Experienced Prop Trader - Trading or Job?

Hi Guys,

I have a question (long). I was a prop equities trader a few years back for about 6 years. Did fairly well, best year was about 130k and after that died out and I got a few jobs which I hated. I left my job a few months ago to work on a business which has been slow, but is just starting to net a little money. Maybe like 1500 a month. The business requires a lot of capital and I have a partner. We were retail but we had trouble with the town/zoning so now we can only wholesale for most part.

I am debating on whether to continue with the business on the side and go back to trading or accept a job for about 90 to 100k base in institutional sales (no commission 1st yr). I have about 55k Liquid cash (but 20 of it is in the business). My debt is low and my total expenses are about 750 a month.

If I trade I only have to put down 5k and since I have a good relationship with the firm because I traded there in the past and have a good track record.

Just to clear up I truthfully do not want to go back in the workforce and I am not crazy about the position, but I am finding it hard to turn down 100k. Also it would be about a 1.45 to 2 hour commute everyday give or take to the new job and would cost about 7k a year to commute and I dont want to relocate.

I am also passionate about trading and feel I wanna give it one more shot and still do my business on the side, but I really feel quite torn here. Also I am not young in my mid 30's, but single no kids little responsibilities.

BTW I was a prop intraday equities trader. I really never had a set strategy but i had built parameters and mostly traded what was in play and was very consistent for a few years.

I am trying to get opinions from people in the same or similar situations. Also opinions from active traders who trade everyday for a living and dont have a second income or a ton of cash or inheritance. Would you take the job or go back to trading?
 
Quote from shortinterest:


BTW I was a prop intraday equities trader. I really never had a set strategy but i had built parameters and mostly traded what was in play and was very consistent for a few years.


what happened after you turned "very consistent for a few years"?

If I get that answer, I may be able to suggest something.
 
Quote from shortinterest:

Hi Guys,

I have a question (long). I was a prop equities trader a few years back for about 6 years. Did fairly well, best year was about 130k and after that died out and I got a few jobs which I hated. I left my job a few months ago to work on a business which has been slow, but is just starting to net a little money. Maybe like 1500 a month. The business requires a lot of capital and I have a partner. We were retail but we had trouble with the town/zoning so now we can only wholesale for most part.

I am debating on whether to continue with the business on the side and go back to trading or accept a job for about 90 to 100k base in institutional sales (no commission 1st yr). I have about 55k Liquid cash (but 20 of it is in the business). My debt is low and my total expenses are about 750 a month.

If I trade I only have to put down 5k and since I have a good relationship with the firm because I traded there in the past and have a good track record.

Just to clear up I truthfully do not want to go back in the workforce and I am not crazy about the position, but I am finding it hard to turn down 100k. Also it would be about a 1.45 to 2 hour commute everyday give or take to the new job and would cost about 7k a year to commute and I dont want to relocate.

I am also passionate about trading and feel I wanna give it one more shot and still do my business on the side, but I really feel quite torn here. Also I am not young in my mid 30's, but single no kids little responsibilities.

BTW I was a prop intraday equities trader. I really never had a set strategy but i had built parameters and mostly traded what was in play and was very consistent for a few years.

I am trying to get opinions from people in the same or similar situations. Also opinions from active traders who trade everyday for a living and dont have a second income or a ton of cash or inheritance. Would you take the job or go back to trading?

Take the job.
 
Quote from swiftmike99:

Take the job.

+1

Your situation is too complicated. Trading has probably changed alot since you used to do it. You may not be able to make any money for a long time while you learn a new strategy.

Just be smart and take the job. In a year or two when you've saved up some more money and your business is doing better you can take another shot at trading.
 
Quote from swiftmike99:

Take the job.
Funny answer from a Swift guy!!! But I understand your point. Why bother the stress, the pressure and uncertainties if you can make the same money slaving for a pimp.
I have my rule, to choose between a job and trading, trading must provide at least double the money to account for the hassle. But dont get me wrong, a job can be much more stressfull and there is still a lot of downside to a job.
Hard to decide for sure.
 
Quote from BlackBison:

+1

Your situation is too complicated. Trading has probably changed alot since you used to do it. You may not be able to make any money for a long time while you learn a new strategy.

Just be smart and take the job. In a year or two when you've saved up some more money and your business is doing better you can take another shot at trading.

What a joke!

Is that how you offer your 1 to1 "mentoring" to traders?

You don't seem to have much confidence in yourself.
 
Quote from Notes123:

What a joke!

Is that how you offer your 1 to1 "mentoring" to traders?

You don't seem to have much confidence in yourself.

What are you talking about? I answered his question honestly and constructively, which is more than I can say for your contribution to the thread.
 
Hi Notes,

Strategy was unworkable due to market changes... Adapted and still made money but wasnt as consistent.. At the time I had tied the not and a Job seemed like the right thing... Last month before I started the job I actually made 8k with zero money in my account just trafing a few stocks off my filter and my mgr was bagging on me for quitting for a real job....

I actually went back to trading after the first job, but I couldnt sustain it while being married... too much stress which I think added to me not trading well, because I was trading to pay the bills and that just didn't work...It was scared money

With that being said ever since I have just been trolling here...
 
How many hours at the job?
Could you watch that market on the side and put some trades on your iPhone?

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Hours arent bad like 9-6 but the problem is the commute is like 1.5 hours each way and there will really no time to trade anything on the side, but I was thinking I could swing trade, which I dont have much exerience with... I have tons of experience reading tape/ecns and order flow and research and the like....
 
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