FAQ: Automated Futures Trading & NinjaTrader Questions (2026)

General Automated Trading

What is automated futures trading?

Automated futures trading uses computer programs to execute trades based on predefined rules — without human intervention. The software monitors markets, identifies setups matching your criteria, and places orders automatically. This eliminates emotional decision-making, ensures consistent execution, and allows you to trade without being at your screen. Read our complete automation guide →

Do I need programming skills for automated trading?

Not necessarily. NinjaTrader's Strategy Builder lets you create automated strategies using visual drop-down menus — no coding. Pre-built strategies (like those offered by Trade With The Bull) are also available. Programming skills (C# for NinjaTrader) become valuable if you want to build custom strategies beyond what visual tools offer. Read our NinjaTrader automation guide →

Is automated trading profitable?

Automated trading does not guarantee profitability. Trading futures involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. The advantage of automation is consistency — it executes your strategy without emotional interference. Whether the strategy itself is profitable depends on its design, the market conditions, and proper risk management. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Read algorithmic vs manual trading comparison →

Which platform is best for automated futures trading?

NinjaTrader is the best overall choice for most retail futures traders — it offers a visual Strategy Builder (no coding), ATM strategies for semi-automated trade management, and full NinjaScript (C#) for unlimited customization. The platform grows with you as your automation needs become more sophisticated. See our full platform comparison →

Risk & Capital

How much capital do I need to start trading futures?

For micro futures (MES, MNQ, MYM), you can start with $2,000-5,000 with proper risk management. For mini contracts (ES, NQ, YM), $10,000+ is more realistic. These are minimums — having more capital provides a psychological cushion. Never trade with money you cannot afford to lose. Read our beginner's guide →

How much should I risk per trade?

The professional standard is 1-2% of account equity per trade. On a $25,000 account, that's $250-500 maximum risk per trade. Position size should be calculated based on your stop distance so that if your stop is hit, you lose no more than your predetermined risk amount. Read our risk management guide →

What is a VPS and do I need one?

A VPS (Virtual Private Server) is a remote computer hosted in a data center that runs your trading platform and automated strategies 24/7. It's highly recommended for automated trading — your home computer is subject to power outages, internet drops, and system updates that can interrupt your strategies. A VPS costs ~$30-50/month. See VPS options →

Trade With The Bull

What does Trade With The Bull offer?

Trade With The Bull provides pre-built automated trading strategies for NinjaTrader, custom indicators, comprehensive trading education, and ongoing support. Our software is designed to help traders execute with rules-based discipline, built-in risk controls, and automated trade management. Book a demo to see it in action →

Which NinjaTrader markets do the strategies trade?

Our strategies are designed for the most liquid futures markets: E-mini S&P 500 (ES), E-mini Nasdaq-100 (NQ), and E-mini Dow (YM). These markets offer deep liquidity, tight spreads, and consistent volatility characteristics that suit automated strategies. Book a demo →

Is training included with the software?

Yes. Trade With The Bull includes comprehensive training covering software installation, strategy configuration, indicator interpretation, risk management, and trading psychology. We believe software without education is incomplete — understanding how and why the system works is essential for long-term success. Learn about our education →

How do I get started?

The best way to get started is to book a live demo. We'll walk you through the software, show you how the strategies work in real-time, and answer your questions. There's no obligation — just a genuine conversation about whether our tools fit your trading goals. Book your demo →

Still Have Questions?

Book a live demo and we'll answer your questions personally while showing you the software in action.

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Explore More

Automation Guide →Beginner's Guide →Risk Management →Platform Comparison →NinjaTrader Guide →Common Mistakes →

Software & Technical

How do I install Trade With The Bull strategies on NinjaTrader?

Installation takes approximately 15-20 minutes. You'll import our NinjaTrader assembly files (.dll) through NinjaTrader's import tool, configure your data connection and account, load our chart templates, and enable the strategy. We provide step-by-step video walkthroughs and live onboarding sessions where we guide you through every screen. No technical background required — if you can install software on your computer, you can install our strategies.

[Screenshot Placeholder] — NinjaTrader import dialog showing TWTB assembly file import process

Do your strategies work with any NinjaTrader broker?

Our strategies are compatible with any NinjaTrader-supported brokerage that provides futures trading access. This includes NinjaTrader Brokerage, AMP Futures, Dorman Trading, Phillip Capital, and others. The strategies use standard NinjaTrader order types (market orders for entries, bracket orders for stops and targets) — there's nothing broker-specific in our execution logic. We recommend brokers with low futures commissions and reliable data feeds. During onboarding, we'll help you verify your broker setup is compatible.

How often are your strategies updated?

We release strategy updates quarterly, with additional releases when NinjaTrader ships major platform updates that affect strategy behavior. Every update goes through our full validation pipeline: backtesting on historical data from multiple market regimes, 1 week of simulated trading, and 1 week of "silent live" trading on micro contracts before being released to clients. You'll receive an email with release notes and installation instructions for each update. We never auto-update your software — you control when updates are applied.

Can I customize the strategy parameters?

Yes — within the guardrails we've designed. You can adjust: stop distance (we provide recommended ranges based on volatility), profit target multiples, contract quantity, trading hours, economic event filter sensitivity, and daily loss limit. You cannot modify the core entry logic — this preserves the strategy's statistical edge. We've found that when traders modify entry rules, they typically degrade performance by introducing emotional bias into what was designed to be systematic. The parameters we expose are the ones that benefit from personalization; the ones we lock are the ones that benefit from consistency.

Frequently Asked Questions