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Unlock the full power of Ape AI by connecting your trading account. ⏱️ Time to read: 4 minutes
📱🌐 Platform: Both iOS & Web
👤 Best for: Everyone

🎯 What Does “Connect Brokerage” Mean?

Connecting a brokerage means linking your trading account (Robinhood, Webull, TD Ameritrade, etc.) or Ape Paper Trading Account to Ape AI. Think of it like:
  • Linking your bank to Mint or Credit Karma
  • Connecting Spotify to your car
  • Syncing your calendar to your email
It’s a secure connection that lets Ape AI see your portfolio and (optionally) execute trades. No passwords stored. OAuth 2.0 secure authentication.

🚀 What You Get When You Connect

1. Portfolio Tracking 📊

See all your positions in one place:
  • Stocks you own
  • How many shares
  • Cost basis
  • Current value
  • Profit/Loss (total and %)
  • Today’s change
Even if you have accounts at multiple brokers, see everything in Ape AI.

2. AI Portfolio Analysis 🤖

Ask Maverick (Portfolio AI) questions:
  • “How’s my portfolio doing?”
  • “What should I sell?”
  • “Am I too concentrated in tech?”
  • “Show me my worst performers”
  • “Which stock should I add?”
AI sees your actual holdings and gives personalized advice. Learn about Portfolio AI →

3. Execute Trades from Chat ⚡

Go from idea to order in seconds:
  1. Ask AI for trade idea
  2. AI recommends a setup
  3. Tap “Execute Trade” button
  4. Review order
  5. Confirm
No app switching. No manual entry. Learn about Trade Execution →

4. Real-Time Position Updates 📈

Your portfolio updates automatically:
  • Price changes reflected instantly
  • Positions update when you buy/sell
  • Profit/Loss updates real-time
  • No manual entry needed
Always accurate. Always current.

5. Personalized News & Alerts 📰

Get news about YOUR stocks:
  • Breaking news for your holdings
  • Earnings alerts for your positions
  • Price alerts based on your portfolio
  • Risk alerts for your holdings
Feed becomes laser-focused on what you own.

6. Better AI Recommendations 🎯

AI gives advice tailored to your situation: Without connection:
“TSLA looks good for a swing trade. Entry $465.”
With connection (AI sees you already own TSLA):
“You already own TSLA at 450costbasis.Considertakingpartialprofitsat450 cost basis. Consider taking partial profits at 465 (3.3% gain). Or hold for $490 target.”
Context = Better advice

🆓 Start Risk-Free with Paper Trading

Not ready to connect your real brokerage? Claim FREE Ape Paper Trading Account:
  • Virtual $100,000 to trade with
  • Same features as real brokerage
  • Risk-free practice
  • Real market conditions
  • Track performance
Perfect for:
  • Learning to trade
  • Testing strategies
  • Trying Ape AI features
  • Building confidence
Ape Paper Trading is ALWAYS the first option when connecting a brokerage. [Learn about Paper Trading →](<../../Use-Cases/Pre-Investor/Getting Started/paper-trading-practice.md>)

🔒 Is It Safe?

YES. Here’s Why:

1. OAuth 2.0 Authentication
  • Industry-standard secure connection
  • Same tech banks and fintech apps use
  • No passwords stored on Ape AI servers
  • Tokens encrypted
2. Read-Only by Default
  • Initial connection is view-only
  • Can see portfolio, but can’t trade
  • Trading requires separate permission
  • You control what Ape AI can do
3. Revocable Anytime
  • Disconnect whenever you want
  • Instantly revokes access
  • One tap in settings
4. Major Brokerages Trust Us
  • Partnerships with leading brokers
  • Vetted and approved integrations
  • Regular security audits
5. Your Data is Private
  • Not sold to third parties
  • Not shared with anyone
  • Used only to serve YOU

🤔 What Ape AI CAN See

When you connect (read-only):
  • ✅ Account balance
  • ✅ Positions (stocks/options you own)
  • ✅ Cost basis
  • ✅ Order history
  • ✅ Cash available
What Ape AI CANNOT see:
  • ❌ Your bank account info
  • ❌ Social security number
  • ❌ Passwords
  • ❌ Personal identification details
Only trading data. Nothing else.

🚫 What Ape AI CANNOT Do (Unless You Enable Trading)

By default (read-only):
  • ❌ Cannot place trades
  • ❌ Cannot withdraw money
  • ❌ Cannot transfer funds
  • ❌ Cannot change account settings
  • ❌ Cannot access your brokerage login
Trading is opt-in. You control it.

💡 Why Most Users Connect

”I Want to Track Everything in One Place” 📊

Multiple brokerage accounts?
  • Connect them all to Ape AI
  • See total portfolio value
  • Unified profit/loss
  • One dashboard
No more switching between apps.

”I Want Personalized AI Advice” 🤖

Generic advice is useless.
  • AI needs to see your holdings
  • Give recommendations based on YOUR portfolio
  • Avoid suggesting stocks you already own
  • Suggest when to trim/add
Connected = Personal. Disconnected = Generic.

”I Want to Execute Trades Faster” ⚡

Speed matters in trading.
  • AI finds setup
  • Execute from chat
  • 3 taps vs 20 taps
  • Seconds vs minutes
Connected = Fast. Disconnected = Slow.

”I Want to Learn Risk-Free” 🎓

Paper trading with Ape account:
  • Practice with fake money
  • Learn without risk
  • Test strategies safely
  • Build skills
Graduate to real money when ready.

🎭 Benefits by Companion

Blitz (Day Trader) 🚀

Why you need it:
  • Execute intraday trades instantly
  • Track intraday P&L real-time
  • Multiple trades per day = speed matters
  • See which day trades are working
Paper Trading First: Practice day trading risk-free

Maverick (Momentum Trader) 📈

Why you need it:
  • Monitor swing positions easily
  • AI reminds you to take profits
  • Track multi-day performance
  • Get exit signals
Paper Trading First: Test swing strategies

Sage (Long-Term) 🏦

Why you need it:
  • See long-term portfolio growth
  • Track dividend income
  • Rebalancing suggestions
  • Quality score for holdings
Paper Trading First: Build starter portfolio risk-free

📊 With vs Without Connection

FeatureWithout ConnectionWith Connection
AI Chat✅ Generic advice✅ Personalized to your holdings
Portfolio View❌ Manual entry only✅ Auto-synced
Trade Execution❌ Not available✅ From chat
Position Tracking❌ Manual updates✅ Real-time
AI Portfolio Analysis❌ Can’t analyze what it can’t see✅ Full analysis
Personalized News⚠️ Based on searches only✅ Based on holdings
Risk Alerts❌ Generic only✅ Portfolio-specific
Ask Maverick❌ Limited✅ Full access
Connection = Unlocks 80% of Ape AI’s power

🛑 Reasons NOT to Connect (Valid Concerns)

“I’m not comfortable sharing my portfolio”

Fair. Privacy matters. You can still:
  • Use AI Chat for research
  • Get trade ideas
  • Learn with Banana Bites
  • Use Themes to find stocks
Ape AI still valuable without connection.

”I’m worried about security”

Understandable. But:
  • OAuth 2.0 is bank-level security
  • Read-only by default
  • Used by millions of users across fintech
  • Revocable instantly
More secure than most apps you use daily.

”I don’t want Ape AI to accidentally trade for me”

Great news:
  • Ape AI NEVER trades without confirmation
  • Every trade requires your approval
  • Face ID/Touch ID authentication
  • Trading is opt-in
You have complete control. Always.

🎯 Our Recommendation

For Beginners:

1. Start with Ape Paper Trading
  • Risk-free
  • Learn the platform
  • Build confidence
  • Test strategies
2. After 2-3 Months → Connect Real Broker
  • Once you’re profitable in paper
  • When you understand the features
  • When you’re ready

For Experienced Traders:

1. Connect Ape Paper Trading First
  • Test Ape AI features
  • See if you like the workflow
  • Try trade execution from chat
2. Within 1-2 Weeks → Connect Real Broker
  • Once you like Ape AI
  • To unlock full power
  • For faster trading

For Privacy-Conscious Users:

Option A: Paper Trading Only
  • Get most features
  • No real account connection
  • Keep privacy
Option B: Read-Only Connection
  • Connect real broker
  • Portfolio tracking only
  • Disable trade execution
  • Can disconnect anytime
Your choice. No pressure.

❓ FAQ

Q: Does connecting cost extra? A: No! Connecting is free. Same subscription price. Q: Can I connect multiple brokerages? A: Yes! Connect as many as you want. Q: Can I disconnect later? A: Yes! Instant disconnect in Settings. Q: Will my broker know I connected to Ape AI? A: They’ll see an authorized app connection, just like any other fintech app. Q: Does Ape AI charge trading commissions? A: No! Your broker’s commission structure applies. Ape AI adds no fees. Q: What if my broker isn’t supported? A: Use Ape Paper Trading! Or request your broker (we’re adding more). Q: Can I connect my 401k or IRA? A: Depends on the broker. Most retirement accounts can be connected view-only.

What’s Next?

Ready to Connect?
  • Supported Brokerages → - See if yours is supported
  • [How to Connect →](<../../Use-Cases/Pre-Investor/Getting Started/choosing-brokerage.md>) - Step-by-step guide
  • [Ape Paper Trading →](<../../Use-Cases/Pre-Investor/Getting Started/paper-trading-practice.md>) - Start risk-free
Learn What You’ll Use:
Connecting = Unlocking Ape AI’s Full Potential. Start with paper trading, graduate to real money! 🔗🚀