Why I'm Even Writing This

Look, I'm not some trading guru with a Lambo and a private jet. I'm just a regular person who's been trading NQ and ES futures for a couple years and figured some stuff out along the way.

People keep asking me what broker I use, which data feed is best, where to get funded, etc. So instead of answering the same questions 50 times, here's my honest recommendations for stuff that actually helps.

Full disclosure: Some of these are affiliate links. I only recommend stuff I actually use or have personally tested. If something sucks, I'll tell you it sucks.

Best Futures Brokers (From My Experience)

1. NinjaTrader Brokerage

What I Like:

What Could Be Better:

This is what I use personally. Not sponsored, just being honest.

2. TopStep (For Getting Funded)

What I Like:

What Could Be Better:

I passed their evaluation after a few failures. If you want to read about my mistakes, I wrote a whole post about failing prop firm challenges.

3. TradeStation

What I Like:

What Could Be Better:

I don't use them anymore but they're solid if you want an all-in-one broker.

Data Feeds Worth Paying For

CQG Data Feed

Cost: ~$100/month

Yeah, it's expensive. But the speed difference is noticable if you're scalping or day trading. I tried using delayed/free data feeds when I started and kept getting filled at worse prices.

Is it necessary? No. Does it help? Yes. I'd say wait until you're consistently profitable before paying for this.

TradingView Data

Cost: Included with Pro+ plan ($30/month)

Good enough for most people. Not as fast as CQG but way cheaper. This is what I started with and it was fine for swing trading and position trading.

Prop Firms I've Tested (The Good and Ugly)

TopStep - Recommended

Already mentioned above. Legit, pays out, been around forever. Can't go wrong here.

Apex Trader Funding - Recommended with Cautions

They're legit too. I like that they have more flexible rules sometimes. Payouts are fine.

Downside: They change their rules occasionally and it can be confusing. Read the current rules before starting an eval.

Earn2Trade - It's Okay

Passed one of their evals but didn't stick with them. Not bad, just didn't vibe with their platform requirements. They're legitimate though.

Prop Firms to Avoid

I'm not gonna name them directly, but if a prop firm:

...then probably skip it.

Trading Tools Worth The Money

TradingView Pro+ ($30/month)

Already talked about this in my trading software review, but it's worth repeating. Best $30/month I spend on trading.

BookMap ($99/month)

Only get this if you trade ES/NQ and care about order flow. Otherwise it's overkill.

Notion (Free)

For trading journals. You don't need expensive journal software. Notion is free and works great.

Educational Resources (Most Are Free)

I already wrote a detailed post about how I learned to trade futures using free resources. Check that out instead of buying expensive courses.

Quick version:

Discord/Community Recommendations

Honestly? I don't really use trading Discords anymore. Tried a few paid ones and they were mostly just signal services in disguise.

If you join one, use it for education and networking, NOT for copying trades. You won't learn anything that way.

Hardware Recommendations

Monitors

You don't need 6 monitors. I use 2x 27" monitors and it's plenty. One for charts, one for DOM/order entry.

Save your money for your trading account, not for a NASA command center setup.

Internet Connection

Get the fastest internet you can afford. Seriously. Losing connection during a trade is not fun.

I have gigabit fiber and it's worth every penny. If fiber isn't available, get the fastest cable you can get.

Backup Internet

I keep my phone hotspot as backup. Has saved me twice when Comcast decided to crap out during market hours.

Things I Tried That Weren't Worth It

Multiple Monitors (More Than 3)

Had 4 monitors at one point. Spent more time arranging windows than actually trading. Downsized to 2 and I'm way more focused.

Expensive Trading Courses

Spent over $2,000 on courses. Learned more from free YouTube videos and actually trading. Don't make my mistake.

Signal Services

Waste of money. Even when the signals were good, I couldn't execute them properly because I didn't understand the setup.

My Current Setup (For Reference)

Total monthly cost: ~$130 (TradingView + BookMap)

Money-Saving Tips

Start Small: You don't need the $99/month BookMap subscription when you're starting out. TradingView basic is fine.

Free Trial Everything: Most platforms offer trials. Use them before buying.

Don't Buy Indicators: Seriously. Almost every indicator you need is free on TradingView.

Prop Firms Over Personal Capital: If you're good enough to be consistently profitable, getting funded is way more capital efficient than trading your own money.

Final Thoughts

The trading industry loves to sell you stuff you don't need. Fancy indicators, expensive courses, multiple monitors, whatever.

Reality? You need:

Everything else is optional. Start simple, add tools as you identify actual problems they solve.

And please, don't buy a $997 course from some Instagram guru. Save that money for your trading account.

If you're just starting out, check out my post about my first 90 days trading NQ. It'll give you a realistic picture of what to expect.