What Really Happens When Your Futures Prop Firm Moves You to Live
Being moved to a live account sounds like the final prize, but the rules change. Here is what to expect at Topstep and My Funded Futures.
For most futures prop traders, “funded” means a simulated account. The firm pays you a share of simulated profits, and no real orders reach the market. A small number of traders are eventually moved to a live account, where their trades are real. It sounds like the final prize, but the rules change in ways that catch people out. Here is what really happens, using the published rules of Topstep and My Funded Futures.
Why firms move traders to live
A firm that keeps paying a consistently profitable trader from a simulated account is paying out of its own pocket. Moving that trader to a live account means the profits come from the market instead, and the firm can share in them. Our guide to how prop firms route trades explains the mechanics.
It is rare. In 2025, 0.71% of Topstep’s Express Funded traders were called up to live. My Funded Futures says 4.2% of traders on a simulated funded account were promoted.
How you get picked
- Topstep invites traders. You cannot decline and stay on your Express Funded Accounts, which all close when you move.
- My Funded Futures Rapid moves you automatically after $10,000 of net profit in a single day, or when its risk team decides. Any profit above $10,000 on that day is forfeited.
- My Funded Futures Pro reviews you after three payouts in a row on the same account, after $20,000 in profit, or on reaching its $100,000 payout cap.
Your starting balance may be zero
This is the part that surprises people. At My Funded Futures, live accounts start at $0. You trade with a maximum loss limit below zero, for example minus $2,000 on a 50K Rapid, and the account is closed if you hit it. Up to $5,000 of your simulated profits is held in a Reserve, which can cover a live breach or be paid out later as a bonus.
Topstep does it differently. It moves your simulated balance across, but only 20% is tradable at first. The rest sits in a Reserve that unlocks in four steps as you hit profit targets.
| Topstep Live | My Funded Futures Rapid Live | My Funded Futures Pro Live | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting balance | 20% of transferred balance (min $10,000, or $5,000 on 25K) | $0 | $0 |
| Rest held back | 80% Reserve, unlocked in four steps | Up to $5,000 Reserve | Reserve performance bonus |
| When the account closes | Balance below $1,000 | Maximum loss hit (minus $2,000 on 50K, trailing end of day up to $0) | Maximum loss hit (minus $2,000 on 50K) |
| Payouts | Reserve released after Monday reviews | Daily, 90/10 split | From $250, 80/20 split |
Sources: Topstep, My Funded Futures Rapid Live and Pro plan help articles, checked 5 November 2026.
What feels different on a live account
- Real fills. Your orders hit the real market. Expect some slippage on fast moves, which a simulator may not show. See how slippage affects prop firm results.
- Smaller size. Contract limits are often lower. My Funded Futures Pro Live allows 2 contracts on a 50K, against 3 minis on the simulated account.
- Less room. With a zero or reduced starting balance, a bad first week can close the account.
- Your simulated accounts may close. At Topstep they all do.
How to prepare
- Read the live rules before you are invited, not after.
- Trade your simulated account as if the fills were real. Avoid relying on fills in thin markets, which firms increasingly ban.
- Expect to cut your size for the first few weeks.
- Keep records of your payouts and balances in case of a dispute.
For the bigger picture on simulated money, see our guide to simulated vs live capital.
Key takeaways
- Moving to live is rare: 0.71% of Topstep Express Funded traders in 2025, and 4.2% at My Funded Futures.
- Live accounts often start small or at zero, with the rest held in a Reserve.
- Real fills, smaller size and closed simulated accounts are the main changes to plan for.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens when a prop firm moves you to a live account?
Your trades start going to the real market. Firms usually limit your starting balance or size and hold part of your earnings in a reserve. At Topstep your Express Funded Accounts close, and at My Funded Futures live accounts start at a $0 balance.
How many prop traders get moved to live?
Very few. Topstep says 0.71% of Express Funded traders were called up to live in 2025, and My Funded Futures says 4.2% of its simulated funded traders were promoted.
Can I lose money on a live prop firm account?
You are not usually asked to add your own money, but you can lose the account and any reserve held back. At My Funded Futures, a live account that hits its maximum loss limit is closed.
