After speaking with hundreds of funded traders, we compiled the 7 tips that consistently make the difference between passing and failing the FTMO challenge.
Tip 1: Risk 0.5% per trade maximum Most failed challenges come from risking too much. With 0.5% risk per trade you can lose 10 trades in a row and still be within the daily loss limit. Most traders who fail risk 2-3% per trade.
Tip 2: Trade only during London and New York sessions The best setups happen between 8am-5pm GMT. Asian session spreads are wider and moves are less predictable. Limiting yourself to high-liquidity sessions improves your win rate significantly.
Tip 3: Never trade the first 15 minutes after a major news event NFP, FOMC, CPI releases cause extreme volatility. Even if your direction is right, spreads widen so much that your stop loss gets hit before price moves in your favour. Wait 15 minutes after the news.
Tip 4: Set a daily loss circuit breaker at 2% If you lose 2% in a day, close your charts and stop trading. The daily limit is 5% but successful traders never get close. A 2% personal limit gives you a 3% buffer.
Tip 5: Trade one pair only Pick your best pair - most funded traders use EUR/USD or GBP/USD. Mastery of one pair beats mediocrity across five pairs every time.
Tip 6: Use the free FTMO trial account first FTMO offers a free trial account with the same rules as the challenge. Use it for at least 2 weeks before buying a real challenge. If you cannot pass the free trial, you are not ready.
Tip 7: Aim for 1-2% profit per week not per day The 10% Phase 1 target over 30 days is only 0.33% per day. Traders who try to hit 2-3% per day burn out their accounts. Slow and consistent wins.
Use our FTMO discount code to save on your challenge and give yourself the best start.