Introduction
When it comes to funded trader programs, Marlon Haynes from Little Rock, Arkansas, has achieved what many aspiring traders only dream of: consistent profitability and sizable withdrawals through a prop firm. At 47, this six-year trading veteran recently withdrew $9,000 from his OneUp Funded Trader account in just three days, bringing his total withdrawals to a whopping $65,750 since joining the OneUp Trader funded trader program.
Marlon’s trading hasn’t been without its challenges, though. Like many traders, he’s experienced wins and losses, accounts that have succeeded and ones that have not. But what sets him apart is his mindset. Rather than dwelling on setbacks, Marlon approaches each evaluation with a clean slate. If he loses an account, he simply refocuses and begins a new evaluation, taking the ‘business as usual’ approach. No hesitation. No drama. Just consistent execution.
With the OneUp Trader funded trader program, this approach is completely possible since traders can get funded and withdraw profits as often as they possibly can. Trading a personal account is not possible in this way. OneUp Trader offers a much greater margin for error!
The Elliott Wave Edge
Marlon’s trading approach centers on Elliott Wave theory, a technical analysis method that identifies market cycles and price patterns. When asked about his greatest strength, his answer was immediate: “Elliott Wave.”
Elliott Wave analysis requires strong pattern recognition skills and the ability to see market structure at multiple timeframes simultaneously. It’s a trading method that requires a lot of experience and the ability to remain objective when doing technical analysis.
How Elliott Wave Theory Works and How Traders Use It
In simple terms, Elliott Wave Theory says that price moves in five waves in the direction of the main trend, followed by three corrective waves against it. These are known as the impulse wave (5-wave move) and the corrective wave (3-wave move). Together, they form a full cycle, just one part of a much larger market structure.
What makes this approach powerful is that these waves appear on every timeframe, from the one-minute chart to the monthly, creating a sort of fractal roadmap for price action. This allows skilled traders like Marlon to step into the market with a higher degree of confidence, identifying where the market is within a cycle and what’s likely to come next.
How to Trade It
In practical terms, Marlon uses Elliott Wave to:
- Identify where the market is within a wave cycle, basically, is it in a trend or a correction?
- Pinpoint high-probability entry points, often at the start of a new impulse or correction.
- Manage trades with structure, knowing where a wave is likely to end helps set realistic targets and stop-loss levels.
For example, if Marlon sees that the market has just completed a wave 2 correction, he knows a strong wave 3 impulse may be next, and that’s often the most powerful move in the cycle. He can then position himself early and ride the trend with clearly defined risk.
Unlike traders who chase breakouts or react to indicators, Elliott Wave traders aim to anticipate market moves by understanding the structure beneath price action. It’s not a system for the impatient. It requires time, chart study, and a willingness to be wrong and recalibrate. But in the hands of someone with Marlon’s experience, it becomes a true edge.
Trading Performance Analysis
Key Performance Metrics:
- Total Profit: $9,236.74
- Win Rate: 36.14% (60 wins out of 166 trades)
- Average Risk-Reward Ratio: 2.02
- Average Winning Trade: $1,244.12
- Average Losing Trade: -$617.08
- Largest Single Gain: $4,622.36
- Average Hold Time: 4 minutes 21 seconds (winners), 1 minute 57 seconds (losers)
As we often see, a win rate below 40% shows that being right most of the time isn’t necessary for profitability. His 2.02 risk-reward ratio means that when he’s correct, his average winner generates twice what he risks on losing trades.
The hold time differential is particularly interesting; he allows winning trades to develop for over four minutes while cutting losers in under two minutes. This discipline separates professional traders from amateurs, who often do the opposite.
The Reality of Trading a Funded Account
What makes Marlon’s story particularly valuable is his transparency about the challenges of trading a funded account. Having worked with multiple funded accounts over the years, he understands that losing accounts is part of the learning process, not a permanent verdict.
As we have already mentioned, he doesn’t get concerned if he loses a funded account because he simply returns to the evaluation and tries again. This is how he has been able to accumulate those impressive withdrawals, getting it to a total over $65,000. Most traders lose a lot of confidence if they lose their account, but not Marlon; he has adapted his style to leverage the OneUp Trader funded trader program to the max.
Continuous Improvement Mindset
Despite his years of experience, Marlon maintains the mindset of a student. When asked about his weaknesses, he identifies “Focus on staying disciplined.” This is an honest assessment that even experienced traders must constantly work on themselves.
It is critical that traders also take a look at their trading psychology and understand that success is not only in their theoretical knowledge, but in their experience and their development. This can only be achieved when traders dedicate time to improving their mindset.
His experience with OneUp Trader has been overwhelmingly positive, rating the platform a perfect 10 out of 10. He describes OneUp as the “Best prop firm” and found the setup process “Very Easy,” allowing him to focus on trading rather than platform complications.
Your Turn
Marlon’s journey proves that with the right mindset, strategy, and support system, traders can build lasting success—even after setbacks.
Ready to take your trading to the next level? Start your evaluation with OneUp Trader today and see what you can accomplish with a real edge.
