This absolutely blows, but this: > Firstly, I was told repeatedly that the faster the firm was able to start trading, the faster I would start earning bonuses

This absolutely blows, but this: > Firstly, I was told repeatedly that the faster the firm was able to start trading, the faster I would start earning bonuses from the firm's PnL, assuming that the strategies indeed were profitable. (It is my understanding that they are highly profitable.) Is why I never plan my finances around bonuses. Way too easy to get screwed this way.