Account Protection
Your personal goals and financial objectives are critical factors in determining how your portfolio should be invested. Of equal importance is the assurance that the assets in your account are properly safeguarded.
Firstrade Securities is a “Member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (“SIPC”), which protects securities customers of its members up to $500,000 (including $250,000 for claims for cash). Explanatory brochure available upon request or at www.sipc.org”
Our clearing firm, Apex Clearing Corporation, has purchased an additional insurance policy through a group of London Underwriters (with Lloyd's of London Syndicates as the Lead Underwriter) to supplement SIPC protection. This additional insurance policy becomes available to customers in the event that SIPC limits are exhausted and provides protection for securities and cash up to an aggregate of $150 million. This is provided to pay amounts in addition to those returned in a SIPC liquidation. This additional insurance policy is limited to a combined return to any customer from a Trustee, SIPC and London Underwriters of $37.5 million, including cash of up to $900,000. This coverage does not protect against loss of the market value of securities.
About SIPC
SIPC was created in 1970 as a non-profit, non-government, membership organization, funded by member broker/dealers. Its primary role is to return funds and securities to customers if the broker/dealers holding their assets become insolvent.
It is important to understand that SIPC and "Excess SIPC" protect customer accounts against losses caused by the financial failure of the broker-dealer, but not against an increase or decrease in the market value of securities in customers' accounts. SIPC does not protect against market risk, which is the risk inherent in a fluctuating market.
SIPC protects most types of securities, such as notes, stocks, bonds, mutual funds and other investment company shares, and other registered securities. It does not cover instruments such as unregistered investment contracts, unregistered limited partnerships, and interests in gold, silver, or other commodity contracts or commodity options.