I disagree that they are marketing to people who have "ZERO money." The difference is in your own account, you set the rules. In the TST combine, you're bound by a structured account with specific risk criteria in place, AND there is someone monitoring your performance. I know traders who looked at the TST combine and decided to fund their own accounts instead. The main reason was NOT financial, it was simply that they didn't want to trade within TST's rules. I think if one hasn't traded futures in a live environment, then paying $175 for each 30k combine is going to be less expensive than getting a few maintenance liquidations in an AMP account.
2 observations: 1. For anyone who just wants to practice or test himself, there is a much simpler way. Just use any trial period at any brokerages and treat it like the Combine. Oh, but you say, where is the pain then? Well, here it is: At every failure, you have to burn two 100 dollar bills. Or if you are more humanistic, you have to donate it to Wounded Warriors/United Negro College Fund/Red Cross/PETA, you can choose. The point is, you don't have to make TST richer just because you can't follow their gazillion rules. 2. In all fairness, TST's business plan only makes sense for foreigners. If you are American or a Westerner and make it to the backed trader status, the 10-30K you most likely will be making won't change your life and you can't even live on. But if you live in India/China or any other low cost country, even 5K dollars extra can make a significant change in your life. So for a poor Indian or Chinese student with great ideas and stamina, it makes sense to try out for the Combine and pursue the dream...
There's a site for this: http://www.stickk.com/ You set the goal, and make the stakes donating cash to some charity you hate, get someone else to be in charge of your cash in effective escrow... deliver on your goal or the charity gets the cash.
your quote regarding a poor indian student reminded me this man :Raj Rajartnam http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raj_Rajaratnam does wining a combine and getting funded as senior trader & at least 6 months of trading for TST equity partner (Patak Prop firm) is an advantage in the future ? does consistency in trading for them counts as an advantage for bigger prop firms and access to more capital and a real prop trading job ? TST is a dead end or if someone is capable of generating profit for them, TST experience & resume of trading with them can lead to a real & better prop trading job ?
I don't think you caught my drift. My point was that a backed up trader clearing after taxes and everything let's say 20K in the US, can't really live on it, but in much cheaper countries they can, because it is equivalent to getting 40-50K or more here. So as long as they can make a living in their countries, they don't need to advance to anywhere...Specially if they don't even need a car and they happy with their bicycle or public transportation... Rent Prices in Bangalore are 70.95% lower than in Pittsburgh, PA Restaurant Prices in Bangalore are 75.85% lower than in Pittsburgh, PA Groceries Prices in Bangalore are 56.97% lower than in Pittsburgh, PA http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-livin...y2=India&city1=Pittsburgh,+PA&city2=Bangalore ------------------------------ http://www.saigonist.com/content/cost-living-vietnam-its-really-cheap "For about $200 a month I get a two-story house split into four rooms (plus bathroom) where I live and work. It's not downtown but I can get there in five minutes flat (I've timed it). The way to get around in Vietnam is by motorbike. For $800 you can get a brand new Honda that will cost you three dollars to fill up once or twice a week. A feast with friends outside with a few beers, maybe some seafood, may cost each of you $5."
well , i got your meaning well in the first glance cuz i lived in eastern asia for some years and i know what does US Dollr income means there (and of course in my own country !) .do you have any comment regarding those questions ?
Based on an email exchange with them earlier today, a 20 day combine is still doable if you go the custom combine route. They're just not promoting this aspect.
No. You were assuming everybody wants to be a millionaire and my point was that most just want to make a decent living.
you said "persue the dream", so the first meaning i can imagine is getting super rich and not have a normal life.