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I have a good impression of Len Rogofsky: http://www.taxesfortraders.com/welcome.htm

I have been thinking about using a C corporation too. NOTE: This discussion should not be a substitute for competent professional advice. The biggest disadvantage of a C corporation is trapped losses. If you take a loss in a C corp, there is no way to offset personal gains or income. The...

I cannot recommend a specific simulator, but I advise extreme caution in using any simulator. No simulator can tell you what it feels like to trade, nor indicate how well you are likely to do. That said, there is some limited benefit in using a simulator in learning to use a particular trading...

I think you're wrong about government information. Check this Web page: http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc429.html I think it is easy to read and understand. Even the tax code is readable. It's just that there is a lot to it, and it isn't written to be easily understood. But relying on...

This sounds plausible. If the trader were doing a pairs trade repeatedly, he could have a huge gain offset by a huge loss. IRS only cares about wash sale losses. I think it would have to be an unusual (and probably obvious) situation. Accountants prefer MTM accounting because it means work...

It's my understanding from talking with active traders who do not trade through an entity (LLC, corp., LP), that getting audited is pretty much inevitable. I have also heard that it's not a big deal provided that you're not doing any hanky-panky.

The interface to your broker will vary depending on the broker. I like IB because they have a good (and free) interface, and there is an active developer community where you can get advice. IB also allows trading stocks, futures, and FOREX from the same account. Most brokers don't have a...

I was a professional programmer in a prior lifetime, but I am self-taught in PC programming. I have used VBasic, C++, and Delphi/Pascal, but I know Delphi best. I looked at Tradestation years ago and decided against it because of the steep learning curve, but perhaps more so because I find...

I have an older Logitec cordless with scroll wheel. It eats batteries like crazy, but I like it otherwise. The "tail" of a regular mouse gets hung up all the time. My cordless gives me plenty of warning when it needs a new battery, so I don't think I am jeopardizing my trading.

There is an updatePortfolio() event that fires about once per minute to show what's open. If you monitor that, it should keep you informed.

The best book I have seen is "VBA Developer's Handbook" by Getz and Gilbert. I also have "Excel 2002 Power Programming with VBA" by Walkenbach, which is more current than the Getz book. There is a Excel traders discussion group at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xltraders/?yguid=165643948

"Bot" is computerese for "robot". In this case, it is a program, not a complete machine that can move under its own direction. I'll be interested to read what can be learned. I have been using a semiautomated ATS for two years with great success. The next step up to full automation seems...

IRS Tax Topic #429 (http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc429.html) covers filing as an individual trader. Being a daytrader does not automatically give you trader status. Both traders and investors (but not securities dealers) report gains on schedule D. Investors report related expenses on...

So far nobody has used technology as effectively as IB. Their API is the lowest cost and simplest to use IMHO. I also like the universal account whereby I can trade securities and futures. I have no doubt that somebody will challenge their position some day, but for now IB is tops.

I use TeleChart (http://www.telechart.com/). It's not free, but it is reasonably priced and pretty clean.

I have written grey and black box systems, and I would not trust any commercial products to run unattended. I never set out to write a system that would run unattended, but I have left mine on long enough to use the bathroom. I prefer to be at my computer when the trading system is armed...

If you're just starting out, I recommend "The Market Maker's Edge" by Lukeman: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0071412743/qid=1119535522/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-1609179-1444637?v=glance&s=books It has simple rules for getting in and out of positions that should keep you out of...

The California plan is not available for fewer than 2 eligible employees.

Diamonds (DIA) is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that trades like a stock and tracks the Dow 30. Most stock brokers can execute a DIA trade for you.

*All* trading discounts the future. I am not sure why you would want to trade the current Dow, but you can always trade the DIA or options.