Checking the balance sheet is an interesting idea, but Marketsurfer makes a good point.. plus what if the firm doesn't want to provide the balance sheet because they simply choose not to (I bet most won't provide it anyway, why would they if there's no regulation)? How well do I have to know how to read a balance sheet to pick up on the nuances that could indicate bad things to come? or do I have to find an expert from a competing prop firm to read it and tell me what he thinks? Why do I have to check balance sheets of prop firms when I want to open with them, but when I open with a bank or retail brokerage, I don't have to check the balance sheet?