Apply for Professional Account Status
Experienced investors who meet specific statutory criteria may request to be reclassified as Professional Clients. This status allows for different margin requirements and institutional-level access but requires the client to waive significant retail investor protections, including Negative Balance Protection.
Institutional Power, Personal Guidance
At Hugo, we believe that seasoned traders shouldn’t have to choose between a powerful platform and a personal relationship. While Saxo Bank provides the world-class engine, Hugo provides the pit crew.
As a Professional Client, you retain the dedicated support of our Marbella-based team while operating under the trading conditions required for sophisticated strategies.
Professional Status: Margin and Risk Profile
Professional Account status is designed for those who understand the markets and require more room to maneuver.
Professional Margin Requirements
Professional clients are subject to different margin requirements across asset classes (e.g., 1.5% on FX majors). These rates reflect the higher risk tolerance and experience assumed for this category.
Leverage Categorisation
Elective Professional clients are not subject to ESMA-mandated leverage caps. While this allows for larger position sizing relative to capital, it significantly increases the risk of rapid and total capital loss.
Portfolio Collateral
Maximize your efficiency by using some holdings as collateral for margin trading. This “double-duty” approach ensures your long-term investments support your short-term trading goals.
SaxoTrader PRO
Gain full access to the flagship desktop platform. Engineered for multi-screen setups, it offers advanced depth-of-market features, algorithmic ordering, and high-speed execution.
Eligibility: Do You Qualify for the Professional Account?
Statutory Requirements
To qualify for reclassification as an elective professional, you must meet at least two of the three following conditions:
Size of Portfolio
You hold a financial instrument portfolio (including cash and investable assets) exceeding €500,000.
Trading Activity
You have carried out transactions, in significant size, on the relevant market at an average frequency of 40 over the previous four quarters, with a minimum transaction per quarter.
Professional Experience
You work or have worked in the financial sector for at least one year in a professional position which requires knowledge of the transactions or services envisaged.
Note: Meeting the quantitative criteria does not guarantee reclassification. Hugo/Saxo will conduct an assessment of your expertise and knowledge to ensure the status is appropriate for your profile.
With great flexibility comes great responsibility. By electing for Professional Account Status, you waive certain retail protections. This includes the loss of negative balance protection and the receipt of standardized risk warnings.
Our team is available for a one-on-one session to ensure you fully understand these changes before your reclassification.
A Partnership Built on Transparency
| Feature | Retail Client | Professional Client |
|---|---|---|
| Margin Rates | Standard (ESMA Regulated) | Significantly Reduced |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes | No |
| Leverage Limits | Capped | Flexible / Higher |
| Saxo & Hugo Support | Full Access | Priority Access |
| Best Execution | Guaranteed | Guaranteed |
It is essential to understand that by electing for Professional Status, you voluntarily waive certain protections designed for retail investors.
1. Margin and Leverage
Professional clients are not subject to the ESMA-mandated leverage limits applicable to retail clients. While this provides greater flexibility in position sizing, it significantly increases the risk of capital loss.
2. Negative Balance Protection
Unlike retail accounts, professional accounts do not benefit from mandatory negative balance protection. You must ensure you have the means to cover any deficit should your account balance fall below zero.
3. Risk Disclosures and Communications
We are entitled to assume that a professional client has the necessary level of experience and knowledge. Consequently, communications may be more technical, and you will not receive the same standardized risk warnings provided to retail investors.
4. Best Execution and Fund Protection
Certain core protections remain unchanged. We continue to prioritize Best Execution for your orders, and your cash deposits remain protected by the Danish Guarantee Fund up to €100,000.
5.Investor Compensation & Redress
Professional clients may lose access to certain investor compensation schemes and the right to bring complaints to specific financial ombudsman services, depending on the jurisdiction.
Requesting a Status Change
The Process
The transition to Professional Status is a formal regulatory process, not an automated upgrade.
Consultation: Speak with a Hugo expert to discuss how Professional Account Status aligns with your goals.
Application: Complete the professional reclassification request via your Saxo platform.
Reclassification: If your application is successful following our assessment of your expertise and knowledge, your account status will be updated to Professional.
Your Professional Journey, Guided
Becoming a professional trader shouldn’t mean trading alone. Whether you want to discuss a complex options strategy or need a walkthrough of the Pro platform’s latest features, the Hugo team is only a phone call or a coffee in Marbella away.
Risk
The information on investment products is for general information and is not intended as advice. In spite of the fact that Hugo Investing takes care of the compilation and maintenance of these pages using sources deemed reliable, Hugo Investing cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness and actuality of the information provided. If you use the information provided without verification or advice, you do so at your own account and risk. We advise you to always check any transactions and not invest in financial instruments that you do not understand the risks of. No rights can be derived from the information on these pages.
