Step 1 of 5
Daily average beats speed
Pacing turns a big number into a small one. Instead of “make 10%”, the job becomes “make a modest average on the days you trade, and protect the account on the days you don’t”.
| Average per day | 2-Step phase 1 (8%) | 2-Step phase 2 (5%) | 1-Step (10%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25% | 32 days | 20 days | 40 days |
| 0.5% | 16 days | 10 days | 20 days |
| 1% | 8 days | 5 days | 10 days |
These are simple sums on the starting balance and ignore losing days, so treat them as the fastest realistic case. The 0.5% row leaves the most room under a 5% daily limit.
Step 2 of 5
No deadline, so no rush
The 1-Step and 2-Step have no time limit, in the challenge phases or on the funded account. That removes the main reason traders force trades: the fear of running out of time. If a week is choppy and your setups are not there, trading less is a valid plan.
Pick your average from your own history. If your journal shows that you make about 0.3% on a normal winning day and lose about the same on a losing day, a 1% daily average is a gamble, not a plan.
A useful test: a good average is one you can reach with your normal size and your normal number of trades. If hitting it needs an extra trade a day or a bigger position, it is too high. Recalculate after every ten trading days using your real results, and adjust the plan, not the size.
Step 3 of 5
The calendar rules
The target is not the only condition. The 1-Step needs at least 3 trading days. Each 2-Step phase needs 3 profitable days of at least 0.5% of that phase’s starting balance, on top of the target. On MFC Stocks you need at least 3 trading days, and no single day may make more than 35% of the profit during the evaluation.
One big day does not satisfy any of these rules. A steady pace satisfies all of them without extra effort.
Step 4 of 5
The last week
Most challenges are lost close to the target. You are 1% away, size goes up “to finish”, and the daily limit breaks first. Two habits prevent it:
- Stop for the day once you reach your daily average. The target will still be there tomorrow.
- Keep the same size when the target is near. The last 1% is worth exactly as much as the first.
If a losing day sets you back, do not try to make it up the next day. Add a day to the plan instead.
Step 5 of 5
Getting ready for funded rules
Once funded, the profit target disappears but a consistency rule appears: no day may make more than 35% of total profit. Traders who passed with an even pace usually meet it without thinking. Traders who passed with one big day often have to slow down at the worst possible time. On the 2-Step, the scaling review every 120 days looks at net profit over time too, which rewards the same steady pace.
Recap
- Target ÷ daily average = trading days. Pick an average you can repeat, not your best day.
- The 1-Step and 2-Step have no time limit, so speed buys you nothing.
- Keep the same size near the target; most challenges are lost in the last week.
Check yourself
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