In trading, drawdown statistics are critical for traders to monitor the risk exposure of their accounts. By tracking drawdowns — the peak-to-trough declines in account equity — traders can assess their risk management strategies and adjust accordingly. However, a troubling practice emerges when a broker removes drawdown stats from the dashboard. In this situation, the broker may hide or eliminate this essential piece of information from the account dashboard, leaving traders unaware of how much they’re risking. Recognising this practice is essential to protecting your account and ensuring you have full visibility over your trading performance.

Why Would a Broker Remove Drawdown Stats from the Dashboard?

Drawdown statistics are typically displayed in real-time to help traders manage their risk levels effectively. When a broker removes drawdown stats from the dashboard, it may be due to the following reasons:

• Obscuring account risk exposure: By hiding drawdown data, the broker can prevent traders from easily seeing the extent of risk in their accounts, potentially leading to higher losses.
• Manipulating trader behaviour: Some brokers may encourage more aggressive trading by making it difficult for traders to see how much risk they’re taking, potentially increasing the broker’s profits from higher volume trades.
• Reducing accountability: Hiding drawdown stats can limit traders’ ability to assess how their trading strategies are performing, especially when they cannot track risk metrics accurately.
• Promoting poor risk management: Without visible drawdown stats, traders may be unaware of potential margin calls or stop-outs, which may result in unwanted surprises or forced closures of profitable positions.
• Protecting broker profits: Brokers who operate on a B-book model (where the broker profits from client losses) may benefit from traders not seeing their actual risk exposure, as this could lead to more losses for the client and more profits for the broker.

Legitimate brokers ensure full transparency and provide traders with clear access to their account statistics, including drawdown, to enable effective risk management.

The Risks of Removing Drawdown Stats from the Dashboard

Inability to assess risk effectively:
Without drawdown stats, you have no way of easily tracking how much of your account equity is at risk, making it harder to make informed decisions.

Increased risk of margin calls or stop-outs:
You may unknowingly take on more risk than you realise, leading to unexpected margin calls or forced position closures.

Poor decision-making:
Without clear visibility into drawdown, you may continue to trade without adjusting your strategies, potentially increasing losses and reducing profitability.

Manipulated account behaviour:
The removal of key risk metrics like drawdown stats can encourage traders to take on excessive risk without realising the consequences, benefiting the broker rather than the trader.

Loss of trust and transparency:
A broker removing drawdown stats from the dashboard is a significant breach of trust, as it compromises your ability to assess and control your trading performance effectively.

Signs That a Broker Is Removing Drawdown Stats from the Dashboard

Sudden disappearance of drawdown information:
You notice that drawdown stats, which were previously visible, suddenly disappear or become unavailable in the account dashboard.

Missing risk-related data on the platform:
You can no longer find key metrics like drawdown, margin levels, or equity-to-risk ratios, which were previously part of the trading platform’s core analytics.

Vague responses from customer support:
When you contact customer support for clarification, they provide vague or contradictory reasons for why the drawdown stats are no longer accessible.

Increased risk exposure without clear warnings:
You are unable to assess the risk of your positions or portfolio accurately, leading to higher-than-expected losses.

Changes in platform functionality without notice:
You may notice other changes to platform tools or risk management features that impact your ability to track and control risk.

What to Do If Your Broker Removes Drawdown Stats from the Dashboard

Request clear explanations from the broker:
Ask the broker why the drawdown stats have been removed and when they plan to reinstate them. If the broker refuses to explain or provides a vague response, this could be a red flag.

Monitor account risk manually:
While waiting for an explanation, manually track your drawdown by monitoring your account equity and positions. Consider using third-party tools to calculate your drawdown if the broker’s platform doesn’t provide this information.

Submit a formal complaint:
If the broker does not provide a satisfactory explanation, submit a formal complaint through the broker’s official complaint process, demanding the return of this vital information.

Report the issue to the regulator:
If your broker is regulated, such as Intertrader, AvaTrade, TiBiGlobe, Vantage, or Markets.com, escalate your complaint to the relevant financial authority, especially if the removal of drawdown stats appears to be part of an unfair or deceptive practice.

Withdraw your funds if necessary:
If the broker continues to obscure critical risk metrics or refuses to address your concerns, consider withdrawing your funds and moving to a more transparent and reliable broker.

Warn other traders:
Post your experience on independent review platforms and forums to help other traders avoid brokers that engage in such tactics.

How to Avoid Brokers That Remove Drawdown Stats

Choose brokers regulated by top-tier authorities:
Regulated brokers must comply with transparency standards, including providing access to critical trading statistics like drawdown, margin, and equity data.

Test the platform with a small account:
Open a small account and monitor how the broker displays key risk metrics like drawdown. If you notice inconsistencies or missing information, reconsider using that broker for larger trades.

Check for clear risk management tools:
Before committing to a broker, ensure that they offer clear, accessible risk management tools, including detailed drawdown information and margin data.

Look for brokers that provide independent risk assessments:
Choose brokers who offer third-party tools or integrations that can independently assess your drawdown and overall risk exposure.

Read reviews and feedback from other traders:
Look for reviews from other traders who have used the broker, especially those who focus on risk management features and transparency in reporting.

Conclusion

When a broker removes drawdown stats from the dashboard, it’s a clear indication that they are hiding vital information from traders, making it difficult for them to manage their risk effectively. Traders must stay vigilant, demand transparency, and choose brokers that provide full access to essential trading metrics, including drawdown data.

Learn how to protect your trading capital, spot broker manipulation early, and build a successful, secure trading career by joining our Trading Courses. Stay informed, stay empowered, and ensure that your trading journey is never hindered by unethical practices or hidden risks.