Brokers and Trading Accounts

Strategies place orders on a trading account. Accounts belong to a broker connection.

Add a broker connection

1. Open Settings → Trading Parameters.
2. Click to add a broker, enter a Broker Name and choose the Broker Type:
   • Virtual — built-in simulated broker for paper trading. No real money, no external credentials.
   • Alpaca — Alpaca account; fill in the Credentials fields.
3. Save the broker.

Add a trading account

1. On the broker, add a trading account.
2. Enter an Account Name and an Initial Balance (USD) (virtual accounts).
3. Choose a Trading Cost Preset — how fills are charged in simulation:
   • Realistic — typical retail conditions (0.1% spread, 0.1% commission).
   • Low Cost — best-case ECN broker (0.05% spread, 0.05% commission).
   • Zero Cost — no spread, no commission.
   • Aggressive — high costs for stress testing (0.2% spread, 0.2% commission).
4. Save. The Trading Accounts list shows balance, used and free margin, realized and unrealized P/L.

Start with a virtual account. Every order passes the risk checks (“Risk Management”) before it reaches the account.

Next step: create a strategy (“Creating a Strategy”).