i will bet dollars to donuts, that when and you get "funded" you are really not funded... i.e., there is no real money being traded, you just post your trades, but nothing is executed, an illusion... tst is banking that you bust...and my guess is 97% or more bust when funded,
You've already asked this a day or two ago and had it answered by two people, here and here. I'm happy to confirm that the answer hasn't changed during that time, anyway: it's still "no, you don't!" That's just a Combine fee: it's only payable while you're taking the Combine. I find it seriously bizarre, the weird stuff that some people believe/imagine, about TST! Once funded, all you have to do to earn regular money is repeat something that you've already just done TWICE, to become funded. Or do even less than that, if you want. And with no time-limits at all. And no compulsion at all to trade if/when you don't want to. Why on Earth would that have a "97% failure-rate"?!?! Honestly, I suspect that it's probably not for you, Paula: if it really all feels as suspicious as that, to you, then it's hard to see it going well for you ... just my opinion, of course.
Many of your questions can be found under FAQs on TST website. Please spend a little bit efforts to do some due diligent so you don't use up Xela's precious time. LOL.... In regard to funded account, there are 2 options to choose. One is to go live where you ONLY have to pay monthly exchange data fee and software fee (pay quarterly if you lease it), plus 80/20 profits split after first $5000 is yours to take. Another option is to stay in sim until you earn $5000 and then, go live. I chose 2nd option because it saved me some costs prior going live. By the way, I found TST's monthly exchange data fee is about 2 to 3 times more expensive than what my brokerage firm charging my own futures account. However, such costs are very small which means nothing at all if you have a reliable trading system to generate consistent profits. Good luck to you
[QUOTE="Honestly, I suspect that it's probably not for you, Paula: if it really all feels as suspicious as that, to you, then it's hard to see it going well for you ... just my opinion, of course.[/QUOTE] +1
Yes, it would be ... that's because when you trade a TST account, you're trading "other people's money", and that makes you a "professional", by definition, and the exchange charges you accordingly, for data. Nothing TST can do about that. Indeed.
No, the TST monthly price, 165$ for a 50K account is only for the combine and stage 2. Once funded you do not have to pay a fee to TST.
...then you don't need TST. And if you don't have a reliable trading system to generate consistent profits, then you don't need TST.
If your systems can generate an extra buck, would you go for it? Please don't tell me that you wouldn't because it's a lie. NOBODY would back away from making extra money if they are able to do so, considering how much time and money you already spent on your systems to make them profitable. Another reason has to do with discipline matter. When I trade my TST account, my mind focuses only on scalping trading system and nothing else. When I trade my own Futures account, my mind focuses only on momentum or swing trading systems. I don't confuse myself by doing so between two accounts.
They never will, either. But enough do for plenty of the successful ones to have posted accounts of their experience (often with screenshots) in many parts of the web, and for TopStep to have survived for some years and gotten plenty of people off to successful trading careers. Even if that reality (for whatever reason) is an uncomfortable or unpleasant one for you. I can't tell from your post whether you want to come across as sarcastic or just dismissive. I also can't tell whether you're just ill-informed and prejudiced, or actively malicious. What I know for sure, though, is that your comments on this subject in various threads help nobody.