Enough that trading fuels my ideal lifestyle without working more than a couple of hours a day. I won't be sharing specifics as that's between me and my accountant, but I've never been one to focus on the numbers themselves. I focus on consistency and sustainability. The money I make is merely a by-product of that. My priority has always been discipline, not digits. 

That’s not something I feel comfortable sharing publicly. What matters is you focus on your own growth and progress, and I’ll focus on mine. The key is to build your own skills, no matter the size of your capital. Let’s keep the focus where it belongs—on YOUR success.

I used to—but not anymore. I loved working with traders one-on-one, and seeing them level up was genuinely rewarding. But now, as a dad, my time outside the markets belongs to my family. Priorities shift.

These days, I focus on creating resources that scale—like my Playbook where I document all my trades in real-time—so traders can still learn from me in-the-moment, without needing me on the other end of a Zoom call. 

COMING SOON

I could write an entire blog post on this, but I’ll keep it short. My focus is transparency—not through some public dashboard that anyone can manipulate—but through real, documented performance. Here’s how:

Master Strategy Spreadsheet: My strategy is backed by five years of data—over 3,500 trades across 10 markets. Every valid setup which meets the ruleset is logged, detailing exactly how the system performs. No cherry-picking. Just raw data that every member gets access to, proving the efficacy of the strategy. There's no other educator in the world offering this level of detail.

James' Playbook: On top of that, my Playbook documents all my personal trade executions, logged in real-time before execution. Since launching in September 2024, I’ve averaged 8% a month. All from real trades that anyone could've followed along with. No hindsight heroics. Real profit from real trades. 

I’d treat trading like a business sooner—journaling, data collection, structured reviews. It took me too long to realise that professionalism isn’t just for big funds—it’s what separates hobbyists from pros, even at the retail level.

I’ve got a blanket rule now—I don’t answer questions that are already covered in this FAQ or that could easily be asked and answered in the Discord. It’s nothing personal. I just don’t have the capacity to respond to potentially dozens of repeat questions each day. I want to spend my time where it’s most valuable—my family and focusing on my own trading.

Please always check the FAQ first and lean on the Discord community. 

Yes—and I go further than most. Instead of posting money screenshots or easily faked dashboards, I document everything through my strategy data and personal trade logs.

Every setup in my strategy is backed by over five years' of data—more than 3,500 trades across 10 markets. On top of that, all of my trades are logged in real time, before execution, inside my Playbook. Since launching it in September 2024, I’ve averaged 8% per month. No hindsight, no edits, no cherry-picking.

If you’re looking for transparency—you’ll get it. Just not in the way social media’s used to seeing it.

Honestly, I was never the smartest, never had natural talent, and I wasn’t some market prodigy. But I’ve always been willing to do the work. That’s the one thing that’s followed me through life.

I left school as a skinny 15-year-old. A year later, I’d passed Royal Marine Commando selection with the highest pass—purely through hard work. When I started my personal training business, I built a thriving client base in three months—again, through hard work. And when I stepped into trading, I became a professional the same way—relentless work.

There’s no secret sauce. No innate gift. Just showing up, grinding, and refusing to back down. That’s the edge that’s carried me the whole way.

Born and bred in Canterbury, Kent. I now live on the outskirts of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk. 

I’m 31. 

Honestly, my long-term goals now are less about constant growth and more about sustainability and freedom. I’ve built what I wanted to build with trading and education, and the focus is shifting towards maintaining my edge, scaling my own trading capital, buying the house of my dreams, optimising my health and fitness and spending quality time with my family. I want to continue running The Trading Lab but without it consuming my time. The ultimate goal is balance: meaningful work, financial independence, and being fully present at home.

I really appreciate the offer and wanting to connect—it genuinely means a lot. Right now, I keep pretty firm boundaries around my personal time, and I don’t really do one-to-one meetups. That said, when in-person events or group meet-ups happen in the future, there’ll definitely be a chance to connect properly then. You will see me pottering around the Discord from time to time though and you're welcome to reach out to me there. 

I started trading in 2016, while working full-time as a personal trainer. What began as curiosity quickly turned into obsession. I spent every spare hour studying the markets, testing ideas, and refining a strategy that could hold its own. Over time, that became the foundation of the system I trade with today.

Trading happened by accident. I saved up some money from PT and decided to put it to work in the stock market. Through learning about the world of investing, I stumbled upon trading and the mentors who were big in the space. That piqued my interest. The more I learned, the more fascinated I became. I went from casually curious to fully obsessed. I read over 100 trading books, devoured every course and programme I could get my hands on—immersing myself into it. 

The drive for more freedom and control is what got me started, but once I saw the potential—nothing could stop me.

Never. From day one, risk management has been non-negotiable. I’ve never put more than 1% of my capital at risk on a single trade—ever. Losses? Of course. Brutal streaks? Absolutely. But blowing an account? Not even close.

The first rule of trading is staying in the game. That means protecting capital at all costs. If you're not thinking like that from the start, you're already lost.

It took me around 18 months from first starting to become consistently profitable. Not because I got lucky or stumbled into a winning system by accident—but because I became obsessed with building something that worked. I spent every spare hour developing a strategy that was both statistically solid and aligned with my market philosophies. Once the data backed it—that’s when the results started to follow.

If you're looking for workout advice, I have a dedicated lesson in the ELEVATE programme. That provides information on how to best tailor a workout regime to your specific goals and training style whilst providing practical workout templates you can start using straight away! 

Yes—I founded The Trading Lab. It’s my own creation built from the ground up to give traders what I wish I had when I started: data-backed strategy, structure,  transparency, and a proven framework.

This isn’t a white-labeled course or a team of ghost mentors. What you see is what you get—and what you get is what I use myself to trade the markets consistently and profitably.

The strategy I teach is my own, built and refined over years of live trading.

That said, no strategy is created in a vacuum. I started, like most traders, by learning from various sources—books, courses, mentors—but over time I stripped away what didn’t work, simplified what did, and developed a process that’s uniquely mine.

What I teach now is a result of years of testing, tweaking, and hands-on experience. It’s not a regurgitated strategy—it’s a proven, tested approach that I’ve personally traded to profitability.

The short answer: because I wanted, not because I had to. When I first started documenting my results and trading process on social media back in 2019, I quickly attracted a small following of developing traders, who by virtue of following my advice (which I made publicly available in a free Telegram channel) quickly started to improve their own trading results. That made me realise I had something truly of value and with the amount of misinformation out there in the space, decided to package together my knowledge into my course, The Pro Trader Programme.

The business allows me to build something bigger than just my own trading account. It's not a fallback, it's a natural extension of what I've learned, built and now enjoy sharing with others. 

The reason the Pro Trader Course isn’t free is because it’s not just a few videos or surface-level content. It’s a complete, structured programme built from the exact strategies I trade live—covering entries, risk management, mindset, journaling, accountability...everything someone could need to become a professional trader. 

The price reflects the years of experience, data, and refinement that’s gone into creating a course designed to produce consistent, independent traders—not just followers of signals. You’re not paying for “access” — you’re investing in a system that’s helped others become profitable, with lifetime value and ongoing updates.

It’s not for everyone—and that’s okay. But for traders who are serious about levelling up, it’s worth every penny.

COMING SOON

Yes, but not in the way most people think. I went full-time in late 2018/early 2019, after gradually stepping away from my personal training business.

But full-time doesn’t mean 8-hour days. I’ve built strategies and routines that allow me to treat trading like a high-performing business, not a grind. I’ve structured my day to focus on analysis during key hours, with brief, scheduled market checks throughout the rest of the day. On average, I spend no more than a couple of hours a day on charts—if that.

It’s about efficiency, not hours. I became a trader to have more freedom, not less of it.

 Yes—I use the exact same strategies I teach. I don’t teach anything I haven’t personally tested, traded and refined first in live market conditions. 

I wake up around 7am and keep my morning routine simple—nothing fancy, just what gets me focused and centred. By 7:30, I’m at the charts. I scan my watchlist and build a shortlist of potential scalp opportunities, depending on how the intraday movement is shaping up.

From there, it’s all about efficiency. I check back in on that list every couple of hours—quick 2-minute scans to see if any entries are setting up. No staring at screens all day. If the setup’s there, I execute. If it’s not, I wait till the next scan.

The rest of my day is spend it doing what I love—hitting the gym, spending time with my kids, and living life. Trading is a part of my day, not my whole identity. That’s the beauty of building strategies you trust and routines that serve you—freedom with structure.

I believe trading is a mirror for life. It reflects how you handle uncertainty, pressure, and risk. It shows you where you’re disciplined—and where you’re not.

You can’t hide in trading. Your mindset, your habits, your emotions—they all show up in your results. That’s why success in the markets goes deeper than setups or signals. It’s about self-awareness, emotional control, and the ability to stick to a process even when it’s uncomfortable.

The truth is, if you want to level up your trading, you usually have to level up yourself. That’s what makes this game so brutal—and so rewarding.

It’s definitely on the radar. Trading can be a lonely game, and I know the value of being in a room with like-minded people who take this seriously. Live workshops or meet-ups are something I’ve been considering and planning behind the scenes.

That said, if and when I run an in-person event, it’ll be high quality, focused, and designed to genuinely level up your trading.

Right now—the timing isn't ideal. With twins on the way, hosting an event isn't a priority for me right now. However, once the craziness of the newborn stage is done (for the final time), it'll certainly be a thought I return to...and seriously. 

With Pro Trader 2.0—honestly, I can’t imagine there’ll be a huge need for any additional content. Most traders don’t need more complexity—they need more clarity, repetition, and discipline. That’s where the edge really is.

That said, if something fundamentally shifts in the market or I develop something that truly adds value to the core system, I’ll share it. But I’m not in the business of releasing content just to keep people entertained. If I release something, it’ll be because it matters.

For now, the focus stays on what works—and doing it well.

No, that’s not something I’m interested in pursuing. With Pro Trader 2.0 released—my focus is on myself and my family right now. 

At the time of this writing, there's been about 160 members who have gone through the Pro Trader Programme.

It’s tight-knit by design—I want people who are serious. Quality over mass appeal. I’m not interested in packing it with thousands. I’m building a community where traders actually improve—not just collect logins.

The website is checked daily to make sure everything’s running smoothly, but occasional hiccups can happen. If you’re having trouble accessing it, first try a hard refresh or check from another device/browser—it’s often a local caching issue. If the issue’s still there, drop a message in Discord or contact support and we’ll look into it straight away.

Just head to the login page and use the Forgot Password link to reset your details. If you’ve lost everything—email, password, the lot—just email support@thetradinglab. We can manually verify your account and get you back in. 

It's recommended to complete both Pro Trader 2.0 and ELEVATE on a laptop or PC for the best viewing experience. In regards, to any additional software you'll need—simply the TradingView app and when you're ready to start trading, a broker or funding provider. Any tools provided in the course are accessible via Notion or Google Sheets. 

No, a paid TradingView plan isn't essential to begin trading. The free version offers all the essential features making it a solid starting point for beginners.

However, as you progress and require more advanced tools—such as multiple chart layouts, back-testing functionality, or real-time market data—a paid plan is beneficial. I personally have never used anything beyond the Pro version which works out to be around £10-£15 a month. 

Because when you open it, you’re looking at the view-only version.
If you want to edit it, you need to make a copy to your own Google account:

• Click File > Make a Copy
• Save it to your own Google Drive
• Now you can edit your version.

When you first open the link, it’s a view-only version.
If you want to edit it, you need to duplicate it to your own Notion account:

• Click “Duplicate” in the top right corner
• It’ll copy to your workspace
• Now you can edit your version all you want.

Honestly, I’ve got no clue. Maybe you entered the trade wrong. Maybe spreads got you. There are countless variables that could be at play here. Instead of guessing or asking me to piece it together, the quickest solution is to go straight to the source.If it’s a broker issue, any reputable broker will have a customer service line. If it’s a problem with Traders Connect, they’ve got a live chat to help you out instantly. Save yourself the time—reach out directly and get the answer you need

The original Pro Trader was solid and held strong for four years. But over time, my process evolved—I started working across more time frames, I added a third entry model, and I developed sharper insights into mastering trading psychology.

I created Pro Trader 2.0 to  tighten the strategy, and bring everything up to the standard I trade at now. It's the fully refined version—cleaner, clearer, more actionable. It’s the final consolidation of everything I have to teach.

It's not recommended. To get the full benefit of Pro Trader 2.0, the lessons are designed to be completed in order. Each module builds on the previous one, so skipping ahead can create gaps in your understanding and reduce your chances of full comprehension.

Even if you have prior trading experience and feel confident about certain topics, there may still be small nuances or unique approaches in the course that you could miss.

Following the structured path ensures you develop the right mindset, skills, and habits progressively — which is essential for consistent, long-term trading growth.

If a video isn’t playing, try these steps:

1. Refresh the page or reopen the course dashboard.
2. Clear your browser cache or try using a different browser (Chrome or Firefox work best).
3. Make sure your internet connection is stable and fast enough for streaming.

Yes. Pro Trader 2.0 is designed to let you progress at a pace that suits your schedule and learning style. 

However, while you can move quickly or slowly through the material, I recommend sticking to a consistent rhythm to build momentum and reinforce good habits.

While you’re free to explore other strategies, I recommend mastering these first — they’re proven, repeatable, and aligned with the mindset and risk management principles taught in the course.

Trading multiple strategies without a clear plan can lead to confusion and inconsistency.

There are two things you need to check to make sure you get notifications. First, make sure notifications are turned on for Discord in your phone's settings. Then, go into Discord itself and ensure notifications are enabled for each relevant channel.In each channel, there’s a bell icon—click on it, then select 'Notification Settings' and choose 'All Messages.' This ensures you’re notified about all activity within that channel. You’ll need to do this for any channels in the Playbook you want to receive notifications for.The best part? You can customise it. If you don’t need notifications every time I move a trade to the journal, just turn them off for that channel. 

There are a few reasons this could happen. It could be due to different broker pricing feeds, spread variations, or even the execution timing between us. While we might have the same trade setup, slight differences in these factors can lead to different results. For example, if your stop loss is triggered slightly earlier due to a wider spread, you could get taken out before I do. It’s one of the reasons I don’t share exact entry/exit prices - so you can avoid these discrepancies and focus on the setup and strategy instead.

I’ve set the price at what I believe is fair for everyone, but honestly, I think it’s criminally underpriced. The value you’re getting - access to years of expertise, proven strategies, and the tools to truly succeed far outweighs what you’re paying. I want to make sure it’s accessible, but at the same time, I know the knowledge and results you’ll gain are worth way more than what you’re investing.

Different brokers have different pricing feeds. If I post specific entry and stop loss prices based on my broker, and someone tries to replicate those values on a different platform, discrepancies can occur - and those can be costly. By showing a visual of my entry and stop loss placement on the chart, I remove that risk and keep things accurate for everyone, regardless of which broker they’re using.

That’s like asking what the best workout routine is — it depends on you. Your lifestyle, personality, and trading goals all play a big role.

1. Test all the execution timeframes — scalp (1m, 2m, 3m), swing (5m, 15m, 1h), and slow (4h).
2. Collect data on your trades across these timeframes. Track your results, emotional responses and time commitment to each.
3. After enough data, break down what fits your style best:
   • Do you handle fast decisions well or do you get stressed?
   • Can you watch the screen for hours, or only short bursts?
   • What kind of returns and drawdowns are you comfortable with?

Find your own sweet spot based on real results and how you feel.

It wouldn't be fair to call them objectively "riskier" but they do carry some additional considerations that the others don't. There's a much higher frequency of opportunities, so you need to be able to not get overwhelmed. The trades play out faster so you need to be more responsive in regards to trade management. Spreads and news become more of a consideration so you need to exercise additional vigilance there. That means mistakes hit harder and quicker than they would on a slower system. 

That said, with the right skills and discipline, scalping can be just as rewarding—often more profitable—than other styles.

It depends on your time frames.If you’re scalping, stick to a small, tight list of highly liquid markets—think EUR/USD, GBP/USD, GBP/JPY, EUR/JPY, USD/JPY, and gold. These provide enough opportunity without overwhelming you.

If you’re trading the 15-minute or hourly charts, you’ll need a broader list to avoid missing opportunities that align with higher time frame structure. In that case, focus more on the higher time frame narrative across multiple markets, not just specific pairs. Build a swing watchlist like I show in the End-of-Week Routine in Module 8—even if they aren’t always fixed week to week.

Yes—CHF pairs, especially those involving CHF/JPY and GBP/CHF, are notorious for erratic, wicky price action. They can often display aggressive spikes, sharp reversals, and low-liquidity-style moves even during normal market hours. This doesn't mean you can't trade them, but it does mean you need to be extra selective, allow wider stop placements, and be mentally prepared for more noise. If you prefer cleaner, more structured setups, CHF pairs might not be your best friends.

If you're relatively new, I wouldn't recommend going lower than 10 pips on any market. However, if you're using a good broker, trading liquid markets and not trading into news events, this could be lowered to around 6-8 pips, certainly if you're trading on the scalping time frames and the setup calls for it. 

Because demo trading tests your strategy. Live trading tests you.

On demo, there’s no fear. No pressure. No real money on the line. You follow your rules because there's no consequence for being wrong. But when it’s live? That’s when emotions show up—fear, greed, hesitation. That’s when psychology becomes the real opponent.

Here’s what you do:

1. Start small. Trade live with minimal size until you can execute like you do in demo.

2. Audit your execution. Are you sticking to your rules, or reacting to the money?

3. Desensitize yourself. The more live trades you take with discipline, the more your brain adapts. Confidence builds through reps, not results.

The goal is to close the gap between your strategy and your self-control. When those align, the results follow.

The only competition that matters is who you were yesterday. Other people's timelines have nothing to do with yours. Stay in your own lane and stop wasting your energy watching other people’s. What you're seeing is a snapshot— you’re not seeing their losses, their years of grinding, their bad trades, or their blown accounts. You’re most likely comparing your behind-the-scenes to someone else’s best moments.

Focus on your own process, your own growth, your own pace. If you keep comparing, you’ll either rush, overtrade, or start doubting your system—all fast tracks to failure

Stay in your lane. Do the work. Your time will come when you’ve earned it.

Return to the source of what got you started. Lock in on your vision and lifestyle—the freedom, the slow mornings sipping coffee and scanning the charts, the time with your family and kids. When you reconnect with that, quitting becomes impossible.

If you’re genuinely burnt out, take a short, intentional break. Step back, reset, then come back with a clear head.

But if you’re thinking of quitting just because it’s hard or taking longer than you expected—welcome to trading. This is how it works. Growth can be hard. But you just need to focus on small steps—the next trade, the next lesson, the next module, the next weekly review.

You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to keep fucking going.

You bounce back by reframing the losses. Get some fucking perspective. Zoom out and play the long game. Losses are lessons. They’re tuition fees paid to the market. They only define you if you stop showing up. Focus on the process and the next trade, not the money you’ve lost. It won't mean anything in the grand scheme of things when you're funded and pulling 5-figure profits each month. So focus on that. 

Because demo trading tests your strategy. Live trading tests you.

On demo, there’s no fear. No pressure. No real money on the line. You follow your rules because there's no consequence for being wrong. But when it’s live? That’s when emotions show up—fear, greed, hesitation. That’s when psychology becomes the real opponent.

Here’s what you do:

1. Start small. Trade live with minimal size until you can execute like you do in demo.

2. Audit your execution. Are you sticking to your rules, or reacting to the money?

3. Desensitize yourself. The more live trades you take with discipline, the more your brain adapts. Confidence builds through reps, not results.

The goal is to close the gap between your strategy and your self-control. When those align, the results follow.

When you’re trading emotionally, making impulsive decisions, or you feel mentally fried. If you even find yourself asking that question, it's probably a sign you need to. Stepping back isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a sign of control.

Step away, reset, and come back when your head’s straight. Pushing through when you’re mentally cooked is how mistakes happen and accounts get blown. Know when to pause. That’s part of being a pro.

Losses aren’t the problem — your reaction to them is.

You’re probably making it mean something about you or your ability when it’s just standard market variance. Losses are part of the game. You’re not special—you’re not going to avoid them.

The fix? Systematically follow your 10-trade tracker in The Trading Centre.
Commit to executing in batches of trades without any emotional judgement.

No cherry-picking. No cutting the process short. Let the numbers play out properly before you decide whether you’re doing well or not.

If you let every loss throw you off, you’ll never see your system’s real edge.
Stay in the game long enough to find out. That’s the only way.

Perspective. A losing streak feels huge in the moment, but it’s just a small blip in the bigger picture. Zoom out. Look at your long-term stats and remember why you’re playing this game.

The quickest way to get your head right? Focus on one good trade. Then another. Stack small wins by following your process — not by trying to smash some huge comeback trade.

Also, go re-watch the Grit lesson in The OMEGA Mindset. That’s your playbook for this.

Confidence isn’t about never hitting hard patches—it’s about how you handle them. Losers crumble. Pros reset and keep going. You decide which one you are.

Momentum dies when goals become vague. Stay consistent by regularly revisiting your goals, refining your routines, and constantly reminding yourself why you started. The problem is rarely lack of motivation—it’s lack of clarity. Get into ELEVATE and work through module 1. Reconnect with that, ignite your fire then get back on the fucking horse. 

You get genuinely excited about the destination. Motivation becomes easy when you have a powerful reason behind your actions. When your long-term goal is vivid and detailed, it’s harder to lose discipline than it is to stay on track.

Second-guessing happens when you lack trust in your system or haven’t fully accepted risk. If it's a strategy doubting issue—build confidence in your system. Study the setup libraries for your relevant trading model(s). Collect data. Revise the setup lessons until they're ingrained in your subconscious.  Deeply know your edge, religiously follow your trading plan, and detach from individual outcomes.

If it's a risk issue, your risk-per-trade rule is simply too big. Run through the risk-per-trade formula as per the Emotionless Execution lesson in Module 9 so you're trading in alignment with your personal emotional threshold. 

Use the 10-trade rule to lower the weight of each individual trade. If your position size is even making you remotely freeze, it’s too big. Run through the risk-per-trade formula as per the Emotionless Execution lesson in Module 9 so you're trading in alignment with your personal emotional threshold. 

Self-doubt usually comes from a lack of reps or from unrealistic expectations. It’s solved by taking focused, trackable action. 

The fix? Simplify and lock in on what you can control.

• Follow your plan to the letter

• Journal

• Stick to your 10-trade batches

• Focus on executing the next trade properly — nothing else

FOMO happens when you think you need to catch every move to be successful — you don’t. The market isn’t going anywhere. Missed trades aren’t losses. Chasing random setups is what actually costs you.

The fix is locking in on your system. If it’s not your setup, you don’t touch it. Full stop. Trust your process more than your feelings in the moment.

Zoom out. There will always be another trade. Always. When you see the game in batches of trades over time, missing one setup won’t rattle you.

Stick to your 10-trade batches. Commit to following the process, not to catching every candle that moves. When you focus on batches, you start detaching from individual trades — which kills FOMO fast.

Also, audit your environment. If your Discord feed, Instagram, or anywhere else is constantly flashing other people’s wins in your face, mute it when you need to. You don’t need to see every trade someone else catches. It’s not your race.

FOMO fades when you trust your system more than you trust your emotions. The next setup is always coming.

You need to remind yourself that trading isn’t about taking trades — it’s about taking the right trades. Full stop. Sitting on your hands is a skill. Most people blow their edge by getting bored and forcing something that isn’t there. That’s how consistency gets wrecked.

Your edge is only valid when the setup is right. If you start jumping into half-baked trades just to “stay active,” you’re trading noise, not probability. Respect your system enough to wait.

Patience isn’t passive — it’s part of the job. Waiting is doing something. The best traders are the ones who can sit out the chop, the almost-setups, and the fake opportunities.

When in doubt, zoom out. Would you rather have 3 solid trades a week that you actually win on, or 15 rushed trades that tank your account? It’s a no-brainer if you actually want to make money long term.

You don’t keep them in check—you fucking eliminate them. Trading with emotions is like driving blindfolded. If you let fear, greed, or hope run the show, you’re guaranteed to fuck up. That’s why you embrace the OMEGA Mindset (Module 9). Train yourself to act like a machine. Follow your plan blindly, no matter what your brain screams at you.

Emotions will always try to sneak in, but your job is to catch them early and shut them down immediately. You do that enough times, and soon, they'll lose their grip and control over your forever. 

Funding or prop (proprietary) firms are companies that give traders access to trading capital. You trade their money, and if you make profits, you share a cut with them. If you lose, you lose their money—not yours.

They usually have rules and evaluation processes to prove you can trade responsibly before they hand over the funds. It’s a way for skilled traders to scale up without risking their own cash. But it’s NOT a free ride— you still have to follow strict risk management and show consistent profitability. However, with the right skills in place, it's also an opportunity to scale your profits very quickly. 

COMING SOON

FTMO is a prop firm that gives skilled traders access to large funded accounts—after they prove they can trade consistently with solid risk management. You pass a two-step evaluation (the Challenge and Verification), and if you succeed, you get funded and keep up to 80% of the profits you make.

FTMO works through a three-phase process designed to test and reward disciplined traders:

Step 1: Challenge
You’re given a demo account with rules:
- Hit a 10% profit target
- Stay within daily and overall loss limits (5% and 10% respectively)
- Trade for a minimum number of days

Step 2: Verification
Same rules, but lower 5% profit target. This phase confirms you're consistent, not just lucky.

Step 3: Funded Account
Pass both steps and you get a real account with FTMO’s capital. You trade—they fund—and you keep up to 80% of the profits.

No—you won’t owe FTMO (or any prop firm) any money if you lose.

Worst-case scenario? You fail the evaluation and lose the one-time fee you paid to take the Challenge. That’s it. No debt. No hidden charges.

If you’re on a funded account, a violation of their loss limits would simply mean a removal of your funded status—but you’ll never owe them money. They cover the losses. 

Your earnings will depend on account size and the profit you make.

For example:
- £140,000 account with a 6% return = £8,400 profit.
- You keep 80%, so £6,720 would be your profit share. 

With the maximum funding (£280,000):
- £280,000 account with a 10% return = £28,000 profit.
- You keep 80%, so £25,200.

Your earnings depend on your consistency, risk management, and how well you trade, but it’s possible to make a significant income with the right strategy.

The cost is contingent on the size of the account you apply for. The larger the account, the higher the fee. Worth noting though that this fee is refunded back to you, on your first payout if you're successful in passing the funding process.

For a current list of their up-to-date fees, simply check out their site. 

The maximum initial funding you can get from FTMO in the UK is £280,000.

That depends on your financial goals. Are you trading just make some supplementary income or are you looking for life-changing 10k months? I'd typically suggest applying for the account size whereby an assumed 5% return (realistic but not aggressive) would facilitate your ideal monthly income. 

For example:

- Ideal income: 5k per month
- 140k account at 5% assumed monthly return = £5600 profit (after FTMO's profit share)
- The account size lower (70k) would only yield a £2800 profit at 5% and so the minimum account size you'd need is 140k. 

It depends on your commitment. Getting funded isn’t a sprint—it’s a process. As a beginner, you need to prove that you have the skills, discipline, and mindset to handle risk and trade effectively. With the right strategy and education, I've seen that happen in my programme in as little as 3-6 months. 

But it’s not just about rushing to get funded—it’s about developing the habits and knowledge that will allow you to sustain that funding once you have it. And that's why getting the right education is so important. You need the infrastructure, the tools, and the resources to trade for longevity and that's exactly what my programme will provide you with. 

Here's the step-by-step process:

1. Account selection:
- Choose an account size (for GBP) that's between 10k and 140k. 

2. Meet the trading objectives in the trading Challenge:
- Profit Target: make 10%.
- Maximum daily loss: You cannot lose more than 5% of the account balance in one day.
- Maximum overall loss: You cannot exceed a 10% loss of the total balance.
- Minimum trading days: You need to trade for at least 4 days.
- Time limit: None. Take as long as you need. 

3. Meet the trading objectives in the trading Verification:
- Profit Target: make 5%.
- Maximum daily loss: You cannot lose more than 5% of the account balance in one day.
- Maximum overall loss: You cannot exceed a 10% loss of the total balance.
- Minimum trading days: You need to trade for at least 4 days.
- Time limit: None. Take as long as you need. 

4. Funded:
- If you hit the profit target and follow the risk rules, over both the Challenge and Verification phase, you'll pass the evaluation and receive the account details to your funded account. You'll trade this account as if it's your own and keep 80% of the profit you make. 

At this time of this writing, I'd only personally recommend FTMO. They've been around for a while, establishing themselves as one of the household names in the space. Here's why: 

1. Established Reputation: FTMO has been around for years and is well-respected in the trading community.

2. High profit share: FTMO offers up to 80% profit share, enabling traders to keep a large majority of the profit they make. 

3. No challenge time limits: Unlike some other firms, FTMO has removed the time limits on the Challenge and Verification phases, allowing you to take your time and trade at your own pace.

4. Scalable accounts: Allows you to scale your account size up to £1,400,000 through their scaling plan. This provides long-term growth potential if you're consistent.

- Fee loss: The one-time fee you paid to enter the Challenge is non-refundable if you don't pass their Challenge and Verification stages. 

- No further obligations: You won't owe any additional money to FTMO. Your only financial commitment is the initial fee.

- Opportunity to retake: You can purchase another Challenge to try again. There is no limit on the number of challenges you can take.

Apex Trader Funding, Topstep & FX2 Funding have all good reputations for US clients unable to use FTMO. However, it's still important to conduct your own due diligence before committing to apply for funding with any firm. 

Apex Trader Funding, Topstep & FX2 Funding have all good reputations for US clients unable to use FTMO. However, it's still important to conduct your own due diligence before committing to apply for funding with any firm. 

It's a process with a few different considerations, including legality. I break it down step-by-step in Module 4 of ELEVATE in the Private Investment lesson. 

It's incredibly hard to give a one-size-fits-all answer here as it's dependant on many different variables. However, as a general rule, in the UK, trading profits, be from prop firm payouts or profits from personal capital are seen as personal income and will be taxed at the standard tax brackets.

Other considerations: 

Trading via a limited company:  In this scenario, the rules are different. Profits are subject to corporation tax, and any personal income you draw (through salary or dividends) will be taxed accordingly. It’s a more formal structure, often used by more serious traders. It comes with more admin, but for many serious traders making big money, it’s the right setup—especially if you're building a long-term business around your trading.

Again, there’s no one-size-fits-all. It depends on your trading style, income goals, and how you want to structure your financial life. As always, speak to a qualified accountant before making the call.

COMING SOON

In the UK, yes—spread betting profits are currently tax-free. That means no capital gains tax, no income tax. It’s one of the reasons many UK traders use spread betting accounts.

But there’s a catch: if trading is clearly your main source of income, or you’re running it like a full-time business, HMRC could take a different view. It’s a grey area, and tax laws can shift—so it’s always worth speaking to an accountant who understands trading.

Bottom line: yes, it can be tax-free—but don’t assume that applies to every situation forever.

COMING SOON

COMING SOON