Retail Trader
a.k.a. Retail investor, Retail
An individual trading their own money, as opposed to a bank, fund or other institution.
A retail trader is a regular person trading their own account, usually through an online broker. If that is you, welcome. Compared with institutions, retail traders deal in small sizes, pay wider spreads and have less information, but they also have freedoms institutions do not: no boss, no quarterly targets, and the option to sit out when nothing looks good.
Regulators give retail traders extra protections, such as leverage caps and mandatory risk warnings, because the statistics on retail outcomes in leveraged products are sobering.
Keep this word for good
Your free Private Swap Lounge saves the terms you’ve learned and quizzes you on them. Portal under construction. Expected delivery date is December 01, 2026.