Pattern Day Trading Rule, how to avoid

Discussion in 'Professional Trading' started by Diego443, Dec 14, 2015.

  1. Diego443

    Diego443

    true you can have several accounts to increase the number of daytrades...I currently own two and heading to three...
     
    #21     Dec 15, 2015
  2. Turveyd

    Turveyd

    Multiple accounts sound good, just go all in, 1 position per account, need 2K+ for Margin requirements ofcourse in each.

    The real question is, why didn't I think of that earlier, hmmmmmm, ERROR!!
     
    #22     Dec 15, 2015
  3. Why not put 5-10k into a prop firm???
     
    #23     Dec 15, 2015
  4. Diego443

    Diego443

    I have never known about this option...how would this trading and what about costs?
     
    #24     Dec 16, 2015
  5. I personally had this problem a few months ago up until I joined a prop firm. I am not subject to the PDT rule because I'm trading the firms funds. Other than having to split the profits it's been a blast. Luckily I didn't have to make a 5-10k capital contributions to put my money ahead of theirs.

    Im looking for daytrading friends. Skype: steve.magana1
     
    Last edited: Jan 2, 2016
    #25     Jan 2, 2016
  6. Bry

    Bry

    Here's a link about pattern day trader status:
    https://support.robinhood.com/hc/en-us/articles/203585005-Day-Trading

    Excerpt: "Pattern Day Trading rules only apply to margin accounts; a customer trading in only a cash account will not be designated as a Pattern Day Trader...Please note that there is no limit on Day Trades in a cash account."

    (What is the "catch"? You must wait 3-4 days for funds to settle after you liquidate a position.)

    If you have a cash account, they say, you cannot ever get pattern day trader status; that only comes with a margin account; BUT, you have to wait 3 days for your funds to become available again after you sell a position; if you used only 1/4 of your cash each day for one day trade, you could day trade once every day; if you used only 1/8 of your cash each trade, you could make 2 day trades each day.

    IF you had $10k in a cash account, theoretically, you could make one $2,500 day trade every open market day, and never get the PDT status; or, you could make ten $1000 day trades spaced evenly over every 3-4 days.

    Basically, it is impossible to get pattern day trader status with a cash account (with ALL brokerages???)...but you get no margin and must wait 3-4 days for the funds to settle after each sale.
     
    #26     Jan 4, 2016
  7. Diego443

    Diego443

    Thank you for letting me know but unfortunately I need a margin account as I mainly short.
     
    #27     Jan 4, 2016
  8. Turveyd

    Turveyd

    Theory is well and good, but sadly real life isn't that easy ever.

    And when you do get to the magic 25K+ you'll get 4x's Margin, which you'll use being greedy, hits are generally worse than the profits are good, so pretty soon you'll be sub 25K again.
     
    #28     Jan 5, 2016
  9. Bry

    Bry

    depends how good the entries are; and, some day trade entries "should" become swing trades that do well
    you are really talking money management, and that can never be stressed enough...for me too! if I had $100k, I would "want" to begin risking about $500 or 1/2% per short term trade, but after a few wins (or losses!) would I get greedy (or desperate) and start risking more? too bad for me if I didn't wait a lot longer to prove myself before increasing my risk
     
    #29     Jan 5, 2016
  10. Turveyd

    Turveyd

    Human Nature suggests that 99% of us would get greedy, that's why 99% of us lose.

    I trade a FX spot account, no major blow outs since dropping margin from 200x's to 50x's, I run my account, 1 position right upto the 50x's Margin allowance :) and will keep doing this until I can' trade larger all being well.
     
    #30     Jan 5, 2016