What happens when a Portfolio closes or a Pilot leaves Autopilot

I'm Chris, one of the co-founders of Autopilot. Strategies end. Pilots move on. It's worth knowing in advance what that does to your account, because the answer is reassuring and most people assume it isn't.

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.

Your money was never ours to lose

Start here, because it settles most of the anxiety. Autopilot doesn't hold client assets. Your money is in your own brokerage account the entire time you're following a Portfolio, under your broker's custody and protections. A Portfolio ending is a change to a strategy you were following, not to where your assets live. The full explanation is in Where your money actually is when you use Autopilot.

What actually happens to the positions

The same thing that happens when you delete a Portfolio yourself. The holdings are sold and the funds are returned to your brokerage account. The help center says this typically happens the same day depending on when it starts, and that the exact timing is handled by your brokerage.

After that, the cash sits in your account like any other cash and you decide what to do with it. Follow a different Portfolio, keep it in cash, withdraw it. It's your account.

One thing to plan for: selling positions is a taxable event in a taxable account, and a closure is not something you timed. What that means is in Autopilot and taxes.

Why Portfolios end

Ordinary reasons. A Pilot stops publishing or moves on. A strategy is retired because its thesis played out or stopped making sense. A Portfolio is removed because it no longer fits the platform. How Portfolios get listed and removed is in How Portfolios get on the Autopilot marketplace, and how they come off.

None of that is a statement about your money. It's a statement about a product.

How to be ready for it

Don't put everything behind one person. Following more than one Portfolio is described in Following more than one Portfolio, and it costs more, so it's a real trade-off rather than free advice.

Read the Portfolio's stated method, because a strategy tied to one narrow thesis is more likely to end than a broad one. And know how to leave on your own terms, which is in How to reduce, withdraw, stop or leave.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if a Pilot leaves Autopilot?

The Portfolio's holdings are sold and the funds return to your own brokerage account, typically the same day depending on timing, which your brokerage handles.

What happens when a portfolio is discontinued?

Same as deleting it yourself: positions are sold, cash lands in your brokerage account, and you decide what's next. Your money was in your account the whole time.

Do I lose my money if a portfolio closes?

No. Autopilot doesn't hold client assets, so a Portfolio ending doesn't touch custody. You keep whatever the positions were worth when they were sold, and market risk applies as always.

What happens to my positions if a Pilot stops publishing?

They're sold and returned to cash in your brokerage account. Plan for the tax consequence in a taxable account, since a closure isn't a sale you chose to time.

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 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. Portfolio closures result in sales that may be taxable events in taxable accounts. Timing of sales and settlement is handled by your brokerage. Autopilot does not provide tax or legal advice.