Rank #1
FP Markets
Rating
9.3 / 10
- Best for
- 股票与外汇集于一处
- Why it ranks here
- FP Markets 将原始点差外汇定价与直接市场准入（DMA）股票交易相结合，让注重成本的交易者和多资产投资者可以在同一账户组内操作。五种平台选择、ASIC、FSCA、SCA、FSA 和 CMA 的监管以及无最低入金，使其成为我们本季度综合表现最强的推荐。
How to tell if a forex broker is safe
Low spreads and a slick app mean nothing if you can't get your money back out. Before you compare costs, make sure the broker is one you can trust with your deposit. This guide shows what to check, in the order we check it ourselves.
1. Regulation comes first
A regulated broker has a licence from a financial authority. That authority sets rules on how client money is held, how much leverage retail traders can use and how complaints are handled, and it can fine or shut down firms that break them.
Not all licences give you the same protection. Regulators such as the FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), BaFin (Germany), FSCA (South Africa) and DFSA (Dubai) supervise firms closely. Some offshore licences cost little to obtain and are lightly enforced.
What matters most is the entity you actually sign with. Many brokers run several companies under one brand, each licensed in a different country. Your client agreement names your entity. That entity decides your leverage, your protections and where you can complain.
How to check: find the licence number on the broker's website (usually in the footer or legal pages), then search for it on the regulator's own website. If the name, licence number and web address don't match, walk away.
2. What protects your money
- Segregated client funds. Regulated brokers must keep your money in bank accounts separate from the company's own money, so it can't be used to pay the broker's bills.
- Negative balance protection. In the UK, the EU and Australia, retail clients can't lose more than their account balance on CFDs. Elsewhere, check whether your entity offers it.
- Compensation schemes. Some countries cover clients if a regulated firm fails. In the UK, for example, the FSCS covers eligible clients up to £85,000 per person per firm. Many offshore entities have no scheme at all.
- Complaint routes. A good regulator gives you an independent ombudsman or dispute service if the broker refuses to help.
None of these protect you from trading losses. They protect you if the broker itself does something wrong or goes out of business.
3. Warning signs of a scam
Be careful if you see any of these:
- Promised or "guaranteed" returns, or claims that you can't lose
- Pressure to deposit quickly, or calls and messages you didn't ask for
- An "account manager" who wants to trade for you or asks for remote access to your computer
- Requests to pay in crypto, by gift card or to a personal bank account
- A licence you can't find on the regulator's website, or a website that copies a real broker's name
- Withdrawal fees, "taxes" or "release charges" that appear only when you try to take money out
If a broker refuses to pay out, stop depositing. Keep every message and receipt, and report it to your regulator and your bank or card provider as soon as possible.
4. Your checklist before you deposit
- Find the broker's licence and check it on the regulator's register.
- Note which entity your account will be opened with.
- Read how client money is held, and whether negative balance protection applies to you.
- Check the withdrawal methods, fees and typical processing times.
- Make a small first deposit and test a withdrawal before you add more.
