The useful starting point
Broker custody and software access are different relationships. Keep investment capital and service payments separate.
Three relationships to keep clear
Your brokerage account holds your cash and securities. SquaredQ supplies standardized strategy targets and the software environment that uses your configuration to generate orders. Your subscription pays for access to that software and the applicable services.
When a strategy is active, orders are sent to your selected broker. You do not move your investment capital into a pooled SquaredQ trading account. Funding, withdrawals, account transfers and the broker’s own account checks remain matters for your brokerage relationship.
Access still deserves attention
Keeping assets at a broker does not mean the software has no meaningful access. Automated execution needs permissions to read relevant account information and place or cancel orders. Orders can change your positions and create financial losses.
The documented execution software has no implemented withdrawal or transfer functionality. That is a description of the software, not a universal guarantee about every credential, broker product or third-party system. Review the permissions attached to your own connection.
How the documented connections work
Alpaca, Webull and Public connect using API credentials entered in the designated MyAlgo setup interface. Interactive Brokers connects through a locally authenticated Trader Workstation (TWS) or IB Gateway session. SquaredQ does not use OAuth for these connections.
Broker secrets are stored in the dedicated environment. Operational information is also processed for the dashboard and support, and maintenance access exists. Read the security overview for a measured description of these boundaries rather than assuming that dedicated hosting means no service access.
What to do when you leave
Disconnecting stops future execution but may leave positions and working account obligations at the broker. Cancelling a subscription does not necessarily close trades. Closing positions is a separate action with a broader account effect.
Review the account directly with your broker, revoke permissions where appropriate using the broker’s controls, and verify that you understand the remaining positions. The broker guides explain the documented connection types and where setup differences matter.
Automated investing in an account you maintain.
Account ownership makes the relationship easier to understand: you select the products and allocations, while your separately maintained broker account holds the investments. Once activated, the strategy determines underlying trades. Stopping the software, closing positions and withdrawing cash remain distinct decisions.
For a detailed comparison with pooled fund structures, read our guide to automated investing in your own brokerage account. It explains the customer controls, the role of the broker and the practical limits of an exit.
