Trading & signals glossary
What is account management in trading?
Account management is a service where a trader trades someone else’s account in exchange for a fee or a cut of the profits. In the US, managing other people’s money generally requires registration: as a commodity trading advisor with the CFTC and NFA for forex and futures, or as an investment adviser.
How it works
The client opens an account in their own name and gives the manager trading access, or deposits into a pooled account (PAMM or MAM).
The manager trades and takes a percentage of the profits, usually monthly or quarterly.
In Telegram channels it’s usually pitched with posts like “deposit $500 and we’ll trade it for you.”
Your account
in your name, at a broker
Access
the manager can trade it
Trading
the manager calls the shots
Fee
a % of the profits
Example: what to check first
- Is the manager or their firm registered to manage other people’s money? You can look them up in the NFA’s BASIC database or the SEC’s adviser search.
- Is the account in your name, and can you withdraw whenever you want?
- Is there a verifiable track record (Myfxbook, for example) of other managed accounts?
- If there are losses, who covers them?
Our data · Verpips
What we see in signal channels
- 76 of 269
- channels that offer account management
- 28%
- of the directory
76 of 269 channels that offer account management
76 of the 269 channels in our directory offer account management in their posts. We flag it from the wording they use; we haven’t signed up for it or checked it out.
Verpips data as of Oct 7, 2026, measured against the real price. See how we measure and the channel directory.
Types and variations
- Account in your name
- The manager trades through an access login; you can see everything and withdraw.
- PAMM
- Pooled account: money from several clients in a single account.
- MAM
- Each client has their own account, and the manager trades all of them at once.
Why it matters when choosing a signal channel
Going from following signals to handing over your money changes the risk completely. It’s worth knowing which channels offer it, and checking registration before anything else.
Common traps
- Screenshots of “deposited $500, profit $2,900” with no way to verify them.
- Asking you to deposit into an account that isn’t in your name.
- Promising fixed or “can’t lose” returns.
Key takeaways
- ✓Account management = someone else trades your account for a fee.
- ✓In the US it generally requires CFTC/NFA or SEC registration.
- ✓The account should always be in your name.
- ✓Be wary of promised returns.
FAQ: account management
Is account management legal?
Depends on who offers it and how. In the US, trading other people’s money for a fee generally requires registration with the CFTC and NFA (forex and futures) or as an investment adviser.
How much does an account manager charge?
Usually a percentage of the profits, sometimes plus a flat fee.
Channel by channel
See these numbers for each channel, not as an average.
With a free account you see each channel’s result in R, its drawdown, and what it announced versus what actually happened.