TopStep Trading Journal: Combine, Funded, and Beyond

Trading Combine (the eval)

The Trading Combine is TopStep's evaluation account. The trader needs to hit a profit target (e.g., $3,000 on a $50K combine) without violating the maximum loss limit (trailing drawdown) or the daily loss limit. Once both are satisfied across at least the minimum number of trading days, you advance to the Funded Account.

Funded Account

Post-Combine, the Funded Account uses similar drawdown rules but introduces additional payout requirements — minimum trading days per payout cycle, payout caps, and consistency expectations. The trailing drawdown math is the same EOD-trailing model as the Combine; the change is what you're working toward (clearing the next payout instead of clearing the eval).

Account sizes

TopStep offers $50K, $100K, and $150K Combine sizes with proportional profit targets, max loss limits, and daily loss budgets. Each size has its own rule set; a journal needs to know which size each account is to apply the correct math.

TopStep uses an end-of-day trailing drawdown model. The trailing floor recalculates ONLY at session close — mid-day equity highs don't move it. This is mechanically identical to Apex's EOD Trail (and easier to manage than Apex Intraday Trail).

How EOD trailing works in practice

On a $50K Combine with a $2,000 max loss limit (max DD), the trailing floor starts at $48,000. If you end the session at $50,800, the new high-watermark is $50,800 and the floor moves to $48,800 ($50,800 − $2,000). If you end the next session lower, the floor doesn't move down — it's a one-way ratchet.

Daily loss limit

In addition to the trailing drawdown, each session has a daily loss limit (e.g., $1,000 on $50K). Hitting the daily limit closes the account for the session but doesn't bust it permanently — it resets the next session. Hitting the trailing floor permanently busts the account.

Floor lock behavior

Unlike Apex Intraday Trail, TopStep's floor doesn't lock at starting balance once you're past max DD. The floor continues trailing as long as your high-watermark grows — but it never moves backward. This means a sustained green streak permanently raises your protection.

TopStep accounts can trade through several platforms — NinjaTrader, TSTrader (TopStep's proprietary platform), or Tradovate (depending on your account configuration). The journaling workflow varies slightly by platform.

NinjaTrader workflow

In NinjaTrader 8, generate a Trade Performance report covering your TopStep account and date range, and export as CSV. Drop into TradersForge's Import & Connect page. The NT8 adapter handles the format and routes trades to the linked TopStep account.

TSTrader workflow

TSTrader exports trade history as CSV from the dashboard. The format is similar to most futures platforms — symbol, entry/exit time, prices, quantity, P&L. TradersForge's generic CSV adapter handles it; for the cleanest result, the TSTrader adapter is on the import roadmap.

Tradovate workflow

For TopStep accounts trading through Tradovate, the standard Tradovate workflow applies — Performance.csv for trades, optionally Cash History.csv for exact fees. The full Tradovate journaling guide covers the details.

During the Combine

The journaling focus during a Combine is: per-trade R-multiple discipline, setup tagging (you're building the dataset that tells you what works), pre-trade trailing-floor headroom check, and daily loss budget awareness. Most Combine failures happen on a single bad day where the trader either exceeded the daily loss budget or stopped trading their plan.

Once funded

After passing the Combine and getting funded, the journaling focus shifts. You're no longer racing toward a target — you're building toward consistent payouts. Track minimum trading days per payout cycle, days you DIDN'T trade (each non-trading day extends your payout cycle), and the gap between your real expectancy and the level required to hit consistent payouts at your sizing.

Drawdown psychology shift

A subtle effect: traders often trade WORSE on funded accounts than during the Combine because the stakes feel higher. Your journal should let you compare per-trade R, win rate, and plan adherence between the two phases — if Funded numbers are worse than Combine numbers, the diagnosis is psychological rather than strategic.

Many active prop firm traders run TopStep alongside Apex, MFFU, Tradeify, or others — diversifying across firms because no single firm's rules suit every trade type. The multi-firm workflow:

1. Connect each firm's broker account to TradersForge separately. TopStep typically uses NinjaTrader or Tradovate; Apex/MFFU/Tradeify use Tradovate.
2. Link each broker account to the appropriate prop firm template — TopStep Combine, Apex Intraday Trail, MFFU Rapid, etc. Each template applies its specific rules.
3. On the dashboard, see all prop firm accounts in one view with per-account headroom, daily loss budget, and profit target progress.
4. Filter analytics by prop firm to compare your performance across firms — most multi-firm traders find they're systematically better on one firm's rule set than another (often because the daily loss budget matches their personal trading rhythm better).

Daily loss limit timing

TopStep's daily loss limit is enforced on UNREALIZED P&L, not just realized — if your open position's mark-to-market drawdown crosses the limit, the account closes for the day even if you don't exit. Most journals only track realized P&L and miss this trigger. Keep the daily loss buffer wider than your max planned position drawdown.

Minimum trading days

TopStep requires a minimum number of trading days to advance from Combine to Funded, AND a minimum to qualify for each payout once funded. A "trading day" requires at least one trade; days with no trades don't count. Track your trading-day count in the journal so you can see the gap to the next payout cycle.

Scaling rule

Funded TopStep accounts have a scaling plan that limits position size based on your account's gain. Trading larger than the scaling cap can disqualify the trade or the account. The scaling cap evolves as you make money — track your current scale tier alongside your normal stats.