Your point is well taken. Most skilled traders would put up their
own capital and keep 100% of what they make. That's what I did
when I worked for myself on the floor and now in my firm.
Shonfeld, Spear,Leeds & Kellogg & Market Making firms back traders. The firm gets 50 to 90% of what the traders make. The
reason traders stay at these firms is because of the large capital,
infracstructure or order flow(Market Makers) that these firms provide.Some traders trade better with firm capital then if they are trading their own capital. Some traders are afraid to trade with their own capital and do better with a small payout from a large firm. Shonfelds top traders make seven figures , so 30% of
4,000,000 is a nice living. A top trader may have 10,000,000 or more in buying power to work with at a large firm. I personally would rather keep 100% of my own profits and not have the pressure to perform with a firms money. Everyone feels differently
about working for themselves or someone else. I always felt better working or trading for myself.
Gene Weissman
Lieber & Weissman Sec., L.L.C.