When you have open positions, your dashboard shows two different balance figures. This article explains what each one represents, how they update, and why only one of them affects your Max Loss and level progression.
Realized Account Balance
Your total closed profit or loss since the current level began. This is the number that decides whether you pass.
Updates only when a position is fully or partially closed
Used to calculate your Max Loss floor
Must be above $15,000 to pass a level
Does not change while positions are open
Open P/L (Unrealized)
The current value of your open positions based on live market prices. This number moves constantly while you have trades open.
Fluctuates as market prices change
Does not affect your Max Loss
Does not count toward level progression
Only becomes realized when you sell or the market settles
You will not be eliminated based on unrealized movement. A large open loss may make your Open P/L look low, but your Realized Account Balance — the number the platform uses — does not change until that position closes.
Examples
In this example, your Realized Balance is at its high-water mark of $15,600, so your Max Loss floor sits $1,000 below it at $14,600.
Position is still open
Realized Balance | $15,600 |
Open P/L | -$900 (unrealized) |
Max Loss floor | $14,600 (fixed) |
Does this count against Max Loss? | No, the floor does not move |
The open position does not affect your Max Loss while it is still open.
You close the position
Loss realized | -$900 |
New Realized Balance | $14,700 |
Max Loss floor | $14,600 (unchanged) |
Buffer left before the floor | $100 |
While the trade is open, that -$900 does not count against you and your floor stays put. The moment you close, the -$900 becomes realized. Your balance drops to $14,700, which leaves $100 before you hit your $14,600 floor. If the trade had recovered before you closed it, none of that drawdown would ever have counted.