Broker

A retail forex broker provides the platform, quotes prices, executes orders and holds client money. The quality of that firm affects your results as directly as your strategy does, through execution quality, cost transparency and the reliability of withdrawals.

The first filter is regulation by a serious authority, which imposes client-fund segregation, capital requirements and conduct rules. Costs, platform and withdrawal experience come second — and are best tested with a minimum deposit before any meaningful capital is committed.