FINALLY passed TopstepTrader's Combine!

[JamesEM]

Well done - looking forward very much to hearing that you've withdrawn your first $5,000 profit (like so many others).

(Don't expect it to quieten down the critics, though: they look only at what suits their own perspectives.

)

Thank you Xela! (re: critics- I've noticed!!)

 

[Zzzz1]

Sorry but could you please summarize what all this is about? From a cursory read on their website they charge a minimum of USD 150 per month for a simulated account. Then they will invite those whom they like for further evaluation and potentially fund them. Is that correct?

Why is this so great when there is numerous other seeders around that actually even pay beginners during the training period (there are a number shops in London for example). The entry requirements may be higher and candidates have to go through a round of interviews but I find it insane that some people pay for a worthless trading course or a trading simulator just to get the foot into the door when there is other shops who are willing to kill for ambitious, talented kids who display analytical and risk management abilities.

Looks to me as if this shop is getting all the benefits and the customer is paying from day one for virtually nothing in exchange other than a very low chance to get funded.

Or am I missing something?

Thanks for the clarification.

Hey all,

After years and years (10 to be precise) of struggle and fleeting success, it would appear that I have now become consistently profitable over the long haul. I've documented the majority of the journey on my blog, with the last 18 months being within the TST program.

I've also decided to host my P&L curve in risk units (R) there too, which is updated via Google Sheets whenever I trade, which is pretty much everyday. Check the top right-hand corner of the blog for the "featured post" which is where you'll find the equity curve.

I'm very aware that people can have long periods of profitability only to have things fall apart (been there, done that and worn the T-shirt MANY times over!!!) but this time, my approach is much more simplistic and is largely mechanical. It feels more robust as the WR is relatively low and the sample size (N) is fairly significant over a decent period of time. Also, there aren't any noticeable outliers so taking out the top 5% of winners and top 5% losers doesn't change the expectancy/drastically change P&L.

Now just have to pass the restrictive Funded Trader Preparation (FTP) at TST and I'll be set .

Feel free to ask any questions you may have. If things get as hostile as I've seen them get on other threads, I'll just excuse myself. Looking for mutually beneficial debate if any at all! Thanks

 

[volente_00]

Sorry but could you please summarize what all this is about? From a cursory read on their website they charge a minimum of USD 150 per month for a simulated account. Then they will invite those whom they like for further evaluation and potentially fund them. Is that correct?

Why is this so great when there is numerous other seeders around that actually even pay beginners during the training period (there are a number shops in London for example). The entry requirements may be higher and candidates have to go through a round of interviews but I find it insane that some people pay for a worthless trading course or a trading simulator just to get the foot into the door when there is other shops who are willing to kill for ambitious, talented kids who display analytical and risk management abilities.

Looks to me as if this shop is getting all the benefits and the customer is paying from day one for virtually nothing in exchange other than a very low chance to get funded.

Or am I missing something?

Thanks for the clarification.

Please don't question the dreamers lotto ticket. They don't like facts and can't show the money yet continue to drink the coolaid like blind sheep.

 

[Xela]

They don't like facts and can't show the money yet ...

Apart from all the ones showing their withdrawal payments from TST on their Youtube videos, and so on?

I can't help wondering who it is who really "doesn't like facts".

It's quite easy, sometimes, to fool oneself into believing that one's thinking about something, or discussing it, when in reality all one's really doing is rearranging one's prejudices.

 

[Zzzz1]

I did not see a single video on youtube that pertains to a verified and credible proof of someone withdrawing money from TST. Could you please point us to such videos?

But I found this:

Does not sound much in support of TST aside the fact that the guy in the video is a total tool. OMG, if this is representative of the average Joe on this site then this is outright scary, lol.

Apart from all the ones showing their withdrawal payments from TST on their Youtube videos, and so on?

I can't help wondering who it is who really "doesn't like facts".

It's quite easy, sometimes, to fool oneself into believing that one's thinking about something, or discussing it, when in reality all one's really doing is rearranging one's prejudices.

 

[ScalperJoe]

I did not see a single video on youtube that pertains to a verified and credible proof of someone withdrawing money from TST. Could you please point us to such videos?

But I found this:

Does not sound much in support of TST aside the fact that the guy in the video is a total tool. OMG, if this is representative of the average Joe on this site then this is outright scary, lol.

He seemed to know the rules, yet was upset at not having made his goal of reaching a $2,000-2,500 target in the live account during the "10 day rule."

However, he traded the 30k combine, and made slightly over $1,200 within the first 10 days in the live account. He mentions taking a $200+ check, and doesn't provide details of what happened to the other $1,000. Perhaps he was mad that he "blew up" the $1,000, but what did he expect?

His live account was NO DIFFERENT than opening up a "piker" account at AMP with a maximum draw down at minus $1,200.

It's been mentioned repeatedly that if you want to make $2,500 in the live account within the "10 day rule" then you will FIRST have to make $250/day average in the COMBINE. The 30k may not have been the optimal combine to trade.

Regarding "videos on YouTube" of traders cashing checks, you only have to read the emails by TST. There are many traders who are cashing checks, however the unknown is what happens beyond the "10 day rule" when TST only funds maintenance margin.

Now, he did mention something interesting, especially in regards to the "micro-managing" of his live account. This has only been mentioned slightly in the past on this and other threads. Since you're trading with YOUR OWN PROFITS after 10 days, there's really no need for micro-managing, unless TST is super cautious about allowing the account to go negative, since you cannot go back below the "$0 starting balance" after the 10 day rule.

 

[JamesEM]

For all who are interested, here's my update on my personal journey with TST.

In short, the journey with them stops here. I'm currently at day 7 in the "funded" account and down $541. As many have alluded to, if you can't perform consistently well enough to pass FTP/have enough profits after 10 days to be able to satisfy their "10 Day rule", you have no business entering the Combine in the first place if your goal is to actually get funded and stay funded.

But I still don't regret getting involved with TST...despite feeling as if I've been left empty-handed at the end of it (<- ALL my own doing). The proverbial carrot of a "funded" account (complete nonsense as they take the draw-down away from you after 10 trading days) was what I needed to harness the discipline to eventually pass the Combine. This proved to me the LONG-TERM viability of my edge and meant that I didn't have to win in the short-term to prevail over time. TST helped me become confident in my abilities as a trader and I am grateful for that opportunity even if I think it was a side-effect of them doing good business under the guise of "helping traders get funded".

Some will say, "why didn't you prove that to yourself in SIM and put that Combine money into an account instead?". I've asked myself that question- I would never have had the long-term conviction to prove the plan to myself without that end goal.

Trying to make enough to continue trading off of profits alone after 10 days is the worst thing that I could have done for my personal discipline and, as such, I'm not even going to attempt to finish the 10 Day period, nor will I take them up on their "redevelopment opportunity". I will go back to basics in my own personal account and build from there.

OK! I'm ready for all of you I-told-you-so'ers and naysayers!!!!

 

[ScalperJoe]

For all who are interested, here's my update on my personal journey with TST.

In short, the journey with them stops here. I'm currently at day 7 in the "funded" account and down $541. As many have alluded to, if you can't perform consistently well enough to pass FTP/have enough profits after 10 days to be able to satisfy their "10 Day rule", you have no business entering the Combine in the first place if your goal is to actually get funded and stay funded.

Yes, one must pass the combine/FTP with enough profits to satisfy the "10 day rule" or it's just a training exercise.

At least you were able to earn your way to the live account, and if that improves your retail account P&L moving forward, then it's still a positive experience, even though you were aware the odds were stacked against you in their "funded" account.

 

[Gotcha]

For all who are interested, here's my update on my personal journey with TST.

In short, the journey with them stops here. I'm currently at day 7 in the "funded" account and down $541. As many have alluded to, if you can't perform consistently well enough to pass FTP/have enough profits after 10 days to be able to satisfy their "10 Day rule", you have no business entering the Combine in the first place if your goal is to actually get funded and stay funded.

But I still don't regret getting involved with TST...despite feeling as if I've been left empty-handed at the end of it (<- ALL my own doing). The proverbial carrot of a "funded" account (complete nonsense as they take the draw-down away from you after 10 trading days) was what I needed to harness the discipline to eventually pass the Combine. This proved to me the LONG-TERM viability of my edge and meant that I didn't have to win in the short-term to prevail over time. TST helped me become confident in my abilities as a trader and I am grateful for that opportunity even if I think it was a side-effect of them doing good business under the guise of "helping traders get funded".

Some will say, "why didn't you prove that to yourself in SIM and put that Combine money into an account instead?". I've asked myself that question- I would never have had the long-term conviction to prove the plan to myself without that end goal.

Trying to make enough to continue trading off of profits alone after 10 days is the worst thing that I could have done for my personal discipline and, as such, I'm not even going to attempt to finish the 10 Day period, nor will I take them up on their "redevelopment opportunity". I will go back to basics in my own personal account and build from there.

OK! I'm ready for all of you I-told-you-so'ers and naysayers!!!!

Have to applaud you for following through with your update even though it wasn't favorable. I think this earns you very much respect here at ET, and certainly much more than all of your naysayers who more than likely only pretend to be something they are not.

 

[Overnight]

...
Trying to make enough to continue trading off of profits alone after 10 days is the worst thing that I could have done for my personal discipline and, as such, I'm not even going to attempt to finish the 10 Day period, nor will I take them up on their "redevelopment opportunity". I will go back to basics in my own personal account and build from there.

OK! I'm ready for all of you I-told-you-so'ers and naysayers!!!!

Thank you for your candor in posting your trials and tribulations through the journey. Certainly you can at least take the lessons you learned in your TST trek and now apply it to your approach in sim, and then live with your own money.

One thing I am curious about...What happens if you were to continue for another three trading days...Couldn't you recover some of those losses? Or if you lose more over the next three days it will cost you more?