Will Autopilot sell stocks I already own?

I'm Chris, one of the co-founders of Autopilot. This is the fear that stops people from connecting, and it deserves a direct answer rather than a reassuring one. The mechanism is simple once you see it.

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.

Allocation is a permission, not a sweep

When you allocate an amount, you're telling us how much of your brokerage account we're allowed to use. Autopilot only controls the slice you earmark. The help center states it plainly: Autopilot controls the slice you allocate, not your entire brokerage account.

So the positions you hold outside that allocation are yours and stay untouched. The long-term holding you've had for years, the stock you inherited, the thing you don't want sold: leave it outside the allocation and it isn't part of this.

What does get sold, and when

Inside the allocation, positions change when the Portfolio changes and when it rebalances toward its targets. That's the product working.

If you stop following a Portfolio or delete it, those holdings are sold and the funds go back to your brokerage account, usually the same day depending on timing. Your broker handles the exact timing.

And if you sell something inside the allocation by hand, the Portfolio will generally try to rebalance back toward its targets, which can mean repurchasing what you just sold. That surprises people, so it's worth reading Selling by hand while you follow before you do it.

The practical advice

Two things make this simpler.

Decide your allocation before you connect, and make sure that amount exists as settled buying power at your broker. That's the help center's own best-practice framing and it prevents most of the confusion.

If you trade actively by hand, consider keeping a separate brokerage account for that and allocating a different one. The help center suggests exactly this, because it removes every collision between your decisions and the Portfolio's.

What Autopilot can never do

Move money out of your account. The authority you grant is limited to sending orders, not to withdrawing. We aren't a broker-dealer and we don't hold client assets. The details of what the connection can and can't do are in How Autopilot connects to your brokerage and what it can see and do.

Frequently asked questions

Will Autopilot sell stocks I already own?

Only positions inside the allocation you set. Allocation is a permission that tells Autopilot how much of the account it may use, and holdings outside it are untouched.

Does Autopilot touch the rest of my brokerage account?

No. It works within the slice you earmark. The rest of the account stays yours to manage as you were.

Can Autopilot sell my existing positions?

Positions inside the allocation can be sold as the Portfolio changes or rebalances. If you want a holding protected, keep it outside the allocation or use a separate account.

How much of my account does Autopilot control?

Exactly the amount you allocate, and nothing more. The authority granted covers sending orders, never withdrawing money.

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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 and cannot withdraw funds from your account. Client holdings may differ from a Portfolio due to timing, fractional availability, cash, brokerage requirements and manual trades. Portfolio changes may result in taxable events in a taxable account.