Introduction

Trading in today’s environment is completely different than it was a decade ago. Back then, if you wanted to make $10K a month, you needed to grind a personal account, scalping options or futures with strict discipline. Now, thanks to prop firms, that milestone is much more accessible. In this guide, I’ll break down how to realistically hit $10K a month, the stages traders go through, and the strategies I recommend for scaling while protecting your downside.

Stage One: The Unprofitable Trader

Everyone starts here. If you’re unprofitable, the good news is you’re at zero—the only way forward is up.

• Find a system that resonates with you.

• Backtest daily, then forward-test in your chosen session.

• Build good habits. How you handle everyday tasks translates directly into how you manage the urge to overtrade.

The biggest skill you’ll need here is control—controlling the emotional urge to keep clicking the button after a loss.

Stage Two: The Inconsistent Trader

At this stage, you might make $1K–$4K in a good month, but you also swing between payouts and blown accounts. The focus now should be:

• Following your trading plan every single day.

• Setting a goal (like keeping a funded account) and then forgetting about it.

• Shifting attention to process over outcome.

Consistency comes when you stop chasing the number and start executing the same disciplined process repeatedly.

Stage Three: The Consistent Trader

Now you’re in the $5K–$7K per month range. You’re doing well, but occasionally tilt days cause big setbacks. To scale from here:

• Reinvest profits into more prop firm accounts.

• Don’t over-leverage all accounts at once.

• Avoid the trap of slipping up after a hot streak.

I also recommend buying something symbolic—a watch, bracelet, or even a set of golf clubs. Seeing it daily reminds you the process works and keeps your highs and lows balanced.

Scaling to $10K+ a Month

This is where batching accounts comes into play. Too many traders copy trade all accounts at once, which can be disastrous. Instead:

• Group accounts into batches.

• Use smaller batches on low-probability days.

• Save your larger batches for A+ setups.

For example:

• 5 Apex 50K accounts ($2K each) → $10K per month.

• Or 10 Apex 300Ks ($3K each) → $30K per month.

But instead of running them all together, split them. One batch might be Apex accounts, another batch might be Funded Next Rapids. Trade them based on market conditions so that one bad day doesn’t wipe everything.

Tools for Scaling

Platforms like TradeCopia make batching accounts seamless. You can set up multiple groups and choose which ones you want to copy trade based on confidence in the setup. This flexibility is key to protecting downside.

Key Takeaways

• Always protect the downside—it’s easier to blow accounts than it is to recover.

• Be comfortable, not content. Comfort means trading within your limits; contentment means stagnation.

• $10K a month is realistic, but it’s not automatic. It comes from process, patience, and risk control.