Should you let someone else trade your account?

You can delegate your capital to a manager through managed accounts, copy trading, or by giving access to your account — but the risk stays 100% yours. The right question isn't who "always wins," but who you can verify before trusting them with your money.

What are the ways someone can trade your money?

There are several, with different degrees of control:

• Managed accounts (PAMM/MAM): a manager trades a pooled fund and profits or losses are shared pro-rata among investors.
• Copy trading: your account automatically mirrors the trades of another trader you choose.
• Direct access: you hand a third party your credentials or a power of attorney to trade your account — the option with the least control and the most risk.

What risks do you take on by delegating?

The biggest one: you pay the losses, not the manager. Delegating execution doesn't delegate the risk. On top of that:

• A strong past record doesn't guarantee future results.
• A manager with no clear limits can over-leverage your account chasing fees.
• With no regulation involved, recovering your money after a fraud is nearly impossible.

How do you vet a manager before trusting them with your capital?

Before handing over your money, check:

• Regulation: that the manager or platform is supervised by a recognized authority.
• Real track record: verified results that include drawdown, not just the good months. A record with no losses is a red flag, not a sign of quality.
• Fee structure: how and when they get paid, and whether they profit even when you lose.
• Risk control: that they apply a sensible risk per trade and don't chase streaks.

What's the biggest red flag?

Any promise of guaranteed or "risk-free" returns. In a real market no one can guarantee profits, and whoever does is almost always selling a fraud. Delegating your trading can make sense — but only after the same money management you'd apply yourself: understand the risk before chasing the reward.