Clement Bank: How a Trader Achieved 522% Returns in Two Years

Professional trader Clement Bank achieved a reported combined return of 522% across two years in a major real-money trading competition.

But his journey wasn't straightforward. Before finding consistency, he experienced devastating losses, nearly quit trading, and had to completely rebuild his strategy.

From University Student to Professional Trader

Clement started trading in late 2019 while studying economics and finance in Singapore.

He experienced the COVID market crash, the 2020–2021 bull market, and the difficult bear market of 2022.

During the downturn, his trading strategy repeatedly failed as he continued buying stocks in a falling market.

Things became worse in early 2023 when he repeatedly shorted Tesla during its recovery.

Within approximately two weeks, his trading accounts suffered a 60% drawdown.

He seriously considered quitting.

The Turning Point: Treating Trading Like a Business

Instead of giving up, Clement began studying successful traders, analyzing historical stock charts, and tracking his performance.

He started measuring:

• Win rate and average gains versus losses.

• Largest winning and losing trades.

• Holding periods.

• Monthly performance and drawdowns.

He also developed a structured trading plan covering entries, exits, position sizing, and risk management.

His Stock Trading Strategy

Clement primarily trades stocks showing strong upward momentum.

He looks for:

• Strong market conditions: A healthy overall stock market.

• Relative strength: Stocks outperforming the broader market.

• Uptrends: Prices trading above important moving averages.

• Tight consolidations: Stocks forming potential breakout patterns.

• Low selling volume: Signs that existing shareholders may be holding their positions.

He also maintains separate watchlists for promising stocks, nearly ready setups, and immediate trading opportunities.

Why Risk Management Changed Everything

Clement learned that even a strong trading setup can fail.

His solution was to adjust risk according to market conditions.

When trades repeatedly stop out, he reduces position sizes. When the market improves and strong opportunities emerge, he gradually increases exposure.

His priorities are simple:

1. Preserve capital.

2. Build consistent profitability.

3. Pursue larger returns when conditions are favorable.

He emphasizes that traders should avoid trying to recover losses through aggressive revenge trading.

The Business Lesson

Success comes from building a repeatable system, not chasing individual wins.

Clement's biggest improvement came when he started treating trading like a business.

He tracked his numbers, understood his weaknesses, and adjusted his strategy when conditions changed.

The same principles apply to entrepreneurship: protect your resources, measure performance, and scale when your system is working.

Watch the original interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF5cYNSiJ0E

Disclaimer: This article summarizes Clement Bank's statements in the interview. Trading returns are not guaranteed, and this is not financial advice.