No two traders are the same. Therefore, no two outcomes are the same. As many traders as there are, there are just as many, if not more, dreams and aspirations. Would everyone like to make $1,000,000 a year trading? Of course! Will they? Of course not.
But before we can examine outcomes, we need to first examine why we trade. Trading is a capitalistic endeavor - traders want to make money, plain and simple. But why do they want to make money? It’s not so they can have a larger figure in their bank account. It’s so they can do things they love. It’s so they can provide better lives for their families and friends. It’s so they can accomplish their dreams.
In our business, it’s very easy to get seduced by the dollars and cents, the numbers, and the P&L, often to detriment. The best traders don’t approach the markets to make X amount of money today or this year. They know trading is a privilege, markets are ruthless, and having “risk on” means business.
TopstepTrader was guilty of this Hollywood Wall Street trader mentality in our infancy. If we weren’t writing big checks, didn’t have 6-figure traders, we thought we were failing. Like anything else, true comprehension only comes with experience. We fed the beast. We lent credibility to the detractors by acknowledging and responding to their “money or nothing” mentality.
Then something interesting happened. We surveyed our traders and learned that 78% are employed full-time, part-time, or are self-employed. 78%! Here we were beating ourselves up if traders weren’t making consistent, professional-level profits when, in reality, they are just looking to earn extra income to support themselves, their families, and their ambitions.
Regardless, the futile questions continue...
“How many traders are making six figures?”
“How much money has your best trader made?”
“Do you have any traders trading 100 lots?”
We also have a few questions. Why do you care? You shouldn’t. How will those answers help you or affect your trading performance in any way? They won’t.
No more. No more will we give in to or foster this envious, nonsensical, herd culture. You know what we want to talk about? You know what we want to promote? Success. Actual success resulting in dreams coming true. Money as a conduit to experiences, to desires, to happiness.
We want to talk about Tom, who took a check for over $10,000 in his first month trading - more than 25% of his yearly salary as a limo driver. Do you think Tom cares about the $10,000 he made, or about the smiles on his kid’s faces if he takes them to Disney World on that money? Or maybe the basement remodel he’s been envisioning for years?
We’re going to talk about Gus, who consistently takes checks for $1,000-$1,500. Through his TopstepTrader withdrawals, his quality of life has drastically improved, since he now has disposable income to take his wife to dinner when he wants, to go on weekend trips, and to not have to worry if the furnace breaks.
We are innovating what it means to be successful in this business. No longer do you have to risk tens of thousands of dollars, or have a PhD in Computer Science, to allow trading to accomplish your dreams. Our mission is to empower anyone, anywhere to earn the financial freedom to pursue their dreams. Your dreams, no matter how big or small, are yours. TopstepTrader just wants to help make them attainable by providing a safe place to engage in and profit from financial markets.
We’re done talking about the alleged "Gordon Geckos." We’re changing the narrative. From now on, it’s about the doers, the dream catchers, the many who are taking advantage of the TopstepTrader opportunity in a real, attainable way.
Will you be our next successful trader?
