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TakeProfitTrader Founder James Sixsmith: From Minor League Hockey to Prop Trading

Written by Paul

Published on

December 18, 2025

Most prop firm founders hide behind corporate anonymity. James Sixsmith does the opposite—his story is front and center on TakeProfitTrader's website, and for good reason. It's one of the most relatable founder stories in prop trading.

The short version: Sixsmith went from earning $28,000 a year as a minor league hockey player, lost $150,000 learning to trade, eventually became profitable, founded Trade Context in 2015, then launched TakeProfitTrader in 2021. The firm has since funded thousands of traders and processes over $7 million in payouts.

But the real story isn't about the business metrics—it's about why a broke hockey player with a dozen broken noses decided trading was his ticket out.

The Hockey Years: Grinding in Europe

James Sixsmith graduated from College of the Holy Cross and chased the NHL dream like thousands of aspiring players. He didn't make it. Instead, he spent years grinding through AA and AAA minor league teams in North America, living with his parents during the off-season and collecting injuries.

By 2010, he moved to Europe—stints in Germany and Austria, then eight seasons in Scandinavia, mostly with Norway's Lørenskog team. His annual salary? Around $28,000. Not exactly the professional athlete lifestyle most people imagine.

The reality check came hard: Newly married with a kid on the way, playing hockey in a foreign country where he didn't speak the language, and approaching his 30s with no clear career path. As Sixsmith put it, "What the hell am I going to do for the rest of my life?"

The writing was on the wall. Once you're playing in European leagues instead of climbing toward the NHL, you're not going back. Hockey wasn't going to provide long-term financial security.

The $150,000 Trading Education

Like many athletes facing career transitions, Sixsmith started dabbling in trading during his playing years. He liked the freedom—he could trade from anywhere while still playing hockey, and he wouldn't have to start at the bottom of a corporate ladder when he retired.

But his first swing at trading was brutal. He lost nearly $150,000.

"I was naïve and didn't know what I didn't know," Sixsmith admits on TakeProfitTrader's About page. For most people, a six-figure loss would end the trading dream. For Sixsmith, it was the education he needed.

The turning point: A wealthier teammate helped him recover and continue trading. More importantly, Sixsmith applied the discipline and grit from decades of competitive sports—instead of partying with teammates during downtime, he buried himself in trading books and online mentors.

Slowly, he turned profitable. And as he taught teammates who found success, he realized: everyone makes the same mistakes. When he shared his failures at trading seminars, people would say, "Your words make me feel like I'm looking in a mirror."

That insight became the foundation for his business.

From Trade Context to TakeProfitTrader

In 2015, while still playing hockey in Norway, Sixsmith founded Trade Context—a trading education company focused on helping new traders avoid the expensive mistakes he made. The philosophy was simple: teach emotional control, disciplined risk management, and consistency over "get rich quick" strategies.

Trade Context worked with third-party funding partners and grew steadily. By 2021, Sixsmith had a choice: keep relying on external funding sources or vertically integrate and control the entire trader development process in-house.

He chose the latter and founded TakeProfitTrader in late 2021/early 2022.

The pitch was straightforward: One-step evaluation (not the multi-phase circus most firms use), day-one withdrawals in PRO accounts (no waiting periods), and transparent rules without hidden traps. It's built around speed and simplicity—pass fast, get funded fast, withdraw fast.

The firm has grown aggressively. According to business profiles, TPT achieved 375% headcount growth in its first 12 months and maintains a 4.4/5 Trustpilot rating from over 7,600 reviews.

Why Sixsmith's Background Matters

Sixsmith is rare in prop trading: a founder who's publicly visible and personally relatable. Most prop firms are faceless LLCs registered in obscure jurisdictions. TakeProfitTrader is a U.S.-registered company in Orlando, Florida, with Sixsmith's name all over it as CEO.

His athlete background shapes the firm's philosophy:

1. Grit matters more than talent
"Grit is the most important attribute of a good trader because the markets will punch you in the face," Sixsmith says. Athletes understand this. So do prop traders.

2. Consistency beats flash
TPT's 50% consistency rule in evaluations (no single day can account for more than 50% of profits) reflects this. Sixsmith doesn't want lottery ticket traders—he wants steady performers.

3. Discipline is non-negotiable
The intraday trailing drawdown in PRO accounts is strict. The weekly trading requirement is mandatory. Sixsmith built TPT for traders who can handle structure, not cowboys looking for quick paydays.

4. Transparency over marketing hype
Sixsmith openly shares his $150,000 loss story. He talks about blown accounts, failed challenges, and burnout. This authenticity resonates with traders tired of prop firms selling unrealistic dreams.

Current Life: Family Over Flashiness

Today, Sixsmith lives in Winter Garden, Florida (Orlando area), and his priorities have shifted from the typical "entrepreneur wealth flex" to something more grounded.

"My dream life turned into having the freedom to take care of my kids and show them how to be good people," he says. He handles school pickups, makes soccer practice, and golfs regularly.

He maintains hockey ties, working with the minor league players' association to funnel current and former athletes through Trade Context and TPT. "A lot of retired athletes are in a bad place," he notes, understanding firsthand the financial struggles of life after sports.

Bottom Line: The Real Deal or Smart Marketing?

Sixsmith's story checks out. He's not fabricating a rags-to-riches narrative—the timeline, details, and public records align. College of the Holy Cross alumni, played for Lørenskog in Norway (verified), founded Trade Context in 2015 (company exists), launched TPT in 2021-2022 (BBB confirms registration with Sixsmith as CEO).

Whether TPT is the "best" prop firm depends on your trading style. But Sixsmith's founder story matters because it signals the firm's values: built by someone who lost money, learned from it, and now helps others avoid the same pain. That's more authentic than most prop firm origin stories.