Before opening an account: your checklist

Identify your counterparty

Check the legal entity named in the contract, beyond the website’s brand. Verify any claimed authorization in the relevant official register. Another group entity’s license does not establish your contract’s conditions.

Understand the mechanism, not just the definition

Before registration, separate product, contracting entity and funding/withdrawal process. An onboarding form does not automatically answer these questions. A checklist converts general promises into documents and conditions while keeping unverifiable information visible.

Check deposits and withdrawals

Confirm methods available in your country, currencies, identity checks, charges, and published timeframes. Processing may depend on broker reviews and payment providers. Keep a copy of accepted terms.

Worked case, step by step

A confirmed platform but unknown product, entity and withdrawal route is an incomplete checklist despite an available signup button. Prioritize obligations and access to funds. Demo can teach the interface while documentation is checked; funding is unnecessary for this exercise.

What to verify when applying this

Review costs, products, risk warnings, and complaint channels. When using an IB link, identify the commercial relationship and check advertised benefits. A promotion does not guarantee profitability.

Practice: verify it in your environment

Learn by observing the process and keeping its data. Complete this practice in demo or using documentation, without sending real orders or adding capital for the exercise. Record differences between the example and your account specifications.

1. Record entity, product, platforms, costs and payment route with sources.
2. Flag unanswered questions and resolve them through official channels before funding.

Test your understanding

Try the question before revealing the answer. Justify the conclusion and its assumptions rather than memorizing a number.