Felix Prehn’s Journey: Breaking Free from the 9–5 Grind

Felix Prehn
3 min readJul 30, 2024

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Introduction

Felix Prehn, the founder of Goat Academy, has an inspiring story of personal and financial transformation. His journey from investment banker to financial freedom advocate offers valuable lessons for those looking to escape the traditional work lifestyle.

Early Days in Investment Banking

Prehn’s career began in the demanding world of investment banking. He worked long hours, often starting at 7 AM and finishing late in the evening. Despite the challenges, this experience taught him valuable lessons about money management. He observed colleagues who weren’t geniuses but consistently doubled their money each year. This realization would shape his future path.

The Decision to Quit

Despite the financial benefits, Prehn felt trapped in the corporate world. He disliked having to ask for permission to take time off. This frustration led him to quit his banking job and start his own business.

Self-Employment: Not Quite Freedom

Running his own business gave Prehn more control, but he found himself working even harder than before. He realized he had become self-employed rather than truly free. His clients had become his new bosses.

A Life-Changing Setback

In 2013, Prehn suffered a severe back injury. He spent nine months mostly bedridden. This crisis forced him to find new ways to make money. Using his banking knowledge, he turned to trading.

Learning to Trade Consistently

Prehn’s journey to trading success wasn’t easy. He experienced many losses at first. But with advice from industry contacts and constant improvement of his methods, he eventually achieved consistent profits. This new income source not only covered his expenses but also reduced his stress, helping his physical recovery.

Developing a Successful Trading System

From this challenging period, Prehn developed his own trading system. He now uses this method weekly, achieving impressive returns. In recent years, he has more than doubled his money annually.

Creating Goat Academy

The COVID-19 pandemic gave Prehn an opportunity to share his knowledge. He founded Goat Academy, an educational platform teaching financial strategies. The academy has grown to include about 10,000 students and a team of experienced financial professionals.

Key Lessons from Prehn’s Experience

  1. Don’t fear financial markets: With the right approach, managing your own money is possible.
  2. Use practice accounts: Try trading without risk using simulated accounts from brokers.
  3. Limit your risk: Set up trades with a maximum possible loss and use automatic sell points.
  4. Seek financial education: Learn to manage your own money instead of relying only on advisors.
  5. Find a knowledgeable teacher: Seek guidance from those with experience in finance.
  6. Be patient but start now: Understand that profits take time, but begin learning immediately.
  7. Define your true goals: Identify what you really want in life beyond material possessions.

Felix Prehn’s story shows that with knowledge and the right mindset, achieving financial freedom is possible. Through Goat Academy, he aims to help others break free from the 9–5 lifestyle and take control of their financial futures.

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Felix Prehn
Felix Prehn

Written by Felix Prehn

Felix Prehn is an ex hedge fund strategist at Macquarie, corporate lawyer, entrepreneur, options trader and proud dad to 3 cats and a dog

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