Well, after spending about 30 hours reading every single thread and post on here (literally )about Prop firms I am no further then when I started. After reading posts about Les, tuco, etc. I am thouroughly afraid to even fund an account with a prop firm. What should I be looking for? A SEC registration # or something? Just because they are registered are they any more solvent? Or their financials are just public? Does requiring a S 7 or 56 mean they are registered? Are any Prop firms SIPC insured? Are there any Prop firms where if another trader blows up himself and the company I will still get my money back? The one year lock up is a SEC rule? I am assuming K1 is better then a 1099 for losses? I've posted regarding experiences with Lake Street and Braod Street with one response. Are these firms Taboo? When I was reading Broad Street's trader agreement I noticed in the fine print it says my funds would be used in case of another Traders blow up. Also, they said I need a 56 but then it says they are not FINRA or NASD registered. It also said they can hold my funds for any reason with respect to payouts. Is that normal? Are any of these firms taking on any risk at all? Or are they last in line to pay up on a blow out? When we sign the contract are we at the mercy of these people? Can they just hold our profits and payout when and if they feel like it? Do we have any recourse or are we completely bound by the contract? Just when I thought I had a grasp on what to look for I feel totally lost as how to asertain the correct information. What are the top tier firms( in your opinions)? I do not want to have to worry about payouts or some other traders blowing up and the firm using my capital to fund their losses? What firms are not necesarliy top tier but where one does not have to worry about money and payouts? I am at the point where if I do sign with one of these firms I feel I will have to record every phone call and conversation and take screenshots or pics of my balances just to protect myself. FYI: I would be remote. Must have buy call/put options abvailable to me. Don't need training. Would trade my own style not theirs. The max I would be willing to fund with is 5k. Someone please guide me on this? Thanks a lot.
There are others but these two have stood the test of time. http://www.elitetrader.com/br/?action=view&R_FirmID=109 http://www.elitetrader.com/br/?action=view&R_FirmID=14 Disclaimer: I have an account with first. So while I may be biased never had any problem as remote trader. Withdrawing funds or technical difficulties. No first hand exp with 2nd but every time Ive talked with Don he was straight up and helpful as could be. You will need to be licensed.
Wow that was a lot of questions. I'll answer a few. When you join a JBO, or Joint Back Office, You become a limited B partner. Your money is locked up for 365 days by SEC regulation. Your money is invested in the firm, so you're commingled with all the other traders and the firm. Your NOT protected by SIPC, because NO broker dealers are, they only pay into the fund. SIPC only protects customer accounts. If you want to trade for a living, you have to choose between a segregated customer portfolio margin account, which has an SEC reg. min of $100k, but most firms require more, and a prop firm. Prop firms come in two types, the kind that take "deposits", which are JBOs, and firms that hire traders and back them. Financials....every broker dealer files a monthly focus report. If your concerned, ask for a copy before you sign. $5k does not give you a lot of choices. In my opinion, it's also not enough money for option trading. The better prop firms that allow option trading ask for around $100k.
i would not depot anymore then a few 1000 with a prop firm because your money is commingled. if something goes wrong with the group so goes your money. also it is not easy to get your money back once you give it to a prop firm.
That is my fear. Echo would be my first choice but I would need 25k to 100k for the options capability which defeats the purpose. I believe BT requires 10k. I saw CTG for 2.5k but no options.
Good to see good questions with good answers. Just to clarify, we do not "co mingle" funds, we do not need to use trader capital to fulfill our net capital requirements. We do not hold initial deposts for 12 months. And, yes, Echo is an excellent firm as well. We have been friendly "competitors" since their inception. oh... $20k "is what it is".... 20% less than Pattern Day Trader in any event. All the best, Don
I got one. p.s. i meant to say, senior trader or vice president at a prop.owner would be much better.if you didn`t get the idea..