First, I think it needs to be differentiated those who are serious and can only trade part time versus those looking for a temporary side gig. Now, if you’re looking for a side gig then I’d argue to just forget it and move on. There will be people who have exceptional results. But, if you’re talking about “part-time intensity” and “part-time hours” then there is simply no way. Even the people who I known who had exceptional results were working all day and night trading. There is simply no chance that’s going to work unless you have a PHD and are a genius– always exceptions!

However, the focus should be that anyone who wants to trade needs to find a way to leverage their abilities. Some of the ways to leverage are pay to try out, offering a trading system for subscription, and/or sale a subscription or services.

In the past, the try out options were really mediocre with only TST. But, there are new options like OneUp and another more established firm (not sure I can mention yet ) but they also offer ability to scale up futures trader to 25k account and trade on their floor they claim to be building out.

As for selling your system, you can use a tracking service (like Striker). One potential problem is that you need a larger profit factor on tracked systems due to market orders and fees. So, not all systems are suitable. Alternatively, you can offer your signals outright or sell the system outright.

I would say that normally even with the leverage up approach it will still take 10 years because you will need to develop your skills, acquire your capital, marketing, and most of all historically, especially for discretionary trader, it is very difficult to get funding. But, because of TST model and newer more serious entrants, I think that changes the equation perhaps significantly. With the new model, if you are talented then let’s say it takes you 1-2 years of study/sim trading and then 1 year to get funded and scale up, the timeline suggest 2-4 years– and that is very good from someone who’s been at this 10 years.