Roughly 70% of daily U.S. equity trading volume now comes from algorithmic systems, not human hands on a mouse. That single number answers the headline question before we go any further. Automated trading legal status in the U.S. was settled long ago, and the market itself is the proof. But “it’s legal” isn’t the same […]
There’s no IRS form that grants trader tax status. No checkbox, no application, no confirmation letter. Instead, the IRS applies a “facts and circumstances” test built from decades of Tax Court rulings, and getting it wrong can cost you thousands in disallowed deductions. That ambiguity is exactly why so many active traders, including the ones
Retail prop trading has grown into a market worth hundreds of millions of dollars a year. Pass rates on most evaluations run between 5% and 15%. Do the math and most funded traders pay for more than one challenge before an account ever goes live. That raises a real question every April. Can any of
Every algo trader I know pays for the same four things. A VPS so the bot doesn’t die when the laptop sleeps. A Level 2 data feed. A broker platform subscription. And something to bridge alerts to the broker. Add a charting plan and a CPA, and you’re past $5,000 a year before a single
Prop firm taxes surprise a lot of funded traders the first time a payout lands. The check doesn’t come with capital gains treatment. It comes with a 1099-NEC and a 15.3% self-employment tax bill attached. That’s a different tax world than trading your own brokerage account. I’ve had this conversation with more funded traders than
The credit union Navy Federal Credit Union (often shortened to “Navy Federal”) is one of the leading lenders for home mortgages and specifically VA-backed loans for servicemembers, veterans and their families. Their name carries weight because of their military-focused membership, competitive loan features and the fact that they are among the top VA lenders.If you’re
Yo, traders! Let’s talk about something that’s not as exciting as a winning trade but just as important—US income taxes. I get it, taxes sound like a snooze fest, but trust me, figuring this out can save you serious cash and keep the IRS off your back. In this Trader Tax Guide 2025, we’ll cover
