Multiple Futures Trading Accounts

Optimus Futures Trading Account
1

Hello,
I am currently in the process of growing my personal trading fund via the use of prop firms. My plan is to get to a certain amount and establish some consistency before I start using my own funds. Would a setup along these lines be possible with Optimus?

  • 1 main account
  • 5-10 sub-accounts (not at first - one account to start and adding sub-accounts at pre-determined profit targets)
  • each account fully funded with $5k
  • accounts are copy traded (via Quantower or Optimus Flow (haven’t tried it yet))

Not sure if it matters but I am Canadian (Ontario) and from my understanding, the only real issue there is the FCM I’d have to go with (Amp or IronBeam).

Thanks!

1 Like
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Hello @lucknerjb and welcome to the forum.

Thank you for reaching out with your detailed plan. It’s great to hear about your strategy for growing your personal trading fund via prop firms.

It’s important to clarify the difference between real accounts and paper prop trading accounts used by prop firms. Prop firms often use paper money for their trading accounts, which means the trades are simulated rather than executed in the real market.

Here are some key differences between real accounts and paper trading accounts:

  1. Execution Issues: In a real account, trades can face execution issues such as slippage, partial fills, or delays, which are not typically encountered in paper trading. This is because paper trading does not involve actual market orders that impact liquidity and prices.

  2. Copy Trading Challenges: When copy trading multiple real accounts, there can be discrepancies in order execution across different accounts. Copy trading is done via API, not through direct exchange order copies, so it’s crucial to monitor the performance to ensure all trades are executed as expected.

Given these differences, it’s prudent to start with a small number of real accounts to monitor execution performance and address any issues that arise. Opening a large number of real accounts (e.g., 10 accounts with $5K each) without this preliminary step could lead to significant challenges and potential losses due to execution problems.

At Optimus, we recommend starting with one main account and gradually adding sub-accounts as you achieve your targets and become comfortable with the real market dynamics. This approach allows you to fine-tune your strategy and ensure consistent execution across all accounts.

At Optimus, we can support your setup with our platforms such as Quantower and Optimus Flow. If you need further assistance or have any specific requirements, feel free to reach out.

Best,
Matt Z
Optimus Futures

3

Hi Matt,

Thanks a lot for the detailed reply! I’ve read a bit about slippage and the differences between prop and live trading and so it makes complete sense to start small in terms of number of accounts and monitor performance over time. I’m all about the long-term rather than the short-term.

I’ll definitely take more time to read up on the realities of trading the real market though and once I’m ready to open up my first account to dip my toes into live trading, I’ll do so.

Thanks again - much appreciated!

1 Like
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From our experience as brokers, we have observed that the main differences between real fund trading and “paper” or “prop” trading become evident when customers transition to trading their own funds. Often, those moving from prop trading to real trading lack a mechanical understanding of the nuances that real futures trading entails, from placing orders to the actual use of software. Here are a few key aspects we recommend focusing on as you switch to trading your own funds:

  1. Order Execution: It is essential to learn all the order placements that are acceptable by the exchange and which ones are not.
  2. Margins: Understanding the difference between day trading margins and exchange overnight margins is crucial.
  3. Trading Platform: Deciding on the right trading platform is critical. Many traders assume that the popular platform XYZ is the right choice or stick to the platform they used with their prop firm. However, when stepping into the real world, starting with a free platform like Optimus Flow can be beneficial as it often covers many necessary elements.

From our experience, while paper trading provides a foundational understanding, it doesn’t fully prepare traders for real trading. In our opinion, prolonging paper trading might seem beneficial, but real trading with actual risk capital is what truly helps traders understand how they react to market events, determine the appropriate number of contracts to trade, and gain other valuable insights. Paper trading rarely offers the depth of experience needed for real trading success.

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. However, if your question pertains to a new topic like “order placement,” “margins,” etc., we recommend opening a new thread for better clarity and organization.

Thanks,
Matt Z
Optimus Futures

There is a substantial risk of loss in futures trading. Past performance is not indicative of future results.