Is Zacks Trade regulated?
Trying to find out whether Zacks Trade is regulated? Not sure which authorities are overseeing Zacks Trade and why this matters?
Rest assured, the lack of regulation at Zacks Trade is not a reason for worry. Our brokerage experts have determined that Zacks Trade is a fully regulated broker, overseen in USA. We gathered all the information on the regulatory profile of Zacks Trade and will explain why this matters.
I have personally tested several brokers globally and I am familiar with the regulatory and licensing procedures of at least a dozen financial authorities globally. Here are my key insights into the regulatory status of Zacks Trade as of September 2024:
- Zacks Trade operates under a very strict regulator, which is vital for the safety of your money if you have an account with the broker.
- Zacks Trade must separate client funds/assets from its own operations; this makes all the difference for the safety of your investments.
- Explore the services of Zacks Trade in our comprehensive Zacks Trade review for 2024 and browse other top-tier regulated brokers with our unique Find My Broker tool.
Zacks Trade has top-tier regulation
Think of a broker with strict regulatory oversight like a lifeguard at the beach. Just as the lifeguard keeps you safe in the water, offering immediate help when you need it, brokers operating with top-tier regulation protect your investments. They make sure your investments are secure and handled with integrity and transparency.
Zacks Trade has the following regulation:
- US, Global - Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), under our clearing firm’s excess SIPC policy with certain underwriters at Lloyd’s of London for up to an additional $30 million (with a cash sub-limit of $900,000) subject to an aggregate limit of $150 million.
Why does all this matter? We are contacted by an alarming number of people who ended up working with unregulated brokers and they share with us some sad and frightening stories. Here’s an example.
Marco invested a substantial amount using what appeared to be a credible online trading platform. Initially, his investments showed gains, and he was able to make several withdrawals without issues. Encouraged, he increased his investments, but when he tried to withdraw some profits after a successful trade, his requests went unanswered, and customer service became unreachable. Further investigation revealed the broker was not regulated by any financial authority. Eventually, the platform vanished overnight, taking John's investments with it, leaving him with no recourse to recover his funds.
Choosing a broker with top-tier regulation means you're in safe hands. This level of strict oversight ensures that your investments are protected, you're getting fair pricing, and trading conditions are transparent and favorable.
Client fund segregation: your ultimate safeguard
As a broker with top-tier regulation, Zacks Trade is legally required to keep the funds and assets of its clients separate from its own money. This is a game changer in terms of the safety of your investments.
Client fund segregation is like having your money in a separate safe from Zacks Trade’s own cash. Thus, if your broker ever runs into financial trouble, your funds won't be touched to settle their debts - they're entirely off-limits. It’s a crucial setup because it protects your money, ensuring that what you’ve invested stays secure and accessible only to you. This segregation is a requirement imposed by top-tier regulators and not something you can request your broker to do. You will only have access to this safety net if your broker has the appropriate regulation.
In the highly unlikely event that Zacks Trade commits fraud and uses client assets for its own purposes, you can still recover your money if you have access to investor protection.
All accounts at Zacks Trade are served by a US-regulated legal entity. This matters because you are covered by the US investor protection scheme, provided by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC).
SIPC investor protection protects against the loss of cash and securities in case the broker goes bust. The limit of SIPC protection is $500,000, which includes a $250,000 limit for cash. A non-US citizen with Zacks Trade is treated by the SIPC the same as a US resident in case something goes wrong. The protection amount is substantially higher than what is covered by most European investor protection schemes.
On the other hand, Zacks Trade does not provide negative balance protection. If the balance on your account goes into negative, you will not be protected.
Get to know Zacks Trade better and browse other top-tier regulated brokers
For detailed insights into trading conditions, costs, and service quality at Zacks Trade, check out BrokerChooser's Zacks Trade review for 2024. All our broker reviews are based on the analysis of nearly 600 data points and direct experience. When we review a broker, we go hands-on by opening a real-money account and trading on its platforms, giving us a complete view of what it offers and how it performs.
The BrokerChooser team has personally tested and reviewed more than 100 brokers globally, all of which have top-tier regulation. All our experience and expertise is included in the Find My Broker tool. Simply answer a few questions and get a personalized broker list.
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Everything you find on BrokerChooser is based on reliable data and unbiased information. We combine our 10+ years finance experience with readers feedback. Read more about our methodology.
