Account forex trading

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Ideal for traders who want a traditional, spread pricing, currency trading experience

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For traders who are seeking ultra-tight spreads with fixed commissions.

Not available on metatrader.

Recommended bal. $25,000, min. Trade size 100K

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Cash rebates of up to $10/mil volume traded

Professional guidance from your own market strategist

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FOREX.Com is a trading name of GAIN global markets inc. Which is authorized and regulated by the cayman islands monetary authority under the securities investment business law of the cayman islands (as revised) with license number 25033.

FOREX.Com may, from time to time, offer payment processing services with respect to card deposits through its affiliate, GAIN capital UK ltd, devon house, 58 st katharine’s way, london, E1W 1JP, united kingdom.

GAIN global markets inc. Is part of the GAIN capital holdings, inc. Group of companies, which has its principal place of business at 135 US hwy 202/206, bedminster, NJ 07921, USA. All are separate but affiliated subsidiaries of stonex group inc.

Best managed forex accounts

Jay hawk

Contributor, benzinga

Want to jump straight to the answer? The best forex broker for most people is definitely FOREX.Com

Some knowledge of the forex market’s intricacies is necessary before you can successfully operate as a trader.

Even with the best forex broker for beginners and access to the best forex trading courses, it could take an extended period of time of study and preparation to develop a viable and consistently profitable trading strategy.

You can participate in the forex market without actively trading by funding a managed forex account, similar to how you might invest in mutual funds to gain access to the stock market.

A managed forex account allows you to indirectly take part in the forex market by employing market professionals to trade your money for you.

Best managed forex accounts:

Table of contents [ hide ]

What’s a managed forex account?

Unlike a regular forex trading account, where you make all the trading decisions and actively buy and sell currency pairs, a managed forex account consists of a trading account where a trader or money manager trades on your behalf.

This type of account has higher costs and fees than a standard forex trading account and requires a higher minimum deposit in most cases.

A money manager deals with market logistics very similarly in a forex managed account compared to traditional equity and bond investment accounts. Nevertheless, the account remains completely under your control, and the money manager’s only access to your account is the ability to trade in it.

The money manager cannot make deposits or withdraw funds from the account. Remember, making a profit in a managed account is not guaranteed due to the volatility in the forex market, so all managed accounts should provide a disclaimer stating that you can lose money.

Most clients give their money manager complete control over transactions made in their managed forex account, although you can often instruct the money manager on the strategies and trading signals you would like them to consider as they trade on your behalf. This effectively takes you out of the trading picture so you can avoid the emotions and psychological issues that accompany winning and losing trades.

Remember, not all forex brokers are created equal, so carefully consider your needs and broker features before you open an account. Furthermore, if you wish to have someone else manage your forex trading account, be sure they have adequate training and infrastructure at their disposal as well as a respectable track record as a trader.

Keep in mind that once you open a managed account, account managers will generally have minimum time and deposit requirements and sometimes charge penalties for early fund withdrawal. Minimum deposits for these accounts can also be considerably higher than for a standard forex account.

Is a managed forex account right for me?

How involved do you want to be in the forex market? If you want full personal involvement and complete control over your forex positions and capital, then a managed account might not be for you.

On the other hand, if you prefer to have a professional trade for you and risk your money according to their established trading methods and/or software, then a managed forex account may be best. When you open your managed account, the trader you hire should screen you to determine your risk tolerance level and take note of specific strategy instructions you may have.

Managed forex accounts are great for you if…

Many people simply don’t have the time, experience or disposition to trade in the forex market. Paying attention is a full-time commitment, but career or family obligations can distract and divert your attention. A managed forex account gives you the freedom to pursue other activities that you otherwise might not be able to.

Prefer to let someone else do the trading

If you have ever traded in the forex market, you have an idea of the directional uncertainty most traders suffer and the notable volatility currency pairs can exhibit. Know your limitations if you have a problem taking losses and opt to employ a trading professional instead.

Don’t have the psychological make-up of a trader

Some people lack the psychological personality types best suited for trading. For example, if you can never admit when you’re wrong, holding onto a losing position could wipe out your entire trading account. Another example would be a predisposition to overtrading because you find trading exciting. However, trading excess can also take its toll financially, physically and mentally. Rather than risk trading yourself, you may want to find a good account manager.

They might not be a fit if…

If you have trading experience and prefer to stay in complete control of your trading account and the allocation of your assets, then you would probably not be happy with a managed forex account.

You lack enough risk capital

Minimum deposits for a pooled managed account usually start at $2,000 and individually-managed accounts start with a $10,000 deposit. This could deter some traders from opting for a managed account.

You don’t want to go through the process required for opening a managed forex account

Getting a decent account manager requires some research and considerably more paperwork than trading your own account. It also involves signing a limited power of attorney agreement (LPOA) that is a legal document and shows that you have authorized the account manager to trade on your behalf.

Keep in mind that you can still lose money in a managed account, depending on the money manager, risk level, market activity and other conditions of your agreement. You should, therefore, check track records and testimonials for any account managers you consider and make sure that they have a good reputation within the trading community.

Features of a great managed forex account

A great managed forex trading account will show consistent overall profitability, as well as a low maximum drawdown level. The maximum drawdown level indicates the maximum loss of capital experienced in the trading account from its peak over the history of the account.

The maximum drawdown formula

(equity high net value – equity low net value) / equity high net value

As an example of maximum drawdown, let’s assume you begin your account with $10,000, which then increases to $20,000, decreases to $9,000, increases to $21,000, falls to $6,000 and then increases to $22,000.

In this case, the equity high net value would be $22,000, while the equity low net value would be $6,000. This would give you a maximum drawdown of: ($22,000 – $6,000) / $22,000 = 72%, which would be considered high. The wide swings in the account’s value reflect the high maximum drawdown and suggest a risky investment.

The lower the maximum drawdown over time, the less risk the funds in the account have been exposed to. When you consider different account managers, the maximum drawdown level of the account statements they provide as evidence of their track record carries considerable weight.

Ideally, a time frame of three to five years for an account under management would give you a clear indication of the managed account’s maximum drawdown.

Other features of managed accounts

What kind of return on investment (ROI) can you expect on your money?

The type of managed account model to be used:
- Percentage allocation management module (PAMM),
- Lot allocation management module (LAMM), or
- Multi-account management module (MAMM)

The type of trading and trading system the manager employs

Are derivatives part of the trading strategy?

Which type of signal or automated trading software will be used, if any, and what risk parameters does the software employ?

The way to find the best forex broker for managed accounts is to find an account manager you want to work with and then ask them which well-regulated broker he prefers to use.

If you already have a broker in mind, he may even have account managers they can recommend. Look over the account management agreement, past account statements showing an acceptable performance and the manager’s prospectus for their managed accounts, if any.

Get a sense of minimum deposit, drawdown policy, withdrawal limitations and penalties, profit-sharing parameters and risk levels for their different managed accounts. A prospectus should also include contact and background information for the manager who oversees your account.

The best forex brokers with managed accounts

To keep your money safe, decide on an established forex broker to open a managed forex account and look for an individual account manager or group you feel is qualified to trade your account.

The brokers listed below all permit managed accounts, though doing your own research makes sense if you want to get a good return from their manager’s activities.

Based in cyprus, FXTM is regulated by the cyprus securities and exchange commission (cysec), the U.K. Financial conduct authority (FCA) and the international financial services commission (IFSC) in belize. FXTM offers clients a PAMM managed account and also offers copy trading.

Hotforex

Headquartered in mauritius, hotforex is regulated by cysec, the FCA, the south african financial conduct services authority (FSCA) and the dubai financial services authority. Hotforex offers clients a PAMM account with a search engine to customize your managed accounts’ performance by filtering strategies, current ranking, PAMM strategy name, maximum drawdown and minimum deposit.

Alpari international

One of the largest brands in the industry, mauritius-based alpari has oversight from cysec and the belize international financial services commission.

This broker has over 20 years of experience and offers a long list of PAMM accounts that you can choose from. Alpari’s list of PAMM accounts has both conservative and aggressive account managers and includes both maximum drawdown and capitalization information for each manager.

Final thoughts

If you want to participate and make money in the forex market but you don’t want to trade yourself, then a managed forex account could be a perfect fit.

Keep in mind that, in addition to significantly higher minimum deposit requirements, you can be charged anywhere from 15% to 40% (or more) of your profits. You may also have to pay brokerage and additional manager fees, depending on the account specifics.

On the other hand, if you lack sufficient risk capital for a managed account or prefer to trade your own money, then you may be better off trading in a regular forex trading account, especially if you already have a viable trading strategy.

In addition to privacy, trading in a standard forex account gives you much more flexibility and has significantly lower costs than a managed forex account.

Investor’s guide to forex trading accounts types

Opening your first forex account is one of the biggest steps you can make as a beginner trader, so it’s certainly not something you do unprepared.

Many beginner traders either rush into selecting an account type without properly understanding what it offers. Others become overwhelmed by the many different account types available. Both of these approaches are wrong but don’t worry, our experts are here to help.

Choosing a forex account type requires you to carefully consider a variety of things, including what type of forex trader you wish to be, your budget and your trading strategy. It’s important that you choose the right account for you, as your account type can impact your performance and profits.

On this page, you can learn:

The different types of accounts offered by forex brokers

The value of a pip, and how this relates to choosing a forex account

How to pick the correct account type for your trading style

Types of forex trading accounts

All good forex brokers allow clients to choose from a multitude of types of trading accounts. Many account types, however, share certain qualities even though they may go by different names from broker to broker.

We will soon talk you through each different forex account type, but first, you need to understand the value of a pip and lot sizes.

The value of a pip

The difference between the opening and the closing price of a trade is counted in pips. On any trade, your loss/profit is also counted in pips.

The value of a pip is directly related to trade volume. In forex, trade volume is counted in specific amounts, namely ‘lots’. This represents the number of currency units you will buy/sell in a trade.

A standard sized lot is 100,000 units of currency. There are also mini lots (10,000 units of currency), micro lots (1,000 units of currency), and nano lots (100 units of currency).

The value of a pip is different depending on the lot sizes you are trading:

Value of a pip per:
unit	standard lot	mini lot	micro lot	nano lot
$0.0001	$10	$1	$0.1	$.01

Therefore, being profitable when trading the forex markets is not necessarily related to which trader is making more pips, but what each pip is worth.

Having a good understanding of what these units of measurement (lots and pips) mean before selecting an account type is important, as different account types allow you to trade different lot sizes. You should, therefore, review your capital and the volume you wish to trade before choosing an account.

The most common trading account types

As we’ve just explained, the most common live trading account types are based around the size of the lots you wish to trade. Considering this, each different type of account has a different minimum deposit level too.

Mini/micro accounts

Micro accounts are, as their name suggests, accounts suitable for traders with a small amount of capital. They allow you to enter the market with a small minimum deposit limit ($100 or less). As these accounts have a low barrier to entry, however, there are restrictions on your trading activity. Most micro accounts limit you to trading nano or micro lots. This helps you to control your risk-levels, making these types of accounts perfect for beginner traders.

Standard accounts

Different brokers use different names for their standard accounts. Some brokers may call this type of account ‘classic’ or ‘intermediate’. They may also refer to them as ‘premium’ or ‘gold’ accounts, which is a little misleading as these accounts are actually the broker’s regular offering.

Standard accounts usually have a minimum deposit limit of around $100 – $500, and they allow you to trade mini-lots. Some standard accounts, however, may also allow you to trade standard lots but this is rare.

VIP/professional accounts

Whilst the names of these account types suggest that you would need to be accredited if you wished to open one, that’s not necessarily the case. VIP accounts are generally just reserved for those who have a large amount of capital. They have a high minimum deposit limit (around $10,000) and allow you to trade standard lots. These types of accounts are usually ECN accounts too, which means they allow you to trade in the market directly.

It is important to note that professional accounts for EU clients are slightly different. Under european regulations by ESMA, regular retail traders are subject to leverage limits. Should you want to access higher leverage levels, you can apply for an EU professional account. In this situation, you will need to prove your trading experience and credentials. This could be by passing a test or by submitting documentation.

Other forex account types

Aside from the main three account types, there are some other account types you should become familiar with. These types each have their own specific purpose.

Demo accounts

Demo accounts allow you to practice your trading. They are virtual accounts loaded with virtual currency. Almost all demo accounts are free, yet they may have a limited usage period. This is normally around 30 days. If you proceed to open a live account with the same broker, however, you may regain access.

Demo accounts are useful for both beginners and experienced traders. Novice traders can use them to get to grips with different trading platforms and to see the effects of their trades in real-time. Experienced traders also use demo accounts to test their trading strategies risk-free.

Swap-free accounts

Most of the trading account types mentioned above will come with swap fees. This refers to the fee you incur for holding a position overnight. Traders who wish to hold positions open for a long time however, such as swing traders or investors, suffer heavy fees with a regular account. To prevent this, some brokers offer swap-free accounts.

Whilst swap-free accounts can seem appealing, it’s not simply a case of avoiding fees. Swap-free accounts usually come with higher trading costs and various restrictions. As such, unless you do plan on holding positions for a long time, it is normally best to avoid these types of accounts.

One exception to this rule is if you are a muslim forex trader. Swap-free accounts are also sometimes called islamic accounts. This is because they are often used by muslim traders who cannot incur interested fees due to their religious beliefs.

How to choose the right forex account for you?

Knowing the different types of forex trading accounts only goes so far in helping you choose an account. You also need to know your own situation well and know exactly what you want to get out of trading.

Before opening up a trading account, therefore, you need to ask yourself a series of questions:

How much do I wish to deposit? This is a key question, as it can shrink your account options significantly. You need to weigh up how much capital you have, and how much of that you want to deposit with a broker. It is always worth remembering that you should never trade with money that you can’t afford to lose.

What is my appetite for risk? One of the most important things you can do as a prospective trader is to assess your risk appetite. If you’re a conservative trader, for example, you may be quite happy with a micro account where you can trade nano and micro lots. Those who wish to trade more aggressively may want to opt for a standard account where they can trade standard lots.

Do I need access to advanced trading tools? Many brokers reserve their best trading tools for their professional clients. This may include innovative news analysis or access to a larger range of indicators.

These are tools which can very beneficial to expert traders, who may be managing more than one account at once. Do note that whilst its easy to feel like you want access to as many tools as you can get your hands on, these tools aren’t actually always necessary. Don’t go signing up to a professional account as a beginner trader for the sake of extra features. It’s not worth the large deposit amount.

What is the difference between a micro and a standard account in forex?

In forex trading, account types are often based around trade volume. Trade volume is measured in lots, and refers to the amount of currency you wish to trade. Micro accounts, for example, allow you to trade micro or nano lots (1,000 and 100 units of currency respectively). Standard accounts, on the other hand, allow you to trade mini lots and sometimes even standard lots (10,000 and 100,000 units of currency).

What is the best forex trading account for beginners?

All beginner traders should start off with a demo account. This allows you to practice trading with zero risk. Many prospective traders stick to their demo accounts for at least six months, whilst they get to grips with the trading software and their trading strategy. After this time, micro/mini accounts are best for forex beginners. This is because they have a low minimum deposit limit and allow you to trade micro and nano lots.

What account types are there in forex?

In order to cater to all types of traders, the best forex brokers offer a variety of account types. The most common forex account types are based around trade volume, these include mini, standard and VIP accounts. Other popular account types include swap-free accounts/islamic accounts, demo accounts, and social trading accounts.

How much money do you need to open a forex account?

The amount of money needed to open a forex account is dependent on what type of account you want to open. Some brokers allow you to open accounts for as little as $20 or even $5 dollars. Professional accounts, on the other hand, usually have a minimum deposit of around $10,000.

Best forex demo accounts

Luke jacobi

Contributor, benzinga

Want to jump straight to the answer? The best forex broker for most people is definitely FOREX.Com

Trading forex in a demo account offers a great way to get started operating in the world’s largest financial market. You generally just need to open a demo account with an online broker of your choice to get your feet wet. That involves selecting among the various forex brokers available, which requires some initial research on your part to determine the most suitable one for your experience level and trading requirements.

Why choose a demo account?

Trading in a demo account can really help forex beginners who might otherwise have to learn how to trade forex using real money and the financial risks that come with it. While demo trading lacks the emotional rush involved in risking real funds, it does train you to watch the market. It can also give you a good feel for how exchange rates move without risking any real money.

Virtual trading removes the key psychological element involved in risk-taking that can make or break a trader. Even though it does not accurately assess your trading abilities, it can help you practice. You can also use demo account trading to assess the historical performance of your trade plan and train yourself to use a trading platform.

Basically, a forex demo account offers an educational tool for novices to begin trading forex and test their strategies in a real-time trading environment without taking the associated financial risks involved in trading a real money account.

Best forex demo accounts

These days you have a lot of options to choose from among the various online forex brokers to trade currencies through, although traders based in the U.S. Have fewer choices as a result of regulatory restrictions.

Below you will find benzinga’s picks for the top forex and/or contract for difference (CFD) brokers that offer demo accounts in 5 key categories. You will also find details about each broker along with a screenshot of the trading platform you can check out via demo account trading. After deciding on a reputable broker, you can get in touch with them directly to open and start trading in a demo account.

Account minimum

Pairs offered

Minimum trade size

Spread

Commisions

1. Best overall: FOREX.Com

FOREX.Com offers a demo account to prospective clients and ranks as the best forex broker overall. You can practice trading up to 80 currency pairs on FOREX.Com’s advanced trading platforms, even if you live in the U.S.

Non-U.S. Residents can also use the popular metatrader platform that allows you to automate your trading plans and backtest new strategies.

You can check out benzinga’s FOREX.Com review for more information about this excellent broker.

Account minimum

Pairs offered

Minimum trade size

Spread

Commisions

Etoro specializes in social trading that allows you to follow and copy the trades of expert traders who have an established track record with proven profitability.

Etoro also lets you trade more than 2,000 different assets in a demo account, and virtually any trader should find its intuitive forex platforms and apps easy to use, although it does not support the popular metatrader platforms.

Etoro also has excellent educational resources and it accepts U.S. Residents of most states as clients.

Account minimum

Pairs offered

Minimum trade size

Spread

Commisions

3. Best for virtual funding amount: avatrade

If you want a substantial amount of virtual money to practice trading with, then avatrade offers an impressive sum of $100,000 to initially fund your demo account.

That makes this broker our top pick from a virtual funding standpoint.

Avatrade also excels when it comes to the number and variety of trading platforms supported, which include metatrader, zulutrade and an impressive forex and options trading platform called avaoptions.

4. Best for ease of use: easymarkets

Beginner forex traders looking for a broker with the easiest-to-use trading platform will find easymarkets a good choice to open a demo account with. Versions for phone, tablet and desktop devices are all available.

5. Best for unlimited demo time: plus500

Plus500 is a top CFD provider with over 1,000 assets available for trading in a demo account that includes 70 forex currency pairs, as well as stocks, cryptocurrencies, exchange-traded funds (etfs), indices and options. The broker does not accept U.S. Clients.

Plus500 desktop and mobile trading platforms have an intuitive interface that both novices and experienced traders will find very accessible to use for demo account trading. The broker also offers unlimited time on its demo accounts, which makes them ideal for building a long-term performance track record.

Commissions

Account minimum

6. Best for customizable apps: IG

IG offers a few smart ways to trade forex:

IG’s web trading platform

Mobile apps

Metatrader 4

Prorealtime

IG’s clients can trade global currency markets at low spreads. IG, as a leading forex provider, offers and intuitive trading platform and customizable apps.

You can develop your trading knowledge with IG’s free online courses, webinars and seminars as well, called the IG academy.

You pay a spread on every trade. Here are a few pairs that include IG’s costs and value per pip:

Market name	value per pip	min spread	ave spread*	margin req
EUR/USD	$10	0.8	0.9	2%
AUD/USD	$10	1	1.2	3%
EUR/GBP	£10	1	1.7	5%
GBP/USD	$10	1	1.4	5%
potential matches	IG group – product
potential matches	IG group – product
potential matches	IG group – product

market name	value per pip	min spread	ave spread*	margin req
EUR/USD	$10	0.8	0.9	2%
AUD/USD	$10	1	1.2	3%
EUR/GBP	£10	1	1.7	5%
GBP/USD	$10	1	1.4	5%
potential matches	IG group – product
potential matches	IG group – product
potential matches	IG group – product
potential matches	IG group – product

Risk and reward in forex trading

Forex traders make money just like stock traders do by taking positions that rise in value. They also make losses by taking positions that lose in value. When trading positions remain open, any profits or losses stay unrealized, but they become realized when the position is closed out.

Almost all online forex brokers let traders increase the risk they can take and potentially magnify their profits by leveraging. Leverage is generally expressed as a ratio of the size of the position you can control when you place 1 base currency unit on deposit to use as margin. A 200:1 leverage ratio, therefore, means you can control a $200 position by placing just $1 on deposit as margin.

To trade successfully, typically only consider making transactions that meet a certain minimum risk/reward ratio that you find acceptable. For instance, you could risk 100 pips on 1 trade to potentially gain 300 pips if your market view turns out to be correct. This results in an estimated risk/reward ratio of 100:300 or 1:3 on that trade.

Opening a demo account helps you choose a broker

Selecting the right forex broker is one of the most important decisions you will make as a forex trader, so choose wisely. In addition to finding one that fits your trading requirements, you’ll also want a reliable and reputable broker that submits to a strong regulatory agency for oversight.

Opening a demo account with any online broker that you would consider using makes total sense. You can use a demo account to learn how to use the broker’s trading platform, to practice trading and to test out new trading strategies in a real-time trading environment without the risk of actual financial loss.

Methodology

These top forex brokers all offer demo accounts and were selected for this review for a variety of reasons that depend on the category we felt they excelled in. Essential requirements for each online broker chosen included having responsible regulatory oversight, a decent overall reputation with clients, an extended period in business and a significant amount of currency pairs clients can trade.

Forex trading accounts

To trade online, you need to open a forex trading account. When you sign up, you will likely have to choose among several account types. The best forex trading accounts are those that suit your personal needs perfectly. On this page, we look at the forex trading account options you have. We also discuss ways in which these account options will impact your trading performance. You will learn:

Which is the best forex trading account?

Account types. What is a standard account, a funded account, a mini/micro account, a managed account, etc?

Geographic account type considerations.

Below are the best forex trading accounts in your location:

The top 5 forex trading accounts

Opening a forex trading account

What do you need to consider when opening a new forex trading account?

The brokerage firm. Is it reputable or is it a known scammer?

The services the brokerage firm offers.

Costs and incentives involved.

The account type that best suits your needs.

Once you have gotten these issues sorted, there is 3 step process for opening an account:

Fill out the application forms and provide the information your broker requires.

Fund your account.

Start looking for investment opportunities.

When you select a brokerage firm, you take all these factors into account. You need to know whether your would-be broker is a trustworthy destination for traders. Though fewer these days, rogue operations still exist. Creating a real money account with such a broker is flushing money down the toilet.

You also need to know what incentives your broker offers. Match up these incentives with the costs. The broker has to support the account type you prefer and it has to give you access to a proper suite of services. You may even have a preferred account funding method. The broker may or may not accept/support that method.

Services-wise, you are looking for:

Proper trading platforms, with solid technical analysis tools.

Access to education and research.

Trading foreign markets.

Special features you may want.

Convenience. Some brokerage firms offer face-to-face guidance. Others do not. It always makes sense from the perspective of trust, to prefer an operator with physical offices close by.

As far as incentives go, some brokers offer commission-free trading. Others may even reward you for certain achievements as a trader. You may even want to keep your savings with the broker if it rewards you for it.

Make sure you read and understand the full pricing schedule/policy of your broker.

Determining the right trading account type to meet your needs depends on what kind of trader you are, and what your objectives are.

When you fill out your application forms, be aware that you will have to provide information on your employment status, investable assets, and net worth. Some find such probing on the part of the broker quite intrusive.

You also have to provide a copy of your ID/driver’s license. If you want to trade options or gain access to margin, you may have to provide additional information.

Brokers accept several account-funding methods.

Various e-wallets. (neteller, paypal, skrill etc)

Bank transfer.

Electronic funds transfer.

Checks.

Some may accept asset transfers and even paper stock certificates.

Which is the best forex trading account?

As mentioned, the best account type for you is the one that best suits your needs and personal profile. The factors you should consider in this regard fall into two main categories.

Your investment objectives.
The type of trader you are.

Choosing a forex trading account based on your investment objectives

– most “casual” traders invest with a relatively near-term goal. The “make some money” mantra is the main driver behind such efforts. If this mantra describes your investment objectives, you likely need a traditional brokerage account. Such accounts do not offer any tax advantages. On the other hand, they do not tie up your investments long-term either.
You may also be able to trade on margin with such an account. Trading on margin involves borrowing money from the broker. The assets in your account will serve as collateral in this case. Trading on margin carries some obvious risks.

– if your goal is to secure your nest-egg for your retirement, an IRA (individual retirement account) is your option. All IRA options, such as traditional IRA, roth IRA, and rollover IRA offer you tax benefits. On the downside, you will not be able to touch this money before you are old.

Choosing a forex trading account based on what type of investor you are

– you are an absolute beginner. And as such, not much of an investor. What you need at this stage is education. Possibly some good trading signals as well. In a word, you need an account, through which the broker can hold your hand. It could be that your ambitions are not high. Still, you need to know why you are doing what you are doing. Customer service and user interface are important factors in your account selection.

– you are a “value” investor. Such investors buy and hold assets, to sell them when they appreciate. Such investors are not active traders. If you are a value investor, you value fundamental analysis. You have little use for charting and fancy technical indicators, however.

– passive investing. Those who invest in index funds passively do not require much from their broker. Unlike beginners, such traders don’t need their hands held either. They just need access to index funds, and good tradable asset selection within this category.

– high frequency trader. Active traders do not hold their positions long-term. They buy and sell with high frequency. Thus, they need all the bells and whistles their broker can offer them. They want good trading platforms with superb charting. Outstanding reporting and a highly functional interface are also musts. Technical analysis is the bread and butter of this trader category. Trading costs are also very important for active traders.

Forex trading account types

There are four basic account type categories: standard, funded, mini and managed. We will look at each in turn.

Within these categories, there are a few additional variants, such as the micro accounts. There are a handful of special account types as well, such as islamic accounts, demo accounts, and VIP accounts. Every one of these account options carries some advantages and some disadvantages.

Standard trading accounts

The name of this account option stems from the standard lots to which it gives traders access. A standard currency lot is worth $100,000. Such a lot size seemingly places this account type out of the reach of average traders.

You do not have to have $100,000 in your account to trade, however. The existence of margin and leverage means that you only have to have $1,000 to trade a standard lot.

Leverage varies based on many things. In the EU, forex leverage is capped at 1:30. In other places, brokers may offer leverage up to 1:500 even on standard accounts.

Brokers offer full services for the holders of standard accounts. Such accounts require upfront capital, so these are all depositing traders. The profit potential of this account type is significant as well.

On the downside, the same goes for loss potential. For this reason, you should only trade through a standard account if you are an experienced trader.

Funded trading accounts

Some brokers/other financial organizations fund certain traders. They provide them with starting capital, in exchange for a share of their future profits.

How does such a setup work?

Would-be funded account owners need to pass an evaluation program. If the broker’s analysts consider them to be good candidates, they grant them a funded account.

Funding can run into millions of dollars. Profit splits are in the 50% range. Funded accounts carry monthly profit targets. Traders who fulfill these targets can gain additional funding.

The broker pays out the profits periodically.

What do you need to do to secure such a funded account?

Your first step is to sign up for the evaluation program.

Trade through the evaluation account and reach the targets.

Earn a proper funded account and start making money for you and the account provider.

Mini and micro trading accounts

A standard account features $100,000 lots. For traders who cannot afford to trade in that league, despite margin and leverage, mini accounts offer an alternative. A mini account supports mini lots. These lots are worth $10,000 each. Mini accounts usually accompany standard accounts and they target new traders.

Micro accounts take this approach a step further. They support micro-lots of $1,000. Such accounts are even more affordable than the mini ones. Like the minis, micro accounts target beginners as well.

The main advantage of mini and micro accounts resides in risk-reduction. For a mere $250-$500, you can open such a trading account. Trading in lower increments stretches your funds longer as well. This is one of the reasons why professional traders like to use such accounts. They can test their strategies in a low-risk, real-money environment.

In addition to the inherent risk-minimization benefits, mini and micro accounts let you spread your funds thinner. Thus, you can better micro-risk-manage them.

The obvious downside is that risk/loss minimization reduces profit potential as well. Such accounts are, therefore, hardly suited to cover the profit needs of professional/advanced traders.

Managed trading accounts

Forex trading account management works like this, A managed account is one that holds your funds but excludes you from decision-making. You make your deposit, and someone else – usually a broker-side expert – does the trading for you. You may be able to set objectives, however.

Why would you want to give up control through such a trading account?

– you are not an expert and you feel that the manager will do a better job than you ever could. Thus you let the manager handle your individual trading account.
– you feel that pooling your money with the funds of other investors offers you a degree of protection. Such managed accounts work like mutual funds. Managers handle the trading and they distribute the profits.

Managers rank these pooled accounts according to risk tolerance. Those looking for higher profits opt for more risky accounts. Those with a lower risk tolerance play it safer, earning less.

The main advantage of a managed account is that it allows you to cash in on the skills of a forex professional. Furthermore, you get to do it hands-off.

The disadvantage is that this forex expert will cut a commission from your profits. Managed accounts require larger deposits than regular ones. Individual accounts may require as much as $10,000. Pooled accounts are slightly cheaper at around $2,000.

Islamic trading accounts

Islam holds trading to be haram (not permitted). There are ways to turn it into halal (permitted), however.

All trading activity has to adhere to the principles of islamic finance.

There must not be any interest (riba) involved.

Exchanges involved in trading have to be immediate.

No gambling is allowed.

Risks, as well as benefits, have to be distributed.

Islamic accounts are swap-free accounts, through which transactions and the payments of costs associated with them, happen instantly. In the context of islamic trading accounts, the margin, commissions and administrative fees are not riba.

VIP accounts

Brokers reserve their VIP accounts to their most privileged clients. A VIP account holder enjoys special benefits, such as superior trading conditions. Forex brokerages often invite VIP traders to special events, treating them to special rewards.

What do you have to do to gain access to such an account?

You normally need to deposit an unusually large amount of money (often upward of $100,000). You will also need to trade frequently and perhaps meet certain trade volume requirements.

Demo accounts

A demo account is the “play money” simulation of a real account. It allows traders to test the platform and trading conditions. Some may also use such accounts to test-run certain strategies.

When you sign up for a demo account , the broker credits your account with a set amount of virtual funds. Some demo accounts offer the same functionality as a standard/mini/micro account. Others limit their users’ access to certain features.

Geographic considerations

Sometimes, your geographic location should play a role in your account type selection. Some jurisdictions may limit certain trade types. In the US, there is no CFD trading. The practice is against US securities laws.

Leverage varies greatly between EU regulated countries, the UK for example, and other parts of the world. In the EU forex margin is limited to 1:30 by ESMA, the european regulator.

In other parts of world, india and south africa for example, leverage can be offered up to 1:1000 (though 1:400 or 1:500 is more typical)

The taxes you have to pay on your profits also vary from one jurisdiction to another. Read our taxes page for more on that.

Account forex trading

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before you apply, it is important that you read our client agreement and product disclosure statement. Investing in cfds carries significant risks and is not suitable for all investors. You could lose substantially more than your initial deposit. You do not own, or have any interest in, the underlying assets.
We recommend that you seek independent advice and ensure you fully understand the risks involved before trading.

Award winning service

Axi has been regularly recognised around the world for our outstanding trading service, including awards for reliability, trustworthiness, customer service and client satisfaction.

Best MT4 forex broker
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Best forex broker europe
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Best forex broker middle east
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Axi is a trading name of axitrader limited (axitrader), which is incorporated in st vincent and the grenadines, number 25417 BC 2019 by the registrar of international business companies, and registered by the financial services authority, and whose address is suite 305, griffith corporate centre, PO box 1510, beachmont kingstown, st vincent and the grenadines.

Axitrader is 100% owned by axicorp financial services pty ltd, a company incorporated in australia (ACN 127 606 348). Over-the-counter derivatives are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing substantially more than your initial investment rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how over-the-counter derivatives work and whether you can afford to take the high level of risk to your capital. Investing in over-the-counter derivatives carries significant risks and is not suitable for all investors.

When acquiring our derivative products you have no entitlement, right or obligation to the underlying financial asset. Axitrader is not a financial adviser and all services are provided on an execution only basis. Information is of a general nature only and does not consider your financial objectives, needs or personal circumstances. Important legal documents in relation to our products and services are available on our website. You should read and understand these documents before applying for any axitrader products or services and obtain independent professional advice as necessary.

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Account forex trading

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Diversification does not eliminate the risk of experiencing investment losses.

Forex trading involves leverage, carries a high level of risk and is not suitable for all investors. Please read the NFA booklet: what investors need to know prior to trading forex products

Forex accounts are not protected by the securities investor protection corporation (SIPC).

Forex trading services provided by TD ameritrade futures & forex LLC. Trading privileges subject to review and approval. Not all clients will qualify. Forex accounts are not available to residents of ohio or arizona.

Forex trading exposes you to risk including, but not limited to, market volatility, volume, congestion, and system or component failures which may delay account access and forex trade executions. Prices can change quickly and there is no guarantee that the execution price of your order will be at or near the quote displayed at order entry. Delays in account access and execution at a different price is more likely to occur in conditions such as a fast-moving market, at market open or close, or due to the size and type of order.

The forex market is open from 5:00 p.M. To 4:00 p.M. Daily, sunday through friday. Beginning at 5:00 p.M., forex pairs may be opened at various intervals to ensure market liquidity. As part of routine daily maintenance, generally conducted between 12:00 a.M. – 2:00 a.M. And lasting approximately 2 minutes, the trading platform may not be available. Times referenced are central standard time or central daylight time, whichever is in effect. TD ameritrade futures & forex LLC utilizes JP morgan chase bank N.A. As its forex prime broker. Liquidity providers are JP morgan, citadel securities, XTX markets, HC technologies, and virtu financial.

Additional forex execution data is available by request. You may request transaction data for up to 15 trades that occur in the same currency pair immediately before and after your trade. The information provided in the transaction data includes execution date, time, side, quantity, currency pair, and price. To submit your request, please contact a TD ameritrade forex specialist at 866-839-1100.

*backtesting is the evaluation of a particular trading strategy using historical data. Results presented are hypothetical, they did not actually occur and they may not take into consideration all transaction fees or taxes you would incur in an actual transaction. And just as past performance of a security does not guarantee future results, past performance of a strategy does not guarantee the strategy will be successful in the future. Results could vary significantly, and losses could result.

The papermoney trading software application is for educational purposes only. Successful virtual trading during one time period does not guarantee successful investing of actual funds during a later time period as market conditions change continuously.

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Forex training account

Demo accounts at liteforex - training under real market conditions

A forex demo account is a training account that is perfectly suitable for practising and getting ready for trading with real money. You can use your demo account free of charge to boost your trading skills, refine on your trading strategies or test experts-advisers under real market conditions. Money put on a demo account is a virtual investment. Demo accounts can be opened via personal profile in less than 1 minute. Master the metatrader platforms and acquire trading experience on a demo account from liteforex with no risk of losing any of your money.

The best way of training your trading skills with market execution and low spreads.

Real quotes from liquidity providers

Scalping and news trading allowed

Market execution of orders with no requotes

Unlimited duration of transactions

No stop & limit levels

Access to all trading instruments

Open a demo account and start trading on forex without risks right now!

Training account DEMO ECN

Trading on a DEMO ECN account will help both forex beginners and forex professionals work out their own trading plans and choose the most convenient strategy. There’s no risk of losing money when refining your trading strategies. Try out a few ideas and choose the best system that will help you in the future when trading on a real account.

Account specification

Forex major - 10$ per lot, forex crosses - 20$ per lot, forex minor - 30$ per lot, metals - 20$ per lot, oil - 5$ per lot, CFD on shares - 25 cents per share, stock indices - 5$ per contract, crypto - 10$ per lot

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Risk warning: trading on financial markets carries risks. Contracts for difference (‘cfds’) are complex financial products that are traded on margin. Trading cfds carries a high level of risk since leverage can work both to your advantage and disadvantage. As a result, cfds may not be suitable for all investors because you may lose all your invested capital. You should not risk more than you are prepared to lose. Before deciding to trade, you need to ensure that you understand the risks involved and taking into account your investment objectives and level of experience. Click here for our full risk disclosure.

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Liteforex investments limited does not provide service to residents of the EEA countries, USA, israel, and japan.

The best way to learn forex trading

If you've looked into trading forex online and feel it's a potential opportunity to make money, you may be wondering about the best way to get your feet wet and learn how to get started in forex trading.

It's important to have an understanding of the markets and methods for forex trading so that you can more effectively manage your risk, make winning trades, and set yourself up for success in your new venture.

The importance of getting educated

To trade effectively, it's critical to get a forex education. You can find a lot of useful information on forex here at the balance. Spend some time reading up on how forex trading works, making forex trades, active forex trading times, and managing risk, for starters.

As you may learn over time, nothing beats experience, and if you want to learn forex trading, experience is the best teacher. When you first start out, you open a forex demo account and try out some demo trading. It will give you a good technical foundation on the mechanics of making forex trades and getting used to working with a specific trading platform.

A fundamental thing you may learn through experience, that no amount of books or talking to other traders can teach, is the value of closing your trade and getting out of the market when your reason for getting into a trade is invalidated.

It is very easy for traders to think the market will come back around in their favor. You would be surprised how many traders fall prey to this trap and are amazed and heartbroken when the market only presses further against the direction of their original trade.

The famous and painfully true statement from john maynard keynes states, "the market can stay irrational, longer than you can stay solvent." in other words, it does little good to say the market is acting irrationally and that it will come around (meaning in the direction of your trade) because extreme moves define capital markets in the first place.

Use a micro forex account

The downfall of learning forex trading with a demo account alone is that you don't get to experience what it's like to have your hard-earned money on the line. Trading instructors often recommend that you open a micro forex trading account or an account with a variable-trade-size broker that will allow you to make small trades.

Trading small will allow you to put some money on the line, but expose yourself to very small losses if you make mistakes or enter into losing trades. This will teach you far more than anything that you can read on a site, book, or forex trading forum and gives an entirely new angle to anything that you'll learn while trading on a demo account.

Learn about the currencies you trade

To get started, you'll need to understand what you're trading. New traders tend to jump in and start trading anything that looks like it moves. They usually will use high leverage and trade randomly in both directions, usually leading to loss of money.

Understanding the currencies that you buy and sell makes a big difference. for example, a currency may be bouncing upward after a large fall and encourage inexperienced traders to "try to catch the bottom." the currency itself may have been falling due to bad employment reports for multiple months. Would you buy something like that? Probably not, and this is an example of why you need to know and understand what you buy and sell.

Currency trading is great because you can use leverage, and there are so many different currency pairs to trade. it doesn't mean, however, that you need to trade them all. It's better to pick a few that have no relation and focus on those. Having only a few will make it easy to keep up with economic news for the countries involved, and you'll be able to get a sense of the rhythm of the currencies involved.

After you've been trading with a small live account for a while and you have a sense of what you're doing, it's ok to deposit more money and increase your amount of trading capital. Knowing what you're doing boils down to getting rid of your bad habits, understanding the market and trading strategies, and gaining some control over your emotions. If you can do that, you can be successful trading forex.

Managing risk

Managing risk and managing your emotions go hand in hand. When people feel emotional, greedy or fearful, that is when they make mistakes with risk, and it's what causes failure. When you look at a trading chart, approach it with a logical, objective mindset that only sees the presence or lack of potential; it shouldn't be a matter of excitement. If pulling the trigger on a trade feels emotional in any way, you should re-evaluate why you're not able to be objective.

The balance does not provide tax, investment, or financial services and advice. The information is being presented without consideration of the investment objectives, risk tolerance or financial circumstances of any specific investor and might not be suitable for all investors. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investing involves risk including the possible loss of principal.