How to Open and Link an IB Account

Step 1: Open Account

Accounts can be opened for free at www.interactivebrokers.com

Please note that the account should contain at least USD 100,000. The reason is that positions can't be correctly established if the account is smaller. For instance, a 3% position in Booking.com, with shares trading at around USD 5,000, would already become a 5% position with just one share. With an account size of USD 50,000, this would amount to a 10% position, deviating too much from the intended allocation.

Also, if possible choose "margin" account. This makes it easier to withdraw from the account and it allows for small negative balances that could occur due to rounding.

Step 2

Once your account is funded with USD cash (no positions in any securities or other currencies) you can link the account and let the BFAI Model manage it (Step 2a.). Alternatively, if you wish to use an IB account for yourself, you can open a subaccount and have only the subaccount managed (Step 2b).

Step 2a: Link Account to Shire Capital

Click on the head and shoulder symbol (, top right corner), select "Settings", choose the account you'd like to link. Then click "Manage Account Linking" under "Account Configuration", choose "Link my Existing Account to an Advisor/Broker" and follow the process.

Shire Capital account at IB:

Advisor/Broker Account ID: F523127

Advisor/Broker Account Title: Shire Capital Management LLC

Setting up the link doesn't cost anything. As soon as we receive and approve the link request, the BFAI Model recommendations are implemented in the linked account. In your account statements you will see 1/12 of 0.75% being charged every month. You will also see orders, trades and positions that the model recommends in real time. Other than that, it will look exactly like before the link. You can delink the account at any time using the same process through "Settings", "Manage Account Linking".

Step 2b: Create a Subaccount

Click on the head and shoulder symbol, select "Settings", choose your main account. Then click "Open an Additional Account" under "Account Settings" and follow the process.

Once your subaccount is open and funded, link it to Shire Capital (see Step 2a)