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An automated investing app that needs nothing from you after setup: what that actually means
An automated investing app that needs nothing from you after setup: what that actually means.
I'm Chris, one of the co-founders of Autopilot. Set it and forget it is a promise a lot of apps make and almost none of them define. Here's the honest version: what genuinely runs without you, and the short list of things that will still ask for your attention.
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 runs without you
Portfolio changes. When the Portfolio you follow changes, we send the orders and your broker fills them. You don't get a prompt, you don't approve anything, and you don't have to be awake.
Rebalancing. Drift back toward the Portfolio's targets is handled as part of managing it. How that works is in How rebalancing works when you follow a Portfolio.
New filings. If you're following a tracker built on quarterly filings, a new filing updates the Portfolio and your account follows it without you reading anything.
What still needs you
Four things, and I'd rather list them than let you discover them.
Some brokerages require you to approve each trade in their own app before it goes through. That's the broker's rule, not ours, and on those accounts nothing is hands-off. Which brokerages require it is on the connect screen and in Which brokerages does Autopilot support.
A broken connection pauses trading. Password changes, expired sessions and two-factor prompts all disconnect an account, and while it's disconnected nothing runs.
Buying power. Orders need settled cash. If the money isn't there, the order waits, which is covered in When Autopilot actually trades.
Your own trades. If you buy or sell inside the allocation by hand, the Portfolio will try to rebalance back toward its targets, which is described in Selling by hand while you follow.
What hands-off doesn't mean
It doesn't mean you stop deciding. You still chose the Portfolio and you can still leave, which takes a couple of taps and is described in How to reduce, withdraw, stop or leave.
And it doesn't mean the value only goes up. I want to be honest with you. Some Portfolios go up for years. Some are flat for years. Automation removes the work, not the risk.
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 longer version, with sticking points, is in How to get started with Autopilot.
Frequently asked questions
set and forget investing app that uses my own brokerage
Autopilot runs inside the brokerage account you already have. After setup, Portfolio changes and rebalances happen without you, though some brokerages require you to approve each trade in their own app.
Is there an automated investing app that requires zero ongoing involvement after setup?
Close to zero, not zero. Four things still need you: brokers that require trade approval, a connection that drops, settled buying power, and any trades you make by hand inside the allocation.
What do I have to do after I set up an automated investing app?
Keep the brokerage connection alive, keep enough settled cash for orders to fill, and decide whether to stay in the Portfolio. That's the list.
hands off investing app that uses my existing brokerage
That's the design. Your money stays at your broker, and an adviser sends orders to it. Hands-off is about the work, not about the risk.
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.
Automated trading depends on brokerage connectivity and third-party systems; outages, disconnections and broker requirements may delay or prevent trades. Autopilot does not hold client assets. Fee amounts are quoted from Form CRS dated February 2026 and may change.