Firm ratings
A weighted score and letter grade derived from five published pillars. Compare the assessment—not just an advertising claim.
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Independent ratings. Verifiable standards.
Responsible
Trading Council
A clearer standard for the firms behind your trades.
Research brokers with more context. Make responsible practices easier to verify. Explore independent ratings, trader reviews and evidence-led certification for forex, stocks, crypto and prop trading.
Evidence over promises.
A public framework. A checkable record.
An assessment is a starting point for due diligence—not a guarantee against loss.
4
Trading firm categories
5
Published scoring pillars
61/100
Minimum overall for certification
40/100
Minimum in every pillar
01 /The reason we exist
Choosing a trading firm should not mean choosing a promise.
The trading industry offers plenty of platforms, promotions and bold claims. The harder question is what sits behind them.
A professional website can tell you what a firm wants you to believe. It cannot, by itself, tell you how fees are disclosed, how withdrawals are handled or what support looks like when a client has a problem.
Traders need a way to compare the underlying practices. Firms that invest in responsible operations need a way to show that work without asking every prospective client to take their word for it.
RTC connects those needs through a published assessment framework, public firm information and certificate records that can be checked.
Less ambiguity.
More accountability.
The goal is not to remove the need for research. It is to give that research a clearer foundation: what is assessed, how the score is calculated and whether a certification claim is current.
Read the published methodology02 /The RTC ecosystem
Four connected ways to look beyond the headline.
Each signal has a different purpose. Read them together without treating them as interchangeable.
Trader reviews
Approved client experiences and star ratings, displayed separately from the Council’s scoring framework.
Read broker reviewsCertification
An evidence-led Council decision with scoring thresholds and a valid issued certificate. Application alone is not certification.
Explore certificationVerification
A public record for checking the identity, status and validity dates behind a certificate claim.
Verify a certificate03 /The markets we cover
Different trading models. Shared questions about responsibility.
The details vary by firm, but the need for clear costs, accountable practices and verifiable information remains.
Forex brokers
Look beyond headline spreads. Examine regulatory standing, client protections, withdrawal practices and the controls around leverage and excessive trading.
Stock brokers
Consider how a firm handles client funds, discloses costs and responds when a client needs assistance—not just the markets its platform offers.
Crypto brokers
Bring the same scrutiny to risk disclosures, fees, payout conditions and accountability. A familiar brand or popular asset does not remove trading risk.
Prop trading firms
Research challenge and reset costs, payout eligibility and rule changes. Understand the conditions of participation before committing to an evaluation.
Category alone does not establish eligibility or imply that a firm holds regulatory authorisation. Research the specific entity and its operating model.
04 /For traders
Better questions before your next commitment.
Use RTC as one part of a considered research process, whether you are evaluating a broker or a prop-firm challenge.
- 01
Find the right firm
Search the directory by firm name and compare the trading category. Confirm the website and identity rather than assuming similarly named companies are the same business.
- 02
Look beneath the headline
Read the overall score alongside the individual pillars. A letter grade summarises the assessment; the underlying breakdown tells you where strengths and weaknesses sit.
- 03
Check current certification
If a firm claims certification, open its public certificate record. Check the firm identity, certificate ID, status and validity dates. An old screenshot is not a current record.
- 04
Add client experience
Read approved trader reviews for context. Treat individual experiences as one source of information, not a substitute for the published assessment or your own checks.
- 05
Verify outside RTC too
Check the relevant regulator’s official register, read the client agreement and examine fees and payout rules directly with the firm before making a commitment.
- 06
Make your own decision
Consider your circumstances, loss tolerance and the risks of the product. A rating or certificate is not personal financial advice or an instruction to trade.
05 /The complete scoring framework
Five pillars. The same published formula.
Every pillar is scored out of 100. Its weight determines the contribution to the overall score. These are assessment checks—not guarantees about every future interaction with a firm.
PILLAR 01
Regulation
30% of the overall score
Who is behind the firm, and what protections can be verified? This pillar examines the legal foundation and evidence supporting the treatment of client funds.
Assessed checkVerificationPoints
- Tier-1 licence (FCA, ASIC, SEC, FINRA, BaFin…)
- Verified on regulator register
- 40
- Segregated client funds
- Bank or auditor letter
- 25
- Negative balance protection
- Client agreement clause
- 15
- Annual audited financials
- Independent auditor report
- 20
PILLAR 02
Fees
15% of the overall score
What does participation actually cost? Clear pricing allows traders to understand their commitment before opening an account or purchasing a challenge.
Assessed checkVerificationPoints
- All fees published before sign-up
- Public fee schedule
- 35
- Spreads/commissions match disclosure
- Live account sampling
- 30
- No hidden inactivity or withdrawal fees
- Terms review
- 20
- Prop firms: reset & challenge fees disclosed
- Pricing page review
- 15
PILLAR 03
Payouts
20% of the overall score
What happens when a client asks to withdraw? Published rules and evidence of actual payment practices matter more than a promotional promise.
Assessed checkVerificationPoints
- Withdrawals processed within 2 business days
- Test withdrawals
- 35
- Payout success rate of 98% or more
- Payment records / trader data
- 30
- Clear, non-retroactive payout rules
- Rule history review
- 20
- No unjustified profit denials
- Complaint analysis
- 15
PILLAR 04
Customer Support
15% of the overall score
Who responds when something goes wrong? Accessible support and documented complaint handling bring accountability into the everyday client experience.
Assessed checkVerificationPoints
- First response within 24 hours
- Mystery-shopper tickets
- 30
- Formal complaints procedure
- Published policy
- 25
- Complaints resolved within 30 days
- Complaint log
- 25
- Access to independent dispute body
- Ombudsman membership
- 20
PILLAR 05
Over-trading barriers
20% of the overall score
Does the environment encourage restraint or excessive participation? Responsible product choices include limits, cooling-off tools and clear risk communication.
Assessed checkVerificationPoints
- Leverage caps and negative balance protection by default
- Account terms review
- 30
- Deposit limits, cooling-off and self-exclusion tools
- Platform feature check
- 25
- No bonuses or incentives tied to trading volume
- Promotions and terms review
- 25
- Prominent risk warnings with real loss-rate disclosure
- Website and onboarding review
- 20
How the overall score is calculated
Regulation × 0.3 + Fees × 0.15 + Payouts × 0.2 + Customer Support × 0.15 + Over-trading barriers × 0.2
The weighted result is rounded to the nearest whole number. Reviews and their star ratings do not enter this calculation.
06 /Reading the rating
A letter grade is a summary. The detail still matters.
The public scale translates the rounded overall score into a consistent grade. It does not tell you, on its own, whether a certificate is active.
A+
96–100
A
91–95
B+
86–90
B
81–85
C+
76–80
C
71–75
D+
66–70
D
61–65
F
Below 61
Failed
Read the pillar breakdown
Two firms can have similar overall scores while differing in the areas that matter to your research. Examine the assessed components rather than relying exclusively on the headline grade.
Check status separately
A rated firm is not necessarily currently certified. A score, an admin-selected profile verdict and a certificate record are distinct signals. Verify the certificate itself when a certification claim is made.
07 / What certification requires
A qualifying score.
No overlooked pillar.
A valid issued certificate.
These requirements work together. A high overall score cannot compensate for a pillar below its minimum, and numerical eligibility alone is not current certification.
61+
Overall score
The weighted five-pillar score must meet the overall minimum.
40+
Each individual pillar
Every pillar must meet its own minimum, without exception.
Valid
Issued certificate
The firm must hold a current certificate with a verifiable public record.
08 /The public record
A seal should lead somewhere you can check.
Certification is meaningful when the claim can be connected to the assessed firm and the current certificate record.
Recognisable.
Traceable. Time-bound.
The Council seal identifies RTC. Its appearance here is not a certificate for any particular firm. For a firm’s certification, follow the public record and check the identity and validity information.
Open public verification- 01
Confirm the entity
Match the firm name and identity to the business you are researching.
- 02
Find the certificate record
Use the public verification page and the firm’s certificate ID rather than an image of a badge.
- 03
Inspect the current status
Check status, issue date and expiry date. Certificates expire after 12 months and require renewal.
- 04
Keep the limits in view
Verification confirms a certificate record. It does not promise future performance, returns or payouts.
09 /For brokers & prop firms
Let clients see the work behind your reputation.
Certification is not a shortcut to growth. It is a structured way to make responsible practices visible and give clients a claim they can verify.
Make your practices visible
Turn internal policies and operational effort into an assessment clients can inspect. Published criteria provide a clearer conversation than broad claims about being trustworthy.
Support client research
A public firm profile brings assessed information into one place. Prospective clients can examine the rating and verify certification rather than rely only on your sales material.
Align the whole business
Give compliance, operations, support and product teams a common framework. The pillars address the client journey before, during and after participation.
Communicate with accountability
An issued certificate can link to a current public record. That makes status checkable and keeps the claim tied to a decision, not simply a logo on a website.
Identify improvement priorities
Review your practices against individual checks rather than chasing an average. Weakness in one pillar deserves attention even when the overall score looks strong.
Build a time-bound trust story
Certification has an expiry date and requires renewal. Keep communications connected to current evidence rather than treating a historical assessment as a permanent endorsement.
10 /From application to renewal
A clear next step. An evidence-led journey.
The broker portal keeps your application and review progress together. Prepare accurate information and allow the assessment—not the marketing claim—to lead.
- 01
Register as a broker
Create your broker account with your company details and website domain. Broker accounts have access to the application portal; trader accounts have their own review experience.
- 02
Provide your firm details
Complete the application with the company name, firm type, contact email, website and regulator information. Ensure the details refer to the entity you want assessed.
- 03
Prepare for the assessment
Organise evidence against the published criteria. Review can include terms, records, live-account sampling, withdrawal testing and support checks.
- 04
Follow the review
Use your firm portal to track progress and respond when additional information is requested. Submitting an application is not an approval or an issued certificate.
- 05
Receive a decision
The Council’s decision is separate from the calculation of a score. Current certification requires the scoring thresholds and a valid issued certificate.
- 06
Share and maintain your status
If certified, direct clients to the verification record and keep your communications accurate. Certificates expire after 12 months and require renewal.
11 /Before you apply
Organise the evidence behind your operations.
This checklist helps you prepare for the published assessment. It does not add new certification requirements or guarantee approval.
Identity & regulatory evidence
Legal entity details, website identity and documents supporting the regulatory information you submit.
Client protections
Client agreements, fund-segregation evidence and relevant independent audited financial information.
Pricing & trading terms
Published fee schedules, commissions, spreads, withdrawal costs and any challenge or reset fees.
Payout practices
Withdrawal records, payout conditions, rule history and the information needed to assess payment practices.
Support & complaints
Support records, the published complaints procedure and evidence of how complaints are handled.
Responsible trading controls
Leverage settings, deposit limits, cooling-off and self-exclusion tools, promotional terms and risk warnings.
Confirm pricing, assessment scope and review expectations directly with the Council. No fixed price or review turnaround is promised here.
Discuss your application12 /The trader’s voice
Client experiences add context—not a new scoring formula.
A published assessment and a first-hand experience answer different questions. RTC keeps them distinct.
Read reviews alongside the evidence
Approved reviews give traders a place to share experiences with a specific firm. A star rating represents that reviewer’s assessment; it does not change the Council’s five-pillar score or determine certificate validity.
Use reviews thoughtfully. One account of an experience is not proof of what every client will encounter, and it does not replace checking the firm’s identity, terms and regulatory claims.
Read broker reviewsShare your own experience
- Find the firm and open its profile.
- Choose your own star rating; none is selected for you.
- Complete the review and the security check.
- Submit for approval without needing to create an account.
13 /Responsibility beyond the rating
The firm matters. Your trading decisions matter too.
Researching a broker is only one part of managing participation in trading. Education belongs alongside due diligence, not in place of it.
Know the risk
Understand leverage, potential losses and the product before participating. Do not treat certification as permission to take a risk you cannot afford.
Set meaningful boundaries
Consider limits on deposits, time and participation. Cooling-off and self-exclusion tools can support boundaries, but do not guarantee protection from harmful trading.
Pause and reassess
Avoid chasing losses or treating more trading as the solution to every setback. Seek appropriate independent support when your participation feels difficult to control.
General educational information, not personalised financial advice or a clinical assessment. This guidance is separate from certification scoring.
14 /Clear boundaries
What RTC can tell you—and what it cannot.
Responsible communication means making the limitations as visible as the benefits.
A framework you can inspect
- Published scoring criteria and pillar weights.
- A consistent overall score and letter-grade scale.
- A public place to research rated firms and approved reviews.
- Certificate records with identity, status and validity information.
Not a substitute for your judgement
- Not regulatory authorisation or a replacement for a licence.
- Not a guarantee of profits, payouts or client-fund safety.
- Not personal financial advice or a recommendation to invest.
- Not a promise of approval, business growth or permanent certification.
15 /Questions & answers
The details, without the fine-print surprise.
For traders researching a firm and businesses considering certification.
What is the Responsible Trading Council?
RTC provides independent ratings and certification for forex, stock and crypto brokers and prop firms using published assessment criteria. The site also brings together trader reviews, certificate verification and safer-trading education.
Is RTC a financial regulator?
No. RTC certification is not regulatory authorisation and does not replace a licence, official supervision or the checks required in your jurisdiction. Verify a firm’s regulatory claims directly with the appropriate regulator.
What is the difference between a rating and certification?
A rating is the score and letter grade derived from the five-pillar framework. Current certification additionally requires an overall score of at least 61/100, every pillar at least 40/100 and a valid issued certificate. A grade alone is not a certificate.
Do trader reviews change the Council’s score?
No. Trader star ratings and approved written reviews are displayed separately. They are not inputs to the five-pillar formula used for the RTC score.
Can I leave a review without signing up?
Yes. Open the firm’s profile and complete the review form, choose your star rating and answer the security check. Guest reviews enter the approval queue before appearing publicly.
Does a certificate mean I cannot lose money?
No. Trading involves risk of loss. Certification does not guarantee profits, future payouts, client-fund safety or protection against trading losses. Always conduct independent due diligence.
Are all firms in the directory certified?
No. The directory includes rated firms, not only currently certified firms. Use the certification filter and verify the current certificate record when certification is important to your research.
Can a high average compensate for a weak pillar?
No. Every pillar must score at least 40/100. The overall threshold does not override an individual pillar minimum.
How long is a certificate valid?
Certificates expire after 12 months and must be renewed. Check the issue and expiry dates and current status on the public record rather than relying on an old badge.
How much does broker certification cost?
A certification price is not published on this site. Contact the Council to confirm current pricing and assessment scope. Do not assume that application, certification or renewal is free.
How quickly will our application be reviewed?
There is no fixed review turnaround promised on this site. Timing depends on the application and evidence required. Discuss expectations with the Council and follow the review in your broker portal.
Can prop firms and crypto brokers apply?
The published framework covers these categories alongside forex and stock brokers. Eligibility depends on the operating model and evidence, not simply the category. Contact the Council if you need clarity before applying.
Where should I go if I already have a broker account?
Sign in to access your firm application portal. You do not need to create a new account to check the progress of an existing application.
Is safer-trading education part of the certification score?
The education page provides general guidance separately from the scored framework. Only the published scoring criteria determine the five-pillar assessment; educational guidance is not an additional certification requirement.
Make your next step an informed one
Research with more clarity.
Build trust with more evidence.
For traders
Compare rated firms, read client experiences and verify certification claims. Start with information—not a promise.
Explore the directoryFor brokers & prop firms
Bring your practices to an evidence-led assessment. Apply for certification or speak to the Council before you commit.
RTC ratings are opinions based on published criteria. Certification is not a regulatory licence, an investment recommendation or a guarantee of returns, future payouts or protection against losses. Trading involves risk. Conduct independent due diligence and verify current certificate status.