Agree with what most of SCM says - though, I would point out that distance may or may not be a deciding factor - one of my managers lives on the other side of the world, and I trust him more than I trust some local managers here. And he's pulled through. The main thing is to make sure you have accessible contact in a variety of manners. Phone, email, business address, etc. Unfortunately these days I believe the creation of PAMM style accounts actually means that people can LPOA without necessarily requiring registration - and so every man and his dog are opening PAMMs. This has had no impac......

Talk to the trader. Get them on the phone. Ask about their previous history, and evidence that they can back it up. Ask for an investor password to one of their managed accounts or a client's PAMM account for proof. Use only safe(r) methods of money transfer like bank wires that can be traced. Traits i expect are a level of professionality and a sense of integrity. The most successful traders are not just nice people to their clients, they are nice people to everyone. Get to know them personally, but not too close, as you are still a client. If their personality or ethics seems to be incon......