FTMO Review 2024: Comprehensive Insights and Analysis

Last Updated: January 2, 2024

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FTMO review

While diving into the world of proprietary trading, let's talk about FTMO, a firm making quite a splash in the financial trading industry. They've paid over $180 million to their traders, which speaks volumes about their success and credibility. It's impressive how global their reach is – they have traders from more than 180 countries, showing just how diverse and widely accepted their platform is. And talk about efficiency; they process payouts in an average of 8 hours! That level of speed and reliability in handling funds is a huge plus in my book, and it shows that FTMO is serious about looking after its traders.


What's really interesting to me about FTMO is the opportunity they offer traders to manage up to $200,000 in an FTMO account, with the possibility to scale up to a massive $2M per trader. That's a lot of trading power! And the profit split is pretty attractive, too – up to 90% of the profits can go to the traders. This means not only do you get access to significant capital, but you also get rewarded handsomely for your successful trades. For someone like me who's exploring serious trading options, FTMO seems appealing, offering both the capital and the incentives to make the most out of my trading strategies.

FTMO Key Takeaways: Is it for You?

FTMO presents various programs and features tailored to accommodate traders at various levels of expertise. From options suitable for beginners to configurations designed for the advanced trader, FTMO serves a wide range of trading professionals. Below is a detailed summary of the firm's key aspects, encompassing the diversity of programs offered, potential for profit splits, range of account sizes, variety of tradable assets, available trading platforms, and the types of evaluations conducted. This overview is crucial for grasping the diverse opportunities and adaptability that FTMO offers to its users.

Key Takeaways Details
Account Size $10,000 - $200,000, scalable to $2M
Profit Split Initially 80%, can increase to 90%
Profit Target $5,000 - $20,000 ( Step 1 ), $2,500 - $10,000 (Step 2)
One-Time Fee (Refundable) Varies by account size - $155 to €1,080 EUR
Scaling Potential By 25%
Trading Platforms MT4, MT5, cTrader, and others
Leverage Upto 1:100
Tradable Assets Forex, Commodities, Indices, Crypto, Stocks, Bonds
Payouts After 14 Days
Performance Coaching Tailored strategies and psychological insights
Trading Period Unlimited
Max. Daily Loss $2,5000 - $10,000
Max. Loss $5,000 - $20,000

FTMO Review 2024: A Comprehensive Overview

 Established in 2015 in the Czech Republic by Otakar Šuffner and his business partner, FTMO is all about empowering talented traders who just don't have enough capital to trade effectively. Their unique approach involves what they call the "FTMO Challenge," followed by a "Verification" stage. In these phases, traders must prove their skills and show they can stick to solid risk management principles to bag a funded account. It's an interesting concept that seems like a great opportunity for skilled traders to step up their game.


What makes FTMO stand out to me is its support of its traders. They're not just about providing funds; they also offer a ton of educational resources, advanced trading tools, and personalized feedback. But here's the kicker – they put a big emphasis on the psychological side of trading. They offer performance coaching to help traders deal with the mental hurdles of trading. This approach resonates with me as someone who believes that mindset is key in trading.


Despite the appeal, I've learned that making it with FTMO isn't a walk in the park. The firm has a global presence and is known for its operational efficiency, but the road to success is pretty challenging. Their evaluation process is rigorous, and only some traders make the cut. It highlights the level of skill and discipline you need to succeed with them. As I explore more about prop trading, FTMO's model of blending skill development with psychological support, while maintaining high standards, seems like a solid path for serious traders.

Pros and Cons

When considering FTMO, it's essential to weigh its advantages and limitations to assess if it aligns with your trading approach and goals.

Pros:


  • One-time fee with no additional or recurring. charges, fully reimbursed with the first Profit Split.


  • Complete freedom in trading style and unlimited access to various instruments including Forex, Commodities, Indices, Crypto, Stocks, and Bonds.


  • No limitations on trade volume (lot size) and leverage options up to 1:100.


  • Variety of trading platforms available: MT4, MT5, cTrader, along with exclusive Trading Applications.


  • Opportunity to trade for a proprietary firm without personal capital risk, with 90% of profits shared with the trader.


  • Fee is refundable after successful completion of the evaluation stage.


  • Ongoing support and educational resources provided to enhance the trading journey.

Cons:


  • High failure rate in the initial FTMO Challenge and Verification stages due to rigorous testing.


  • Maximum leverage of 1:100 not applicable to all assets, particularly cryptocurrencies and exotic forex pairs.

Tradable Assets

FTMO provides traders access to a wide range of tradable assets, allowing for a diverse trading portfolio. These assets include:


  1. Forex: A vast selection of currency pairs, including major, minor, and exotic pairs.
  2. Commodities: Includes trading in metals like gold and silver, energy commodities like oil, and other commonly traded commodities.
  3. Indices: Access to major global indices, allowing traders to speculate on the performance of specific index markets.
  4. Cryptocurrencies: Offers trading in popular cryptocurrencies, catering to the growing demand in digital currency markets.
  5. Stocks: Enables trading in shares of various companies, covering major stock markets.
  6. Bonds: Inclusion of bond trading, providing opportunities in the fixed-income market.

FTMO Pricing

One-Time Challenge Fee: The fee for the FTMO Challenge depends on the account size chosen by the trader:

  • A $10,000 account costs 155 EUR.
  • A $25,000 account costs 250 EUR.
  • $50,000 account, the fee is 345 EUR.
  • $100,000 account costs 540 EUR.
  • $200,000 account costs 1,080 EUR.


  • Refundable Fee: This initial fee is fully refundable. Once a trader successfully passes the FTMO Challenge and Verification phase and becomes an FTMO trader, they receive this fee back with their first Profit Split.


  • Profit Split: Traders retain a substantial portion of the profits. Typically, this is up to 90%, while FTMO claims a 10% share. For example, if a trader earns $10,000 in profit, they would keep $9,000, and FTMO would receive $1,000.


  • No Recurring Charges: After paying the initial fee for the Challenge, there are no additional or ongoing fees for the trader.



  • No Additional Costs for Services: All tools, educational resources, and support services provided by FTMO are included in the initial fee without any extra charges.

Payout System

The standard profit share for FTMO Traders is initially set at 80%, but there's potential for even more.

FTMO traders enjoy the flexibility of requesting payouts whenever needed, with the option to process these payouts just after a 14-day days. Additionally, traders have the freedom to select their own Profit Split Day. This date can be adjusted up to three times, ensuring you can align withdrawals with your convenience.



More importantly, when traders fulfill the criteria of the FTMO Scaling Plan, they receive significant benefits. Not only does the balance of their FTMO Account increase by 25%, but their share of the profits also escalates to an impressive 90%. This combination of increased capital and a higher profit share underscores FTMO's commitment to rewarding successful traders.

Trading Platforms

FTMO offers its clients a premier trading experience with platforms like MT4, MT5, DXtrade, and cTrader, all powered by direct data feeds from a pool of prime liquidity providers. In their commitment to providing a realistic trading environment, FTMO ensures super-raw spreads, very low commissions, and no markups, especially notable in their demo trading accounts. These accounts, loaded with virtual funds, are designed to simulate real market conditions, allowing traders to practice and refine their strategies in a risk-free setting. This approach demonstrates FTMO's dedication to equipping traders with the tools and conditions necessary for developing their trading skills.

Reputation, Social Media, Awards and Testimonials

FTMO has built a reputation for trustworthiness by adhering to regulatory standards, providing consistent payouts, and fostering a transparent trading environment. With a focus on trader education and robust customer support, the platform is committed to its users' success and trust.

Reputation:

FTMOTrust Pilot review

FTMO has earned a remarkable 4.8-star rating on Trustpilot based on 8,406 reviews. 93% of these reviewers gave the trading firm a top-tier 5-star rating. Additionally, 4% of the reviewers rated it four stars. Remarkably, less than 1% of the reviews fall into the three-star and two-star categories, and only 2% are 1-star reviews. This overwhelmingly positive feedback highlights FTMO's reliability and the high trust it garners among its clients.

Social Media:

FTMO Instagram Page

Stay informed about the latest developments and news from FTMO by following their active Instagram account. Boasting more than 636 posts and an ever-expanding follower base of over 312K, FTMO consistently updates its feed with a range of content. This encompasses insights into FTMO's growth, updates about the FTMO Academy, and other relevant news. For personalized communication, they also offer the option to reach out directly via Instagram's direct messaging feature.

Awards:

FTMO Awards
  • Awarded the Technology Fast 50 Central Europe Winner by Deloitte consecutively from 2019 to 2021.
  • Recognized as the Best Prop Trading Firm/Provider at the FMLS 23.
  • Received the prestigious EY Entrepreneur of the Year award in 20222.

Testimonial:

An interview was conducted with an FTMO Trader named Paul, who achieved a remarkable profit of over $500,000 on one FTMO Account and $192,000 on another. The nearly two-hour interview is filled with detailed insights into Paul's complex strategy, which led to the largest payout ever recorded in the Prop trading industry.

Trading Objectives and Rules

FTMO presents a range of funding options with varying fees, catering to different levels of trader commitment and expertise. Here's a consolidated overview:

Account Size $10,000:

Trading Details for Account size $10,000.

Account Size $25,000:

Trading Details for Account size $25,000.

Account Size $50,000:

Trading Details for Account size $50,000.

Account Size $100,000:

Trading Details for Account size $100,000.

Account Size $200,000:

Trading Details for Account size $200,000.

Evaluation, How Does It Work ?

The evaluation process at FTMO is a structured pathway designed to identify and nurture skilled traders. It consists of three key stages:


  • FTMO Challenge: This is the initial and crucial phase of the evaluation. Aspiring traders must showcase their trading skills and discipline by meeting specific Trading Objectives set by FTMO. Success in the FTMO Challenge is mandatory to progress to the next stage. It tests a trader's ability to generate profits while adhering to predefined risk management rules and targets.


  • Verification: This stage follows the FTMO Challenge. Verification is the final step in the evaluation process. In this phase, traders are expected to demonstrate consistency in their trading ability under conditions similar to the FTMO Challenge but typically with more relaxed objectives. Successfully passing the Verification stage leads to the trader's results being reviewed, and upon satisfactory performance, they are offered the opportunity to trade with an FTMO Account.


  • FTMO Trader: Once a trader completes the first two stages, they become an FTMO Trader entrusted with an FTMO Account. At this point, traders are expected to trade responsibly and consistently. They are entitled to receive up to 90% of their profits. Moreover, if a trader consistently achieves profits on their FTMO Account, they are eligible for account scaling per the FTMO Scaling Plan. This scaling involves increasing the balance of the trader's account by 25%, further enhancing their trading capacity and profit potential.


Throughout these stages, FTMO strongly emphasizes risk management and disciplined trading, preparing traders not only to pass the evaluation process but also to succeed in the real trading environment.

Scaling Plans

FTMO's Scaling Plan is designed to encourage and reward consistent trading performance. Here's a more detailed explanation, including the table showing potential account growth:


  • Scaling Plan Overview: Traders who successfully manage their FTMO Account can experience account growth. FTMO's plan increases the account balance while maintaining risk management.


  • Eligibility for Scaling: To qualify for scaling, a trader must achieve a 10% net profit over four consecutive months and process at least two payouts in this period. The account balance must be above the initial balance when scaling.


  • Profit Split Increase: Once on the scaling plan, the trader's Profit Split ratio is upgraded to 90%. This applies to newly scaled-up accounts.


  • Calculation of Loss Limits: The Maximum Daily Loss and Maximum Loss limits are based on the initial account balance and adjust with each scaling. They remain at 5% and 10% respectively.


  • Automatic Evaluation: FTMO automatically evaluates eligibility for scaling with each Profit Split.


  • Process for Account Scaling: Traders confirm their desire to scale up during their Payout processing. FTMO then assigns a scaled-up account for the next trading period.


  • Increment Cap: The maximum limit for increments is $2M per trader.


Here's how the account balance and risk parameters can develop over time:

Elapsed Time Initial Balance Maximum Daily Loss Maximum Loss
0 months $400,000 $20,000 $40,000
4 months $500,000 $25,000 $50,000
8 months $600,000 $30,000 $60,000
12 months $700,000 $35,000 $70,000
16 months $800,000 $40,000 $80,000

In this scenario, after 16 months, a trader who starts with a $400,000 account could scale it to $800,000, with proportional increases in loss limits.



The Scaling Plan incentivizes traders to aim for steady and cautious growth, considering the risks involved in trading. Note that high returns are not guaranteed in the volatile world of trading.

Premium Program

FTMO's Premium Programme, consisting of Prime and Supreme Status, offers advanced traders enhanced benefits and opportunities. Prime Status requires an active FTMO account, a clean trading record, and demonstrated profitability. This level unlocks benefits like a free FTMO Challenge, an increased payout ratio, and a higher capital allocation.

There are three statuses' in this program:


Prime Status:

  • Eligibility: Requires an active, non-aggressive FTMO account.
  • Clean Record: No failed accounts in the last 4 months.
  • Profitability: Four payouts, each with a minimum of 4% profitability.
  • Benefits: Include a free FTMO Challenge, dedicated support, 90% payout ratio, a special certificate, increased capital allocation up to $600K, access to a unique $400K Challenge, rollover bonuses, and discounts on new challenges and e-shop purchases.


Supreme Status:

  • Eligibility: Active $400K FTMO account.
  • Profitability: Active Prime Status for three months with at least three payouts at 4% profitability.
  • Benefits: All Prime benefits, plus immediate payout, $1M maximum capital allocation, no maximum daily loss, a physical badge of achievement, the opportunity to move to Quantlane, and exclusive merchandise.


Quantlane is a proprietary trading firm offering successful candidates from the Supreme Status a 2-year contract, a competitive trading bonus scheme, inclusion in the team, access to custom platforms and tools, coaching, a trading station in Prague with a relocation package, and institutional trading conditions.

Apps and Services

FTMO offers a suite of applications and services designed to enhance the trading experience:



  • Account MetriX: This web app monitors your progress in the Challenge, Verification, or Free Trial, providing a comprehensive overview of trading objectives and important statistics.


  • Account Analysis: After completing a Challenge, FTMO analyzes your trading data, offering insights and optimizations for your strategy.


  • Statistical App: This tool provides data-driven market behavior probabilities, aiding in informed trading decisions.


  • Trading Journal: Automatically stores trade, allowing you to add notes and screenshots for analysis and improvement.


  • Mentor App: Aids in discipline, tracking rules, risk limits, and objectives on MetaTrader 4, 5, and cTrader platforms.


  • Equity Simulator: Helps understand and prepare for the natural drawdowns in trading, simulating various outcomes based on your strategy's performance.

FTMO Academy, A Wise Choice

FTMO Academy

FTMO Academy is a beacon for traders seeking to master fundamental and advanced trading concepts. It empowers traders with a profound understanding of financial markets, trading instruments, platforms, analysis techniques, and strategic approaches. This knowledge equips traders to develop customized strategies aligned with their risk tolerance and objectives.


Through FTMO Academy, traders can apply their acquired knowledge in a risk-free environment, gaining real-world experience via the Free Trial. This invaluable opportunity allows traders to hone their skills without exposing their capital to potential risks. FTMO Academy also provides invaluable insights and guidelines to assist new traders in avoiding common pitfalls and mistakes.


FTMO Academy serves as a compass in a continually evolving market environment, keeping traders informed about the latest market trends, news, and analyses.


FTMO Academy actively seeks dedicated traders globally, providing a gateway to unlock the potential of countless aspiring traders worldwide. They offer the education, training, and support required to transform these aspiring traders into serious FTMO Traders, capable of trading up to $200,000 with an FTMO Account.


For those embarking on their trading journey, FTMO Academy is a valuable resource. To maximize the benefits of each lesson, they've introduced exams to assess progress and provide detailed statistics. Registration is necessary to access this feature. Their concise video guide helps you navigate and effectively use FTMO Academy, making it an indispensable asset in your trading arsenal.


To explore all the courses offered by FTMO Academy and embark on your trading journey, simply visit their FTMO Academy website.

Performance Coaches for Enhanced Trading

The Pivotal Role of Psychology in Trading Achievement

At this trading firm, an impressive 80% of trading success is reportedly linked to psychological factors. This highlights the firm's strong belief in the critical role of psychological understanding in trading, transcending mere market knowledge and tapping into the full potential of traders.


How the Coaching Benefits Traders

The firm's coaching program is designed to elevate traders' performance by focusing on:

  • Fostering a positive mindset.
  • Removing negative internal and external influences.
  • Cutting down on losses and emphasizing profitable strategies.
  • Increasing self-awareness and identifying trading errors.
  • Boosting discipline and confidence in trading decisions.
  • Managing and overcoming the FOMO phenomenon.


The firm's commitment lies in unlocking traders' full potential, turning challenges into opportunities for growth and excellence. The comprehensive approach of their expert coaches is not just about guiding traders toward financial success but promoting their overall development in the trading world.


Navigating Behavioral Challenges with Expert Coaching

Key to the firm's approach is addressing and overcoming harmful trading habits and behaviors. This is a complex task, as uncovering the root causes of these behaviors requires expertise. The firm addresses this through its team of professional Performance Coaches. These coaches employ a customized approach, using targeted questioning and guidance to help traders identify and tackle deep-seated issues. The aim is to foster enduring solutions that eradicate negative habits, thus enhancing trading performance.


Spotlight on the Firm's Performance Coaches

Nelly N. : With her Master's degree in Psychology from Coventry University, specializes in sports psychology and motivation. Her approach in life coaching is centered around performance enhancement. Under her guidance, traders explore their trading identity, pinpoint strengths and weaknesses, and develop a personalized strategy.

She is focused on providing traders with the necessary tools and insights for their trading journey, embodying the philosophy of Mark Douglas: "Great traders are not born, they are made."


Michael K. - Who holds a master's degree in psychology from Charles University and is trained in psychodynamic coaching, offers a unique perspective. His experience with aviation psychology and working with pilots informs his understanding of high-pressure decision-making environments. As a FOREX trader since 2015, he is well-acquainted with traders' psychological challenges. Michael provides individualized attention to traders, whether resolving urgent issues or enhancing trading strategies. His expertise aims to provide comprehensive support and devise targeted strategies for traders to achieve their goals.

FTMO Review: Final Thoughts

FTMO, established in 2015, has made a name for itself in the financial trading world. They've paid out over $180 million to traders and have a presence in more than 180 countries, which is mind-blowing. The firm lets traders manage accounts up to $200,000, with the potential to scale up to $2 million. The profit split is super attractive – traders can get up to 90% of the profits. And they're efficient, too; their average payout processing time is just 8 hours. This all shows how committed FTMO is to its traders.


The heart of FTMO's offering is the "FTMO Challenge" and the "Verification" stage. It's designed for skilled traders who just don't have enough capital. They're big on support, offering loads of educational resources, advanced trading tools, and a unique focus on the psychological side of trading, including performance coaching. But getting through their evaluation process is no easy feat. It's tough and requires a high level of skill and discipline.


FTMO also has some trader-friendly features that caught my attention. There's a one-time fee, which they refund after your first profit split. You have complete freedom in your trading style and access to various trading instruments, with no limits on trading volume or leverage. Their platforms include MT4, MT5, and cTrader, each with exclusive trading applications. But it's not all smooth sailing – the evaluation process is strict, and there's limited leverage on some assets. They also offer a wide range of tradable assets, like Forex, commodities, indices, and more.


Their pricing model is straightforward: you pay a one-time challenge fee based on your chosen account size, and it's refundable once you pass the evaluation stage. The profit split favors traders, who can keep up to 90% of their earnings. FTMO offers a scalable payout system and various trading platforms for realistic trading environments. They have a solid reputation, with positive feedback on Trustpilot and social media. Their focus on psychological coaching, with experts like Nelly N. and Michael K., adds to their appeal, showing they're serious about addressing the mental challenges of trading. For someone exploring the world of proprietary trading, FTMO is a great place to grow and succeed.

FAQs

  • What trading opportunities does FTMO provide?

    FTMO allows trading in Forex, commodities, indices, crypto, stocks, and bonds with no trade volume limits and leverage up to 1:100, using platforms like MT4, MT5, and cTrader.

  • What are the costs and benefits of joining FTMO?

    Joining FTMO involves a one-time, refundable fee ranging from 155 to 1,080 EUR. Benefits include extensive support, educational resources, and a favorable profit split.

  • How Does Profit Split Work?

    FTMO's one-time challenge fee varies by account size, is fully refundable, and offers up to 90% profit split for traders.

  • Is FTMO Regulated ?

    FTMO is not a regulated broker or investment firm. They operate as a proprietary trading firm, offering a unique model where traders can trade with FTMO's capital after successfully passing their evaluation process. This model differs from typical regulated brokerage services, as FTMO primarily focuses on identifying skilled traders and providing them with capital to trade.

  • How much fund will be available for trading in my FTMO Account?

    On an FTMO Account, traders operate with the same balance they had in their FTMO Challenge. For example, if the Challenge was with $200,000, the same amount is available in the FTMO Account. These are demo accounts with virtual funds, and traders can earn up to 90% of the profits. For a higher balance, one must apply for a new Challenge. FTMO limits the capital allocation to $400,000 per trader or strategy across four accounts. Exceeding this limit through multiple registrations may lead to account suspension.

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