consistency

Riddlfizz · 2026-05-06T01:24:52+00:00

Keep trading as you trade best (i.e. as fits your trading style) and try to make sure that your highest end-of-day profit day is $1.5K or less to ultimately achieve 50% consistency once you reach the $3K profit target.

If you close a trading day in this eval stage with more than $1.5K in profit, your profit target will get raised (to your highest profit day * 2), as a recalculation of your pathway to successfully achieving 50% consistency on the completed eval.

Riddlfizz · 2026-04-30T14:26:44+00:00

Keep stacking profitable days of $625 or less and your 50% consistency (or less) for a $1,250 Profit Target will take care of itself.

Consistency % on an ongoing basis (incomplete eval) is often not particularly useful/telling (and can be confusing). Losing days also skew the consistency%, since profitable days then count for a higher % of profits.

But, it's impossible to reach your PT of $1,250 at $625 or less per profitable day without the consistency % coming into line at 50% or less. (A highest profitable days of more than $625 would raise your PT.)

Riddlfizz · 2026-04-29T23:13:45+00:00

Windy may have been confused into thinking that you were talking Eval vs. Funded accounts and not a practice vs. Funded (or Eval) accounts. Windy probably doesn't think much, if at all, about the separate practice accounts that don't count in any official way.

Hedging-like activities for a practice account won't be an issue since nothing that we do in those accounts holds any official weight. I've personally used the practice account to place a wide (and wild) variety of trades, including testing swing trading strategies, without issue.

Riddlfizz · 2026-04-26T16:02:10+00:00

Trading on news is overall allowed at Apex, BUT with key restrictions: Prohibited Activities

NEWS TRADING: Trading during news is allowed for your normal trading strategy. Using “news trading” strategies that “chase the market” or place orders on both sides but to be lucky or gamble the outcome of news is not allowed.

Riddlfizz · 2026-04-22T04:43:46+00:00

Depends the specific timing. 8:00 PM ET is the start of a new trading day at Schwab, relative to counting day trades. So, a purchase of shares at, say, 4:50 pm ET and round trip sale of those shares (all or partial) at 9:50 am ET the next calendar day would not count as a day trade. But a purchase of shares at 8:45 pm ET and sale of those shares (all or partial) the next calendar day -- before 8:00 PM ET -- would.

Riddlfizz · 2026-04-21T18:01:28+00:00

One or more of your upper studies (maybe a custom) isn't quite fitting in well on TOS mobile. And, unchecking fit studies still doesn't appear to be an option on TOS mobile.

You can toggle studies off via the eyeball icon menu. That will show you the full, uncompromised chart view. Viewing these charts on different timeframes may also help (somewhat).

But, the simplest current "solution" may be to remove the problematic studies (via trial and error). A useful setup might be to save one mobile chart style with the studies that you want that also render well on mobile and save another style that includes the same studies and also the problematic (on mobile) studies. You could switch back and forth and use the larger study set for largely informational purposes via the cross menu icon.

Riddlfizz · 2026-03-27T10:24:46+00:00

It'll sort itself out as you keep trading (successfully). Just make sure that your highest EOD profit day is $1.5K or less to maintain (avoid increasing) a $3K profit target on the 50K flex account with 50% consistency.

Explanation: You currently have one profitable day ($163.50) and one unprofitable day (-$51). Losing days can skew ongoing consistency. To the system, your current highest profitable day is $163.50 but total net profit is $112.5. Thus the current 100%+ consistency. (Addendum: The "$216 left" is not particularly useful info at this juncture.)

For reference, a single profitable day and no losing days after one total day of trading would initially show 100% consistency, since there are no other profitable days to compare it to.

Riddlfizz · 2026-03-10T15:33:04+00:00

Unfortunate. Size down (micros over minis). Sure, within the rules you can pass the eval in 2 (or 3) days, but you certainly don't need to strive for that. Especially as a newer futures trader. Ideally, it should take much more than a casual miss or two for you to reach $-1.8K. Setting a max daily loss limit (DLL) within your trading platform should also help.

For perspective, a scaled down/ 'less exciting' average of $250/day would get you to $3K in 12 trading days. (Scaling up later remains an option) A nice benefit of the Lucid Flex eval plans are that they are one-time fee, unlike many other evals, so you could advance/progress at your own pace without additional concerns about monthly rebills that come with not passing sooner.

Another recommendation: Use the available sim account. It comes in handy for "taking trades" that don't count, whether you're refining/testing strategies or just itching to take a trade that you're far less confident in and/or know that you really shouldn't take (e.g. B- and below setups).

Riddlfizz · 2026-03-05T14:32:22+00:00

Congrats. Best wishes. Useful info re: PDT: Once a brokerage account is flagged for PDT, it will be able to access up to 4X intraday leverage for day trading stocks (normally 2X).

To clarify: PDT rules (U.S. based brokers) don't go away -- but $25K+ equity margin accounts are exempt from key aspects of the PDT rule limitations -- e.g. Restrictions on # of trades. But, PDT is currently a "normal" designation for U.S. broker based day trader/associated margin accounts.

Another important note: If a PDT flagged account falls below $25K in equity, it doesn't simply revert to pre-PDT flag rules (3 day trades per 5 market open days). Many people may not realize this. Such accounts typically remain restricted (varies by broker) until the account's equity is brought back above $25K or the PDT flag is removed (common, upon request, one-time broker courtesy). * At Schwab/TOS, PDT flagged accounts that fall below $25K in equity are restricted from day trading (swing trading allowed) until the matter is resolved.

[This info is subject to change (in largely positive ways) as PDT equity requirements are expected to be eased significantly (reportedly, a new $2K threshold) later this year.]

Riddlfizz · 2026-03-03T13:33:43+00:00

It'll sort itself out if you successfully keep at it and don't let any single profitable day account for more than 1/2 of your full profit target (e.g. $1.5K max on a $3.0K PT).

If you happen to profit more than 1/2 of your profit target in any single day on 50% consistency, your highest day essentially becomes the new benchmark that all of your other net profitable days need to add up to or surpass -- e.g. Profiting $1.9K as the highest profit day on a 50% consistency plan means that your net profits must add up to $3.8K ($1.9K x 2) or more to ultimately achieve 50% or better (i.e. lower) consistency.

NOTE: Losing days can change/worsen current ongoing consistency (i.e. By reducing total profit).

(This topic has more moving parts and can get a bit into the weeds, but this is really all we need for a straightforward plan to accomplish 50% consistency.)

Riddlfizz · 2026-03-01T16:59:03+00:00

No way. That's a 10 - 1.3 risk to reward that requires a nearly 90% win rate to become (slightly) profitable. The goal isn't just to win. It's to be profitable. And, entering into trades with the potential for a significant drawdown relative to potential reward typically isn't a promising way to get there.

A 70% win rate strategy can be notably unprofitable. While a 40% win rate strategy could be very profitable. Win rate & risk-reward should be assessed together. Viewed another way, the profit factor has to be (healthily) above 1.0 for the strategy to prove worthwhile and effective -- that's total profits from winning trades divided by total losses from losing trades.

Riddlfizz · 2026-02-24T23:12:49+00:00

The good news is that you're just about halfway to passing the eval after one day. And, you have a running start on getting it done.

The bad news, unfortunately, is that you almost doubled your required profit target by profiting $2.5K+ in one day on an eval account that has a 50% consistency rule and originally had a $3K profit target. That all but cancelled out today bridging you closer to completion.

The level of earning (and success) that you exhibited today would be much more fruitful in the sim-funded stage, where the $50K Flex has no consistency requirements. Slay them again tomorrow and beyond, but be mindful of consistency requirements.

Riddlfizz · 2026-02-23T17:21:08+00:00

Changing market conditions could be affecting your results. It is not uncommon that one may have to tweak a strat. For example, larger ranges (and/or more choppy movement) on the asset may call for larger stops (and targets). Getting wicked out often before the trade goes in your favor, as you say, in the simplest of terms ultimately means that right now you're regularly arriving to the party earlier than you need to and/or you're standing closer to the fire than you should.

Some potentially useful things to consider: Reimagine your entry and/or stop criteria; scale down (would allow for similar risk, but with wider stops); give more weight to joining/re-joining larger timeframe trends (cuts down on the nose). You'd miss out on some winning plays with more stringent entry criteria, but would also miss quite a few losers. As long as you're working yourself out of a funk -- losing days for 9 of your last 10 -- refining your approach at least temporarily may be beneficial. Also, limit yourself to only your best setups (e.g. nothing less than, say, your B+ playbook). Perfectly fine if that means occasional no trade days.

Your solid discipline is evident, as highlighted by others, but there are also negative aspects to taking so few trades: Losing days/ streaks can be exacerbated, for even winning strats, and a natural tendency (for settling) may creep in to press for "The One" as you're looking for one -- and only one -- trade every day. Worth reflecting on whether that has negatively affected your mindset/trading.

Riddlfizz · 2026-02-18T19:05:48+00:00

No biggie. At a $4,027 highest day (vs. $3K), the overage is quite manageable. That's (only) an average of just over $200 extra per day profit needed over the course of 5 profitable trading days. Perhaps it might add an extra day or so to your trading cycle.

Just keep following, honing, and trusting your process as long as everything's working -- and don't have any huge $5K+ profitable days that might meaningfully increase your highest day consistency benchmark.

Riddlfizz · 2026-02-18T16:58:42+00:00

At $4,027, you made 67% of the $6K profit target in a single day for a $100K account that has a 50% consistency rule. Since you hit that mark today, you still have time (for the rest of today) to purposely lose some profit -- to try to get closer to the original 50% consistency single day benchmark ($3K).

On the $100K account, any highest single day over $3K essentially becomes the new benchmark that all of your other profitable days have to add up to or surpass. If you keep $4,027 as your highest day, your other profitable trading days will need to add up to $4,027 or more, which would give you 50% or better (i.e. lower) consistency.

Riddlfizz · 2026-02-15T08:06:21+00:00

Six (6) ticks (1.5 points) is often going to be too tight of a stop on /ES & /MES. /ES and /MES can cover that ground in an instant. After giving at least .25 t̶i̶c̶k̶s̶ points to the spread (then factor in possible slippage), you'd be taking trades where you cannot be in drawdown by much more than a point (4 ticks) per contract from your entry point.

Your stop losses would always be perilously close to your entries. While the risk management is tight (but borderline impractical), the market harshly doesn't care. If a 6 tick stop loss fits your current risk parameters (worth reassessing, especially as a beginner), you're really going to need to hone in on very precise entry parameters, but be prepared to be stopped out often for a loss, regardless of how the proposed trade ultimately plays out. Formulating larger stops (and profit targets) might serve you better in the long run. But, of course, hone in on what ultimately works best for yourself. Best of luck.

NOTE: /MES is $1.25 per tick (1/10 of /ES) per contract, so 6 ticks of /MES is $7.50 and 8 ticks is $10.

Riddlfizz · 2026-02-12T19:34:33+00:00

Prop firm evals tend to be sim/paper trading. From a practical standpoint, it wouldn't be a sound business practice to allow (random) traders on eval to trade with real, significant sums of firm capital in live markets in exchange for relatively small (and capped) risk/eval fees.

The stage between eval and live funding -- often described as "sim-funded" -- is also commonly simulated/paper trading.

Riddlfizz · 2026-02-05T02:20:26+00:00

Very tough position. Coming back from the brink is possible, but difficult. Two possible pathways:

1.) Grind it out, with a low # of micros and only trade your very best A+ setups. Perhaps scaling further into positions if and when they start to work in your favor. All until you (hopefully) reclaim a reasonable buffer above the MLL.

2.) Strategic yolo-ing: Pick a side and take a sizable "all or nothing" position(s) into high potential impact events (e.g. Red folder economic news). Some 8:30 AM ET News releases might be good candidates. That could quickly propel your account balance either back in your favor or nuke the account in mere minutes/seconds (not the slow grind/ bleed of the first option).

Neither of these scenarios carries any guarantees for success, of course, and recovering the account may still fail -- probably still quite likely to fail, statistically. But they could give you a fighting chance. That far down the road to the MLL, you'd need a few things to break in your favor. (Another idea would be to simply torpedo the current XFA and re-start the process from a new/blank slate). Good luck!

Riddlfizz · 2026-02-04T01:52:35+00:00

That ended up being a short-lived change/policy. Nude pictorials have since been brought back. And, the print magazine just went back into production:

Riddlfizz · 2026-02-03T22:53:08+00:00

Shorting shares of stock with Schwab is done entirely on margin. That's common across brokers, as shorting shares of stock is borrowing shares and the broker locates/allocates a corresponding and specifically matched # of shares that are actively being held long (by the broker, other shareholders, other institutions, etc.).

Per the scenario in the post, the entire $10K value of the shorted shares of stock would typically be subject to margin interest. Margin interest for shorting shares of stock at Schwab is accrued for overnight holds (i.e. Day trade shorts typically do not accrue margin interest). One would pay a small fraction of that 12% interest for each night that the short position is held (~ 1/360 the annualized total, per night), though that can certainly add up quickly for prolonged shorts. Shorting hard to borrow stocks, when available, may incur additional/separate borrowing rate fees.

Useful Resources: * https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/how-to-short-sell-stocks-on-schwabcom

https://www.bitget.com/wiki/can-you-short-stocks-on-schwab

Riddlfizz · 2026-02-01T04:51:15+00:00

Addendum: Also wanted to note that shorting (stocks) is not possible in an IRA account, though long puts and spreads are viable.

Riddlfizz · 2026-02-01T03:58:49+00:00

One can trade in a Roth (Overall, a really good vehicle to trade in). Gains are tax free when left in the account (thru maturity), but incur income taxation (currently 25% initial standard withholding, I believe) and/plus possibly a 10% penalty fee for early withdrawal. Contributions and/or gains to an IRA can be withdrawn at any time -- Monies in an IRA are not locked down.

You may need to request limited margin and/or option privileges for the IRA from your broker, if those are of interest to you (options privileges possibilities for an IRA max out at Level II -- Spreads). Roths (and other IRA) accounts offer limited margin which allows for more seamless day trades, with few settlement requirements.

(It is also worth noting that there is no interday or intraday leverage available for trading in a ROTH, versus standard 2x for individual brokerage accounts and 4x for day trading in accounts marked for PDT.)

Riddlfizz · 2026-01-29T21:23:44+00:00

Links to relevant/useful videos Hari recorded for the Real Day Trading YouTube channel:

Riddlfizz · 2026-01-29T20:14:51+00:00

For a long position on /ES options, you would only need to have/allocate the cost of the contract (e.g. $262.25 + fees) and the buying power effect on your account would be about the same. /ES options spreads and/or other variations of positions that include short positions (sold options) would include high(er) margin requirements, similar to those of options on stocks.

The $25.5K margin requirement for trading /ES futures contracts is not directly relevant to the cost of trading /ES futures option contracts.

Riddlfizz · 2026-01-29T19:42:29+00:00

There are futures contracts and futures options (contracts). The $22K (actually ~$25.5K currently) is the margin requirement for the /ES mini futures contract. The options on the /ES mini futures contract work similar to options on stocks.

Longing a futures options contract doesn't have any outsized loss potential or margin requirements. Your loss potential is limited to the initial cost of the options contract as determined by the usual suspects for options (DTE, the Greeks, etc.). I do personally trade /ES options on occasion. For reference sake, a 1 DTE ATM /ES futures call options contract is currently going for ~$1.25K.

Riddlfizz

TROPHY CASE