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Thanks for the advice, I will take it and put some of it into practice. But, you somewhat make the topstep program sound very hard, unrealistic to achieve, and it might be, I don't know, but I think its doable and very realistic. Trading is much easier for me now, its no longer this impossible and illusive activity that felt more like a lottery gamble. I don't win as much as I should, I make mistakes, but am learning. For example, now I am working more on when to avoid the market, to know when its likely to be choppy and when it will likely fool me with indecisive moves.
Right now, I aim to pass the ten day $150k account with topstep, I would get three lots and a $3k loss limit. All I need is $100-200 a day, that's 1 or 2 points with two lots on the ES. Usually I make $400 with two lots in the mornings, but I found that if I trade over three hours, I eventually start getting it wrong, so I avoid that.
I am very close to being financially broke if not already, but its not because of trading or because of bad decisions, I just had some very bad luck on personal things I will not talk about, and my current job only provides for the basic ends to meet, but I don't need much. But for this reason, for my lack of current opportunity elsewhere, I will take it very seriously, specially risk, and I hope to prepare for that so that my trading will truly reflect it. What I plan on doing is to read two more books, probably Dalton and Mark Douglas, then refine a trading plan and strategy, buy this membership, test the indicators and the elite posts on the ES. Then carefully select my days when starting the test, observe mostly, being careful. Once I pass, if I do pass, then I will do the same, just aim for 1 or 2 points, and that's it. I will not consider micro's or forex. I was told risk management at topstep is highly objective, they measure performance but give some room, don't test for hidden metrics, except maybe the average holding time for winners vs. losers, and the average winning amount vs losing amount per trade, but one obviously should get these covered if one wants to succeed.
But, I am not ready, I still make very obviously bad trades from time to time, trades that would wipe a big chunk of the gains already made and that I know afterwards that they where very obviously bad trades, but no big loses so far. The other thing is, how will I actually think when trading for real, will I keep my cool like I do on sim, or will strong emotions take over and blur my mind over the sometimes difficult to see facts on the charts and on risk management? That is my biggest unknown, and am looking for ways to control this now, maybe with trade psychology education. Since this is one of the few chances I have to make some much needed income right now, one not to be lost, I will take it very seriously, but will this work in my favor in trading well or against it? I don't know yet. But you somewhat make the topstep program sound very difficult to achieve, and I think its not, I think its exactly the same if not easier to achieve than trading on a private account of your own, you got to perform well anyways, and not trading your own cash is an advantage if the rules truly favor discipline and good execution but also give some room for mistakes, and this is what topstep provides in my opinion, I could be wrong, not an expert on trading metrics, you tell me.
Can you help answer these questions from other members on NexusFi?
I've never seen his (or any other) live trading room at all, but he's certainly the real thing, and reliable, in my opinion. His books (though far from "easy reading") are outstanding, and I think his online course (much simpler) is also very good indeed. I certainly believe that he's a very good price action trader.
For me, that would be the hardest of the lot to pass, I think.
I'd much rather spend the $400 on two and half months of the 50k continuous and trade two lots, leaving some room for error and plenty of time to reach the far lower target.
Sorry if I sound critical, but I really think you're perhaps making it pretty difficult for yourself, there, aiming to reach a far higher target in a far shorter time by trading 3 lots.