TopstepTrader Q & A

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I don’t think you will find a shop that will accept your free thinkorswim sim trading history and fund you. They typically want 12 months to 24 months of real account trading history with real money on the line not someone who is a TOS “free” sim trader who has never dealt psychologically with having real money on the line whether it’s their own money or Topstep’s







Just get a TOS account, deposit $50 and run the simulator until you know what you’re doing. Then take the trading history and shop around to real shops


deltaf0rce said:
Dude you have no business trading if you have to put up $300 to trade a simulator to get someone to stake you fictitious capital that you have to grind up to earn 5k on your own which then serves as their risk less cushion meaning they never actually have to stake you. They take absolutely nothing or minimal losses which come nowhere near the amount you pledged to run the simulator. Just get a TOS account, deposit $50 and run the simulator until you know what you’re doing. Then take the trading history and shop around to real shops. This is making me want to open up a prop firm (lol) as well. Better odds than running a casino
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Judge by yourself:

After 2 paid tests you can "manage" their money
But are we sure that so called "their money" is a real statement?

Well, their objective risk is in place only when you start trading for real, and it's not $150,000,000 for example, but only the max trailing drawdown ($4,500.00)

So initially their effective risk is $4,500.00 at day 1
But if you start to make profit immediately the trading drawdown rules bring the initial level of $4,500.00 up to 4,500.00 minus your profit.

If you are able to make 4,500.00 profit then at this point you are not trading their money for the rest of your life, but only your money since the balance is above 150k and it can't go down that level.

So for the rest of your life if you want to continue trading with them, you will donate them 20% of your money.

Surely it is not a god deal

If you are a bit smart when you make the first 5k of profit ask them to withdraw the money
they will close IMMEDIATELY your sub account

THEN start trading with your 5k money

Their main profits are generated not by traders that are funded, but from what you pay to pass STEP 1 and STEP 2.

You pay, you fail, you pay, you fail. Each of this step allows them to become rich....
 
Expo said:
Judge by yourself:

After 2 paid tests you can "manage" their money
But are we sure that so called "their money" is a real statement?

Well, their objective risk is in place only when you start trading for real, and it's not $150,000,000 for example, but only the max trailing drawdown ($4,500.00)

So initially their effective risk is $4,500.00 at day 1
But if you start to make profit immediately the trading drawdown rules bring the initial level of $4,500.00 up to 4,500.00 minus your profit.

If you are able to make 4,500.00 profit then at this point you are not trading their money for the rest of your life, but only your money since the balance is above 150k and it can't go down that level.

So for the rest of your life if you want to continue trading with them, you will donate them 20% of your money.

Surely it is not a god deal

If you are a bit smart when you make the first 5k of profit ask them to withdraw the money
they will close IMMEDIATELY your sub account

THEN start trading with your 5k money

Their main profits are generated not by traders that are funded, but from what you pay to pass STEP 1 and STEP 2.

You pay, you fail, you pay, you fail. Each of this step allows them to become rich....
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Are you sure you will be able to trade the same size with your own money? You must take into account required margin levels.
 
Hey,

since the Micro Index Futures have become more important in term of daily volume than Mini Index Futures (MNQ is double than NQ), I am just asking if you can evaluate adding other offers regarding the micro contracts. In the image below I tried to think about it...just an idea...

Regards

top-step-trader-sw-ing-request.png
 
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quintrix said:
Hey,

since the Micro Index Futures have become more important in term of daily volume than Mini Index Futures (MNQ is double than NQ), I am just asking if you can evaluate adding other offers regarding the micro contracts. In the image below I tried to think about it...just an idea...

Regards

top-step-trader-sw-ing-request.png
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Thank you for thinking this through and for the feedback - I passed it on to our product team.
 
From your website:

What is the Maximum Drawdown?

The Maximum Drawdown is the most amount your account can lose overall before the rule is broken. The Maximum Drawdown for the Swing Trading Combine is $1,000 and it does not trail. Meaning, you may not lose more than $1,000 from the starting balance ($10,000). If your account balance goes below $9,000 at any time it will be a broken rule.
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What happens if (for example) I am up 4k, so $14,000 in the account balance?
My drawdown becomes $3,999 or it is always 1,000k?

And If I break the $500 weekly loss limit when I am up 4k? You close the account and you allow me to withdraw the 80% of the amount that exceeds the $10,000?

These things are not clear, please explain, thanks
 
Hi @quintrix,

The drawdown remains $1000. If you break a rule and your account is closed, the withdrawal procedure still applies: You receive your first $5000 in profits and then 80% after.

If you have further questions, please reach out to support@topstep.com.

Thank you!
 
SelfMadeDude said:
When a trader proves that they are consistent with great risk management skills then everything is negotiable.

Earning and keeping a funded account with these companies is tough - very tough - which is why only the "best of the best" independent retail traders have the privilege of withdrawing profits.

Nothing in this world is free. Quite frankly, I hope that they make the evaluations even harder...I do not want little whining wannabe traders making money in their first year --- shit, it took me more than 15 years and a shit-load of life savings "tuition" -- not to mention all the shit I missed out in life due to my obsession with becoming a great trader.

Anyone who complains that these evaluations are too tough "SHOULD" lose all their money IMHO. Making a living as a trader is an earned privilege just like any tough endeavor in life.

Shit....should medical schools make it easier for students to pass? should residencies be easy for them when they graduate? should law schools make law journal editorships easy? should state bar exams be easy to pass? should the NBA make it easy for high school kids to get drafted and make tens of millions per year?

Trading is not a team sport. It is up to you to beat those insurmountable odds of success. And if you fail, then you are obeying the law of the market (99% of traders will fail) -- but if you persist and stop making excuses then I would love to have a beer and a shot of vodka with you.
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WISE WORDS
:cool:
 
I'd be curious to know how much Topstep makes from its share of trader profits relative to how much it makes from its combine service. I think that information would tell us much about where its focus lies.
 
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