By Andrew Lockwood, Head of Education, Funded Trading Plus
At Funded Trading Plus (FT+), we regularly review trader performance so our community can see what works and what doesn’t inside our simulated prop trading evaluations. Real stories like Ali’s help traders understand how small decisions in risk, timing, and mindset can change an outcome.
Ali’s Evaluation Journey
When Ali signed up for the $100K Experienced Trader evaluation, he had one clear goal: make the 10% target without breaking the 6% drawdown rule. It sounds simple on paper, but anyone who’s traded knows that sticking to the rules when the market starts moving is where the real challenge begins.
Over the next three weeks, Ali traded almost every day. He placed 24 trades in total, winning 17 and losing 7. That’s roughly a 70% win rate, but numbers only tell a small part. Behind those trades were long sessions, second-guessing entries, and the emotional swings that come with managing risk in our simulated trading environment.
What stood out most was Ali’s willingness to keep going even after losses. His wins and losses were similar, which shows he wasn’t chasing every move or holding onto bad trades out of hope. Still, that one-to-one balance tells us something important: while he managed his losses well, he might have been taking on more risk than needed to reach his goal quickly.
The Risk and Reward Balancing Act
During the early stages of his evaluation, Ali traded gold (XAU/USD) using large position sizes. His simulated equity curve jumped almost 10% on day one, which tells us he was taking significant risk. As the evaluation went on, his lot sizes increased further, up to 12 lots of gold. That kind of size can deliver fast simulated profits, but it also brings you close to breaching daily loss or drawdown limits.
Andrew describes this as the classic high-intensity trading trap. It feels exciting when things go right, but it’s mentally draining and often unsustainable. “If you want to stay consistent in simulated trading,” he says, “you have to protect your downside before chasing the upside.”
Lessons for Prop Traders
Here are the key lessons traders can take from Ali’s experience:
- Consistency beats speed. Fast results can be appealing, but sustainable progress comes from steady, controlled trading.
- Respect your limits. Drawdown and daily loss limits exist for good reason. They help you trade like a professional who protects simulated capital first.
- Treat each evaluation as practice. Every phase is a chance to strengthen your mindset and refine your process, not just chase a payout.
Why These Reviews Matter
Through PropIQ, FT+ continues to study real trader behavior across millions of simulated trades. The goal is to understand what separates short bursts of luck from long-term skill. These insights help us design fairer programs and create better education for the trading community.
As Andrew says, “A good set of numbers doesn’t always mean a good trading habit. We’re interested in helping traders build discipline that lasts.”
Watch the Review
You can watch Ali’s full review in the video linked below. It’s a great breakdown of how small risk choices add up to big differences in trading outcomes.
If you’d like to have your own evaluation reviewed by Andrew and the PropIQ team, you can submit your details through the form in the video description.
What Happens Next?
FT+ continues to analyse trader performance data through PropIQ, our data-driven research initiative, to better understand what truly drives simulated trading success.
As Andrew reminds us, even strong metrics can mask risk-taking habits. “We want traders to build sustainable discipline, not just short-term results.”
If you’d like your own evaluation reviewed, you can submit your details via the form linked in the video description.
Disclaimer
All trading activity with Funded Trading Plus (FT+) takes place in a simulated environment using virtual funds. No real trading capital is provided or traded. Traders are compensated based on simulated profits in accordance with program Terms and Conditions. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice or guarantee future success.
About Andrew Lockwood
Andrew Lockwood is a seasoned professional trader with over 40 years of experience in financial markets. Starting his career on the floor of the London International Financial Futures Exchange (LIFFE) in the 1980s, Andrew has traded through multiple market cycles and volatility regimes. Today, he specialises in prop trading strategies, focusing on technical setups, risk management, and trader psychology. As the founder of PropIQ and a leading mentor, Andrew is dedicated to training the next generation of prop traders with proven, real-world trading methods.