I went to an Altrion open house. They require NO risk deposit. However, they do charge $1500 for training.
They manage their risk by restricting your daily losses (I suppose the training covers them as well). If I remember correctly, they start you off by cutting you off for they day if you are down something like $25-$40.
They say this forces you to become better.
However, I believe they said that they teach you their own strategy, involving low volatility stocks, like citigroup.
The office in LA (santa monica) is nice I'll admit, great view, there is a sea breeze. 7th floor.
They charge no commission and the P&L is like 60-75% to the trader or something.
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That is all I remember, I didn't pick them because of all the firms I've spoken to, they were the most difficult to get ahold of, even after the open house.
One of the great benefits of being a trader, is that you get to avoid all the BS that comes with management. Not a good sign, don't want to pay $1500 if that is the type of treatment I would get afterwards....
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Good Luck, it was a pain in the a$$ for me to find a firm I liked, but now I couldn't be happier.
Knowing what I know now, if you have never DAY TRADED equities before, you definitely do not want to start remote, and you definitely want to go somewhere with a good training program.