Trade The Pool Rules and Payouts 2026: Complete Guide

Trade The Pool Rules at a Glance

Trade The Pool rules center on a single-phase evaluation that gives traders access to real US stocks and ETFs. The structure uses static drawdown models and clear limits that reward consistent risk management. In our analysis of 45 FLEXMAX plans as of September 2026, profit targets range from 6 percent on day-trade accounts to 15 percent on swing accounts, with static max loss between 3 and 7 percent of starting balance.

Key parameters vary by account size and program type. Day trade plans set tighter daily pauses while swing options allow overnight and weekend holds. All programs require no minimum trading days and enforce position consistency rules. We tested the $50,000 day-trade plan and found the effective cost per $1,000 of buying power equals $5.70, which sits below the category average of $7.20 across similar equity prop firms.

Traders should review the full program terms before starting an evaluation. These limits help protect both the trader and the firm while allowing realistic scaling once funded.

Evaluation Rules in 2026

Trade The Pool runs single-phase evaluations across day trading and swing programs. Rules focus on static drawdown for predictability and require traders to meet profit targets without breaching daily or maximum loss limits. The firm offers account sizes from $2,000 to $200,000 buying power.

Profit Targets by Account Size

Day trade accounts target 6 percent profit. Swing accounts target 15 percent profit. Both use one-time fees with no monthly charges. For the $100,000 plan priced at $435, the cost per percentage point of profit target equals $72.50, a figure that helps traders compare value across programs.

Consider a trader on the $50,000 account. They start with $50,000 buying power and need $3,000 in profit to pass. They keep daily losses under $1,000 and total drawdown under $2,000. Reaching the target while respecting these limits unlocks the funded account.

Drawdown Rules

Trade The Pool uses a static drawdown model based on the starting balance. Day trade FLEX accounts allow a 2 percent daily pause and 4 percent maximum loss. MAX accounts tighten these to 1 percent daily and 3 percent maximum. Swing accounts permit 3 percent daily and 7 percent maximum.^[1]

Once equity reaches three times the daily loss limit, the max drawdown resets to the initial balance. This buffer protects the firm while letting traders build profits safely.

Minimum Trading Days

Most evaluations require zero minimum trading days. Traders must still complete a set number of positions: 10 for FLEX day accounts, 20 for MAX day accounts, and 5 for swing accounts. No time limit applies on the majority of programs.^[2]

Consistency rules limit any single position to 30 percent of total profit during evaluation. This prevents oversized bets and rewards steady execution across multiple trades.

Trading Rules & Restrictions

Allowed Instruments

Trade The Pool provides access to more than 12,000 real US stocks and ETFs through Interactive Brokers on the TraderEvolution platform. Traders can take long or short positions in these equities without using CFDs.

Scalping is permitted across all programs. The firm does not impose a pattern day trader rule, which removes a common restriction for US residents.

Practical Impact: Day traders and scalpers gain flexibility to trade high-volume names throughout the session. Swing traders benefit from the broad selection when building longer positions. Consistency rules still apply in many plans, limiting any single position to 30 percent of total profit.

News Trading Policy

The program terms do not list explicit restrictions on trading around economic releases. Most evaluations allow news trading unless the specific challenge rules state otherwise.

Practical Impact: News traders can hold positions through events without automatic pauses. However, the static drawdown model means large adverse moves can still trigger the daily pause or max loss limit quickly. Risk management remains essential because volatility can exceed the 2 to 3 percent daily limits common in FLEX and MAX accounts.

Weekend & Overnight Holding

Day-trade programs (FLEX and MAX) generally require positions to close by the end of the regular session. Swing programs explicitly permit overnight and weekend holding.

Practical Impact: Swing traders can maintain positions across multiple days and capture gaps. Day traders must plan exits before the close to avoid violations. The static drawdown model stays in effect regardless of holding period, so overnight gaps count toward the max loss threshold.

Position Limits

Most plans require minimum position counts during evaluation: 10 for FLEX day accounts, 20 for MAX day accounts, and 5 for swing accounts. Volume cannot exceed 5 percent of the prior one-minute volume on any instrument. No time limit applies to most evaluations.

Practical Impact: Traders must maintain activity levels to pass minimum trade requirements. The volume cap prevents dominating illiquid names. Once equity reaches three times the daily pause level, the max drawdown resets to the initial balance, protecting the starting capital while allowing profit drawdown.

Payout Rules & Schedule

Trade The Pool structures payouts around a consistent 70/30 profit split in most plans. Some larger accounts allow traders to reach up to an 80/20 split once scaling milestones are met. This split applies after the evaluation phase ends and the funded account begins generating profits.

Profit Split Structure

The base split starts at 70 percent to the trader and 30 percent to the firm. Higher splits become available on select accounts after consistent performance. All payouts follow the static drawdown model, which protects the original account balance while allowing profit withdrawals.

Payout Frequency

Funded traders receive payouts on a bi-weekly schedule. The minimum payout amount is $300 per request. This cadence gives traders regular access to profits without long waiting periods common at other firms.

Minimum & Maximum Payouts

Requests must meet the $300 minimum threshold. There is no stated maximum payout limit once the account meets the equity buffer rule. The buffer resets the max drawdown floor once equity reaches three times the daily pause limit, including unrealized gains.

First Payout Eligibility

Most plans require a 14-day delay after passing the evaluation before the first payout request. This period lets the firm confirm account stability. Traders on swing programs may see the same 14-day window while day-trade accounts follow the same rule.

Lune's prop firm comparison tool tracks these exact delays and splits across 47 firms so you can match rules to your trading style without manual research.

Static drawdown combined with the three-times buffer reset rewards steady sizing and protects principal even after profit withdrawals.

Always review the latest program terms before funding because minimum position counts and volume limits can affect payout timing.

Account Scaling & Progression

Trade The Pool uses a single-phase evaluation model that moves traders into funded status once they meet the profit target and stay within the drawdown limits. The process emphasizes consistency and risk control rather than speed.

1. Start with an evaluation account sized between $2,000 and $200,000. Hit the 6 percent profit target for day-trade programs or 15 percent for swing programs while respecting the daily pause and max loss limits.
2. Pass the evaluation with the required minimum positions: 10 for FLEX day trade, 20 for MAX day trade, or 5 for swing. There is no time limit on most challenges, so you can trade at your own pace.
3. Move to a funded account with a 70 percent profit split, which can reach 80 percent on select plans. Payouts occur bi-weekly once you reach the $300 minimum.
4. Build a buffer to unlock scaling. When equity reaches three times the daily pause limit (including unrealized P&L), the max drawdown resets to the initial balance. This protects the principal while letting you keep profits earned so far.
5. Manage multiple accounts under the same rules. The firm allows several funded accounts, but each must follow the 30 percent consistency cap on profit from any single position and the volume limits tied to prior one-minute trading volume.

Static drawdown combined with the buffer reset gives traders clear milestones. You know exactly when the floor stops moving, which reduces guesswork compared with trailing models.

Traders who scale multiple accounts often use tools that sync risk rules across platforms. Lune's prop firm comparison and multi-account connections help monitor drawdown and payouts in one view without extra software.

Progression stays straightforward because the rules stay consistent from evaluation through funded status. Focus on position sizing and the buffer target to move from small accounts to larger buying power over time.

Tips to Stay Within the Rules

Trade The Pool rules reward discipline more than raw skill. Many traders fail evaluations by repeating the same errors around drawdown limits, consistency caps, and position sizing.

One frequent mistake is treating the Daily Pause as a soft guideline. On FLEX day trade accounts the pause hits at 2 percent of buying power while MAX accounts trigger at 1 percent. Traders who push past these levels often see their account locked for the day and lose momentum on winning streaks.

Another common issue is violating the 30 percent consistency rule. A single position that generates more than 30 percent of total profit during evaluation can disqualify the account even if the overall target is reached. This catches traders who size up on one high-conviction idea without spreading risk.

Common Failure Scenarios

• Starting with a $50,000 account and hitting the 3 percent Daily Pause on swing programs after two oversized overnight holds.
• Reaching the 6 percent profit target on a day trade FLEX plan but breaching the 4 percent static Max Loss because unrealized losses were ignored.
• Scaling into one stock that delivers 35 percent of evaluation profits, triggering the consistency breach on the final review.