How much money do I need to start?
You can start copying traders with as little as $2,000. Minimum investment amounts are higher on Twinvest than on some other platforms because futures contracts are copy traded on the platform (as opposed to stocks). However, there's no minimum to create an account and browse our marketplace of traders. Once you're ready to copy, you set your own allocation amount for each trader—giving you full control over how much you invest. We recommend starting with an amount you're comfortable with and can afford to keep invested for the medium to long term.
Is my money safe? / Is this legit?
Yes, your money is protected in multiple ways:
- Your funds stay in your brokerage account. Twinvest never holds your money—it remains in your own TradeStation account at all times.
- SIPC Protection. Your brokerage account is protected up to $500,000 by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation.
- Bank-level security. We use 256-bit encryption, two-factor authentication, and biometric login.
- Regulated operations. Twinvest operates under SEC regulatory oversight and partners with TradeStation, a FINRA/SIPC member.
You maintain full control and can disconnect, withdraw, or stop copying at any time.
What if a trader I'm copying loses money?
All investing involves risk, and past performance doesn't guarantee future results. However, Twinvest gives you several tools to manage risk:
- Stop copying anytime. With one tap, you can stop copying any trader instantly.
- Set your own limits. You decide how much to allocate to each trader.
- Diversify across traders. Copy multiple traders with different strategies to spread risk.
- Choose your risk level. Every trader displays a risk rating so you can match your comfort level.
- Transparent track records. Review each trader's full performance history before you copy.
Can I stop copying at any time? Do I have control?
Absolutely. You have complete control at all times:
- Stop copying instantly. One tap and you're done—no waiting periods or penalties.
- Adjust your allocation. Increase or decrease how much you've allocated to any trader.
- Withdraw your funds. Your money is in your own brokerage account—withdraw anytime.
- Pause copying. Take a break without closing your positions if you prefer.
- Close individual trades. Even while copying, you can manually close specific positions.
What are the fees? Are there hidden costs?
We believe in complete transparency. Here's exactly how fees work:
- To join and browse: Free. Create an account, explore our marketplace at no cost.
- To copy traders: Each trader sets their own monthly subscription fee, typically $10–50/month.
- No percentage of gains. We don't take a cut of your profits.
- No hidden fees. No withdrawal fees, no account maintenance fees, no surprise charges.
- Standard brokerage fees. Your brokerage may charge standard regulatory fees on trades.
How do I make money as a trader/leader?
As a Twinvest Leader, you earn money when people subscribe to copy your trades:
- Revenue share. You earn up to 30% of the subscription fees from everyone who copies you.
- You set your price. Choose a monthly subscription fee that reflects your strategy's value.
- Grow your income. The more followers you attract, the more you earn.
- Just trade your strategy. You don't need to do anything extra—Twinvest handles the rest.
- Build your reputation. Your verified track record helps you stand out and attract followers.
How does copy trading actually work?
Copy trading lets you automatically replicate the trades of experienced investors. Here's how it works:
- Browse traders. Explore our marketplace of verified traders with transparent track records.
- Choose who to copy. Hit "Copy" and choose how much to allocate.
- Trades mirror automatically. When your trader buys or sells, the same trade happens in your account.
- Watch your portfolio grow. Track your performance in real-time.
Which brokerages do you support?
Twinvest currently integrates with TradeStation. If you don't have a TradeStation account yet, you can open one for free directly through our app in just a few minutes. We're actively working on adding more brokerage integrations.
What types of assets can I copy trade?
Twinvest specializes in futures contract trading. We currently support:
- Stock index futures (E-mini S&P 500, E-mini Nasdaq-100, E-mini Dow, etc.)
- Commodity futures (Gold, Silver, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, etc.)
- Currency futures (Euro, Yen, British Pound, etc.)
- Interest rate futures (Treasury bonds, Eurodollars, etc.)
- Micro futures (for smaller position sizes)
We do not currently support individual stocks, ETFs, options, cryptocurrency, or forex spot trading. Our focus on futures allows traders to access leverage, trade nearly 24 hours, and go long or short with equal ease.
How quickly are trades copied?
Trades are copied in real-time. When a trader you're copying executes a trade, the same trade is placed in your account within seconds—typically under 5 seconds during market hours. If the market is closed when a trade signal is generated, your trade will execute at market open.
Are the track records real?
Every performance metric on Twinvest reflects actual results with real money—not hypothetical or backtested returns.
- Verified brokerage data. Track records are pulled directly from traders' connected accounts.
- Real-time updates. Performance updates automatically as trades are executed.
- Full history visible. You can see each trader's complete history, including worst months.
- No cherry-picking. We don't allow traders to hide bad months or reset records.
What happens if a trader I'm copying closes their account?
If a trader you're copying stops trading or leaves Twinvest:
- Your positions remain yours. Any holdings stay in your brokerage account.
- No new trades. You simply won't receive any new trades from that trader.
- You decide what's next. Hold positions, sell them, or choose a new trader.
- We'll notify you. You'll receive an alert so you're never caught off guard.
Do I need investing experience to use Twinvest?
Not at all! Twinvest is designed for people who want to grow their wealth without becoming trading experts. You don't need to know how to analyze stocks, understand technical charts, or monitor the market all day. Just choose traders whose strategies make sense to you, set your investment amount, and let them do the heavy lifting.
How do I choose which trader to copy?
Choosing the right trader is important. Here's what to look for:
- Match your risk tolerance. Every trader displays a risk rating.
- Look at long-term performance. Don't chase highest recent returns—look for consistency.
- Understand their strategy. Read the trader's bio and strategy description.
- Check the drawdowns. How much have they lost at their worst?
- Diversify. Consider copying 2–3 traders with different strategies.
What are the tax implications of copy trading futures?
Futures contracts have unique tax treatment under IRS Section 1256:
- 60/40 Rule: Regardless of how long you hold a position, gains and losses are taxed as 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains.
- Mark-to-Market: Open positions are "marked to market" at year-end, meaning unrealized gains/losses are taxed as if you closed them on December 31st.
- Form 1099-B: Your brokerage (TradeStation) will provide tax forms showing your realized and unrealized gains/losses.
- Potential tax advantage: The 60/40 rule often results in lower taxes compared to short-term stock trading, since 60% is taxed at the lower long-term rate.
Important: Futures trading can generate complex tax situations. We strongly recommend consulting a tax professional familiar with futures trading. Twinvest does not provide tax advice.
Can I copy multiple traders at the same time?
Yes! In fact, we recommend it. Copying multiple traders helps you diversify risk, smooth out returns, and explore different approaches. There's no limit to how many traders you can copy (subject to your available capital).
How do I withdraw my money?
Withdrawing is simple because your funds are in your own brokerage account:
- Stop copying any traders if you want to free up those funds (optional).
- Sell any positions you want to liquidate (optional).
- Withdraw from your brokerage using TradeStation's standard process.
Twinvest never holds your money, so there are no withdrawal fees from our side.