MAM, PAMM or Social Trading: How to Choose the Best One for Your Broker

Is there a single perfect investment service, or all variations of PAMM, MAM, and copy trading are necessary for a broker’s success? What’s the difference between them, and how to choose the perfect option for a broker.

These are the questions that we asked Vasily Alexeev, the CTO and CEO of UpTrader. In April, his company announced the launch of its investment service UpTrader Invest.

You’ve just announced the launch of UpTrader Invest. What are the innovations that your solution brings to the table?

We get a lot of requests for investment services. Someone wants PAMM, others ask for MAM, or social trading. In fact, many don’t see the difference between them, and the truth is, the difference is really minor.

And if we pay attention, we’ll see what the client is really saying: we want a stable and reliable service with flexible settings, and we need it live tomorrow.

So we didn’t create a new technology, we just reimagined what’s already out there on the market and offered a new combination. UpTrader Invest is an investment service with a simple interface and flexible settings. Another hallmark is the high degree of stability.

You’re putting a lot of emphasis on stability. Is the situation bad now?

The thing is, many similar services have a common problem—they lose trades, it’s inevitable with external connection to the Trading Platform MetaTrader 4—that’s the way most of these solutions operate.

UpTrader Invest works in the MT4 core directly, which not only ensures the maximum speed of operation, but also prevents the loss of trades.

UpTrader Invest—is it more than just MAM, PAMM, and social trading?

Let’s clear up the terminology first.

MAM stands for Multi Account Management. This means that there’s one common account used by the trader, while the investors’ accounts are indicative. This scheme allows for a more effective hedging of the strategy’s general position, i.e. moving to A-book.

PAMM stands for Percent Allocation Management Module, basically the same as MAM.

Social trading, or copy trading, is essentially the same as MAM, the difference being that the trader operates not in a common account, but in their own one, while the trades are being copied to the connected accounts of investors.

We offer all three modes of operation. MAM is the standard mode. PAMM is the same as MAM, only investors can’t see the trades.

And the social trading (copy trading) mode—the manager only trades with their personal funds in their own account, the other accounts simply receive copied trades.

A broker can pick any mode it prefers, or enable all three simultaneously.

Is UpTrader Invest a standalone entity, or a part of your CRM?

UpTrader CRM was designed as a single control room for the broker on one side and for the client on the other. We create simple and succinct interfaces for the easy management of complex things.

We make an effort to spare our users unnecessary clicks, switching between windows, log-ins. That’s why all new UpTrader products are always integrated into CRM.

However, if someone wants to buy this particular service as a standalone, we can provide the API, and the customer will be able to design their own interface, expand the plug-in the way they want, and connect it to their MetaTrader 4 on their own.

What instruments are there to trade for a manager in investment accounts?

Anything available in MT4. For example, if a broker buys a White Label from UpTrader, their clients get access to over 500 instruments: currencies, Cryptocurrencies , spot metals, CFDs on futures, stocks, indices, bonds.

Where and how can a client follow the account operations and manage trades?

Managing trades—no, investors can’t influence trades at all. Investors can connect or disconnect, deposit or withdraw, but that’s it. Everything that goes on in their accounts can be tracked using any available MetaTrader interface: in the mobile or desktop app, web terminal. And, of course, in our CRM.

How to choose a manager, connect/disconnect a strategy?

An investor can choose a strategy from the list based on the profit history. They also see the manager’s preferred trading instruments. Then, they submit an investment request, which the manager accepts or rejects. The manager can also opt to accept all investments automatically.

There are several ways of disconnecting from a strategy, it depends on the account settings: immediately, on approval, or on rollover, i.e. on schedule.

What are the profit distribution options available in the service?

The manager has three reward plans that can be selected in the settings: payouts per the manager’s trading volume, percentage of profit generated in a period determined by the manager, high watermark: payment only when investor’s profits reach a new high.

What’s the earning scheme for the broker?

There are no restrictions for brokers on how they want to make money in this service. It can be any existing arrangement—spreads, fees. The service works with any variations of A-book/B-book.

No restrictions on the partnership program, partners receive rewards automatically for the clients they bring to the investment service.

How fast can the service be integrated? Is there a trial period?

Integration can be done at the speed of light—a client gets a fully functioning service in one day. Of course, customers can take it for a test run before making a purchase, we offer a trial period.