Getting Funded Is A Milestone, Not a Destination

Congrats on Being Funded. Don't Celebrate Too Hard

Suppose you made it. Congratulations! An impressive milestone, to be sure. Unfortunately, the right move will likely make significant changes for most traders. I have seen traders quit their jobs because they got funded for a 50K futures account, just a $2,000 drawdown with 30 days until payout and data fees due. Others change their social media status to "Professional Funded Trader" and start projecting their evaluation performance as future income.

Time for some tough love and a dose of reality:

• More traders blow up their live funded account in the first three days than receive a payout
• In most stretches, less than 2% of Forex evaluations result in a single payout in a live-funded account

The Transition from Evaluations to Funded Accounts

Why is that? Except for the most disciplined system traders, evaluating for a funded account and trading a live account are entirely different sports. There is a whole new range of emotions associated with trading to withdraw. Many inexperienced traders need to be fully ready to handle the emotions associated with live trading properly. This is why I always stress having a trading system and setups with positive expectancy before starting the funded journey, minimizing emotions, and being able to execute robotically.

Slow Down

Success "high" from finally being a funded trader and excitement to trade the live account and make money takes away focus from the primary objective - the best possible execution of your trading plan. 

Most programs you will trade will have some of these payout restrictions:

• Up to 30 days traded before making the first withdrawal
• Multiple months of trading until you can make withdrawals without any limits

In most situations, you have plenty of time to adjust to a live trading environment. So take your time with overleveraged trades as soon as live accounts logins hit the Inbox.

Size Down

Consider sizing down. Futures traders might benefit from trading MES/MNQ instead of ES/NQ. Get comfortable trading live.

You will have plenty of time to get aggressive with drawn-out payout structures in deep discount futures programs. 

I often employ a hybrid sized-down / aggressive approach: Start the day trading micros; if the day is profitable, either get more aggressive with micros or go to full-size contracts. With this approach, you have the downside of micro trading and the upside of big contract trading; one day could make your month. For this approach, ensure you are in EOD or fixed drawdown program. You risk too much drawdown if things don't go well in trailing drawdown programs.

Secure Forex Payout and Refund

Many 2-Step Forex evaluation programs will refund your evaluation fee with the first payout. It is wise to ensure you get the first payout with a refund to secure liquidity for more attempts and cover expenses.

Consistently successful trader data show that they frequently coast until payout after up 4-5% for the month. That is usually enough to scale the account and keep money coming. Those consistently successful traders often have the benefit of larger accounts.

Make the Coasting Count

I prefer to use the time between trading live accounts and payout hitting the bank to stack multiple accounts and to increase available downside or drawdown. 

Attack more evaluations to stay in tune with the markets to secure more funding; I will still execute A+ setups in the live account as long as a loss won't take it below the payout level. 

Others might prefer to work on their trading systems, side businesses, study different trading styles, or program trading strategies. I prefer market-adjacent activities. 

If you seek extra exposure, many funded trader programs will offer successful traders interview opportunities with cash or discount compensation. Doing content may present some extra opportunities and generate extra income.

Summary of Funded Transition

First, be sure what works for you and makes you most comfortable trading and working towards your trading goals.

In most cases, traders would benefit from taking it easy during the adjustment period and settling into the live environment.

Securing the payout, the refund, and the payout, without pushing too aggressively is the strategy employed by the top 0.1% of funded prop traders; you should consider it too.

Use down or coasting time to work on your trading and stack more funded accounts.