When traders face losses, especially early in their journey, it’s tempting to look outward for blame. A common target? The broker. Spreads, slippage, stop hunts, execution delays—surely that’s why the trade failed, right?

But here’s the truth: blaming your broker for losses is usually a distraction from the real issue—your own decisions. While broker quality does matter, most trading losses stem from strategy flaws, poor risk management, or emotional execution—not foul play.

Let’s break this down clearly.

Yes, Bad Brokers Exist—but They’re Rare

There are unregulated brokers with shady practices:

• Manipulating spreads or price feeds
• Delaying withdrawals
• Executing trades unfairly

But if you’re using a regulated broker with a proper trading platform, then most of the time your execution is honest and in line with market behaviour.

If you’re unsure, always trade with brokers licensed by Tier-1 regulators like the FCA, ASIC, or CySEC. That removes 95% of concerns around legitimacy.

The Most Common Causes of Losses? You, Not Your Broker

Before blaming your broker, ask:

• Did I enter with a tested, rules-based setup?
• Did I size my position correctly?
• Did I place my stop in a logical, market-structured location?
• Did I overtrade or chase the move?

Most traders lose not because of their broker—but because of emotional decisions, strategy gaps, or lack of preparation.

The Danger of Blame-Shifting

Blaming your broker feels good in the moment—it lets you protect your ego. But it also:

• Blocks accountability
• Prevents honest review
• Slows down learning
• Builds a victim mindset

Accountability is one of the core traits of profitable traders. Owning your outcomes—win or lose—is what drives long-term improvement.

When Broker Issues Are Legitimate

To be clear, you should investigate if you notice:

• Repeated slippage during normal market conditions
• Stop-losses triggered far outside the bid/ask spread
• Unexplained order rejections
• Withdrawal delays or hidden fees

In such cases, document everything and contact support. But don’t use this as an excuse for every losing trade.

Conclusion: The Broker Isn’t to Blame—Your Behaviour Is

Unless you’re using an unregulated or unreliable broker, your losses are almost certainly your responsibility—not theirs. Great traders don’t look for scapegoats; they look for solutions.

To develop the systems, mindset, and self-discipline required to take full control of your trading, explore our Trading Courses created to help you trade with confidence—regardless of broker.