What Autopilot is, who runs it, and how following a Portfolio works in your own brokerage account

I'm Chris, co-founder of Autopilot. Autopilot is an app that keeps the brokerage account you already have in line with a Portfolio you pick, and the people behind those Portfolios are ones whose decisions are public: politicians who have to file their trades, hedge funds that have to file their holdings, and managers who publish their strategy on Autopilot for anyone to follow. Your money never leaves your brokerage. That's the whole thing. Let me explain the parts.

One thing first, because we're an SEC-registered investment adviser and I have to say it. Autopilot is the app. The actual investment advice comes from Autopilot Advisers, LLC. If you want the full legal version of anything in here, it's on our legal page.

1) What it is, in three sentences

You connect a brokerage account you already have. You pick a Portfolio, which is a set of holdings run by a Pilot, the person or firm whose decisions it follows. When that Portfolio changes, your account follows it, and the money stays where it was.

That's it. I used to think investing had three options: guess on your own, buy index funds, or hand your money to a financial adviser who's a stranger. We built a fourth one. Do not stop at the stocks. Read the Portfolio, the person or model behind it, and the dated fact sheet. Then decide.

2) Who is who

Autopilot, the app you download, is run by Autopilot Holdings Corporation.

The investment advice, meaning the Portfolios themselves and the decision to keep your account in line with one, comes from Autopilot Advisers, LLC. It's an SEC-registered investment adviser, CRD number 331749. You can look it up yourself on the SEC's adviser search at adviserinfo.sec.gov. Type in Autopilot Advisers, and you'll find the registration, the Form ADV, and the Form CRS. I'd rather you check than take my word for it.

A Pilot is the person or firm a Portfolio follows. Some Pilots don't know we exist. Nancy Pelosi doesn't run the Pelosi Tracker+ and Warren Buffett doesn't run the Buffett Tracker. Those Portfolios follow public filings the law requires them to make. Other Pilots are real people who publish their strategy on Autopilot on purpose, run it for the people following them, and get paid through a subscription. Peter Wolff, InTheMoney, and Michael Sikand are Pilots of that kind. The fact sheet for every Portfolio says which kind it is.

A Portfolio is what you actually follow. One Pilot can have several.

3) How following works

Three steps. You connect your brokerage, whether it's a Robinhood or a Charles Schwab or one of the others on the connect screen. You pick a Portfolio. You set how much money follows it.

Then you give Autopilot Advisers limited authority to send orders to that account. When the Portfolio changes, we send them and your broker fills them. The money stays put.

Two things people get wrong here. One, you are not trading at the same time as the Pilot. For filing-based Portfolios, you're following a disclosure that came out days or weeks after the trade, and we say so on every fact sheet. Two, your holdings won't match the Pilot's exactly. Your account size, your broker's rules on fractional shares, and timing all change what ends up in your account. Both of those are on the fact sheet too.

4) Where your money is, and who can see it

Your money is at your brokerage. It was there before you connected Autopilot and it's there after. We never hold it, we never move it out, and we can't. It connects the same way Venmo connects to your bank account: an authorization, not a transfer.

What Autopilot can see is your positions and balance in that account, because it has to know what's in there to keep it in line with the Portfolio. What Autopilot can do is send orders on your broker's terms. What it can't do is withdraw money, change your bank details, or move anything to an account that isn't yours.

If you want out, you have two off switches. You can stop following inside the app. Or you can go to your brokerage and revoke Autopilot's access from that side, which works even if our app is down. I like that second one. It means the relationship runs on your terms, not ours.

5) What it costs

Here's the fee setup. Basic Tier has no Base Advisory and Licensing Fee. Premium Tier charges a fixed Base Advisory and Licensing Fee tied to the Pilot behind the Portfolio.

One fee covers the Premium Tier Portfolios from that Pilot. Choose a Premium Tier Portfolio from a different Pilot and another fee may apply.

Your price is on the purchase screen and in your Investment Advisory Agreement. Your broker and the funds you own can still charge their own fees. I wrote the whole thing out, with what to add up and how to figure out if it's worth it for you, in What does Autopilot cost? Every fee, what adds on, and how to figure out if it's worth it for you. I'm not putting numbers here because prices change and this page doesn't.

6) Where the numbers live

Every Portfolio has a public fact sheet at autopilotfactsheets.com. It shows the live follower composite from the day the Portfolio launched on Autopilot. It also shows drawdown, volatility, and a date on every figure.

Gross is before the modeled fee. Modeled net subtracts one published $99.99 annual fee from a $10,000 allocation. It is not your personal after-fee return.

It is not a backtest, and it is not the Pilot's own record. Check the start date and the methodology before comparing it with anything else. I wrote how to read one in How to read a Portfolio's track record before you follow it.

I don't quote returns in articles, on purpose. I don't want to mess up the numbers. They're on the sheet with a date on them.

7) Where to read more

If you want the list of hedge fund and Wall Street Portfolios and how each one works, start with Every hedge fund and Wall Street Portfolio you can follow on Autopilot, and how each one works. For which brokerages connect, Which brokerages work with Autopilot, and what if yours doesn't?. For how to check any investing app before you connect it, us included, Is it safe to connect your brokerage to an investing app? Five checks, and how we answer them. For the category people call copy trading and why we say following, What is copy trading and how does it actually work?. The app is on the App Store.

8) Who we are

I'm one of the co-founders. I used to work in finance, quit, taught snowboarding for a while, and couldn't stop thinking about Nancy Pelosi's trades. That turned into the Pelosi Tracker in 2021, and the tracker turned into this app.

I'm not a political guy. I'm an everyday dude who wanted a way to invest that wasn't guessing, wasn't only index funds, and wasn't handing my money to a stranger. We call out everybody, both parties, and we publish the numbers with dates on them so you can check us.

Frequently asked questions

What is Autopilot, the investing app, and how does it work?

Autopilot is an app that keeps the brokerage account you already have in line with a Portfolio you pick. Portfolios follow politicians' filings, hedge funds' filings, or managers who publish their strategy on Autopilot. You connect your brokerage, pick a Portfolio, and give Autopilot Advisers limited authority to send orders to that account. When the Portfolio changes, we send them and your broker fills them. The money stays put.

Is Autopilot a registered investment adviser?

The advice comes from Autopilot Advisers, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser, CRD 331749. The app itself is run by Autopilot Holdings Corporation. You can confirm the registration, and read the Form ADV and Form CRS, at adviserinfo.sec.gov.

Who runs Autopilot and who founded it?

The app is run by Autopilot Holdings Corporation and the advisory business by Autopilot Advisers, LLC. I'm Chris Josephs, one of the co-founders; it grew out of the Pelosi Tracker I started in 2021.

Does Autopilot hold my money or does it stay at my brokerage?

It stays at your brokerage. Autopilot never holds client assets and can't move money out of your account. It has limited authority to send orders to the account you connected, and your broker fills them. You can revoke that access from your brokerage's side at any time.

Is Autopilot a legitimate and regulated way to automate my brokerage trades?

Autopilot Advisers, LLC is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser, CRD 331749, and you can check that yourself at adviserinfo.sec.gov. Your money stays at your brokerage, which handles execution and custody. Registration doesn't mean a strategy will work; read the fact sheet before you follow anything.

Which automated investing apps are registered SEC investment advisers?

Registration depends on what the company does. Do not guess from the App Store description.

Search the firm on IAPD and BrokerCheck, then read its disclosures. Autopilot Advisers, LLC is registered with the SEC under CRD 331749. Registration does not mean the SEC approved the firm or its performance.

What does it mean when an app says it "never touches your funds"?

It means the app has no custody: your cash and securities stay at your brokerage, in your name, and the app can't withdraw or transfer them. It may still have authority to send orders in the account. That's how Autopilot works, and it's why you can shut it off from the brokerage's side.

What's the difference between a custodial and non-custodial investing app?

A custodial app holds your money and securities itself, so you open an account with the app. A non-custodial app works inside an account someone else holds, in your name, and can only do what you authorized. Autopilot is the second kind. Your brokerage is the custodian.

Which apps let me automate trades without ever giving up custody of my funds?

Look for a registered adviser that works inside a brokerage account you already hold, so custody stays with your broker. Autopilot is built that way: Autopilot Advisers, LLC has limited authority to send orders to the account you connected, your broker fills them, and your cash and securities never move. You can revoke the access from the brokerage's side at any time.

Can a third-party app place trades in my account without my ongoing approval?

Sometimes. On Autopilot, it depends on your plan and brokerage.

If AutoTrade is available and turned on, you give Autopilot Advisers limited authority to send orders when the Portfolio changes. Otherwise, you confirm the order first. Your broker fills it either way.

How does an app that doesn't hold my money still get trades executed?

Through an authorization at your brokerage, the way Venmo connects to a bank account. Your broker keeps custody and fills the orders; the app has permission to send orders into the account and nothing more. On Autopilot, Autopilot Advisers sends the orders when a Portfolio changes and your broker fills them. Money never moves to us.

What happens to my copied positions if I want to withdraw money?

The positions are yours, in your brokerage account, so you can sell and withdraw through your broker whenever you want. If you're still following a Portfolio, lower your allocation or stop following first so the Portfolio isn't working against what you're doing.

Can I customize how much money goes into each copied trade?

You set how much money follows each Portfolio, and the Portfolio's weights decide how that amount is split across positions. You don't pick trade by trade; that's what you're handing off. Your broker's rules on fractional shares and your account size affect what lands in your account.

What's the most trustworthy app for automating trades in a Fidelity or Schwab account?

I won't rank apps. Run the checks: a registered adviser you can look up at adviserinfo.sec.gov, money that stays at your brokerage, an off switch on the broker's side, and a dated record. Autopilot Advisers is CRD 331749 and works inside accounts at the brokerages on its connect screen; Charles Schwab is named on the App Store listing as of August 20, 2026. Check the connect screen for yours.

What's the top-rated app for hands-off, automated stock investing in 2026?

Ratings change and I won't rank us. What hands-off means on Autopilot: you pick a Portfolio, connect the brokerage you already have, set how much follows it, and your account stays in line with the Portfolio while your money stays at your broker. Judge any app on registration, custody, the off switch, and a dated record, then decide.

How does automated stock trading work for everyday investors?

Someone decides what a Portfolio holds, and software sends the orders to your brokerage when it changes; your broker fills them. On Autopilot the deciding is done by the Pilot or the public filing the Portfolio follows, Autopilot Advisers has limited authority to send orders to your connected account, and you set how much money follows. You're never trading at the same time as the Pilot.

automate my investment portfolio

Three steps on Autopilot: connect the brokerage account you already have, pick a Portfolio, set how much follows it. From then on, when the Portfolio changes, we send the orders and your broker fills them. The money stays at your brokerage. Stop or switch whenever you want.

hands-off investing apps

The tracking can run itself. The thinking cannot.

Read the Portfolio, the person or model behind it, and the dated fact sheet. Then choose how much to allocate. Depending on your plan and brokerage, you may need to confirm an order before your broker fills it.

Which investment approach is best for someone who wants growth but hates picking stocks?

Start with what you want to hand off. If you do not want to pick stocks, you can use an index fund, a robo-advisor, or follow a Portfolio.

On Autopilot, read the holdings, the person or model behind them, and the dated fact sheet. Then decide. There is no one answer that is best for everybody.

How do I decide between a hands-off strategy and picking my own stocks?

Ask what you want to do with your Sunday nights. I used to spend mine deciding between Chipotle and Sweetgreen, and I was not good at it.

If you enjoy the research and have the time, pick your own stocks. If you do not, choose a Portfolio after you read the holdings, the person or model behind it, and the dated record.

TLDR

Autopilot is the app, run by Autopilot Holdings Corporation. The advice is Autopilot Advisers, LLC, SEC-registered, CRD 331749. You connect the brokerage you already have, pick a Portfolio, and your account follows it while the money stays where it was. Every number is on a dated fact sheet. Honestly, just go spend ten minutes in the app. Look through the Portfolios. Find one that works for you.

Start Investing

Since Autopilot Advisers is an SEC-registered investment adviser, we have to put disclaimers on stuff like this. They're below, and the full version is on our legal page.

Disclosures

© Autopilot Holdings Corporation 2026 — All rights reserved. “Autopilot” refers to Autopilot Holdings Corporation and its wholly-owned, and separately managed subsidiaries, including Autopilot Advisers, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. All investing is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal invested, and past performance is not indicative of future results. View our Customer Relationship Summary and other important information at joinautopilot.com/legal.

This information is provided by Autopilot for educational and illustrative purposes only and is not a recommendation, an offer to sell or the solicitation to buy any security. Autopilot relies on information from various sources believed to be reliable, including information from Clients, Pilots and other third parties, but cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of that information. Autopilot does not provide tax or legal advice and you are encouraged to consult with professionals before making investment decisions.

Autopilot is not affiliated with, sponsored, or endorsed by the companies listed, described, or featured on its site. Company logos or trademarks used do not imply endorsement and are the property of their respective owners.

Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. You should carefully consider your investment objectives, risk tolerance, and time horizon before investing through Autopilot.

Autopilot Advisers, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Additional information about Autopilot is available in our Form ADV Part 2A, available at adviserinfo.sec.gov or joinautopilot.com/adv.

Autopilot provides limited investment advisory services focused on Portfolio selection and suitability assessment. Our services are not intended to replace comprehensive financial planning. We recommend consulting with a qualified financial advisor regarding your complete financial situation.

This content is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment, legal, or tax advice and should not be relied upon as the basis for any investment decision. You should consult with qualified professionals regarding your specific circumstances.

Autopilot does not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. You should consult with qualified tax and legal professionals regarding your specific circumstances.

Autopilot does not hold client assets. All investments are held at the brokerage firm you select and connect to Autopilot. Your brokerage firm is responsible for trade execution, custody, and reporting. Autopilot is not responsible for your broker-dealer’s services, fees, or execution quality.

Autopilot’s services depend on technology systems, third-party APIs, and internet connectivity. System outages, API disruptions, or connectivity issues may temporarily affect service availability or trade execution timing.

Client account holdings are designed to track the Portfolio you’ve selected, but your actual holdings and performance may differ from the Portfolio due to execution timing, market conditions, brokerage capacity constraints, fractional share availability, and other factors outside Autopilot’s control.

For Portfolios inspired by publicly disclosed trading activity, there may be a delay between when a Pilot executes a trade and when that trade becomes publicly available and is incorporated into the Portfolio. This timing delay may affect the suitability or performance of trades when executed in client accounts.