Frequently asked questions

Everything new clients ask about using Bright Portmantage: getting started, fees and results, platform functions, risks, account security, and getting help. Questions are written the way people actually ask them; answers are the ones our support team gives, without the hold music.

General use

How do I register, and what do I need to start?

Fill in the registration form with your name, email and phone number, then wait for your account manager's call, usually within 24 hours. To begin trading you need a government photo ID, a proof of address dated within three months, and a minimum deposit of $250 CAD. The whole sequence, registration to funded account, is walked through on the getting started page.

Do I need trading experience?

No. The platform is built for people without professional trading experience: strategies come pre-configured, your account manager sets them up with you, and reports are written in plain language. Be clear about one thing though, inexperience does not reduce the risk of losing money, it only removes the barrier to starting carefully.

Can I use the platform on my phone?

Yes. The platform runs in any modern mobile browser, with the same account, strategies, alerts and withdrawal requests as on desktop. Reports reformat cleanly on small screens, and security alerts reach you by email wherever you are.

Fees and results

What fees will I pay, and where can I see them?

Account opening, maintenance, funds storage and inactivity are free. The trading commission is up to 0.58% per transaction, currency conversion up to 1.50%, the forex spread starts from 0.8, and there is no monthly platform fee. The full tables live on the Fees & pricing page, and any fee that applies to a specific transaction is displayed before you confirm it.

Does the platform guarantee profits?

No, and nobody legitimate can. Trading results are never guaranteed: strategies have losing weeks, markets move against positions, and you can lose part or all of the amount you invest. Any promise of guaranteed profit, from anyone, is a fraud signal worth reading twice.

Are the numbers in the calculator a forecast?

No. The calculator produces illustrative projections from the amount and period you choose; they show how the math works, not what will happen. Real results depend on markets, which no formula controls.

Platform functions and everyday use

What do the automated functions actually do?

The engine watches your selected markets continuously, scores short-term patterns using probability-based analysis, and executes the strategy within the limits you set: instruments, position caps, volatility bands. It does not need you to watch charts, and it never needs your withdrawal permission.

Can I turn off functions I do not want?

Yes. Alerts, notifications, individual strategies and automated entries can each be enabled or disabled separately in your settings. Disabling a feature never blocks your access to funds, reports or support.

How do I know what my strategy is doing?

The dashboard shows each strategy's positions and performance in real time, and a weekly report summarizes its activity in plain language: what it watched, what it did, what it cost. If a report line is unclear, that is a support question, and asking it is free.

Risks

Can I lose money even with automation and risk guards?

Yes. Risk guards pause or reduce activity when markets turn abnormally volatile, but they cannot prevent losses, and automation executes whatever the strategy says at machine speed. The risk disclosure lists all ten risk families honestly, including the ones automation adds.

Are my digital assets insured like a bank deposit?

Generally, no. Cash with a member institution may be CDIC-eligible and securities held by a member dealer may be covered by CIPF within its limits, but crypto and other digital assets generally fall under neither scheme. Plan the digital-asset part of your account accordingly.

Security and your account

How is my account protected?

Nine layers: two-factor authentication, encryption in transit and at rest, anti-phishing measures with a personal security code, login alerts, session and device control, verified account recovery, restricted API keys, a full audit history and prioritized incident support. Each one is explained, and testable, on the Security page.

Who holds my money, and can I withdraw at any time?

Balances are held with the institutional counterparties identified during onboarding. Withdrawals can be requested at any time, with no lock-in period, and run to your verified Canadian destination by Interac e-Transfer, bank transfer, card refund or PayPal. Normal arrival is within 24 hours to five business days depending on the route.

What if I suspect someone else accessed my account?

Change your password, end unfamiliar sessions from the security page, enable 2FA if it is off, and contact support immediately with the subject "Security". We lock the account first, trading and withdrawals pause, then investigate together. Details are in the incident support section of the Security page.

Help and support

I do not understand a function, or a setting looks wrong. What do I do?

Stop and ask before changing anything. Write to [email protected] or call during Monday to Friday, 9:00–17:30 ET (excluding public holidays); a specialist explains the function or checks the setting with you. Wrong settings are the most preventable mistake in this industry.

What if something goes wrong with a withdrawal or a trade?

Contact support with the reference from your transaction history. If the first answer does not resolve it, the complaints procedure sets out the steps, the timelines and your escalation route, including OBSI for eligible Canadian clients.

When is support available?

The support team answers Monday to Friday, 9:00–17:30 ET (excluding public holidays), with a typical queue wait of usually under 5 minutes. Active clients with an assigned account manager can reach them 24/7 for active clients with an assigned account manager.