Why Rebellion Research Uses Interactive Brokers : 15 Years of Experience Running an AI Hedge Fund & Robo Advisor on IBKR
At Rebellion Research, we have spent nearly two decades building AI-driven investment systems. From our earliest machine learning strategies to our current robo advisor and hedge fund operations, one decision has remained constant.
We use Interactive Brokers.
After more than 15 years of continuous use, Interactive Brokers has become deeply embedded in how we operate. This is not a casual preference. It is the result of thousands of trading days, millions of executions, and real-world stress testing across market cycles.
Introduction: Why Broker Choice Matters in AI Investing
In AI-driven investing, your broker is not just a service provider. It is part of your infrastructure.
Our models generate signals continuously. They rely on timely execution, stable connections, and accurate data. Any friction at the brokerage layer directly impacts performance.
That is why we chose Interactive Brokers early on, and why we continue to rely on it today.
Execution Reliability at Scale
The most important requirement for any quantitative firm is execution.
Over the years, Interactive Brokers has delivered:
Consistent order routing
Fast execution across asset classes
Reliable uptime during volatile markets
We trade equities, options, and other instruments where milliseconds can matter. The platform has proven capable of handling both our hedge fund activity and our retail-facing robo advisor flows without degradation.
This level of consistency is rare.
Trading Interface Built for Professionals
Interactive Brokers’ Trader Workstation is not designed to be flashy. It is designed to work.
For our team, the platform provides:
Deep customization
Advanced order types
Real-time analytics
It allows us to monitor positions, risk, and execution in a single environment. For systematic trading, that level of control is critical.
While there is a learning curve, the payoff is significant for serious investors.
Investor Interface for Robo Advisory Clients
We also run an online AI investment platform for individual investors.
Here, the experience must be different. Clients need clarity, transparency, and ease of use.
Interactive Brokers supports this with:
Clear portfolio reporting
Straightforward account management
Reliable access to performance data
Our clients can see exactly what they own and how it is performing. That transparency is essential to building long-term trust.
Customer Service That Holds Up Over Time
One of the most overlooked aspects of any brokerage is support.
Over 15 years, we have interacted with Interactive Brokers across countless scenarios. The experience has been consistently strong.
Issues are resolved. Questions are answered. Systems are maintained.
In a fast-moving environment, that reliability matters more than marketing.
Cost Structure That Preserves Alpha
Trading costs are often underestimated.
Interactive Brokers offers:
Low commissions
Efficient pricing
Access to tight spreads
For an AI asset manager, small differences in cost compound over time. Lower friction means more of the strategy’s returns reach investors.
This has been a meaningful advantage for us.
Global Market Access
Our strategies are not limited to a single market.
Interactive Brokers provides access to a wide range of global exchanges. This allows us to diversify strategies and pursue opportunities beyond the United States.
For a modern quant firm, global access is no longer optional. It is essential.
Scalability Across Our Business
We operate both a hedge fund and a robo advisor.
Many platforms can handle one or the other. Few can handle both well.
Interactive Brokers has scaled with us.
From smaller accounts in our early years to larger, more complex operations today, the platform has supported our growth without forcing a transition to new systems.
That continuity has saved time, reduced risk, and allowed us to focus on what matters most.
Final Thoughts: Why We Continue to Choose Interactive Brokers
After 15 years, our view is simple.
Interactive Brokers works.
It is not the simplest platform. It is not the most heavily marketed. But it is one of the most reliable, cost-effective, and scalable systems available to both institutional and individual investors.
For us, that combination has made it a foundational part of our infrastructure.
For investors and firms considering their brokerage, the lesson is clear.
Choose the platform that performs under real conditions, not just in demos.
Interactive Brokers has done that for us, year after year.
2017 Physics Nobel Prize Contributor & Wall Street Data Mind Evan Reich on the Future of Data!
High Value Sources
Interactive Brokers Official Website
https://www.interactivebrokers.com
Interactive Brokers API Documentation
https://interactivebrokers.github.io
SEC Broker Dealer Information
https://www.sec.gov
FINRA BrokerCheck
https://brokercheck.finra.org
