Note: this article was written while this site ran managed accounts. That service has since been discontinued and the tiers and fees below no longer apply; the article stays up because the way to read a drawdown has not changed.
Our public live account is right there: total return, this month's return, and a number many peers won't volunteer — a historical max drawdown of 31.7%. This explains why we insist on publishing it, and how you should read that number before trusting any equity curve with your money.
Because hiding drawdown is a marketing choice
Most managed, copy-trade and signal services show you one upward equity curve. But the curve is the outcome; drawdown is the process you live through. An account that flaunts +X% and never mentions drawdown either hasn't run long enough to meet a real headwind, or is deliberately not letting you see one. A reproducible strategy isn't afraid of being seen; what's afraid of being seen is the narrative.
What 31.7% means
It means: at some point, the account fell about a third from its peak before recovering. Apply it to your capital and ask yourself honestly — if your account floated a 30% loss one day, could you sleep? Or would you intervene mid-drawdown and lock the loss in? If you can accept it, a medium-high-risk live style fits you; if not, pick a low-risk configuration, or skip leveraged strategies entirely. Make that decision before you pay, not once the drawdown arrives and you discover your tolerance.
How we managed that risk at the time
- Three risk tiers: low/medium/high, with different sizing and drawdown caps. The client picked by tolerance; the manager did not gamble it for them.
- No share in losing months: the 20% share (15% via referral) applied only in months the client made money; losing months charged fixed cost only. That tied the manager's incentive to "control drawdown, survive," not "swing for the fences."
- Funds stay in the client's name: the account sits at the client's own broker; the manager holds trading rights only and cannot move money. Changing the trading password revokes access at any time.
- Verifiable throughout: Myfxbook connection + read-only password + a monthly statement. You don't trust anyone's word; you trust the data.
Who it's for / not for
Leveraged strategies are for: people who understand and can withstand a medium-high drawdown profile. Not for: anyone putting their whole net worth in who panics at a two-digit drawdown — with that capital structure any leveraged strategy will hurt you, whoever runs it.
Next step
Whether it's a managed service, a copy-trading provider or an EA, verify its live curve and drawdown yourself first (how: Myfxbook guide). Decide once you've made peace with the drawdown. On why drawdown is the first metric, also see this.
Risk note: margin trading in FX and derivatives is high risk; past performance (including the live record and max drawdown) does not represent future returns, is not investment advice, and guarantees no capital protection or minimum return. Only trade with money you can afford to lose.