Nicolas Benassi
🇧🇷Brazil· São Paulo
Theory shows you the map. The market tests whether you actually know how to drive.
Nicolas Benassi is a Brazilian trader, financial educator, and content creator based in São Paulo. Currently pursuing a degree in Economic Analysis at USP while holding an MBA from USP Fundace, he combines academic rigor with real-world market experience. He previously worked as a trader advisor at Toro Investimentos, where he specialized in risk management and mentored traders—including Danillo, who went on to win Copa BTG Trader 2025.
As a content creator at Nelogica, a leading Brazilian trading platform, Benassi bridges the gap between theory and practice. He is an active member of São Paulo's trading community, regularly attending industry events including the Profit Tour and finance lectures. His approach emphasizes that successful trading is built on a foundation of disciplined study, emotional control, and risk management rather than chasing quick profits.
Benassi's philosophy reflects his belief that the market itself is the greatest teacher. He values in-person networking and community engagement, recognizing that financial markets are ultimately driven by people. For him, the real value lies not just in financial results, but in the personal transformation that comes through consistent, methodical practice.
Interview
You are studying economic analysis at USP and finance at FGV at the same time as trading actively. What does a normal week look like, and which of the three — USP, FGV, or the markets — teaches you the most right now?
My routine is basically a combination of study, market, and networking. During the week, I divide my time between classes, readings on macroeconomics, finance and capital markets, plus daily market preparation and monitoring. I also participate in events, lectures and industry meetings because I believe learning doesn't happen just inside the classroom.
USP helps me a lot to develop critical thinking and understand the economic fundamentals behind market movements. FGV, where I already graduated, brought me a more applied view of management, finance and decision-making. But today, the market is still the greatest teacher. When there's money, risk and emotion involved, you learn lessons that no book can fully reproduce. Theory shows you the map. The market tests whether you really know how to drive.
Copa BTG Trader 2025 drew over 100,000 registered traders. How did you find out about it and what made you enter while still mid-degree?
I've been following the trading ecosystem for a few years, so Copa BTG Trader ended up appearing naturally through the community and my work at Nelogica.
I believe that the graduation period is the best time to expose yourself to real experiences. A lot of people wait until they finish college to start testing their knowledge. I prefer to do the opposite: study and validate my learning simultaneously.
Participating in a competition of this scale is an opportunity to measure your execution capacity under pressure, something that a test can barely evaluate.
Interestingly enough, the Copa winner, Danilo, was my client when I worked as a Trader advisor at Toro investimentos. My role as Trader advisor there was precisely to talk about risk management, so it was good to see an old friend bringing the prize home!
You quote Adam Smith in your bio: the real value of things is the effort and trouble of acquiring them. How does that apply specifically to trading — is the process of learning to trade the point, or is the result the point?
I believe both are important, but the process comes before the result.
A lot of people enter the market looking only at profit, with the promise, but profit is a consequence of a much larger construction. Trading requires study, emotional control, risk management, discipline and the ability to deal with mistakes. These skills take time to develop.
