In the ever-expanding world of retail prop trading, where new firms emerge weekly and thousands of traders seek capital and opportunity, the story behind PropAccount is anything but ordinary. What began as a vision for streamlined automation has evolved into one of the most trusted infrastructures in the industry—quietly powering over 150 prop firms and enabling more than 2 million traders to pursue funded success.
In a recent interview, Justin Hertzberg—CEO of FPFX Tech and PropAccount—shared the compelling journey from his roots as a securities attorney to leading one of the most influential brands in retail trading. This isn’t just a story of growth; it’s about redefining how prop trading operates from the inside out.
Hertzberg didn’t follow the typical path to fintech leadership. He began in litigation, working on securities and commercial law cases, but he quickly realized his entrepreneurial itch wouldn’t be scratched by courtrooms and contracts.
“I was more interested in building something than billing hours. When the opportunity came to join a prop trading firm—even with no trading experience—I took it.”
That leap led him to a FX prop firm and eventually to the launch and scale of one of the largest introducing brokerage businesses globally. Along the way, Hertzberg gained a unique vantage point: he saw both the trading side and the brokerage side of the industry, and where the gaps existed.
One of those gaps? Operational scalability.
“We worked with a client doing over $1M in challenge sales annually—run by just three people. But everything was manual. That told us: this business can scale, but it needs tech.”
That insight became the catalyst for FPFX Tech, which would go on to build the first fully automated, end-to-end prop trading platform. No client brief. No feature list. Just a belief that the market needed it.
The result? A platform that now underpins over 150 prop trading firms, processing more than $1 billion in challenge sales to date.
But that’s only half the story.
While FPFX Tech was powering firms behind the scenes, PropAccount was created to meet a deeper need.
“Not everyone wants to run a full-scale prop firm. Some educators and influencers have great communities, but they don’t want the operational burden or capital risk. That’s where PropAccount comes in.”
PropAccount gives these partners everything they need to launch a prop offering—without having to build it from scratch. From funding and risk management to payouts and tech, it’s a turnkey solution that supports educators, influencers, and affiliates who want to expand into prop.
In Justin’s words:
“We bring the tech, capital, and infrastructure. Our partners bring the trust and community. Together, we create something sustainable.”
In an industry that’s rapidly maturing, not every firm is operating with the trader’s best interest in mind. Justin doesn’t shy away from that truth:
“Some firms never planned to pay. They created a model where the house always wins. That’s not us.”
PropAccount has never denied a payout in four years. That’s not a marketing line—it’s a principle. It’s also a key differentiator in a space where some firms still rely on aggressive marketing and opaque terms to attract traders.
“Reputation matters. And when our partners trust us with their audience, we treat that trust as sacred.”
As the industry grows, so does the conversation around regulation—and whether it will bring clarity or confusion.
“I hope regulation comes. It’s the only way to filter out the bad actors and protect traders.”
Unlike many platforms that may scramble when regulation knocks, PropAccount and FPFX Tech were built with regulation in mind. All data is auditable, payouts and pass rates are trackable, and the system can be adapted to meet new disclosure requirements instantly.
“We don’t wait for rules. We anticipate them. If regulation is about protecting traders and enforcing accountability—we’re all in.”
One of the most transformative developments in the retail trading landscape is how educators are using prop to enhance their programs.
“It’s no longer just about courses. Educators are using PropAccount to assess trader performance in real-time, provide tailored feedback, and scale their brands.”
This shift turns education into applied opportunity. Traders learn, test their skills, and—if they succeed—get funded. For educators, it creates a feedback loop of improvement and credibility.
It also provides another revenue stream, helping them move beyond selling courses to offering an actual path to professional trading.
Because behind many of the successful firms you see today is the technology and operational backbone built by FPFX Tech. And behind many of the most trusted educator-backed brands is PropAccount, providing the capital, structure, and support to help them thrive.
It’s not about being in the spotlight. It’s about building the infrastructure others can trust and grow on.
“Whether you’re a prop operator, educator, or serious trader—if you want to build something real in this space—we’ve built the platform for you.”
Interested in launching your own prop brand or integrating with PropAccount?
Get in touch to learn how we can help you scale with integrity, technology, and a track record of trust.