FINALLY passed TopstepTrader's Combine!

Discussion in 'Prop Firms' started by JamesEM, Sep 17, 2016.

  1. I think his point was "why bother?" If he was down minus $541 and only had 3 days left, then he would need to recover the draw AND make enough profit in three trading days to continue trading past the "10-day rule."

    So yes, he could have recovered the losses, but chose not to continue.

    It would not have "cost him more" (except his time), because TST absorbs the loss in the first 10 days, up to the maximum draw down allowance.
     
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2016
    #211     Nov 17, 2016
    JamesEM likes this.
  2. It was posted earlier. TST was offering a trader to bypass the FTP after passing the combine if you already had the live account but were sent back to the combine.
     
    #212     Nov 17, 2016
  3. Topstep

    Topstep

    @ScalperJoe Thanks for the lively discussion just wanted to jump in and clarify what exactly Redevelopment is. Any funded trader whose Net P&L is halfway to their Max Drawdown or less in the Funded Account before Day 10 can opt for Redevelopment.

    If a trader opts for Redevelopment, they have 30 days to successfully complete the Trading Combine objective again. If they are successful, they then go directly into a fresh Funded Account, with the prop firm having eaten all of their previous losses.

    Redevelopment is meant as an opportunity for traders who are struggling in the Funded Account to take a step back, trade in simulation, get their head straight and focus on what earned them the Funded Account in the first place.

    Lastly, it's worth noting Redevelopment is completely free.

    Hope that helps! Happy Thanksgiving all!
     
    #213     Nov 22, 2016
    Overnight and Xela like this.
  4. JamesEM

    JamesEM

    No, it was just a personal decision to not waste anymore energy with an unfavorable situation :)
     
    #214     Dec 1, 2016
  5. JamesEM

    JamesEM

    Redevelopment: If you are down less than half your draw-down limit ($750 in my case) and you have traded 9 days or less, they give you a free Combine which, if passed, puts you back in the live account.

    I've heard different stories about whether you start from where you left off or not but you get 10 more days to create that draw-down cushion.
     
    #215     Dec 1, 2016
    algofy likes this.
  6. JamesEM

    JamesEM

    Nothing changed. They're model just doesn't allow for normal draw-down within trading.
     
    #216     Dec 1, 2016
  7. algofy

    algofy

    What's your next steps James ?
     
    #217     Dec 1, 2016
  8. Xela

    Xela


    It depends how you look at it, and on your degree of risk-aversion: it allows for more drawdown, pro rata, than I'm willing to risk in my own self-funded account.
     
    #218     Dec 1, 2016
    algofy likes this.
  9. JamesEM

    JamesEM

    Another update for all those interested!

    After leaving TST behind, I've now turned my attention to my own account. I've made 16.2% on my small account, which I have set up to mirror the TST Combine parameters. I've just drawn my first check from the profits.

    The difference is, I actually have an indefinite draw-down rather than one which disappears after 10 trading days. It doesn't trail and I am free to trade my method with enough room to, hopefully, deliver regular checks.

    My summary of TST would be this: excellent tool for those who don't know how to trade if they can buy into the dream of getting and staying funded (think Donkey and Carrot) but, once the carrot has been dangled long enough and the Donkey has learned his lesson, actually getting funded with them is extremely inefficient and not geared towards actually funding traders.

    Why else would they move from a 60/40 profit split in the beginning to 100% on the first $5K?? Because that sweetens a deal that very few people get to take advantage of and allows them to sell their funded traders.

    Essentially, I've funded myself with the account I was training for but would never receive from them. The hard part isn't getting funded, it's being able to trade in the first place...I went there because I knew I wasn't good enough to be funded and left when I was. There are far better ways to get funded than through their program.

    My 2 cents!
     
    #219     Dec 1, 2016
    algofy likes this.
  10. JamesEM

    JamesEM

    I'm not sure I a understand you?

    All I know is I can operate with a specific draw-down over TIME and they don't offer that. Focusing on the short-term risk of my own account is short-sighted in my opinion. I'm quite happy to sit in a draw that is statistically expected for profit over time.

    They squeezed me with time and promptly lost over a grand when discipline went out the window. We can't make our edge or the markets do anything in relatively short periods of time. They would have made money with me had they given me draw-down and time. Their loss I guess :)
     
    #220     Dec 1, 2016