the time. The loss affected my mindset throughout 2019, and though I ended the year profitable, I wasn’t investing or trading as effectively. I shifted focus to advancing my career, diving into AI and machine learning, which turned out to be a timely move.
Then came 2020—a life-changing year that made me a self-made millionaire at 28. 2021 followed with major wins in $GME and $AAPL, allowing me to quit my job. While 2022 wasn’t as extraordinary as the previous two years, I still earned more than triple what I made in my day job. 2023 brought another life-changing experience.
Reflecting on my journey, I see a story of highs and lows, of perseverance and growth. I’ve learned to stay confident through both the peaks and valleys, knowing they’re all part of my unique path.
Haik’s story:
Inspiration and Motivation
The inspiration to start Sniper Trades came from a deep passion for trading options and a desire to help others achieve success in the market. My journey into teaching began long before I entered the world of finance; during college, I worked as an assistant teacher and did part-time tutoring. I’ve always enjoyed helping others learn, so transitioning into educating traders felt like a natural progression.
The decision to start Sniper Trades was cemented when I met Krishna in another trading group. We instantly connected, sharing similar goals and mindsets about trading and life. My wife also played a crucial role in motivating me to pursue this path. She has always believed in me and assured me that I could achieve anything I set my mind to, which gave me the confidence to take the leap.
Background and Experience
My trading journey began in 2007, during my senior year of high school. I worked at FedEx and used my first paycheck to buy shares of Apple. At the time, I didn’t know much about stocks or options, but I believed in the company because I loved their products, like the iPhone and iPod. To this day, I advise new investors to focus on companies they truly believe in and use their products—if you like them, chances are others will too, which often signals a bright future.
By 2018, I was married and working as an engineer. I had ambitious goals, but I knew that my engineering salary wouldn’t get me there fast enough, especially with starting a family on the horizon. That’s when I delved deeper into the world of trading, creating a paper trading account on TD Ameritrade and immersing myself in books, YouTube videos, and articles about options trading. In 2020, after achieving significant success in trading options, I joined an options trading group, where I met Krishna.
One key lesson I’ve learned is that you don’t need a plethora of indicators, gadgets, screens, and tools to make money in trading. Keeping it simple is often the best approach.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Early Days of Sniper Trades
We officially launched Sniper Trades on May 1, 2021, transitioning from a passion project to a full-fledged company with paid memberships. Initially, we built our community through word of mouth and personal invitations. Krishna and I invited people we knew from the trading world, and they, in turn, invited their friends. Eventually, we built a website and started advertising on Twitter, which helped us expand our reach.
Our rapid success and growth brought challenges, particularly from those in the industry who were jealous of our achievements and tried to tarnish our reputation. However, our members saw through the negativity, remained loyal, and supported us as we grew from 300 to over 1,000 paid members.
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
Growth and Development
Since its inception, Sniper Trades has evolved significantly. We started with a little over 300 members at launch, and now we boast a community of over 1,000. Our growth strategies have centered around daily interaction with our members through Discord and staying true to our values of full transparency. Key milestones, like surpassing 500 and 1,000 members, have been particularly rewarding.
Community and Impact
Sniper Trades has had a profound impact on its members, with hundreds of them achieving significant profits by applying our methods and adhering to our educational philosophy. We foster a supportive and educational environment through a wealth of educational videos and continuous mentoring via daily communication. Our goal is to empower our members to achieve financial freedom and live a life without the constraints of a traditional 9-to-5 job.
Vision and Future Goals
Looking ahead, our vision for Sniper Trades is to continue helping our members achieve financial independence. We want to ensure that every member of our community has the tools, knowledge, and confidence to succeed in trading and beyond.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://snipertrades.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tradewithsnipers/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/snipertradesorg/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/snipertrades
- Twitter: https://x.com/SnipeTrades
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMlIFOvH_jI0l_YsVQ2WHOw