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THIS PAGE HAS UPDATED DETAILED INFORMATION ON RECENT CLARIFICATIONS OF RULES

 

PA and Live Funded Accounts

At Apex Trader Funding, we believe that responsible, disciplined trading is the key to long-term success. Our consistency rules for PA and Live accounts are designed to help you build a sustainable and successful trading career. These rules are not just about limitations; they are about creating a strong foundation for you to grow and thrive as a trader.

Violating these rules can result in denied payouts and even account closure, so it’s essential to understand and follow them carefully. Let’s break down what Apex expects from its traders and how you can maintain compliance.

A Long-Term Relationship with Apex

When you trade with Apex, we see it as a partnership. We want to fund consistent, reliable traders who are committed to growing their accounts over time. Apex is more than just a funding provider—we’re here to support your journey and help you develop a strategy that works for you.

We value traders who treat trading as a profession, not a gamble. By adhering to our consistency rules, you’re showing that you’re ready for a long-term relationship—one where you can grow your account and increase your profitability in a sustainable way.

 

Evaluation Accounts vs. PA/Live Accounts

For more information on Evaluation Accounts, please see the EVALUATION RULES PAGE

• Evaluation Accounts: There are no consistency rules during this phase, which is focused on meeting profit goals and overcoming the Trailing Drawdown.
• PA and Live Accounts: Have specific consistency rules. Violating these rules could result in denied payouts or account closure.

By successfully navigating the evaluation phase, you set yourself up for the next stage, where you can move towards a funded account with a more structured trading approach.

Are Performance Accounts (PA) Live?

Performance Accounts (PAs) begin as simulated (SIM) accounts, but they use live market data to replicate real trading conditions. While these accounts are initially simulated, traders are paid just as they would be with a live account.

Starting with a SIM account offers advantages for both traders and the company. Trading can be unpredictable, and many traders may struggle to maintain their accounts in the early stages. Using SIM accounts initially provides a safety net, reducing the risk for both parties while still ensuring a realistic trading experience.

Transitioning to Live Accounts

When a trader demonstrates consistent performance in their SIM account, the trades are mirrored in a live account through an Application Programming Interface (API). This allows traders to continue refining their strategies while their success is evaluated in real-time market conditions.

Once long-term consistency is confirmed, the trader will be contacted regarding a transition to a live account. At this stage, the trader is directly engaging with live markets, and their account is no longer simulated. This process is directly communicated to the traders considered for Live Accounts. 

The Help Desk has no further information regarding hypothetical questions about Live Accounts. You will be contacted when considered. Do not submit tickets regarding this.

Key Terms:

• SIM (Simulated): A practice account that replicates live market data but does not involve actual money or live trades.
• API (Application Programming Interface): A tool that connects systems, enabling trades from a SIM account to be mirrored in a live account.

By taking this step-by-step approach, Performance Accounts (PAs) strike a balance between providing traders an opportunity to prove themselves and ensuring responsible risk management.

Trailing Drawdown Rule

In a Performance Account, the trailing drawdown starts at the liquidation threshold, which is determined by your plan’s max drawdown amount. As your account balance increases, the trailing drawdown follows your peak unrealized balance until it reaches a fixed point, which is called the Safety Net (initial balance + drawdown limit + $100). The trailing drawdown stops moving when your peak unrealized account balance reaches the Safety Net. For a reminder on how the Trailing Drawdown Threshold works, click here.

Example: 

A $50,000 account has a safety net of $52,600, which is the $2500 drawdown plus $100.

A $150,000 account has a safety net of $155,100, which is the $5000 drawdown plus $100.

If you have $6000 profit for both accounts, the drawdown threshold will still be fixed at the starting balance plus $100.

Contract Scaling Rule

To promote disciplined growth, the Contract Scaling rule outlines how traders manage contract sizes during the growth phase of the account.

• Initial Limit: Traders are restricted to trading half of their maximum allowed contracts until they reach the trailing threshold stop.
• Threshold Reached: Once the account’s End-of-Day (EOD) balance exceeds the trailing threshold (the initial balance + trailing drawdown + $100), traders can then use their full contract limit starting with the next full trading session.
• For 100K Static Accounts: Full contracts can be traded after reaching the safety net amount of $2,600.

For example, on a $50,000 Performance Account (PA) with a maximum of 10 contracts, traders can initially trade up to 5 contracts. When the account EOD balance reaches $52,600 ($50,000 initial balance + $2,500 trailing drawdown + $100 buffer), the trailing stop no longer applies, and traders can trade the full 10 contracts.

Once the trailing threshold is reached, traders can continue using the full contract limit even if the account balance drops below the threshold.

Single Violation Penalty: If more than half of the maximum allowed contracts are accidentally traded, traders are expected to close out the excessive contracts immediately. Failure to do so may result in the payout request being denied and the account being reset to the EOD balance from the previous trading day, which is the day before the first scaling rule violation occurred.

The trader would then need to complete 8 additional compliant trading days before becoming eligible to request another payout.

Consistent Violation Penalty: Blatant or repeated violations of the scaling rule will result in account closure and forfeiture of all balances.

30% Negative P&L Rule – Maximum Adverse Excursion (MAE)

The 30% Negative Profit and Loss (P&L) Rule limits the loss a trader can incur on any single trade, providing a structured approach to risk management. Under this rule, the live, unrealized, open negative P&L cannot exceed 30% of the account’s profit balance at the start of the day on a per-trade basis.

This is not a daily loss limit, but a control to prevent excessive loss on any individual trade. At any point, your open negative P&L should not surpass 30% of your start-of-day profit. Regularly monitor your trades and exposure to stay compliant with the rules.

Limit on Losses: Open trades should not exceed a 30% negative drawdown from the account’s profit balance.

Example: For a $50,000 account, if the profit balance is $4,000, a trader should not allow a drawdown exceeding $1,200.

New/Low Profit Accounts: For accounts that are new or have low profits, the 30% rule is based on the trailing threshold (e.g., 30% of $2,500 on a $50,000 account would be $750).

Adjustment Based on Growth: If the end-of-day (EOD) profit balance doubles the safety net, traders may use a 50% drawdown limit instead of 30% starting with the next full trading session.

Example:

For a $50,000 account, if you accumulate $2,600 in profit and pass the safety net, your risk is calculated based on 30% of that $2,600. If your profits rise to $5,200, your drawdown allowance can increase to $2,600 (50% of $5,200).

 

At Apex Trader Funding, responsible trading is at the core of our practices, and managing drawdowns is a crucial part of that. Here’s what you need to know:

• Continuous Monitoring: We encourage you to regularly monitor your trades and adjust your positions as needed to stay within these limits. If your drawdown approaches 30%, consider closing or adjusting your trades to avoid breaching the limit. Quick adjustments can help prevent any compliance issues.
• Temporary Exceedances: If your drawdown momentarily exceeds 30% but you act quickly to manage the situation, there won’t be an automatic penalty. However, repeated or significant breaches could lead to warnings or account restrictions.

Adhering to these guidelines can ensure that your trading strategy remains robust and sustainable. These terms should be strictly followed to ensure consistent compliance with Apex’s 30% negative P&L rule.

Static Accounts

The 30% Negative P&L rule for Static Accounts is designed to help manage risk by ensuring that losses are kept within safe limits. The rule applies in two stages: one when the account balance is below the safety net, and another when it exceeds the safety net.

• Below the Safety Net ($2,600): When the account balance is below the $2,600 safety net, the maximum loss per trade is $187.50. This is 30% of the fixed $625 drawdown that applies to accounts at this stage. Essentially, until the balance surpasses the safety net, the rule restricts your loss on any single trade to $187.50.
• Above the Safety Net ($2,600): Once the account balance exceeds $2,600, the 30% Negative P&L rule is recalculated based on the current profit balance in the account. For example, if your account reaches $103,000, which includes a $3,000 profit, the maximum allowable loss per trade is $900 (30% of the $3,000 profit).

30% Consistency Rule – Windfall

The 30% Consistency Rule ensures that no single trading day accounts for more than 30% of the total profit balance at the time of a payout request. This rule promotes consistent trading practices and discourages high-risk, erratic trading styles.

Key Details to Note:

• Profit Restrictions: If a single trading day generates more than 30% of the profit balance accumulated since the last approved payout, or since the start of trading if no payouts have been made
• Reset After Payout: Once a payout is approved, the 30% rule resets and applies only to profits earned after the most recent payout. It does not look back at previous trading periods.
• Exceptions: The rule applies until the sixth payout or until the account is transferred to a Live Prop Trading Account. At that point, the 30% rule is no longer in effect.

Easy Calculation Method:

Formula: Highest Profit Day ÷ 0.3 = Minimum Total Profit Required

Example:

On a $50k account, if your highest profit day since your last approved payout (or since you started trading, if this is your first payout request) was $1,500.

Calculation: $1,500 ÷ 0.3 = $5,000

In this situation, to request a payout, you would have to have at least $5,000 in total profit (current balance minus starting balance). If your current total profit is below this minimum, you’ll need to continue trading until you meet this requirement before requesting a payout.

 

Risk Management, Stop Losses, Profit Targets, Trailing

Apex Trader Funding provides traders with an opportunity to demonstrate disciplined risk management and effective trading strategies. Proper risk management is not just encouraged but is mandatory for all accounts, ensuring that trading is conducted responsibly and without speculative or reckless behavior.

5:1 Risk-Reward Ratio Rule

The 5:1 Risk-Reward Ratio Rule is a risk management guideline that ensures your trades are balanced with a responsible amount of risk relative to the potential profit. For every trade you make, your stop loss should not exceed five times the amount of your profit target.

For example:

• If your profit target is 10 ticks, your maximum stop loss should be 50 ticks (5 times your profit target).
• If you set a stop loss beyond 50 ticks, such as 100 ticks, this would violate the rule.

Following the 5:1 rule helps you manage risk by ensuring that you are not taking excessive losses relative to your target profits. This helps protect your account balance and encourages more disciplined trading over time. It also promotes a strategy where your potential rewards are always greater than the risks you are taking on each trade. By following the 5:1 Risk-Reward Ratio, you maintain a disciplined trading approach that supports long-term success and helps you manage risk effectively.

Stop Losses and Risk Management

• Stop Losses Are Required: Trading without a stop loss or relying solely on the Trailing Threshold to manage risk is strictly prohibited. Every trade must have a pre-defined risk level, either through manual stop-loss orders or a mental plan that adheres to your strategy. Letting an account “blow out” by hitting the Trailing Threshold is not acceptable.
• Risk-to-Reward Ratios: Apex enforces a maximum risk-to-reward ratio of 5:1. For instance, if your profit target is 10 ticks, your stop loss should not exceed 50 ticks. Similarly, if your goal is to make $100 in profit, the stop loss should not risk more than $500. This ensures responsible trading and prevents excessive risk on trades.
• Prohibited Practices: Strategies that involve “all-in” trades with maximum contract sizes, particularly at the start of a PA account, to quickly overcome the trailing drawdown are prohibited. These windfall or gambling approaches violate Apex’s standards and may result in forfeiture of accounts or payouts.

Proper Use of Stop Losses and Profit Targets 

• Planned Exits for Both Losses and Profits: Before initiating any trade, traders must have a clear plan for managing both risk and profit targets. Stop losses, profit targets, and trailing stops should align with the strategy’s historical performance and back-tested data.
• Trailing Stops for Profit Protection: As the market moves in your favor, trailing stops should be used to secure gains while allowing profits to run during trends. However, stops should not be moved backward to increase risk and potentially violate the drawdown rules. Adjusting stops forward to protect profits is a key aspect of effective risk management.

 

• Mental Stops Are Permitted: Traders familiar with their strategy may use mental stops instead of placing hard stop-loss orders. However, mental stops must still be honored. For traders on Probation, hard stop-loss levels are mandatory.

• Trending and Long-Term Strategies: In trending or longer-term strategies where specific profit targets may not be clear, the initial stop loss becomes especially important. It defines the maximum risk, allowing the trade to be managed responsibly, even in volatile conditions.

Payout Evaluation Requirements

During the eight-day evaluation period, traders must demonstrate consistency by achieving a profit of at least $50 on five different trading days. Strategies such as “flipping” trades—closing and re-entering positions to adjust to market conditions—are allowed as long as they align with a structured plan and meet the $50 minimum profit requirement on eligible days.

Consistency and Discipline

Apex requires traders to demonstrate consistent and disciplined trading. Risk management strategies should avoid speculative windfall approaches, such as:

• Entering large contract positions at the start of a PA account in an attempt to quickly overcome the trailing drawdown.
• Using the Trailing Threshold limit to manage risk without applying proper stop-loss strategies.

Traders are expected to maintain consistent trade management practices, adhering to their system’s guidelines for stop losses, profit targets, and risk-to-reward ratios.

Risk management is the cornerstone of successful trading. Every trade must include a defined risk level, a clear exit strategy for both profit and loss, and adherence to the 5:1 maximum risk-to-reward ratio. Reckless trading practices—such as speculative “all-in” trades, adjusting stops to increase risk, or relying solely on the Trailing Threshold to manage risk—are prohibited. By implementing a systematic and disciplined approach, traders can achieve consistent results while protecting their accounts and advancing toward Live Prop Trading Accounts.

Max Contracts Rule

The Max Contracts Rule ensures traders adhere to the defined contract limits for their account and discourages any attempts to abuse or circumvent these limits.

Key Guidelines:

• Traders must not exceed the maximum contract limit set for their account at any time.
• Attempts to bypass the limit through combined instruments or micro contracts are prohibited.

Examples of Violations:

• Trading the maximum contracts on multiple instruments simultaneously (e.g., 10 contracts on ES and 10 on YM for a 10-contract limit account).
• Exceeding the maximum contract limit directly (e.g., trading 20 contracts on a 10-contract limit account).
• Using micro contracts in a way that circumvents the maximum contract rule (e.g., excessively trading micro contracts to replicate full contract exposure).

Violations or attempts to abuse the max contracts rule will result in the termination of the account without a refund or payout. Traders are expected to respect these limits to maintain account compliance and avoid penalties.

By adhering to the Max Contracts Rule, traders can ensure they remain in good standing while fostering disciplined trading practices.

Contract Size Consistency Rule

Maintaining a consistent approach to contract sizes is essential for demonstrating disciplined and professional trading behavior. While the rules allow flexibility for strategic adjustments, erratic or manipulative changes in contract sizes are strictly prohibited.

Key Guidelines:

• Consistent Strategy: Traders must use contract sizes that reflect a consistent trading approach. Adjustments based on market conditions, such as reducing size during high volatility or increasing size as the account balance grows, are acceptable as long as they align with a systematic strategy.
  • Example: Starting with 2 contracts and scaling up as profits increase is consistent. Conversely, trading 10 contracts one day and dropping to 2 contracts the next solely to secure a payout is not.
• Scaling with Growth: As the account balance grows and the cushion increases, contract sizes should scale proportionally. This reflects disciplined account management and responsible risk-taking.
  • Example: A growing balance justifies a steady increase in contract sizes. Reducing contract sizes despite growth out of fear of losing profit before a withdrawal is considered a lack of discipline and an invalid strategy.
• Responsible Adjustments for Losses: If the account balance decreases due to losses, it is reasonable and responsible to reduce contract sizes to manage risk. Similarly, after a withdrawal reduces the account balance, trading smaller sizes is prudent until growth resumes.

Prohibited Practices:

It is not allowed to use large contract sizes early in a PA Account to chase lucky trades or recover losses, followed by a sudden reduction in size.

• Cycling through multiple PA Accounts by starting with substantial sizes, losing the balance, and resetting accounts to repeat this behavior is considered manipulative and is grounds for account termination.
• Making drastic, inconsistent changes in contract size solely to manipulate payouts or the evaluation process will result in forfeiture of payouts and, potentially, probation status.

Expectations for Payout Eligibility:

• Traders must maintain consistent trading behavior throughout the account’s lifecycle, from inception to payout. This includes using the same contracts, sizes, and targets unless modifications are made logically due to account growth or loss.
• To demonstrate profit stability, traders may be required to trade consistently for eight days with uniform contract sizes before becoming eligible for a payout request.

By adhering to these guidelines, traders can ensure their trading approach reflects professionalism and discipline. Apex is committed to funding responsible traders, not those engaging in high-risk, erratic, or manipulative practices. Consistency is key to maintaining account compliance and securing payouts.

Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) Rule

Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) involves entering additional trades in the same direction as the original order, even if the market moves against the trader’s position. As the market moves contrary to the trade, the trader continues to add more entries in the same direction.

Key Guidelines:

• Permitted Use: DCA is allowed under this agreement with no restrictions on contract size for additional entries.
• No Entry Restrictions: There are no specific rules for determining entry points, timeframes, or distances from the original order.
• Risk Management: Traders must maintain responsible risk-to-reward ratios when using DCA.
• Compliance with Consistency Rules: DCA is acceptable as long as it does not violate other consistency rules, such as the 30% profit in a day rule or the 30% negative P&L rule.
• Responsible Application: Traders are expected to apply DCA consistently and responsibly to adhere to these rules and avoid potential issues.

By following these guidelines, traders can effectively utilize DCA while adhering to the account’s rules and risk management framework.

Adding to Trades

Traders may add to their trades as the market moves in their favor, following a defined trading strategy or system rules. For example, if a trader enters a long position and the market moves positively, they may add additional long contracts to capitalize on the trend.

Key Guidelines:

• Strategic Entries: Traders are permitted to scale into winning trades in PA Accounts, using larger contract sizes if supported by their strategy.
• Directional Bias: All additions must align with a clear directional bias and follow a consistent, defined strategy. Random or reckless entries in hopes of a market turnaround are not allowed.
• Acceptable Scaling: Adding contracts to a profitable trade as part of a structured approach is acceptable and encouraged for disciplined trading.
• Prohibited Practices: Entering large contract sizes at the outset without a clear strategy or placing trades purely in anticipation of a market reversal is prohibited.

By adhering to these guidelines, traders can effectively scale into profitable trades while maintaining consistency and professionalism in their trading approach.

Safety Net Requirement Rule

• Applies to First Three Payouts Only: The safety net requirement must be observed for the first three approved payouts. As of the fourth payout, the safety net requirement is no longer applicable.
• Safety Net Definition: The safety net is defined as the amount equivalent to the drawdown based on the account size plus an additional $100.
• Applies to All Accounts: This rule applies to both new and existing accounts, ensuring consistency for traders as they progress.
• Minimum Payout: If you have reached the safety net threshold, you can request a payout of at least $500, even if it exceeds the safety net amount.
• Payouts Above Minimum:
  • To request a payout over $500, the balance must exceed the safety net threshold by an amount equal to the additional amount requested.

Example:

For a $50,000 account, the drawdown is $2,500, so the safety net is calculated as $2,500 + $100 = $2,600. 

A trader with this account reaches a balance of $52,600. The trader can request the minimum payout of $500, leaving the balance at $52,100. This is acceptable, even though it encroaches on the safety net by the $500 allowed.

To request a higher amount, for example, $1,200, the balance must exceed the safety net by the additional amount requested above the minimum of $500. In this case, the additional amount is $700, meaning the account balance must be at least $53,300. Requesting the $1,200 would leave the account balance at $52,100, which is still acceptable since it encroaches on the safety net by no more than the $500 allowed.

Flipping Trades Rule

Flipping is Allowed at Apex Trader Funding, but it must be done strategically and within the guidelines. Flipping refers to opening and closing trades quickly within the same day. While this is allowed, it must meet certain criteria to count toward your trading goals. Here’s what you need to know about the Flipping Trades Rule.

Conditions for Flipping:

• Minimum Profit Requirement:To count towards your trading day, you must achieve a minimum profit of $50 per day from the flipped trades. This ensures that flipping is done with a goal of steady profitability, rather than just making quick trades for the sake of meeting minimum activity.
• Consistent Performance:You must flip trades for at least 5 trading days to meet the eligibility criteria for consistent trading performance. This means that on each of those days, you need to hit the $50 profit target.

Example of Flipping Trades:

• Day 1: A trader opens and closes several quick trades throughout the day, earning a $60 profit. Since this exceeds the $50 minimum, this day counts toward the 5-day trading goal.
• Day 2 to Day 5: The same trader repeats the process over the next four days, earning a profit of at least $50 each day. This results in meeting the 5-day trading consistency requirement.

 

One-Direction Rule (Directionally biased trading)

• Single Direction Rule: Traders are only allowed to hold a position in one direction at any time—either long (buy) or short (sell). Traders are also prohibited from using a non-directionally biased strategy where they have open orders for both sides of the market.
• No Hedging: Holding both long and short positions simultaneously on the same or correlated instrument is strictly prohibited. This rule ensures that trades are based on strategic analysis rather than speculative attempts to hedge both sides during a news-driven breakout.

News Trading Rule

Apex Trader Funding allows traders to engage in news trading during significant market events, where rapid price movements can present profitable opportunities. 

Hedging and Correlated Instruments Rule

Traders shall not trade one direction on minis and another direction on micros at the same time. Traders shall not spread trade indices, i.e., long ES, and short YM. All Apex accounts must be traded directionally only and never be both long and short concurrently in the same account or in other accounts in any correlated markets. This includes all indices, metals, grains, currencies, or any correlating instrument, no matter the size, i.e., micro, mini, etc. For example, the trader cannot be short NQ and Long ES under any circumstance.

Copy or Trading Services Operations or Participation

Performance Accounts (PA) and Live Prop Accounts must be traded exclusively by the individual listed on the account. Under no circumstances can these accounts be managed or influenced by any other party, person, system, automated trading bot, copy trading service, or trade mirroring software.

Failure to comply with this rule constitutes an immediate breach of contract and will result in the closure of all associated user accounts. Traders are required to maintain sole responsibility for all trading activity within their accounts to ensure compliance with Apex’s standards.

Defined System with Set Rules

At Apex Trader Funding, having a defined trading strategy with clear rules is essential for success. Traders are required to establish a system that includes set guidelines for entries, stops, targets, and trailing stops, and must follow these rules consistently and with discipline. This approach is designed to foster steady, sustainable trading, not speculative or erratic behavior.

What is a Defined System?

Traders must have a systematic approach to their trading that can be explained and tracked. The system should include:

• Set Rules for every trade (entry points, stop losses, profit targets, and trailing stops).
• A normal day-to-day system that can be consistently applied across multiple trading sessions.
• Clear, trackable performance that can be explained if requested, ensuring transparency.

This systematic approach is critical for ensuring that the trader’s decisions are based on strategy, not emotion or random actions.

What Apex Doesn’t Want

Apex is not looking for traders who gamble with their accounts or aim for “lottery-style lucky windfalls.” Traders who blow through multiple accounts in pursuit of big, unpredictable profits do not demonstrate the consistency and discipline Apex values. Think of it this way: If you were funding a trader, would you feel comfortable with someone who consistently takes reckless risks without a structured approach?

Review Process for Compliance

Apex reserves the right to request a detailed explanation of your trading system, including:

• Marked-up charts of trades you’ve executed, as evidence of consistent rule adherence.
• A live Zoom session to observe and confirm that you’re following your strategy during actual trading sessions.
• Recordings of your trading sessions to review your system’s consistency, including explanations of your entries and exits.
• Documentation showing the tools, indicators, platforms, and contract sizes used during your trading sessions.

Apex will use these materials to assess whether your trading strategy is consistent and aligned with the rules you’ve set. This process ensures that you’re adhering to a defined system and not relying on random or speculative actions.

Directional Bias and Consistency

Apex only approves directional trading strategies, where there is a clear bias for the trade. This means you should always have a predetermined direction and bias based on your system and not execute trades without this clarity. Traders are not allowed to place:

• Bracket orders in both directions without a clear directional bias (e.g., long limit order and short limit order placed in anticipation of a breakout).
• Trading strategies that involve chasing market movements or seeking windfall profits without a systematic approach.

This type of non-systematic trading, where trades are placed without a clear direction or rationale, is often a sign of a trader who does not have a defined strategy and is instead speculating on market moves. Apex does not tolerate this behavior.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Any funds earned during periods of non-compliance or from trades that do not align with the approved system will be deducted from the account. This is in line with the PA Consistency guidelines outlined in the FAQ section and the video series on the Apex Trader Funding website.

Prohibited Activities

To maintain integrity and ensure funding is provided only to disciplined and consistent traders, Apex Trader Funding strictly prohibits the following activities in Performance Accounts (PA):

• Trading With Risk Management: All trades must have either pending or mental stop losses and a well-defined risk management strategy. Trading without these measures is strictly prohibited.
• High-Risk Strategies: Strategies that involve small profit targets while risking disproportionately large amounts are not allowed. For example, setting a five-tick profit target with a 150-tick stop loss demonstrates unacceptable risk management.
• Using the Trailing Threshold as a Stop Loss: Traders are prohibited from using the account’s full threshold as a stop-loss mechanism to absorb large losses, leading to account liquidation.
• Stockpiling Evaluation Accounts: Purchasing multiple discounted evaluation accounts to cycle through and intentionally “blow up” accounts in pursuit of windfall profits is not permitted.
• Unsustainable Strategies: Any trading, risk management, or implementation that fails to demonstrate consistent growth and sustainability is prohibited. This includes schemes or behaviors that do not align with responsible trading practices.
• Deviating from Professional Standards: Traders must employ strategies and risk management techniques consistent with those they would use in a personally funded account at a registered broker. Apex does not fund traders who deviate from this standard.
• Manipulation of the simulated trading environment: Apex Trader Funding strictly prohibits manipulation or exploitation of the simulation environment in any way including High Frequency Trading (HFT) or any other exploitative strategies.
• Unauthorized Users: Allowing any individual other than the registered owner to access or perform account verification is strictly prohibited. Apex reserves the right to request additional information — including audits and verification procedures — from the account owner to ensure that only the authorized user is trading or accessing the account and to enforce compliance with the contract.
• Account and Resource Sharing: Sharing MAC addresses, computers, IPs, credit cards, or trade copying with other traders is strictly forbidden. Violations will result in account closure, forfeiture of funds, and potential additional verification or audits to ensure compliance.
• Multiple Account Creation: Creating multiple user accounts is prohibited and is a bannable offense. For more information, please see the following article: Apex Trader Funding Accounts.

Traders engaging in these prohibited activities will forfeit their accounts and all associated balances. Apex reserves the right to audit accounts further if there is a suspicion of non-compliance to guarantee adherence to the trader agreement.

By adhering to these guidelines, traders can maintain their accounts in good standing and demonstrate the consistent, disciplined approach Apex seeks to fund.

Account Probation Status

If your account is placed on probation, it signifies that specific compliance guidelines need your attention. For more information, please refer to the details provided in the notification email. Understanding the compliance rules and the required next steps is essential to restore your account to good standing.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

If the account does not meet the requirements during the probation period, further action may be taken, including denial of payouts, profit removal, and/or account closure.

Remember: Probation is a chance to improve and prove that you can maintain a consistent, responsible trading strategy. By maintaining a consistent, disciplined approach to your trading during probation, you can restore your account to good standing and continue working towards a successful partnership with Apex Trader Funding.

Summary of Core Trading Rules

• Use a Genuine Trading Strategy: Traders must employ a consistent, real-world trading strategy that aligns with live market conditions.
• DCA (Dollar-Cost Averaging) is Allowed: DCA is permitted as long as it does not violate any other consistency rules (i.e. 30% profit in a day, 30% negative P&L, etc.).  DCA needs to be applied consistently and responsibly to satisfy the rules.
• Flipping Trades is Allowed: Opening and closing trades quickly to count as a trading day is permitted, as long as the $50 minimum profit for 5 days is satisfied.
• News Trading is Allowed (with Restrictions):
  • • Trading based on news events is permitted; however, traders cannot take opposing positions (e.g., long and short) on the same news event.
    • News trading is permitted as long as it does not violate any other consistency rules (i.e. 30% profit in a day, 30% negative P&L, etc.). 
    • News trading needs to be applied consistently and responsibly to satisfy the rules.
• Trade Half Contracts Until Trailing Stop is Achieved: Traders are limited to trading half of the available contracts until they meet the trailing stop threshold, encouraging careful risk management.
• Maintain a 5:1 Risk-Reward Ratio on Trades: Ensure a maximum 5:1 risk-to-reward ratio on all trades. For instance, if targeting a profit of 10 ticks, the stop loss should not exceed 50 ticks.
• Observe the 30% Negative P&L Limit (Adjustable to 50%):
  • • Maintain a 30% drawdown limit based on the account’s profit balance. As the account grows, this limit may be adjusted to 50%, providing more flexibility as the account becomes more established.
    • Example: A trader starts with a 30% drawdown limit, which can be raised to 50% once their account balance meets specified growth conditions.
      • • Practical Example: A trader adhering to a defined, consistent strategy, observing the half-contract limit until the trailing stop is cleared, maintaining a 5:1 risk-reward ratio, and ensuring no drawdown exceeds 30% (or 50% if eligible) would be considered fully compliant under Apex rules.