If you had a prop firm, how would you develop traders?

Dude...you are not funding five traders. This thread is BS.

Give him a "get out of jail free" card. Let's see how he qualifies this thread. If he funded 5 futures traders, then he needs 20 million in his account and a max of 10 contracts per trade. Of this I am certain.
 
I forget his name but a legendary trader started off playing blackjack in casinos. He was funded by a mobster. After he won too much money and got banned from the casinos he started his hedge fund. What's his name?
Ed Thorpe, he told that story in Market Wizards
 
'prop poker houses'

Actually yeah, it's relatively easy to get staked (the equivalent of a prop) if you've made your name in the tournament and cash circuits.

I fund them 100%, no deposit.
Also not charging any monthly data fees or any commissions.

I would recommend following the policy every other prop does. Require them to post a minimum funding amount (say 15,000) and you will fund them up to whatever level you are comfortable with. You are providing leverage to them but their money is at first loss, and you cut them if they blow their posted funding.

Ed Thorpe, he told that story in Market Wizards

Ahem A Man For Any Market.
 
I just started funding 5 futures traders and the first week all five have lost money. I know that 95% of traders lose money but damn.

How do help these guys out?

One big problem seems to be impulsive entries chasing the market. So I've emphasized trading with less frequency and waiting for ideal entries by placing bracket orders well ahead of time and being detached from what the market is doing now.

Another problem seems to be scaling in and out which obviously leads to biggest positions on losses and smallest positions on winners. To solve the scaling problem I'm thinking of emphasizing an all in/out approach.

Risk management isn't really a problem since I can set limits so that is not my concern.

My biggest concern is helping them develop an edge.

Since 80% of market volume is market making is that the only viable approach to intraday trading?

It starts with a better vetting process than what you're currently using to identified traders suitable for your funding.

Also, you do not say anything about the funding amount and if they're still working their other jobs. If they do not have other jobs...you paying their bills (living expenses) to help keep some of the stress away to allow them to focus only on trading ?

They trading remotely from each other or all of them trading together in an office like environment that you're paying for ?

Why would you fund them if you do not have verification that they have an edge ?

You've left out so many important issues that someone funding a trader would not leave out. My point, if your story is true...their poor performance could be due in part to your poor ability to properly support those you're funding.

Seriously, at the minimum, if you want to act like a prop firm...do what they do. If you do not know what they do, use the services of prop firms and try to get funding yourself for the sole purpose to see how they do it.

...This is something I just wanted to try in an attempt to learn more about markets, trading, psychology.

You can learn about the markets, trading and psychology without funding anyone. It starts with you trading yourself and/or trading with others in person. Preferably, the latter (in person).

Seriously, if you can afford to fund someone (I think you said 5 traders)...you can easily afford to go where ever they're located to watch them trade in person. This will also allow you to verify they have the proper equipment to be a trader.

This (watch them trade in person) would be one of many things that's part of my vetting process.

wrbtrader
 
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I highly doubt the OP actually has money to trade, let alone a prop firm.
He may do, but going the wrong way about it.
Some think more computers & monitors will bring in profits.
Others their brains, or connections, or money, or manpower, or indicators.
The list goes on, but to succeed you first need a plan, experience and focus, less distractions the better.
But certainly not starting trading with a young inexperienced team then coming asking for basic advice.
OP could be trolling, for his sake I hope so.
 
The 6th guy is on a demo and shows some promise.
1st day he makes 1300 trading the micros 150 RT.
Which got me thinking maybe there is two most likely ways to successful trading:
1 very high frequency: (100+ RT), trading somewhat like a market maker.
2 very low frequency: just 1 or 2 trades a day and maybe no trades. Wait for the rare fat pitch.

pro day traders go to more high frequency these days. a few traders I know very well was trading on 10 minute data set, now they go to 1-min chart. another one even goes to 15 second chart to scalp a few ticks a time.
 
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