I understand that many on this board will not be happy to see yet another Swifttrade thread. I apologize for having to start one, but there are a series of questions that I cant seem to find the answers to, at least some questions that havenât been answered, and Iâve looked quite extensively. I would appreciate if someone knowledgeable can answer regarding Swifttrade. No opinions, just questions and factual answers. I wont piss people off by asking them what they think is the best office or what they think of the deal, etc., at least not in this thread.
Some of the questions may seem stupid to some of you, but to those of us who have never stepped inside such an operation, the answers will surely be helpful.
Questions regarding Swifttrade and the Like:
1) Exactly what does it mean to say that this company is a Proprietary Trading company and that they can make money from credit sharing and shave a half a penny here and there to make there money using their software. As I understand it, their software is nothing more than minute charts, live news wires, level II real time quotes for all Exchanges and ECNâs, and order entry screens, among other tools. As someone who has been in the markets for years, you buy at the ask and sell at the bid, trying to time the market for a fraction of a penny here and there is foolish even with level II streaming quotes, live charts and news. What exactly does this company do to enable themselves an advantage over the retail day trader at home trading with say, Ameritradeâs platform and level II streaming real time quotes?
2) What does it mean to credit trade or trading for credits?
3) Assuming that one has obtained a position with the company, what are the terms of the deal? I understand that there is no capital contribution, but here are some side questions:
a) What forms must be signed, in terms of liability by the employee for anything, such as agreeing to pay workstation and software fees, etc.? b) Is the person an employee with benefits or on contract? c) How long is the contract. d) Who can terminate the contract and under what circumstances?
4) Chronologically speaking, can someone explain the training process? Such as, âThe first day you meet your mentor and you go through the software and he shows you the functionality. After that they teach you how they make their money and expect you to do the sameâ, etcâ¦.
5) After they show you how everything works and you are about to execute your first trade under their guidelines and expectations, are you actually trading the firms capital?
6) If in fact you are trading the companyâs capital, what is the dollar value of the total amount you are allowed to invest at the time of that first trade. For example, if its say 30000K Canadian, that means I can then buy roughly 1000 shares of Microsoftâ¦correct?
7) What am I expected to do in the next instant, either sell it for a profit, almost immediately, or be down a penny and sell for a loss??
8) What are the rates for all of the following:
a) SEC Fees, ECN Fees, etc., and Swift commissions for buying and selling 1000 shares of Microsoft as in the above example?
b) Workstations fees such as quote fees, news wire fees etc., per month
9) What exactly are these rebates that others have eluded to and many have talked about. I hear Golden traders get rebates, what is all this?
10) What is the âtrading floorâ composed of? What I picture is a bunch of traders, each sitting at cubicles with their computers in front of them, their phone on their right and watching the screen intently for their next trade? Meanwhile, the manager or compliance guy, or whomever, is monitoring everyoneâs trading on his or her station and will somehow know when a certain individual is offside at any given moment?
11) At what point does one become allowed to earn money. In other words, does the gross monthly profit have to exceed say $3500.00 after all commissions to earn that 35%. And when exactly does buying power increase. I know people have discussed graduating, but can someone explain more clearly what it takes to graduate and what your buying power will be at that time?
12) Can options be traded as well? In other words, does Swifttrade do anything other than what I have seen talked about? Example, say I wanted to buy a position and hedge it with options? Etc.
13) An interesting question that differs from the rest, and possibly may not be able to be answered here and now:
Say someone has a $250,000 US account and wants to trade his or her money using the Swift trade software and is willing to pay say a set amount of commission per trade, but that person can also invest in whatever he or she desires and trade any way they see fit, since after all it is their moneyâ¦..does this possibility exist and if not, why?
I appreciate any and all answers to the above. I know they are many, but they will give anyone, including myself, who has any inclination in such a career with this company, the opportunity to make an informed decision. If I come up with anymore, I will be sure to post them.
Some of the questions may seem stupid to some of you, but to those of us who have never stepped inside such an operation, the answers will surely be helpful.
Questions regarding Swifttrade and the Like:
1) Exactly what does it mean to say that this company is a Proprietary Trading company and that they can make money from credit sharing and shave a half a penny here and there to make there money using their software. As I understand it, their software is nothing more than minute charts, live news wires, level II real time quotes for all Exchanges and ECNâs, and order entry screens, among other tools. As someone who has been in the markets for years, you buy at the ask and sell at the bid, trying to time the market for a fraction of a penny here and there is foolish even with level II streaming quotes, live charts and news. What exactly does this company do to enable themselves an advantage over the retail day trader at home trading with say, Ameritradeâs platform and level II streaming real time quotes?
2) What does it mean to credit trade or trading for credits?
3) Assuming that one has obtained a position with the company, what are the terms of the deal? I understand that there is no capital contribution, but here are some side questions:
a) What forms must be signed, in terms of liability by the employee for anything, such as agreeing to pay workstation and software fees, etc.? b) Is the person an employee with benefits or on contract? c) How long is the contract. d) Who can terminate the contract and under what circumstances?
4) Chronologically speaking, can someone explain the training process? Such as, âThe first day you meet your mentor and you go through the software and he shows you the functionality. After that they teach you how they make their money and expect you to do the sameâ, etcâ¦.
5) After they show you how everything works and you are about to execute your first trade under their guidelines and expectations, are you actually trading the firms capital?
6) If in fact you are trading the companyâs capital, what is the dollar value of the total amount you are allowed to invest at the time of that first trade. For example, if its say 30000K Canadian, that means I can then buy roughly 1000 shares of Microsoftâ¦correct?
7) What am I expected to do in the next instant, either sell it for a profit, almost immediately, or be down a penny and sell for a loss??
8) What are the rates for all of the following:
a) SEC Fees, ECN Fees, etc., and Swift commissions for buying and selling 1000 shares of Microsoft as in the above example?
b) Workstations fees such as quote fees, news wire fees etc., per month
9) What exactly are these rebates that others have eluded to and many have talked about. I hear Golden traders get rebates, what is all this?
10) What is the âtrading floorâ composed of? What I picture is a bunch of traders, each sitting at cubicles with their computers in front of them, their phone on their right and watching the screen intently for their next trade? Meanwhile, the manager or compliance guy, or whomever, is monitoring everyoneâs trading on his or her station and will somehow know when a certain individual is offside at any given moment?
11) At what point does one become allowed to earn money. In other words, does the gross monthly profit have to exceed say $3500.00 after all commissions to earn that 35%. And when exactly does buying power increase. I know people have discussed graduating, but can someone explain more clearly what it takes to graduate and what your buying power will be at that time?
12) Can options be traded as well? In other words, does Swifttrade do anything other than what I have seen talked about? Example, say I wanted to buy a position and hedge it with options? Etc.
13) An interesting question that differs from the rest, and possibly may not be able to be answered here and now:
Say someone has a $250,000 US account and wants to trade his or her money using the Swift trade software and is willing to pay say a set amount of commission per trade, but that person can also invest in whatever he or she desires and trade any way they see fit, since after all it is their moneyâ¦..does this possibility exist and if not, why?
I appreciate any and all answers to the above. I know they are many, but they will give anyone, including myself, who has any inclination in such a career with this company, the opportunity to make an informed decision. If I come up with anymore, I will be sure to post them.