How Autopilot handles uninvested cash in your account

I'm Chris, one of the co-founders of Autopilot. People see a cash number in the app and assume something is broken. Usually it isn't, and the reasons it shows up are worth knowing so you can tell the normal case from the one that needs a look.

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.

The first thing to check: is it even real cash

A cash figure shown inside a Portfolio is often not money sitting in your brokerage. The help center says a cash position in a Portfolio is usually a pending cash allocation rather than actual funds at your broker. In other words, it can be the app showing an allocation it intends to deploy, not a balance you could withdraw.

So before you go looking for missing money, compare the app against your brokerage's own balance and activity. Your broker's numbers are the record of truth.

Where real cash lives

Not with us. Autopilot doesn't hold client money. Cash inside your allocation is cash sitting in your brokerage account, at your brokerage, under whatever cash terms that firm offers. Any interest, sweep program or lack of one is your broker's arrangement and not ours, so their disclosures are the ones to read. The full explanation of who holds what is in Where your money actually is when you use Autopilot.

Why cash appears, and which reasons are normal

Allocation exceeds what's been deployed. Allocation is a permission, not a purchase. It tells us how much of your account we're allowed to use, and the Portfolio buys into that over its own schedule.

A Portfolio holds cash on purpose. Some strategies move to cash as part of their method and say so in their description.

Unsettled funds. Money from a recent sale or deposit may not be usable buying power yet. The order waits, which is normal and covered in When Autopilot actually trades.

An order couldn't fill. A restricted security, a fractional limit at your broker, or an approval you haven't given in the broker's app can all leave cash undeployed.

You sold something by hand. If you sell a position inside the allocation yourself, the proceeds land as cash and the Portfolio will generally try to rebalance back toward its targets. That's described in Selling by hand while you follow.

The one case worth investigating

If your Autopilot balance looks larger than what's actually in the brokerage account funding it, something is out of sync rather than merely waiting. The usual causes are manual sales or a transfer out. Check the trade history and activity tab in your brokerage app first, because that's the record of truth, then message support in the app if it still doesn't add up.

What not to do about it

Don't manually move cash around to help the Portfolio along. Adding funds from your own sales back into the allocation by hand tends to create the exact discrepancy you were trying to fix. The Portfolio redeploys according to its targets on its own schedule. Set the allocation you want and let it work.

Frequently asked questions

What happens to uninvested cash in Autopilot?

Real cash sits in your brokerage account, at your brokerage, since Autopilot doesn't hold client money. A cash figure shown inside a Portfolio is often a pending allocation rather than actual funds, so check your broker's balance first.

Why is there cash sitting in my Autopilot allocation?

Usually because allocation is a permission rather than a purchase, because funds haven't settled, because the Portfolio holds cash by design, or because an order couldn't fill.

Does Autopilot keep my money in cash?

Only where a Portfolio's own method calls for it, or while orders are waiting on settled funds or broker requirements. Your money stays in your brokerage account either way.

Does uninvested cash earn interest with Autopilot?

That's between you and your brokerage. Whatever cash sweep or interest program your broker offers applies, and Autopilot isn't part of it.

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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.

Autopilot does not hold client assets or cash. Cash balances remain at your brokerage under that firm's terms, including any interest or sweep arrangements. Order timing depends on settled funds, brokerage requirements and market hours.