Thanks for taking the time to respond to all of Frederick's queries and concerns. I wasn't sure I had the strength to do so myself! I think people take a philosophical, somewhat nihilistic, end-of-time view to things when they are looking for reasons (for whatever underlying reason...) to debunk someone's choice or action. First it's the Combine...then the FTP...then it'll be the first check. After that, it's whether you get the fees back. We can keep going forwards in time, until the end of time, looking for whether "it was worth it/we found value". Earning back all fees, education and losses incurred on the way to profitability. "Loss" of time with friends and family...ultimately we all lose...except the best loser wins. As much as Nihilism makes sense logically, it makes no sense to think so broad and wide if we are to live happily. What a depressing discussion! LOL! Incidentally, those fees will be covered in a matter of months of consistent trading. I believe that TST is providing value to different people for different reasons; mainly discipline and capital. Yes, one could argue that one could save the capital and develop the discipline on their own but, as disciplined as I thought I was before TST, my trading has improved leaps and bounds since getting involved with them. PS. The majority of this wasn't aimed at you...
[QUOTE=".... Earning back all fees, education and losses incurred on the way to profitability. "Loss" of time with friends and family...ultimately we all lose...except the best loser wins. As much as Nihilism makes sense logically, it makes no sense to think so broad and wide if we are to live happily. What a depressing discussion! LOL!..........[/QUOTE] About a decade ago, I decided to quit a regular full-time job to give myself a try at a prop firm as a day-trader, which took me about 6-month in order to graduate from the program so I could trade by using the firm's capital. Every morning, I had to take a bus (about an hour ride on each way) ~7:30am in order to show up before 9am (after 9am, I'd not be allowed to enter into the trading floor for being late.) There were several times I got stopped out from my trade few minutes after market open, which I had to leave my desk and go home for the day. I remember very well that it was a tough and lonely road to walk through during that period because nobody would support me mentally and some even laughed at my face and etc... Anyway, my main point is that if this is what you have strong passion with and that you are getting good at it, who cares about what other say because you are the only who knows well about your own strength and what you are capable to do. Remember that it's only impossible if you aren't going to give yourself a try and give yourself a best shot at it. Good luck to you.
About a decade ago, I decided to quit a regular full-time job to give myself a try at a prop firm as a day-trader, which took me about 6-month in order to graduate from the program so I could trade by using the firm's capital. Every morning, I had to take a bus (about an hour ride on each way) ~7:30am in order to show up before 9am (after 9am, I'd not be allowed to enter into the trading floor for being late.) There were several times I got stopped out from my trade few minutes after market open, which I had to leave my desk and go home for the day. I remember very well that it was a tough and lonely road to walk through during that period because nobody would support me mentally and some even laughed at my face and etc... Anyway, my main point is that if this is what you have strong passion with and that you are getting good at it, who cares about what other say because you are the only who knows well about your own strength and what you are capable to do. Remember that it's only impossible if you aren't going to give yourself a try and give yourself a best shot at it. Good luck to you.[/QUOTE] THANK YOU for this I didn't choose trading, trading chose me (and it's mostly not about the money..). I've learnt more about myself and human nature doing this than I have doing anything else- even therapy!! Can't think of many things I'm more passionate about. Thanks again for the positive vibe.
JamesEM, Just to be clear, my negative bias has nothing to do with you or your prospects as they relate to trading in general. My only concern is in regard to TST, which I am inclined to believe unnecessarily inserts itself into the trading equation. So please don't take any of my comments as being negative towards you.
Thanks for the clarification Frederick...that's the impression I had anyway. I know everyone has their own opinion on the matter, some with more information than others, so it makes sense that there would be contrast. I do my best not to let anyone's opinion (starting with my own!) get in the way of the process of learning but I respect where people are at in their own development....a bit off topic but worth mentioning Take care!
Pekelo, I saw the blog you mentioned. Here's the update, according to the blog: "Unfortunately I have lost my top step account, time to go back to the drawing board. Despite my extremely poor performance in the Topstep account I still believe I have a profitable trading methodology, its just my execution of that methodology that needs serious work. I will take some time off from the journal but plan to start again after I figure out the next step. Thanks for the support, unfortunate that I couldn't do better but I will be back again." I also give the guy kudos for getting funded, especially after taking 10 prior combines as he mentioned in the journal. Unfortunately, he lost the live account, and TST also took a hit for his $1,000 draw, so one has to take that into consideration when factoring in their revenues for combine fees. Another point he mentioned is TST offered him a "redevelopment" program whereby if you pass a combine again, then you can bypass the FTP and get back to trading the live account.
Well done - looking forward very much to hearing that you've withdrawn your first $5,000 profit (like so many others). (Don't expect it to quieten down the critics, though: they look only at what suits their own perspectives. )