I haven't read all the posts so forgive me if I am repeating someone else.
My experience is that 11 trades a day average is way too many. I believe you said your average per trade is $7, so that reinforces the idea that you are basically scalping noise.
I have offered this advice to many newbies here over the years, and generally get mocked for it. After all, they killed it on a sim. Yet I am still here and most of them are long gone.
Your results came in a period that, from my personal trading, I would call exceptionally favorable to futures day traders. It was not at all reflective of what you can expect going forward.
I believe you said you have a 25k account and use 8k per contract on your sim. I consider that very aggressive for an experienced trader. For a newbie it could be disaster. Honestly, my advice would be to divide your money in half and put half somewhere you cannot access for trading. Trade one contract with the remainder. Then if you lose it, which is highly likely, you can decide whether to continue, but you will have to make an affirmative decision to do so. Perhaps you are very successful. You will have lost the profits off a couple of contracts, which is unfortunate but not life altering.
I hope I don't come across as a dick but I have seen a lot of smart people get chewed up by this business. Good luck.
doug
I even have a better idea
there are plenty of successful traders around here,
why not post your trading screen for everyone to
see,
those of us who have a moment or two, to rest
our sore eyes from our own multi-level monitors,
might come in momentarily to see what you and your
smart spouse are cooking....
and perhaps provide a pointer or two,
only if you so wish and so incline to expose
yourself and your ego and your trading setups
for us to enjoy....
what do you say, doug?
That is an assumption that he entered his real birth date in his profile. Never ass-u-me. Benefit of doubt, man!
Anyone notice that the OP has dropped out of the discussion? Seems like we are more concerned about his success than maybe he is
Am I ready to go live?
...More like...Am I ready to go Jive
This question shouldn't even have to be asked; the mere fact that you have to ask it...is proof enough you are Not ready,
Like alot of things in life...when you are ready or sure, you will know it -- Without having to get reaffirmance from other people,
This kind of reminds me of the movie Iron Eagle,...the boy was absolutely positive he could fly a fighter jet in battle, after so many hours on the simulator, (and he was right)
)Thanks! Exactly the kind of feedback I was seeking. FWIW, I actually started paper trading February 23rd. But, til May 18th I was just getting a feel for the whole thing. Since May 18th I have been much more consistent. My wife and I agree that I will paper trade one more month & evaluate again.
doug
I even have a better idea
there are plenty of successful traders around here,
why not post your trading screen for everyone to
see,