Quote from Clubber Lang:
Are there even 10 prop firms left?
Quote from Trademanstan:
lol But clubber. theres some truth to what youre saying, I guess as a newbie, i have to figure out why theres no prop firms left..
There
are several equity props left, however the industry is shrinking and only the well-capitalized will survive, and/or the firms that expand their models, just as Evo mentioned.
New rules/regulations/license requirements etc have inreased the barrier to entry, both from the trader and the firm's perspectives.
Some of the registered props which are broker-dealers where you require a license to trade and are still around are as follows (you can do a search on these boards).
In no particular order:
Avatar Securities
Chimera Securities
WTS (World Trade Securities)
T3 Trading
Quasar Trading
Hold Brothers
Coastal Trade
Bright Trading
Echotrade
Unregistered firms are to be avoided. You can read up on firms that closed shop without returning capital to their traders, and traders then had to file complaints in an effort to get back their funds. Trust me on this, it's definitely a hassle you want to avoid!
There are also offshore firms that cater to non-U.S. citizens, or for US citizens that are willing and able to set up a foreign entity to trade the U.S. markets (obviously not feasible for a newbie trader).
As always, conduct your own proper due diligence before you agree to terms and sign a contract.
Also, once you make a capital contribution, it's "locked up" as per SEC rules for one year, so go with the firm that you feel you can trust and has a track record of paying their traders.
Regarding the amount of capital and training, it's best to contact the firms directly to find out what services they offer, and then negotiate the best terms.
Hope that helps.