Broker safety · The desk checklist
Before you deposit a penny, run this checklist. Ten quick checks that catch most of the problems traders run into, in the order the desk does them.
The desk’s pre-deposit safety checklist
- Confirm the entity is licensed on the regulator’s official register
- Know which entity you are onboarded to for your country
- Check whether it is a top-tier (FCA, ASIC) or offshore regulator
- Confirm client funds are held in segregated accounts
- Read the withdrawal terms and methods before depositing
- Check the real all-in cost, spread plus commission
- Confirm the platform you need (MT4, MT5, TradingView) is available
- Read any bonus terms in full, or skip the bonus
- Start with a small deposit and test a withdrawal early
- Run the broker through the Broker Safety Checker
Use the tools, not just the checklist
The checklist is the manual version. The Broker Safety Checker and the Broker Finder do the structured version for your country and platform, and the desk’s Route Checked pages show what was assessed for each broker.
FAQ
How do I know a broker is safe before depositing?
Verify the licence on the regulator register, confirm segregated funds, read the withdrawal terms, start small, and test a withdrawal early. Run the full checklist above.
What is the most important broker safety check?
Confirming the specific entity you open with is licensed by a regulator you can verify. Everything else follows from that.