Your first live account, set up safely

In Module 1 you learned why we start real and start small. A demo account can teach you where the buttons are, but it can't teach you the one thing that decides every trade: how it feels when real money is on the line. This guide walks you through opening that first live account the safe way.

Why live, and why small

On a demo account, closing a losing trade costs nothing, so you never learn to sit with a loss, follow your stop, or resist the urge to jump back in. Those habits are the skill. You can only build them when the outcome is real.

Small is what makes it safe. The goal of your first account isn't to make money. It's to make decisions, follow your plan, and build a record. A small balance lets you do all of that while every loss stays a lesson rather than a problem.

A good starting amount is money you could lose completely without it changing your month. For many people that's somewhere between €200 and €1,000. There's no prize for starting bigger.

Choosing a broker

Your broker holds your money and fills your trades, so this choice matters more than any strategy. Check five things.

1. Regulation. Look for a licence from a recognised authority, such as the FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), ASIC (Australia) or BaFin (Germany). The licence number should be on the broker's website, and you can look it up on the regulator's register.
2. Segregated client funds. Your money should be kept separately from the broker's own money.
3. Negative balance protection. You should never be able to lose more than your account balance.
4. Clear costs. Spreads, commissions and overnight fees should be published and easy to understand.
5. The markets you want. Make sure the broker offers what you plan to trade: forex, gold, indices, crypto or stocks.

Nfinity works with a partner broker that meets these standards, and you'll find the link in the app. You're always free to choose any regulated broker.

Opening the account

Most regulated brokers follow the same steps, and it usually takes 10 to 20 minutes.

1. Create your account with your email and a strong password, and turn on two-factor sign-in.
2. Verify your identity with a photo ID and proof of address. This is a legal requirement, and it protects you.
3. Answer the questions about your experience honestly. They're there so the broker can offer suitable products.
4. Choose your account currency. Pick the currency you live in so your results are easy to read.
5. Deposit your starting amount.

Five settings to check before your first trade

1. Leverage. Choose a modest setting if the broker lets you. Your 1% rule and your stop decide your real risk, but lower leverage is a useful safety net while you learn.
2. Lot step. Check you can trade micro lots (0.01) on forex and gold. That's what lets a small account risk exactly 1%.
3. Stop loss on every order. Learn where to set the stop and target on the order ticket before you need it.
4. Notifications. Turn on alerts for filled orders, stops and margin, so nothing happens without you knowing.
5. Withdrawals. Do a small test withdrawal early. Knowing your money comes back smoothly builds trust.

Your first trade

Keep it boring. Take a setup from the Academy, risk 1% of the account, set your stop and your 3R target before you press the button, then leave it alone. Post it in the community if you like. Whatever the result, write it in your journal.

If it hits the stop, that's not failure. You followed your plan with real money, and that's the exact skill this whole journey is built on.

Trading involves risk and you can lose money. Only trade with money you can afford to lose. Nfinity may earn a commission from partner brokers. This guide is education, not financial advice.