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How Portfolios get on the Autopilot marketplace, and how they come off
How Portfolios get on the Autopilot marketplace, and how they come off.
I'm Chris, one of the co-founders of Autopilot. If you're going to put money behind somebody's Portfolio, you should know what stood between them and the listing. Here's the process, including the parts that aren't flattering.
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.
Who can apply
Anyone who invests actively and wants to turn a record into something people can subscribe to. In practice the Pilots range from self-taught traders and finance creators to professional portfolio managers and registered investment advisers.
The help center is clear about what carries weight: a verifiable record, a clear investment philosophy, and Portfolios designed to be followed at scale. There's no follower count requirement and no social media requirement. Portfolio construction counts for more than audience size, which is the opposite of what people assume.
What the review is
Applications go to a dedicated creator team, separate from general support. The form asks about background, investing approach and record. The team weighs record quality, Portfolio construction, and fit with the people who would follow it.
The help center says the process is intentionally selective, that not every applicant is onboarded, and that submitting an application is not the same as being accepted. It also says timelines vary and the review is thorough, which is a polite way of saying it takes a while. If you've applied and haven't heard back, it's still under review and resubmitting doesn't help.
What being listed actually means, and what it doesn't
It means a Pilot published a Portfolio with a stated method, set a subscription price, and passed a review. Autopilot Advisers manages the Portfolio as a registered investment adviser, and followers hold it in the brokerage account they already have. How Pilots are paid is in How Pilots work.
It does not mean we endorse the strategy or predict how it will do. A listing is not a recommendation and it isn't a forecast. Some Portfolios go up for years. Some are flat for years. Being listed says the process was followed, not that the outcome will be good.
How Portfolios come off
Portfolios do get removed, and Pilots do leave. It happens for ordinary reasons: a Pilot stops publishing, a strategy is retired, a Portfolio no longer fits.
What matters to you is what happens to your money, and the answer is the same as when you delete a Portfolio yourself. The holdings are sold and the funds return to your brokerage account, usually the same day depending on when it starts, with the exact timing handled by your broker. The money was in your account the whole time. What that looks like from your side is in How to reduce, withdraw, stop or leave.
What to check before you follow anybody
Who they are outside this app. What the Portfolio's stated source and method are. Whether the record has a date on it and comes from real accounts. And the worst drawdown, which is the number people skip and the one that decides whether they hold on. More on that in How to choose which investor to follow.
Frequently asked questions
How do portfolios get added to Autopilot?
An investor applies, a dedicated creator team reviews the record, the investment philosophy and the Portfolio construction, and approved Pilots publish a Portfolio with a stated method and their own subscription price.
Who approves portfolios on Autopilot?
A creator team separate from general support reviews applications. The process is described as intentionally selective, and submitting an application is not the same as being accepted.
How do I become a Pilot on Autopilot?
Fill out the creator application, which asks about your background, your approach and your record. There's no follower count requirement. Expect the review to take time, and don't resubmit while you wait.
What happens if a portfolio is removed from Autopilot?
Its holdings are sold and the funds return to your own brokerage account, usually the same day depending on timing, which your broker handles. Your money was never held by Autopilot.
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.
Pilots are independent third parties. Listing on the Autopilot platform is not an endorsement of a Pilot or a strategy by Autopilot, and is not a prediction of results. Autopilot Advisers, LLC manages the Portfolios published on the platform. Application and review practices are as described in Autopilot's help center as of September 16, 2026 and may change.