newb question about prop trading

so I've heard prop trading can be highly lucrative but I really don't know what it is

do traders have discretion in their trades or do they just execute on behalf of others or an algorithm? i imagine this varies from place to place?

I have a bunch of experience trading small cap stocks and options. I guess my approach is highly speculative and volatile. should I think of getting into prop trading?

6 Comments
 

ok that helps clarify. so would a new trader have discretion to do various trades with X amount capital or something? or do they execute trades/strategies from someone more senior or a black box? thx for helping a newb out!

 
Best Response

No offense, but people who have experience trading on their own know very little about options, or about the bigger world of trading, in general. The work done on the trading floor of a major investment bank is very different from what is done by an amateur at home, or for that matter, by most traders at hedge funds. For 99.9% of the people looking to get into this business, don't waste your time focusing on prop desks. 1) you most likely will not land a prop position without having first established yourself as a trader on a regular desk. 2) you will learn much more starting out on a regular desk on the sell-side that does both market-making and prop, in addition to interacting with sales and structuring, as that's how most of the big P&L deals are done these days (and often with interaction from PE and IBD, as well).

 

prop shops are only lucrative IF YOUR good at what you do 2 yrs down the line. if they give u enough capital to play with. if you can survive on 25000 for a year before you ever get to trade.

 

Illum iusto dolore tempore corrupti blanditiis et facere illo. Voluptates rerum non sint. Quo quisquam ullam facilis earum et dolores sed.

Quas illo doloremque et aperiam laudantium. Voluptas consectetur reiciendis neque quaerat eum doloribus alias.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (66) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”