FTMO Review

After the successful conclusion of the evaluation course, you will be given an opportunity to join the FTMO Proprietary Trading firm. Here, you can manage the FTMO Account from a remote location, with an account balance reaching up to $200,000. While the journey might be arduous, FTMO provides educational tools, account analysis, and a performance coach to guide you towards financial freedom.

FTMO traders are pushed to excel in their roles. A primary expectation from the firm is for traders to be disciplined, prioritize risk management, and aim for consistency. This discipline allows traders to manage accounts as large as $2,000,000, taking home up to 90% in profit splits. Their trading portfolio includes forex pairs, commodities, indices, stocks, bonds, and cryptocurrencies.

About FTMO

FTMO is a proprietary firm founded in September 2015. Based in Prague, Czech Republic, they extend capital up to $2,000,000 to traders with up to 90% profit splits. They have collaborated with a liquidity provider that furnishes an institutional data feed, along with direct market access execution on live corporate accounts.

Their main office is at Opletalova 1417/25 110 00 Prague, Czech Republic.

CEO of FTMO

Otakar Suffner, born and raised in Prague, is the CEO of FTMO. While he acknowledges the value of formal education, he firmly believes that being a competent trader or businessman doesn't mandate a university degree. Otakar holds a master’s degree in Economics from a renowned Prague University and also pursued studies at Seoul Nation University, South Korea.

A sports enthusiast, Otakar engaged in tennis during his youth, and currently indulges in fitness, calisthenics, and kickboxing. His trading journey began with Futures, transitioning to Forex and CFDs, which gave him more flexibility in position sizing due to smaller account sizes. Otakar is data-driven, valuing statistics and probabilities, which fuels his unique trading ideas.

Funding Program Options

FTMO presents traders with two distinct two-phase evaluation funding programs:

• Normal evaluation program accounts
• Aggressive evaluation program accounts

Normal Evaluation Program Accounts

These accounts target disciplined and skilled traders, rewarding them for consistent performance during a two-phase evaluation period. This program provides 1:100 leverage and allows funding in USD, GBP, EUR, CZK, CAD, AUD, and CHF.

During the Evaluation phase one, traders must achieve a 10% profit target without exceeding a 5% daily loss or a 10% total loss. Although there's no set limit on trading days, a trader must commit to at least four trading days to advance to the next phase.

For the Evaluation phase two, the profit goal is set at 5%. As with phase one, traders shouldn't exceed a 5% daily loss or a 10% cumulative loss. Again, while there’s no upper limit for trading days, a minimum of four trading days is necessary to transition to the funded account status.

Upon successfully navigating both phases, traders earn a funded account. Here, no profit targets are imposed. However, the 5% daily loss and 10% total loss limits remain intact. Payouts are scheduled 30 days post the initiation of your first trade on the funded account. Yet, there’s flexibility with an option for traders to request a payout after just 14 days. Profits are generously split, with traders receiving between 80% to 90% based on the account's profit performance.

Normal Evaluation Program Account Scaling Plan

This plan involves reaching a 10% profit target over four months, with two of the months showing profits. Account balances then increase by 25% of the original amount.

Example:

• After 4 months: $200,000 account inflates to $250,000.
• Next 4 months: $250,000 grows to $300,000.
• Next 4 months: $300,000 expands to $350,000.
• And so forth...

For normal evaluation program accounts, trading instruments include forex pairs, commodities, indices, stocks, bonds, and cryptocurrencies.

Normal evaluation program account rules

• Profit Target: A set percentage that traders must reach before completing an evaluation, withdrawing earnings, or scaling their account. The target for phase 1 is 10%, for phase 2 it's 5%, and for funded accounts, there’s no specific target.
• Maximum Daily Loss: This is the upper loss limit on a given day. For all account sizes, this stands at 5%.
• Maximum Loss: This represents the ceiling for overall account losses. Across all account sizes, this is capped at 10%.
• Minimum Trading Days: The least number of days a trader must actively trade. Both evaluation phases demand a minimum of four trading days. There’s no such requirement for funded accounts to qualify for payouts.
• No Weekend Holding: Traders must refrain from maintaining open positions over weekends.
• No News Trading: Trading during significant news events is off-limits. Specifically, traders must avoid initiating or closing trades two minutes before and after key news events on their normal funded evaluation program accounts.
• Third-party Copy Trading Risk: If utilizing copy trading services, traders must be wary. Employing a third-party service could mean inadvertently adopting identical trading strategies as others. Such overlaps could jeopardize a funded account or withdrawal, especially if the capital allocation rule is breached.
• Third-party EA Risk: Similar risks apply when using third-party Expert Advisors (EA). The similarity in strategies due to using a common EA might infringe upon the capital allocation rule, potentially putting your funded account or withdrawal at risk.

FTMO Aggressive Evaluation Program Accounts

The FTMO Aggressive evaluation program accounts are curated to pinpoint skilled and dedicated traders, rewarding them for their unwavering performance throughout a two-stage evaluation. With this account, traders get a leverage of 1:30 and can pick their preferred account currency, choosing from USD, GBP, EUR, CZK, CAD, AUD, or CHF.

Account Sizes and Prices:

Phase One: Traders are expected to hit a 20% profit margin, while staying within the 10% daily loss and 20% total loss thresholds. For phase one, there's no restriction on maximum trading days, but a commitment to at least four trading days is essential to qualify for the next phase.

Phase Two: Here, the profit aim is 10%, again ensuring not to breach the 10% daily or 20% overall loss limits. Although there's no cap on trading days, it's compulsory to trade for a minimum of five days to transition to the funded account tier.

On clearing both evaluation stages, traders gain access to a funded account. While there are no profit aspirations, the 10% daily loss and 20% cumulative loss constraints are still in place. By default, the first payout is scheduled for 30 days after the initiation of the first trade on the funded account. Alternatively, there's an express payout option available 14 days post the first trade. Profits are shared at an impressive 80% to 90% rate, contingent on the funded account's profitability.

Aggressive Evaluation Program Account Scaling Plan:

A distinct scaling plan is available for aggressive evaluation program accounts. To scale, you must achieve at least a 10% profit within four months, with two profitable months, the fourth being mandatory. A successful scale results in a 25% boost of the initial account balance.

For instance:

• After 4 months: A $100,000 account swells to $125,000.
• Following another 4 months: Balance leaps from $125,000 to $150,000.
• Another 4 months later: Balance grows from $150,000 to $175,000.

This pattern continues...

Trading Instruments:

The aggressive evaluation program accounts support trading across forex pairs, commodities, indices, stocks, bonds, and cryptocurrencies.

Rules for Aggressive Evaluation Program Account:

• Profit Target: Specified as the profit percentage traders need to achieve. Phase 1 is 20%, phase 2 is 10%, and funded accounts have no set targets.
• Maximum Daily Loss: A day's loss shouldn't surpass 10% of the account value.
• Maximum Loss: Cumulative loss limits stand at 20% for all account dimensions.
• Minimum Trading Days: This denotes the least number of active trading days. Both phases have a 4-day minimum, while funded accounts have no such precondition for payouts.
• Third-party Copy Trading Risk: Opting for third-party copy trading services might result in strategy overlaps with other traders. Such redundancies might threaten your funded account or withdrawal rights, especially if the capital allocation gets exceeded.
• Third-party EA Risk: Utilizing third-party Expert Advisors (EA) poses similar risks, with potential strategy duplications jeopardizing account standings, particularly if capital limits are breached.

What Sets FTMO Apart from Other Prop Firms?

FTMO distinguishes itself from many top-tier prop firms by providing a unique two-phase evaluation program in both standard and aggressive account formats. Moreover, FTMO has proudly cemented its reputation in the industry since 2015, consistently proving itself as one of the most trustworthy prop firms to engage with.

In contrast with other prop firms, FTMO's standard evaluation program accounts are structured in two phases. Traders need to clear both phases to qualify for payouts. The profit aim for phase one is 10%, whereas phase two demands a 5% target, all while maintaining the thresholds of 5% for daily losses and 10% for total losses. Each phase mandates trading for at least four days. Furthermore, the standard evaluation program accounts also include a scaling plan. When juxtaposed with other prominent prop firms, FTMO exhibits average profit targets but emphasizes more on minimum trading day standards.

Comparison: FTMO vs. My Forex Funds

Comparison: FTMO vs. E8 Funding

Comparison: FTMO vs. Finotive Funding

In contrast, FTMO's aggressive evaluation program also implements a two-phase structure. Phase one expects a 20% profit, while phase two aims for 10%, paired with 10% daily and 20% total loss limits. A minimum of four trading days is required in each phase. These aggressive accounts also encompass a scaling strategy. Set against other industry front-runners, FTMO's aggressive program highlights superior profit targets, drawdown restrictions, and minimum trading day obligations.

Comparison: FTMO vs. FundedNext

Comparison: FTMO vs. True Forex Funds

Comparison: FTMO vs. Funded Trading Plus

To sum it up, FTMO stands out amongst top prop firms by integrating a two-phase evaluation process available in both standard and aggressive modes. Their operational experience since 2015 combined with flexible trading rules make them a go-to choice for traders of any caliber.

Is Achieving FTMO Funding Feasible?

When selecting a prop firm that aligns with your forex trading preferences, it's crucial to gauge the feasibility of the trading stipulations set. While an enticing high % profit split from a generously funded account might sound promising, if that same firm mandates steep % monthly gains coupled with minimal % allowable drawdowns, then realistically, the odds of thriving are minimal.

Earning capital from FTMO's standard evaluation program accounts is quite feasible, especially given its moderate profit objectives (10% in phase one and 5% in phase two) paired with reasonable loss guidelines (5% daily cap and 10% aggregate loss).

Attaining capital from FTMO's aggressive evaluation program accounts remains viable. Though these accounts set ambitious profit goals (20% in phase one and 10% in phase two), they counterbalance this by allowing more generous loss thresholds (10% daily cap and 20% aggregate loss).

Taking all these facets into account, FTMO emerges as a stellar pick for those aiming to secure funding. Both their standard and aggressive evaluation programs offer practical trading aims and payout conditions.

Proof of Payment

Established in September 2015, FTMO is a distinguished proprietary firm. Once you're funded, the process to request bi-weekly payouts is straightforward, and there's no mandatory profit threshold to meet for withdrawals.

Illustrations of payment evidence are provided below. The initial image captures a certificate bestowed upon a trader who triumphed in the evaluation challenge. The subsequent image showcases a withdrawal certificate belonging to a prospering trader.

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For more illustrative examples of payment confirmation, their Youtube channel titled 'FTMO Interviews' is a goldmine. Specifically, refer to the duo of videos provided below.

FTMO's Broker Affiliations

Contrary to liaising with standard broker names, FTMO collaborates with a specialized liquidity provider. This partnership ensures they receive an institutional-grade data stream and enjoy direct market access execution on their live corporate portfolios.

Regarding trading platforms, your options include:

• MetaTrader 4
• MetaTrader 5
• cTrader

Trading instruments

FTMO lets its traders use the following instruments: forex pairs, commodities, indices, stocks, bonds, and cryptocurrencies. With normal evaluation programs, you can trade with a 1:100 leverage, whereas with aggressive evaluation programs, you can trade with a 1:30 leverage.

Trading fees

Trading commission:

Education & Resources for Traders

FTMO offers a range of educational materials on its platform. Their blog is rich in insightful articles, and you can explore ithere.

Their presence extends to ForexFactory with a discussion thread that spans over 400 pages. Dive into it here to read various perspectives from traders familiar with FTMO.

Furthermore, they're featured on ForexPeaceArmy, boasting nearly 500 reviews. Check out their reviews here.

Uniquely, FTMO provides a free trial opportunity before embarking on the Evaluation Process. This ensures you're well-equipped and minimizes potential missteps when undertaking the actual challenge.

What Traders Say About FTMO

FTMO enjoys a positive reception in the trading community.

Their Trustpilot presence is notable with a stellar 4.9/5 rating from 4,475 testimonials. Their efficient support team is highlighted frequently, always ready to assist with queries.

Most traders commend FTMO's transparent operations. From evaluation to funding, then payouts, the journey is seamless, bolstered by an ever-ready support team. Moreover, FTMO is a fit for all - novices and pros alike, as they provide educational resources and performance coaching tailored to individual needs.

Social Media Presence

FTMO is active across major social media platforms:

• Facebook: 50,588 followers
• Twitter: 24.7k followers
• Instagram: 159k followers
• YouTube: 78.8k subscribers with 204 video content

Assistance & Queries

FTMO offers an extensive FAQ section for quick solutions.

They're reachable via their social channels, or drop them an email at support@ftmo.com.

Their dedicated customer support responds 24/7 through email, live chat, and WhatsApp. They converse in 15 languages, ensuring a broad reach. You can also call them from Monday – Friday: 8 AM – 5 PM CE(S)T at +44 2033222983.

Final Thoughts

FTMO stands out as a reputable proprietary trading firm. They present two distinct two-phase evaluation programs: normal and aggressive, each with unique trading objectives and guidelines.

The normal evaluation program is a two-stage challenge with targets of 10% and 5% in phases one and two, respectively. With a 5% daily cap and 10% overall loss limits, its objectives are achievable. Notably, traders get profit splits ranging from 80% to 90% and trade at 1:100 leverage, albeit with restrictions on weekend trades and during major news.

Conversely, the aggressive evaluation program has loftier goals of 20% and 10% in its two phases. Despite a 10% daily and 20% total loss limit, it remains achievable. Profit splits, again, range from 80% to 90%. Here, traders get a 1:30 leverage and have more flexibility on trade timings.

Considering FTMO's track record since 2015 and its global footprint, it easily ranks among the top-tier proprietary trading firms.

This FTMO review was last updated on 18.07.2023 at 07:42 (CE(S)T).

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