Our 100-point framework
| Category | Weight | What we examine |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence & track record | 25% | Live versus backtested evidence, record length, trade sample and independent visibility. |
| Risk & drawdown | 25% | Observed drawdown, concentration, amplification, leverage and downside mechanics. |
| Transparency | 15% | Clarity around strategy, provider claims, account structure and limitations. |
| Costs & incentives | 15% | Performance fees, subscriptions, spreads and other known costs or incentives. |
| Custody & operations | 10% | Where funds are held, withdrawal mechanics and operational dependencies. |
| Usability & control | 10% | Minimums, lock-ins, ability to stop participation and practical user control. |
1. Evidence quality comes first
A live record generally carries more weight than a backtest or marketing screenshot. A longer record, larger trade sample and independently inspectable dataset can improve confidence in what has actually occurred, but no historical sample proves future performance.
See our trading-result verification checklist →
2. Return is always paired with drawdown
We do not treat a high return as automatically attractive. Return is considered together with maximum drawdown, recovery requirements, concentration and the structure used to produce it.
3. Provider claims are labelled as claims
When a figure or feature comes from a provider's own material and cannot be independently corroborated, we treat it as a provider claim rather than presenting it as independently verified fact. This is especially important for programme mechanics, internal AI claims, fees, minimums and withdrawal terms.
4. Costs are judged on net outcomes
Performance fees, subscriptions, spreads and other charges can materially change the amount a user retains. Gross strategy return and user-level net return should not be compared as if they were the same number.
Read: Performance Fees Explained →
5. Broker and custody are separate risk layers
A strong trading strategy does not remove broker, execution, jurisdiction or withdrawal risk. We therefore examine where funds are held and which entity and account terms apply independently from the strategy itself.
Read: How to Check Broker Regulation →
6. We model both upside and downside
Where a product uses leverage or amplification, Soniqe tools present positive and adverse scenarios using the same assumptions. Compounding illustrations are labelled as mathematical scenarios rather than forecasts.
Stress-test return and risk assumptions →
Ratings are not investment recommendations
A high research score means a proposition performed well against our published criteria. It does not mean the product is suitable for every reader or that it will be profitable in the future.