What Is the Easiest Way to Make Money Trading? A Futures-Based Strategy for Profitability
If you've been searching for the easiest way to make money trading, you're not alone. Many aspiring traders dive into the markets, only to feel overwhelmed by the complexity and risks involved. The good news? Success doesn't have to be complicated. By focusing on the futures market, leveraging prop firm funding, and using a simple yet effective strategy like the Two Hour Trader, you can streamline your path to consistent profits.
Why Futures Trading Is Ideal for Beginners
Futures trading is often overlooked by new traders, but it offers unique advantages that make it one of the best options for those looking to simplify their trading journey:
Predictable Patterns: Futures are heavily traded by institutions, creating reliable price movements and clear technical setups
Lower Barriers to Entry: With leverage, you can control a large position with a fraction of the capital required for stocks. Many new traders gravitate towards options for this very reason, but the benefit futures have over options are countless.
High Liquidity: Popular instruments like the S&P 500 (ES) and Nasdaq 100 (NQ) trade nearly 24/5 with minimal slippage
Simplified Focus: Unlike stocks, where thousands of companies compete for your attention, futures traders can focus on just a handful of instruments
The first two hours of the trading session (9:30 AM–11:30 AM EST) often provide the cleanest setups of the day. This period is particularly well-suited for strategies like the Two Hour Trader, which targets high-probability trades during these active hours.
Maximizing ROI with Prop Firm Funding
One of the biggest challenges for new traders is access to capital. This is where prop firms like Topstep have revolutionized the trading landscape. By passing an evaluation, traders can gain access to significant funding without risking their own savings. I have personally been through the challenge, and share my experience on it in this video.
What Makes Prop Firms a Game-Changer?
Low Starting Costs: Instead of needing tens of thousands of dollars, you pay a small challenge fee
Access to Capital: Upon passing the challenge, you're given access to accounts ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 or more
Risk-Free Scaling: You trade with the firm's money, so your downside is limited to the initial fee paid for the account
Professional Support: Many prop firms provide tools, data, and infrastructure to help traders succeed
Futures trading aligns perfectly with prop firm funding. The high liquidity and leverage of instruments like ES and NQ make it easier to meet evaluation criteria such as consistency, risk management, and profit targets.
The Two Hour Trader: Your Simplest Path to Consistency
For traders looking to minimize complexity, the Two Hour Trader strategy has proven remarkably effective. As one trader, Darrel Rohar, discovered: "I started trading with you (small $5000 account) a week ago yesterday. That $5000 is now $10,600!" While such results aren't typical, they demonstrate the potential of a focused, systematic approach.
How The Two Hour Trader Strategy Works
Time Efficiency:
Trade between 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM EST, when the market is most active
Spend less than two hours a day trading (including prep and review time), freeing up time for other priorities
Strategic Simplicity:
Follow a straightforward setup that will typically materialize 1-3 times per day
Clear entry and exit rules to minimize hesitation
Risk Precision:
Place stop-losses based on logical market structure
Avoid overtrading by sticking to the framework
The impact of this approach can be transformative. As trader Joe Zeno noted: "This one lesson after two years showed me something I was completely oblivious to for too long... After two years and one lesson you have provided me with a tool that has already proven to be extremely useful."
Getting Started: Your Action Plan
To implement the easiest way to make money trading, follow these steps:
Learn the Basics:
Start with educational resources focused on futures trading
Master the Two Hour Trader framework and risk management techniques
Practice in a Simulator:
Use platforms like TradingView or Tradovate to practice
Focus on executing your strategy consistently in a risk-free environment
Join a Prop Firm Challenge:
Select a reputable prop firm like Topstep
Use the Two Hour Trader strategy to meet consistency requirements
Document and Review:
Keep a detailed trading journal
Review your trades daily for continuous improvement
Scale Gradually:
Begin with light position sizes to develop familiarity and account for the various nuances with live trading
Increase exposure as you demonstrate consistency
Conclusion: Simplify Your Trading for Success
While there's no truly "easy" way to make money trading, there are certainly easier methods than others, and focusing on proven methods can significantly improve your chances of success. The combination of futures trading, prop firm funding, and the Two Hour Trader strategy provides a structured path to potential profitability.
Remember what makes this approach effective:
Focus on high-probability setups during optimal market hours
Use prop firm capital to reduce personal risk
Follow a simple, repeatable strategy
Maintain strict risk management
The trading education industry often overwhelms newcomers with complexity, but as our successful traders have shown, sometimes the simplest approach is the most effective. Whether you're brand new to trading or have been struggling to find consistency, this framework offers a clear path forward.
Ready to simplify your trading journey? Discover how the Two Hour Trader strategy can help you maximize your efficiency in the markets with just two hours per day.
