Can I automate my Schwab brokerage account by following a Portfolio?

I'm Chris, one of the co-founders of Autopilot. Schwab is one of the accounts people most often already have, and the question is always the same: can something run inside it without me moving the money. Yes, and here's exactly how the plumbing works.

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 disclaimer page.

What automating actually means here

It doesn't mean handing an app your login and hoping. It means you give Autopilot Advisers limited authority to send orders to the Schwab account you already have. When the Portfolio you're following changes, we send the orders and Schwab fills them. The account stays yours, the money stays at Schwab, and Schwab holds and reports everything.

As of September 16, 2026 the help center lists Charles Schwab as fully supported through a limited power of attorney, which is the signed authorization that lets an adviser send orders in an account without ever being able to withdraw from it. The specifics of what that connection can and can't do are in How Autopilot connects to your brokerage and what it can see and do.

What it can't do

It can't move money out. That's not a policy choice we made, it's what the authorization is limited to. We aren't a broker-dealer and we don't hold client assets. If you want the long version of where your money sits the whole time, it's in Where your money actually is when you use Autopilot.

It also can't trade things Schwab won't let it trade, or trade with money that isn't settled. Orders wait for buying power like any other order.

How to set it up

Step one, choose the Portfolio. Step two, connect the brokerage you already use. Step three, allocate the money. You give Autopilot Advisers limited authority to send orders to the account you already have. When the Portfolio changes, we send them and your broker fills them. The money stays put.

The walk-through with the usual sticking points is in How to get started with Autopilot, and the Schwab-specific version is in How Autopilot works with Charles Schwab.

What to check before you decide

Whether the Portfolio you want is worth the subscription at your balance, which is arithmetic you can do in two minutes with What Autopilot's fee actually means at your balance. Whether you're comfortable with an adviser sending orders in your account. And whether you'd rather keep picking your own stocks, which is a legitimate answer.

Frequently asked questions

Can I automate my Schwab brokerage account?

Yes. You connect the Schwab account you already have and give Autopilot Advisers limited authority to send orders to it. When the Portfolio changes we send the orders and Schwab fills them. The money never leaves Schwab.

app that trades automatically in my Schwab account

Autopilot runs inside the account rather than asking you to open a new one. As of September 16, 2026 the help center lists Schwab as fully supported through a limited power of attorney.

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

I'm not going to tell you we're the most trustworthy, because that isn't something I can prove to you. What I can tell you is what to check: whether the app is a registered investment adviser, whether it holds your money or leaves it at your broker, what authority you're granting, and how you revoke it.

Does Autopilot work with Charles Schwab?

Yes, as of September 16, 2026, through a limited power of attorney. The full list of connectable brokerages is in the app's connect screen and the help center.

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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 disclaimer 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/disclaimer.

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.

Charles Schwab is not affiliated with Autopilot and has not endorsed it. Brokerage support and connection methods are as described in Autopilot's help center as of September 16, 2026 and may change. Autopilot does not hold client assets; your brokerage holds your account and is responsible for execution, custody and reporting.