Agree very strongly on not borrowing money.... Being "mostly at breakeven" just about guarantees you will run into serious trouble. As you mentioned, you can look at it as being "like a business loan' -- and banks want to see a track record before they risk lending you money for a business startup, for good reasons.

If your way of trading can fit the Topstep loss control rules then it may be a good place to start. As @TradingOgre mentioned, you could see about entering a trading journal in this month's contest and perhaps win a Combine, and the journaling itself may be of help to you in developing your trading.

Not everyone will benefit necessarily from either a journal or a Combine, but they are options.

Bob.

Would you do it?

I know this post is blunt, but there's a point.

Would you borrow money to trade, and is it a good idea to do so?

I mean, you can think of it like a business loan can't you?

Trading is, after all, a business am I correct?

So there's the question we can open up for debate, because I very much am debating it right now

I have traded on margin so yes I have done it.
I have borrowed via line of credit to invest but not to trade.

You can consider borrowing a business loan but who is going to lend you the money?
A bank or knowledgeable investor will require a business plan, a track record and some kind of security.
Are you willing to put friends and family at risk? How and when do you pay them back?

Would you do it?



I know this post is blunt, but there's a point.



Would you borrow money to trade, and is it a good idea to do so?



I mean, you can think of it like a business loan can't you?



Trading is, after all, a business am I correct?



So there's the question we can open up for debate, because I very much am debating it right now

I've had mild success trading my own cash.
I'm mostly at breakeven.
But for now I guess I'll stick to my own money.
For now.

I've had mild success trading my own cash.

I'm mostly at breakeven.

But for now I guess I'll stick to my own money.

For now.

Trading is 100% a business.

Here is a business deal I’m willing to offer you right now....

I will send you my login credentials to a Portfolio Margin trading account of mine for you to trade. But first I require you to send me your trading account balance.

For the sake of argument let’s say it’s between $5k-10k.

I add these funds to my account. The same account you now have my login credentials for.

You are free to trade said account as you see fit. Up until the trading losses equal the deposit made from your funds. Or your initial funds are doubled. If either of these occurs the relationship is terminated.

You keep all profits less any and all fees, commissions.... or any similar verbiage used.

Ron



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