After the evaluation of the company, no. Now let's try to be positive here, so I will do a quick rerun of what one can use TST for: 1. Getting backed by them and trade with them for a profit share: If one does the math (taxes and the real value of funds) any good trader is better off trading his own money, period. There is also a Catch 22 for TST, why would a long term successful trader stick around with them? Simply, they wouldn't, unless for some special reasons they can't trade their own money. Bottomline: Chances of getting backed and making a living (the ultimate goal) with them is so slim that it is not worthy to consider for the average Joe. 2. Getting educated by them: I don't have experience with them in this regard, so I am not going to say much about it. If somebody wants to pay a few thousands buck for trading education, they might as well pay them. Bottomline: They are moving more and more into the education business, and that proves the point I made in point #1. 3. Getting a paper account with them to practice/test: This is probably the most useful feature of TST for the average Joe. Specially if one figures out how to get it for free. At $100 per month it is a bit pricey, but taken into account that a trader definitely would lose more using real money, it is a money saver for Joe. And he gets some nice stats for his money. Bottomline: Best way to use TST, as a practice account.... TL;DR: Don't dream of making a living with them, get educated by them if you wish so, but the best is just to practice.
That's a thoughtful review of TST. And now you appear to be objective and not bitter towards them. I agree that they are looking more like an educational firm than a trading firm. but you mention practice accounts as a way to get practice and not lose real money. Is that also the case with the combine? Do you see value in taking their combines? Would it prepare people to cut their losses? Or do you think it is just a pipe dream ticket to trading?
I think this is the crux of the issue. I have as yet myself not registered to one combine. I was thinking of using the combine in this way: 1- try the combine for funding (2 months - 60 days ) 100-400$ cost 2- if fail, practice on demo till one can do 3 combines successfully ( 6 months minimum - may be 12 months) 3- retry the combine Repeat till combine success. In this way, the total cost of the combine will be less than a grand a year. I was thinking that if I fail at 1) and 2), I will have a list of things I know I have to work on so as to improve. I see the combine as a way to improve. I would really like to know if Patak has yet considered a 1million$ combine account.
I have a strange feeling I am being used for TST PR, but anyway... Sure there is value in it as long as traders treat it as real money, which is hard with free accounts. Thus a little justification for the fees. I don't see the huge fee differences justified though. (kind of strange that a backer would base his funding size of you on your willingness of paying 200 bucks more) Also, one can just take it as a personal challenge. After all as long as you make a little money, it is free. I hated the old rules, they didn't make sense at all. They did give a sense they just wanted you to fail and it had nothing to do with real Live trading. The new rules are way better, but taking it for going eventually Live is still mostly a pipe dream.
Not tried a combine : soon after my post, started to trade with someone, and the profits were fine. I will definitively give it a go - may be this summer- so as to have the experience of a combine.