Professional trading account
Elective professional clients are not subject to the protections that apply to retail clients. If two or more of the following apply to you, you may be eligible.
1. Have you placed significant-size trades on leveraged products, averaging at least 10 per quarter over the past four quarters?
2. Is your portfolio of cash savings and financial instruments worth more than 500,000 Euros (or equivalent)?
3. Have you worked in the financial sector for at least a year, in a role that requires knowledge of leveraged derivatives such as CFDs?
Common questions
An elective professional client is a classification category under FCA rules for those who meet specific experience, portfolio, or industry experience criteria. Retail clients (the default status when creating a Trade Nation account) wanting professional client status must elect or opt-up, and Trade Nation must approve the application. Elective professional status means moving outside standard retail conduct-of-business protections., including leverage restrictions.Eligible clients are assessed individually before status is granted.
To qualify, you must meet at least two of the following: you've traded CFDs or similar leveraged products at significant size and frequency (typically 10+ qualifying trades per quarter over the past year); your portfolio of financial instruments and cash exceeds €500,000; or you have relevant professional experience in the financial sector giving you knowledge of derivatives trading.
Professional clients may lose access to FSCS protection and the Financial Ombudsman Service, do not benefit from negative balance protection and standardised retail risk warnings do not have to be displayed. Trade Nation’s communications with professionals may assume they are more experienced.
These protections exist specifically to safeguard retail clients from the risks associated with leveraged trading. Professional status is intended for clients who meet the FCA's criteria for experience and financial standing, and who have a greater understanding of the risks involved.
Yes. When you apply for a professional account, Trade Nation will ask you for evidence you meet the two criteria you qualify under. Trade Nation conducts ongoing monitoring to ensure eligibility is maintained.
No. An elective professional categorisation cannot be transferred between firms. You apply directly with Trade Nation.
Yes. Please create a retail account before applying to become a professional account.
Liquid assets such as cash savings and financial instruments including shares, funds and other investments. Physical assets like property are not included. If you are unsure, get in touch and we're happy to help.
No. Your funds are kept segregated at tier one UK banks, with the same client money controls and processes as retail classified traders. Trade Nation does not require you to sign a Title Transfer Collateral Arrangement (TTCA).
No. Becoming an elective professional client does not change the tax treatment of the products you trade. Tax depends on your individual circumstances and may change in the future. This is not tax advice - speak to a qualified tax adviser if you are unsure.
You can keep trading with Trade Nation as a retail client, with the full retail protections that apply.
Yes. You can ask to be re-categorised as a retail client.
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UK - FCA
Australia - ASIC
Seychelles - FSA
Europe - CMVM
Bahamas - SCB
South Africa - FSCA
The legal stuff
Financial Spread Bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 73.7% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Refer to our legal documents.
Trade Nation is a trading name of Trade Nation Financial UK Ltd, a financial services company registered in England & Wales under company number 07073413, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under firm reference number 525164. Our registered office is 14 Bonhill Street, London, EC2A 4BX, United Kingdom.
Trade Nation is a trading name of Trade Nation Europe Empresa de Investimento, S.A. is a Public Limited Company, authorised and regulated in Portugal by the Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários (CMVM) with the licence number 601, and is a company registered in Portugal with the number 517 156 091. Our registered office is Regus Business Center Lda, Escritório 203/204, Praça Marquês de Pombal 14, 1250-162 Lisboa.
Trade Nation is a trading name of Trade Nation Australia Pty Ltd, a financial services company registered in Australia under number ACN 158 065 635, is authorised and regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), with licence number AFSL 422661. Our registered office is Level 17, 123 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.
Trade Nation is a trading name of Trade Nation Ltd., a financial services company registered in the Bahamas under number 203493 B, is authorised and regulated by the Securities Commission of the Bahamas (SCB), with licence number SIA-F216. Our registered office is No. 3 Bayside Executive Park, West Bay Street & Blake Road, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
Trade Nation is a trading name of Trade Nation Financial Markets Ltd, a financial services company registered in the Seychelles under number 810589-1, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority of Seychelles (FSA) with licence number SD150. Our registered office is CT House, Office 6B, Providence, Mahe, Seychelles.
Trade Nation is a trading name of Trade Nation Financial (Pty) Ltd, a financial services company registered in South Africa under number 2018 / 418755 / 07, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), with licence number 49846. Our registered office is 19 9th Street, Houghton Estate, Johannesburg, Gauteng, 2198 South Africa.
The information on this site isn’t directed at residents of the United States, Canada or Belgium, and is not intended for distribution to, or use by, any person in any country or jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation.