Most failed prop evaluations are not strategy failures. They are position-sizing failures — the strategy was fine, but one bad day was sized large enough to hit a limit. This guide works through Fintokei’s rules plan by plan and turns them into concrete sizing decisions.
For a full walkthrough of each rule, see Fintokei’s evaluation rules explained; for choosing between plans, see Fintokei plans compared. Numbers below reflect the official site as of July 2026 and can change.
The rules that decide everything
| ProTrader | SwiftTrader | StartTrader | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profit targets | 8% → 6% | 10% | 2% → 3% → 6% |
| Daily max loss | -5% | -3% | -3% |
| Overall max loss | -10% | -6% | -6% |
| Minimum trading days | 3 | 5 | 3 per step |
| Time limit | None* | None* | 180 days per step |
*One opened or closed trade required every 30 days.
Notice the ratio of target to allowance. ProTrader gives you a -10% budget to reach +8%. SwiftTrader asks for +10% with only a -6% budget — the target is bigger than the total allowance, which quietly demands a stronger edge or tighter management than the two-step plan.
Sizing worked back from the limits
The core rule
Size positions so that a realistic losing streak cannot touch the daily limit.
| Plan | Daily cap | Risk per trade | Losses absorbed |
|---|---|---|---|
| ProTrader | -5% | 0.5-1% | 5-10 |
| SwiftTrader | -3% | 0.3-0.5% | 6-10 |
| StartTrader | -3% | 0.3-0.5% | 6-10 |
If you take several trades a day, move toward the lower end. The daily cap is shared across everything you do that day.
Count floating losses
Assume unrealized drawdown counts toward the daily loss check — “I haven’t closed it yet” is not a defense. SwiftTrader makes this explicit with a -3% cap on total open-position risk, which rules out averaging down as a rescue tactic.
Use the missing deadline
ProTrader and SwiftTrader have no expiry. That removes the single biggest psychological trap in evaluations: month-end pressure. At 0.5% risk and a modest +2-3% per month, you reach any Fintokei target within a few months while barely stressing the limits. One trade per 30 days keeps the account alive.
The failure patterns
Oversizing the finish line
The classic exit: +1-2% from the target, size up to “end it today,” and hit the daily limit on the reversal. Do the opposite — halve your size as you approach the target and finish in several small trades.
Revenge sizing after losses
Doubling size to win back a loss is the fastest route to disqualification. Decide in advance: two or three consecutive losses ends the trading day. Write it down before the evaluation starts.
Holding through news
Around major releases (NFP, FOMC, CPI), spreads widen and slippage grows, and a normal-sized position can overshoot your planned loss. Whatever the rules technically allow, staying flat through top-tier news during an evaluation is cheap insurance. News-trading treatment varies by plan, so read the current terms.
Weekend gaps
Monday gaps can jump straight through stops and into the daily limit. If your strategy needs weekend holds, look at ProTrader Swing rather than fighting the standard plans’ design.
Forgetting minimum trading days
Hitting the target early does not finish the evaluation if you have fewer than the minimum trading days (3 on ProTrader, 5 on SwiftTrader). The standard fix: after reaching the target, place minimal-size trades to complete the day count.
The evaluation mindset
An evaluation does not ask you to maximize profit. It asks you to prove you can operate inside constraints — which is also exactly what the funded account will demand later.
- Stop for the day at half the daily limit
- Judge progress weekly, not daily
- Skipping days is free on the no-deadline plans
More on the psychology in trading psychology for evaluations.
After you pass
Payout mechanics — splits, the bi-weekly cycle, JPY bank transfers, and the fee credit on ProTrader — are covered in the Fintokei payout guide. Knowing the payout conditions before you pass makes the transition smoother.
Summary
- Work risk per trade back from the daily cap: 0.3-0.5% on -3% plans, up to 1% on ProTrader
- Treat floating losses as counted; manage total open risk
- No deadline means no excuse for oversizing
- The two killers are finish-line oversizing and revenge trades
- Verify current rules on the official site before starting
Recommended prop firms
Fintokei — Japan-focused, JPY payouts
Fully localized Japanese product with payouts to Japanese bank accounts in JPY, alongside standard international options.
→ Fintokei official (coupon code FINTO5KEI for 5% off)
FTMO — the industry benchmark
Operating since 2015; its two-step challenge is structurally close to Fintokei’s ProTrader.