Hello

I am currently with NinjaTrader brokerage and really like them as they are through Dorman Trading.
The only thing that drives me crazy is they will constantly change the positions I have as well as my unrealized account value

Meaning let's say I did a good deal of trades and then decided to hold overnight because I am in a drawdown.
The next morning it might show I am in a profit. However, from the actual place I entered the market I am not in a profit, what happened is they switched where I was in a position on market close and they simply switched the position to another one I took during the day and then also had to adjust my account value

It is the most annoying thing. I remember years ago this never happened. It only started happening around 2014.
Is this with all brokers? The positions used to just stay.

Please let me know why this happens and if it happens with all brokers. I would not mind going with a broker that doesn't do this as it really messes with you psychologically and personally I think that is why they do it as there really is no other reason.

thanks
Spencer

spinnybobo 

Hello I am currently with NinjaTrader brokerage and really like them as they are through Dorman Trading. The only thing that drives me crazy is they will constantly change the positions I have as well as my unrealized account value Meaning let's say I did a good deal of trades and then decided to hold overnight because I am in a drawdown. The next morning it might show I am in a profit. However, from the actual place I entered the market I am not in a profit, what happened is they switched where I was in a position on market close and they simply switched the position to another one I took during the day and then also had to adjust my account value It is the most annoying thing. I remember years ago this never happened. It only started happening around 2014. Is this with all brokers? The positions used to just stay. Please let me know why this happens and if it happens with all brokers. I would not mind going with a broker that doesn't do this as it really messes with you psychologically and personally I think that is why they do it as there really is no other reason. thanks Spencer

I believe it is FIFO, and by law all brokers must follow it. At least I think so, maybe @mattz can confirm.

It should not change your Net Equity value though. It might change cash balance and open equity calculations, but you should net out the same.

kevinkdog 

I believe it is FIFO, and by law all brokers must follow it. At least I think so, maybe @mattz can confirm. It should not change your Net Equity value though. It might change cash balance and open equity calculations, but you should net out the same.

yeah I know it doesn't change things in terms of net equity. Maybe I am overly untrusting of brokers but whenever this happens I feel like I need to calculate things to make sure they didn't take any money from my account, lol

maybe I just not worry about it

kevinkdog 

I believe it is FIFO, and by law all brokers must follow it. At least I think so, maybe @mattz can confirm. It should not change your Net Equity value though. It might change cash balance and open equity calculations, but you should net out the same.

FIFO is the first rule that futures accounting and also day trades take precedence over long-term trades.
In that sense, your day trades are matched against one another while longer-term trades are carried over.
Also, this is what clearing house follow, not the brokers.

Customers who start trading not knowing the accounting rules and also relying on their platforms for balances could run into issues. Settlement on different feeds could follow different rules so positions overnight could throw you off.

I recommend that customers who day trade and swing trade maintain two separate accounts with varying balances. What I find from my experience is that many day traders would keep positions overnight if their day trade did not work out. That rarely succeeds as a strategy in their favor.

Matt Z
Optimus Futures

There is a substantial risk of loss in futures trading. Past performance is not indicative of future results.