FINALLY passed TopstepTrader's Combine!

yiehom said:
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Dear TopstepTrader Community,

I wanted to share with you all that I will be transitioning out of the TopstepTrader Funding Team tomorrow and have opted to challenge myself with an entirely new career path. Given my passion for the trading industry, I will continue to personally trade and further develop my trading expertise. Additionally, I am excited and grateful to continue working with TopstepTrader on special projects and unique educational opportunities in the near future.

It has been a great pleasure working with TopstepTrader, and our trading community, for the last 5 ½ years. I hold the people and concept in the highest regard! The TopstepTrader team has become family to me, and I look forward to continuing to assist them in their mission to empower traders.

Health, wealth and happiness to you all and, as always, trade well!

John Hoagland
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I think John is a cool guy. I planed on signing up for TopStep just to say I did it at some point in the future. Knowing that I won't get to speak with John Hoagland if I pass a Combine takes away from some of that fun. John and his pit trading techniques worked well in the pit but unfortunately it does not totally translate to the screen. This really serves as further proof of how hard trading for a living really is.

At least it appears that John realizes he still needs a day job. There are countless delusional traders that never turn a profit. I understand the struggle to succeed but being honest with yourself is equally important. It has been said a million times and I am not being anti-Topstep but it really is just a lotto ticket. I have a few profitable strategies that I know might pass a Combine but would not leave me in a good spot with the 10-Day Funded Trader Prep.

The brutal truth is that you need a big bankroll and low % return expectations to trade for a living. You need the ability to provide a draw to yourself and loan yourself money out of your bankroll to get through the lean months. Turning yourself into a money printing press and treating the futures markets like an ATM machine where you can earn money at-will with a low bankroll is just not realistic. I am not trying to stop anyone from chasing their dreams, go for it! But be honest to yourself and realistic about it. The allure of fools gold is very powerful!
 
So the kid blew up ftp?
As a realist I didn't have the heart to tell him but if you took his combine stats it only amounted to ~$25 a day for his efforts. Trading is already a challenge and all TST does is give poor dreamers hope while handcuffing them with rules that produce consistent failure. The whole gig is like the lottery of the cme.
 
volente_00 said:
So the kid blew up ftp?
As a realist I didn't have the heart to tell him but if you took his combine stats it only amounted to ~$25 a day for his efforts. Trading is already a challenge and all TST does is give poor dreamers hope while handcuffing them with rules that produce consistent failure. The whole gig is like the lottery of the cme.
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The smaller combines are training exercises. If one is going to pass through the 10 day live account stage, then only the larger combines favor the odds of building enough equity.
 
MoneyMatthew said:
You need the ability to provide a draw to yourself and loan yourself money out of your bankroll to get through the lean months. Turning yourself into a money printing press and treating the futures markets like an ATM machine where you can earn money at-will with a low bankroll is just not realistic.
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Well stated.
 
yiehom said:
I really wonder people see TST equal to demo. Is there anyone on demo to stop you from adding to losers and wait for a turnaround a claim you are a profitable trader? Try that in real life or with TST and you are killed illico presto. In a combine there is somebody watching above your shoulders. Not in demo. That's a world of a difference.
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If you lack basic self-control, nothing will save you.
 
I would like to have a PSA for future "I passed the Combine" posters, before this thread goes into oblivion:

Dear Hopeful. We don't give a shit anymore. Even passing the FTP doesn't get us excited. But if you want to give us a hard on, do as Ryan did on BMT and post a Journal of your Live trades. That is actually interesting because among other things, that is real money.

So how has Ryan been doing? He lost -350 on the first day and another -500 today, (he actually got a call from TST to stop for the day) and now he has only $150 to lose before he hits the weekly allowed loss. Now we can also understand why nobody posts Live trades.

But at least we give kudos to Ryan for trying. So read my lips future Hopefuls, no more sim journals.

We appreciate your understanding....
 
I doubt any of them will honor your request Pekelo. There is one person at TopStep that I know of that has gone over a year without ever getting a paycheck from them. Every time this person passes a combine they get excited and announce it to the world. Then at some point down the line they blow up the account yet again and the whole process instantly starts over.

The only thing TopStep should be rewarding/promoting is the paycheck amounts cut to individual traders each week. I know they did this briefly, maybe they still do?
 
Pekelo said:
You are as always, welcome! :)

This thread has ran for 3 years with 2500+ posts, so this is the most relevant:

https://www.elitetrader.com/et/threads/topsteptrader.275976/page-258



I simply don't believe this, because forcing them to do the FTP has no disadvantage for TST except a little time lost, not to mention the different rules, but let's not debate it. Maybe N is an infinite number. :)

Anyhow, read that thread, you will learn a lot from it, and if not, you will learn from your own experience. But please keep updating us, so the next time a similar guy comes along (and there sure will be a next one), we can show him this thread.

Godspeed....
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Thanks for the thread Pekelo :) Update coming soon! ;)
 
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