Pawel Gebal
PL • 9/13/2024
Decent but has to improve
This review is based only on my own experience. Overall a good prop with a potential to be the top firm in online futures evaluation if they fix a couple problems. Pros: - they do pay out. It took a couple weeks, but I received my payout - they allow scalping for 1-2 ticks and holding trades for seconds, some other props don't! - although some of the trading rules are not clear and can possibly deny the payout they seem to use common sense when enforcing them, for example: I was allowed to vary number of contracts traded depending on account balance, size of stops, volatility, etc. They didn't have a problem if I used 3 contracts on 1 trade, and then 6 on other trade with tighter stop. - they allow for "mental" stops instead of putting the exact stop order - they allow to trade EUREX markets on Tradovate: BUND, DAX, STOXX, etc. which is a big advantage for European and possibly African and Asian traders - they provide the best leverage in the industry - affordable prices - no scaling - When trading on Tradovate I didn't experience any technical problems Cons: - payouts in August took too long to be approved, a trader should know in a matter of few days if he/she gets the money or not - requirement to provide video recordings is just too much, there must be a better way to tell if a trader is trading his/her account - very vague rules on what style of trading is approved, their rules can be interpreted many ways. Some of the rules are easy to understand, like no DCA, but others like "not chasing the market" question if breakout trading is allowed or not - no clear path to live trading - mixed feeling about support, sometimes they act quickly and respond in minutes, sometimes it takes them couple days Suggestions on how to be the top firm: - simplify trading rules, make them very clear and easy to understand, so people don't get payouts denied for reasons they do not understand. A trader should never worry about getting a payout approved. Current rules and PA contracts are too vague. I would suggest dropping contract consistency size rule and replace it with a minimal required profit/loss per day - something similar to what Topstep has. Another thing - news trading is allowed but only certain strategies. Either ban trading news at all or let trader do what they want but enforce 30% consistency rule no questions asked or even make it 25% consistency rule. - speed up payout approval process - have a clear path for a trader to go live, as holding profitable trader on sim too long presents risks to both the company and traders Advice for Apex: let traders do their job. Do not interfer with what a trader is doing, how does he/she makes money as long as it doesn't involve any schemes like: taking opposite side of the market in different accounts, group trading, etc. Have only a few super clear rules and you'll be the top eval firm.