I think this is a very relavant issue, and I would like to learn more about it. To me the more "professional" we can all become the better off we are. After my time trading CS's and IC's, I have become a risk manager first and foremost. So if you don't mind answering specific questions, let me pose a few more.
1) When you join this prop shop, are you going to be using a trading system from your "home" or will you have to walk into a physical place or office?
2) How much capital is required to begin trading this way, or for the prop shop to consider you a "client"/"trader"?
3) Are the fees higher than OX or TS since you will probably be paying for market data and other pro tools? (obviously the advantages being spoken of do require some cost)
4) Where did you go to find this prop shop that you are joining?
I don't want to become a "full time trader", but I also do not see the advantages of saying a retail trader forever. For example, I was dying to trade the market decline in japan, but had no way to do it. Is there a middle ground somewhere? And does that middle ground just require more money, which for some might be a issue, and some it may not.
skd
Quote from optioncoach:
SkDoyle:
With respect to the comment on being a full-time trader, remember that my option trades are month to month and I do not daytrade options. Therefore once I put a position on, I am really not doing anything but monitoring. So I would not classify my option trading as full-time and I assume there are many prop option traders who simply use the set-up for the advantages and are not necessarily full-time traders.
I have pulled the prop conversation into this thread so that we all are exposed to different ideas and set-ups. Also I have a bad habit of sort of pulling you all in to what I am thinking or doing as it is happening so since I am getting involved in option prop, it was something I figured others would be curious about. My first interest and education in prop also begin by diving into discussions of it here. The more you know.... the more you know!