One Prop Trader a Day – Chase Schoenfeldt: The Hardest Way to Make the Easiest Money

One Prop Trader a Day – Episode 149

What if the more you focused on making money, the less you made? Chase Schoenfeldt, a 24-year-old trader from Denver, Colorado, trades NQ futures with ICT concepts. In this interview, he explains how nearly 30 combines taught him to put process over profits, what turning to God and spending time in nature changed for him, why he spends 20 minutes in the sunlight before he looks at a chart, why Topstep has been his favourite firm for years, and what he would do with a 1 million dollar account.

My name is Chase Schoenfeldt. I am 24 years old from Denver, CO and I trade NQ futures.

I officially became a funded trader in October of 2024. The more I was focused on producing a monetary result, the less I was making. Having a stoic approach on the charts, with an emphasis on the process over profits allowed me to breakthrough the evaluation phase.

The first thing I purchased solely from trading profits was a brand new desk, monitor, and trading setup.

I attempted nearly 30 combines before I became successful. I received a payout on my first funded account, and from that point the floodgates opened. I knew it was possible.

I’ve experienced lots of lessons in trading because it is by far the hardest thing I ever set to accomplish. I spent nearly 2000 dollars in a single day from reckless trading habits full of emotion. Sounds crazy, but I’m truly grateful that it happened.

Trading has taken a mental and emotional toll, affecting literally every area of my life. Sleepless nights, avoiding social situations, and blown account after blown account forced me to make a huge change if I truly wanted to make trading work. I had no choice but to turn to God and put all of my trust in Him, where I learned to have faith especially during agonizing times. I manage it now by immersing myself in nature away from screens, and spending time with loved ones.

I’ve traded with Topstep and Apex, but Topstep has been my favourite for years. When searching for a firm to work with, I look for a long track record of reliability, human support, and instant payouts.

I trade a top-down analysis starting from 1D (daily) all the way down to 1M (minute) timeframe. Using primarily ICT concepts, I look for a clear liquidity sweep and close above iFVG on a timeframe under 5M (5 minute). I risk at least 1:1 RR and after taking partials, I let winners run if momentum is on my side.

Before my trading day, I spend at least 20min getting direct sunlight with no technology. This can be seen as a meditation because I become aware of my mental state before I get on the charts. If it’s not in a good spot, I will completely avoid the charts, which has taken me the longest to do. I sometimes with quiet music, or just silence.

My most recent trading day was last Tuesday (August 25th) where I took 2 trades. I felt the fearful emotions try to take advantage of me but I refused to let that destroy my account like it would’ve in the past.

My biggest payout was 1500 dollars on July 6th 2026.

Very few people around me truly understand what I do. I’ve realised it’s best to be as vague as possible when people ask me what I do, because no one will get it unless they’ve traded themself. Close ones or loved ones have reacted primarily negative because it’s not the typical 9-5 route for job security. The entire purpose of trading is to leave that rat race, so it’s worth every bit of the sacrifice.

I can’t even count how many times I’ve thought of quitting, but I physically can’t. Reason for this is because I’m aware of the potential this skill will give me down the road. Many people (along with plenty I know in person) begin with the idea that this is a get-rich quick scheme. It is anything but that. I can confidently say it is the hardest way to make the easiest money.

If I was given a 1 million dollar account today, in my first 7 days I would spend an entire day building my specific parameters and a specific plan on what each day will look like. I would determine a healthy amount of losses each trade I’d be ok with, to eliminate any potential of tilt. Aiming for base hits if the market provides opportunities.

My take on the firms

I have traded forex with FTMO in the past but since moving over to futures, I’ve stuck with Topstep and have loved working with them. Have received multiple payouts within seconds and their TopstepX software is very clean, even on mobile.

Verified funded – the receipts