Who here trades "retail" full time

trading equities here for about 15 months total. i have 2 accounts IB and Fidelity... profitable the last year. I am starting to use IB's 4-1 leverage with quick entries. i think this will get me to where i want to go with my career as a trader. still work nights for insurance and extra money... but really dont need it just something to fall back on.

i did alot of swing trading before for about 2 years before... had a great 2003 :)
 
Quote from StLouisTrader:

So far, it sounds as if everyone uses Interactive Brokers as their primary (as I do). Does anyone use someone other than IB? I really want to make sure I (we) aren't missing a better option either for primary or backup accounts.
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I use BrownCo for my account, as well as private money I trade. Simple interface, no B.S. and low commission rate. I trade stocks multi-day positions. Not good for intraday, but works for my style.
 
Fortunately it doesn't have anything to do with "balls"..IF U R TRADING EMINI'S...INTRADAY ONLY..it is all about making/losing money.....if your balls are between your ears instead of between your legs, OUCH... Only ball needed is the one on your shoulders ..it is all about your determination and love of this business...Too much intelligence usually bumfuzzles the noodle...........once your system proves 90% accurate , u r there...I will breakeven on most trades that aren't profitable... .....that crap about accepting losses sounds good...occasionally forced on me .......to tolerate not accept......if u keep losses to almost never u will be a much happier trader.... ...losses mean losing money.....that is why most people can't do this....they receive and believe the wrong stuff...LOSE MONEY AND DEVELOP LEAD PAWS..took me 4 years to sort thru the crap and build CONFIDENCE.....I was exposed to emini's 4 I/2 yrs ago working for a man with 30 million dollars cash MADE IN ANOTHER BUSINESS who could not find success because he was a gambler and the $100,000 he spent for trading programs and seminars with enormous backtesting by his own computer programmers didn't work because the smart guys on the payroll outsmarted themselves and him...My high blood pressure caused me to leave ..but the emini love bug had already bitten........I took all I learned from that experience and chunked it...I am 62 yrs old and a slow learner, but the 90% system is now paying off...I wish I could give it away to those that are honest but the cons on these forums don't deserve help so how does one determine who does??? .it is not for sale at any price now or ever.........purely mechanical...no guts or nuts required....just confidence built on enormous sweat and massive realtime testing....it is possible....No offense intended/Blowing steam as 9:00 CST Monday morning gets closer so system can start showing me the same thing over and over ....... Best Wishes to all...
 
For stocks specifically, would any of you be able/care to contrast IB's software with that of others such as Hammer, RealTick, REDI?, Tradstation? Hydra? any others?

I use IB and have never used any of the others.
 
For me wide variety of Futures, FX and equities worldwide from one account, fast excutions. Best FX model in my view.

Low commissions with no volume committment a big factor as is no platform fee.

Can use Button Trader and chart real realtime data with Sierra.

Other things I like are interest on balance, excess funds swept into a regulation protected account overnight, no fee on monthly withdrawal worldwide.

I have been critical of some recent glitches but action is now being taken and overall it's a superbly positioned product for some of what I do and they are getting a lot right.

If you are doing serious volumes in one product there are better tailored offers out there but for those who want flexibility this fits right.
 
St Louis,

You mentioned you are trading as an LLC and elected S corp.
Why?

In reviewing LLC structures, I could not find any reasons why a non-professional individual would select S corp instead of the default (sole proprietor). Am I missing something?

BTW: I am not a fulltime retail trader, still growing capital. Taking my time...

Great thread. Thanks!
 
Retail, full time, sole source of income.
Jumped in against Elvis' "Only fools jump in" advice.
Lost my account, my Omega, my Rolex, almost my shirt, then again my brand new account (!) and finally did it right after losing my pride and my 'that is easy' and read MarkDouglas saying that, in trading, you didn't need to know what was going to happen next in order to make money. How true! So I started trading like I would be playing a computer game. What did I do b/f? You would laugh like a madman so I better not tell.
:D

PS 'Pride'? I am the first one here to publicly declare that I have lost more than one account. But, since I have tasted all the poison pills of trading and survived, I know now that I am immortal. :eek:
 
Quote from Spydertrader:

I currently trade full time (only source of income) with a retail account, and have done so since last summer. This is my second run at a fulltime trading career.

When I first started my full time trading career, I began my efforts with a $30,000 USD account. After realizing better than moderate success, I discovered the account size wasn't large enough to maintain my lifestyle AND grow my trading account. At this point, I had two choices: improve my success rate or increase my trading capital. Since undercapitalization remains one of the biggest mistakes new traders make, I decided going back to work would increase the likelihood of my long term success.

As a result, I took on a contract position for one year - allowing me to maintain my lifestyle and increase my account size. I deposited a significant portion of my paycheck into my trading account, and continued to trade using EOD charts and phoning my orders into my broker. I also continued to educate myself on a daily basis. After trading 'part time' using EOD charts, and adding additional funding to my account each paycheck, I left work for the second time one year later, and have traded full time ever since.

- Spydertrader
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Dude....absolutely awesome! Rack him.
 
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