Andrew Aziz is a globally recognized entrepreneur, best-selling finance author, and elite mountaineer, known for bridging the worlds of finance, exploration, and innovation. As the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bear Bull Traders (BBT), one of the largest and most trusted trading communities in the world, Andrew has empowered thousands to achieve financial independence through structured education, real-time market analysis, and one-on-one mentorship.
His book, How to Day Trade for a Living, has been a top 100 finance best-seller for seven years, solidifying his influence in the trading world and in 2024, Andrew became the first Iranian man to climb the Seven Summits, reflecting the same resilience and strategic mindset that define his trading philosophy.
The BBT Live Trading Summit, the largest of its kind, embodies Andrew’s belief that trading success lies in mastering both strategy and emotional control. His vision now extends beyond finance into the creative realm with TEDx BBT, where he blends art and business to break down traditional barriers.
As a Forbes Council Member and influential figure in the financial world, Andrew’s legacy is one of empowerment, adaptability, and proving that, with the right mindset, anything is possible.
IN HIS WORDS
“Growing up in Iran, my family always encouraged me to focus on academics. In Iran, if you are a good student, the expectation is to become an engineer or a doctor—those are seen as the ultimate career paths. However, my father, despite never finishing high school, was a true entrepreneur. He built himself up from being a bellboy to a successful businessman before passing away at a very young age. Looking back, I think entrepreneurship was always in my blood, but it was not the path I was initially pushed toward.
“While other kids were spending their weekends playing soccer or video games, I would sometimes shadow my father during his workdays. I would sit quietly and listen to his conversations with business partners, and sometimes, he would even ask me for my opinion on certain matters. That was my early education in business—learning through observation.
“I never really had a formal “childhood business,” but I was always looking for ways to make extra money or explore opportunities. Even as a teenager, I was fascinated by business—how things worked and why some businesses succeeded and others failed. I remember being about 14 or 15 and watching my father navigate deals, negotiate with suppliers, and strategize for his business. I did not realize it at the time, but that exposure planted seeds in my mind about how business works.
“For most of my early years, I followed the traditional route of education. However, by the time I was 22, I started feeling restless and unsatisfied with university. My first real exposure to entrepreneurship came when I partnered with a friend to import automobile parts from China. I invested some money and began the partnership. It seemed like a great idea at the time, but the reality was much tougher than we expected.
“We sourced really cheap automobile parts, thinking the low price would make them easy to sell. “However, we struggled to break into the market. That experience taught me my first big lesson in business: penetrating a market and creating demand is far more difficult than simply having a good product at a low cost.
“I realized that factors such as connections, marketing, sales, and strategy play a huge role in whether a business succeeds or fails. It was a painful lesson, but looking back, I am grateful I went through it at a young age because I quickly learned that having a business idea is not enough—execution is everything.
“After the failed automobile parts business, I decided to fully commit to my education. I completed my bachelor’s degree and then went on to pursue a master’s degree, eventually applying for a scholarship that brought me to UBC for a PhD at the age of 25. I spent about five years at UBC, where I completed my PhD and built a strong academic career. “I was proud of my research and my achievements, but deep down, I always felt like I wanted more from life.”
CORPORATE LIFE
“After earning my PhD, I worked in a corporate job for a couple of years, but I quickly realized that the traditional 9-to-5 life did not satisfy me. I wanted freedom, I wanted to build something of my own, and I wanted to create opportunities beyond just a paycheque. That realization pushed me to start exploring ways to make more money outside of my job.
“I began digging into different areas — marketing, trading, publishing — and looking for ways to build an income online. By my early 30s, it became clear to me that I needed to take control of my life and fully commit to something of my own. Within just six months of working in Vancouver, I knew that staying in a corporate job was not for me.
“I found myself in my mid-30s, leaving my corporate job. I shifted my focus to full-time trading and began writing and publishing content about the industry. This eventually led to the creation of Bear Bull Traders (BBT) in 2018, where I now teach people how to trade and achieve financial independence.”
FROM CORPORATE TO TRADING
“After leaving my corporate job and transitioning to trading, my personal life also shifted. I had more freedom, but it came with uncertainty. Trading is unpredictable, and for a while, I struggled financially. My relationships were strained because I was so focused on figuring out how to succeed as an entrepreneur.
“However, over time, as BBT grew, I found more stability. I was able to build a lifestyle based on freedom and independence—travelling, working from anywhere, and creating a business that aligned with my values. After finishing my PhD and starting my first job, I began saving money—just small amounts at first, around $5,000 to $10,000. It was the first time I had that much cash sitting in my bank account. I had always been fascinated by the idea of financial markets, so I decided to try trading.
“I will never forget that first real trade. In just 30 minutes, I made $200. It was an eye-opening moment—a realization that I could sit behind a computer, click a button, and make money. That was when it hit me: This is possible. From that point on, I was hooked. I knew I had to learn everything I could about trading, master the craft, and turn it into something sustainable. “That moment was the turning point—the moment I realized that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
“To reach the next level, I had to shift my mindset from focusing on maximizing profits to maximizing value for people. “My business revolves around teaching people how to trade and achieve financial independence, just as I did.”
STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM
“I humbly acknowledge that I would not be where I am today without the people who supported me, especially during those early days when I was trying to figure out what I was doing. My family has always supported me, even when they did not fully understand my decision to leave the corporate world for trading. My father, an entrepreneur despite never finishing high school, was my earliest inspiration.
“During the uncertain early days of building Bear Bull Traders (BBT), my ex-wife provided crucial emotional support, helping me trust myself. Two key figures in my journey, Carlos and Brian, joined BBT not for financial gain but because they believed in the vision. Carlos refined the business strategy, while Brian helped structure the educational content. Their belief in me strengthened my confidence, allowing BBT to grow into what it is today.”
BBT AND LIFE’S LESSONS
“I reflect on how my life has been a balance between extremes—mastering control and thriving in chaos — which is why I am drawn to both trading and mountain climbing. Climbing Mt. Everest means navigating exhaustion, low oxygen, and even the stark reality of stepping over the bodies of those who did not make it back. It is pure chaos, yet success comes from staying calm, trusting your training, and controlling your response. Trading is no different. The markets are unpredictable, but just like on the mountain, you cannot control the environment—you can only control your strategy, your risk, and your emotions.
“I cannot stress enough that the biggest lesson in trading is to STOP CHASING TRADES. Many believe success comes from constant action, but the best traders are patient. Most big losses happen due to overtrading – reacting emotionally, trying to recover losses, or jumping in without a clear setup. The market provides opportunities, but not every day, and knowing when not to trade is just as important as knowing when to act. Success is not about how much money you have but how well you manage risk and emotions.
“With discipline and strategy, a small account can grow, but reckless trading will wipe out any amount of capital. Now that social media has fueled a new wave of traders who view the market as a quick path to wealth—encouraged by flashy posts and viral success stories—the post-pandemic surge of novice traders, enabled by commission-free apps like Robinhood, has been driven by a “get rich quick” mentality.
“However, these traders often overlook the risks, only seeing the wins while ignoring the inevitable losses. This cycle repeats—people take big risks, lose money, and blame trading itself. But trading is not a scam; it is a skill that requires discipline, strategy, and hard work. Do I feel pressure to adapt to that culture? Sure. It would be easy to shift BBT’s marketing toward that “get rich quick” mentality — promise big wins, show off flashy profits, sell people the dream. But I will not do it. That is not what BBT stands for.
“I am often asked, if you had to start over, would the core approach, teaching trading, building a community, and focusing on long-term success, remain the same? Yes, but the tools would change. When I founded Bear Bull Traders, I grew my audience through blogging and word-of-mouth. Today, I would prioritize YouTube and video content, as it offers deeper engagement and a stronger connection with viewers. One key lesson I have learned is that building something from scratch once gives you the confidence to do it again. While technology and platforms have evolved, success ultimately comes from creating value and fostering an engaged audience, and I know I could do it again.
“What makes us different is that BBT offers a structured education program that teaches traders how to develop a sustainable edge, with a strong focus on psychology and emotional discipline. Success in trading is not just about reading charts—it is about managing your mindset. Our membership-based model provides access to live trading sessions, a vast educational library, direct mentorship, and a supportive community of over 10,000 traders worldwide.
“Right now, we are in an aggressive growth phase, and to take BBT to the next level, we need to focus on four key areas: Expanding our educational content – We are developing more structured learning programs, adding interactive tools, and introducing AI-driven insights to help traders accelerate their learning curve. Enhancing technology & platforms – We are upgrading our trading platforms, refining the analytics, and improving the live trading experience to provide our members with even more real-time insights and hands-on learning. Growing our global community – We are working on translating our content into multiple languages and building a stronger international presence through global events and in-person meetups. Increasing social media and video engagement – We are investing in more high-quality video content, expanding our reach on platforms like YouTube and Instagram, and working with influencers to spread the message.”
THE NEXT CHAPTER
“In 2025, Bear Bull Traders (BBT) is a global trading education community with the mission of helping people achieve financial independence through trading. Our goal is to grow membership by at least 50% over the next two years. “But first and foremost, I want to see higher success rates among our members. Trading is hard, and most new traders fail. If we can get more of our members to consistent profitability through better education, stronger mentorship, and more psychological training, that is real success. I also see BBT becoming a more diversified business. We are already expanding into futures, options, and crypto trading education. I want BBT to be a true financial education hub—teaching people how to build sustainable income in every market environment.”
Author Profile
- Helen Siwak is the founder of EcoLuxLuv Marketing & Communications Inc and publisher of Folio.YVR Luxury Lifestyle Magazine and PORTFOLIOY.YVR Business & Entrepreneurs Magazine. She is a prolific content creator, consultant, and marketing and media strategist within the ecoluxury lifestyle niche. Post-pandemic, she has worked with many small to mid-sized plant-based/vegan brands to build their digital foundations and strategize content creation and business development. Helen is the west coast correspondent to Canada’s top-read industry magazine Retail-Insider, holds a vast freelance portfolio, and consults with many of the world’s luxury heritage brands. Always seeking new opportunities and challenges, you can email her at helen@ecoluxluv.com.
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