I know this has been probably covered before, but I am From Ohio, United States, and I am interested in becoming a trader, I perfer the floor on the CBOT or NYSE, and buy a seat eventually

or Start a hedge fund or both

I saw that Raymond Dalio and Carl Icahn, and several others had broker/trader jobs

How do i get the experience to be taken seriously by firms? ANd how can I build a investment trading record as im working as a trader? and build client base working through a firm/bank/botique?

I believe Ray Dalio started on the floor. then he was head of the Commodities division at a firm..

It is the experience he recieved on the floor that got him the job as head of the commodities desk.. it is the relationships and the paper proof of successful trades that got his hedge fund started

and How do i find clients when im a trader? how do I find high net worth investors and of the likes?

and my major is a graduate tri-major Law/economics/computer science.
If i have my PhD in economics, will i be over qualified?

Whats the best way to get in the door?
some of these questions are rather dumb.. but i'd rather ask a dumb question than to not ask it at all.. at least ill know one way or the other.

please help

I heard the CFA is a good start to merit experience, and trading at a prop firm..

but other than that.. what else can i do to get competitive edge

keep in mind that the goal is to start a hedge fund or small partnership.. and i want the people to find me and for me to find the people