What a brokerage account does
A brokerage account gives access to a service under a client agreement. You fund the account and carry the trading risk, subject to the product structure and local protections. Check who holds client money and what happens if the firm fails.
What an evaluation programme does
A retail prop programme commonly charges a fee to participate in an evaluation. FTMO, for example, describes its accounts as simulated trading with potential performance-based rewards. Other firms and programmes can use different arrangements. An advertised account size is not automatically a cash balance you can withdraw.
Ask different questions
For a broker, examine authorisation, client-money treatment, execution and withdrawal conditions. For a prop programme, examine the purchased service, daily and overall loss rules, permitted strategies, reward eligibility and dispute process. Futures programmes should be compared separately from forex CFD programmes.
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