Book excerpt: Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 Proprietary trading is the most exciting part of Wall Street that no one pays attention to. It is not a bailed-out government bank, a broker-dealer, or a hedge fund, though it does run on some of the same core principles. #2 Proprietary trading is done for the benefit of the company’s partners and employees only, not for the benefit of any client. The firm is the client. Some prop traders make big profits quickly, but many are unable to thrive in an unbending universe. #3 At a proprietary trading firm, the trader makes all the decisions. The success of the trade is completely dependent on your trading ability. If you are correct, the firm and you make money. #4 As a prop trader, you never know when you are going to enter a market that rains money. The market had shrugged off every piece of negative news since 2009, when SPY traded at 70, so Steve advised that if SPY held above 109. 10, this would be a signal that Dubai was just another piece of news the market would likely ignore.