Martin Krpenský
Investor, author of broker reviews and founder of FX Comparator
About me
I have been active in the financial markets since 2012. I started out on the Forex market, where I spent the first years — both the successes and the failures — of my career. With the rise of cryptocurrencies and the growth stories on the stock market, I broadened my portfolio and today I am active in the stock, ETF and cryptocurrency markets.
I focus on fundamental analysis, swing trading and long-term investment strategies. I have completed dozens of courses and webinars on trading and investing — as the saying goes, “so you don’t have to”. During my career I worked at the investment company Cyrrus, where I went through numerous training programs on the stock exchange, equities and ethical conduct in finance.
Unlike most of today’s financial influencers, I make an effort to provide quality content for free. But I am only human, so it is important to verify every piece of information from several sources — a rule I strictly follow myself.
Why trust me
Given the number of fraudulent offers online in the financial sector, I present only verified brokers with which I have personal experience and where I trade or have traded in the past. That is why every review contains not just a detailed assessment, but also warnings about possible risks and problems.
Hands-on testing
I have personally tested most brokers — a real deposit, fund withdrawal, checking the platform and customer support. I work exclusively with regulated companies (CySEC, FCA).
Real-world practice
I hold active accounts with the brokers eToro, XTB, Interactive Brokers and Fio e-Broker, which lets me offer a broad view of different platforms and their services.
My project
FX Comparator
An independent information portal about the financial markets, which I have run since 2013. Here you will find broker comparisons, educational articles on Forex, stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies, live quotes and reviews of trading platforms.
More than 1,500 published articles and reviews.
Areas of expertise
Important disclaimer
All information on this site reflects the author’s subjective opinions and is for information and education only. It does not constitute investment advice. Investing always carries risk — with CFD contracts, 61–89% of retail investor accounts lose money. Before you start trading, always verify information from several sources. Read our risk warning.
Latest articles by the author
Cheapest UCITS ETFs by TER in Europe
Cheapest UCITS ETFs on the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, European shares, bonds and gold, with ISINs, TERs and what a 0.50% fee costs over 30 years.
How to buy an S&P 500 ETF as a European investor
Which UCITS funds track the index, why SPY, VOO and IVV are blocked in the EU, what 0.03% versus 0.07% costs, and where currency conversion bites hardest.
Preferred Stocks & ETFs with High Dividend Yields
Preferred stocks, also called preference shares, pay a fixed dividend and yield more than common stock. How they work, five example issues and the main ETFs.
How to read the Accelerator and Awesome Oscillator
Awesome Oscillator measures momentum, Accelerator its acceleration. Both formulas, why they plot as bars, not a line, and three signals from Williams.
Triangle patterns – symmetrical, ascending, descending
What symmetrical, ascending and descending triangles look like, what volume does in them and how to estimate the target after a breakout.
Financial Market Regulators – Overview and List
Who supervises brokers in Europe, the US and Asia. Regulators by jurisdiction including the FCA and ČNB, with names of public registers and warning lists.
Bitcoin vs gold – tradition or a 21st-century bet
Bitcoin vs gold over ten years and over five - the returns, the falls from peak, the supply numbers and the FCA rules a UK buyer meets.
Free crypto from Brave Browser – what it takes
Brave pays out BAT for the ads you see, but only after a connected payout account and a few more conditions. What free crypto really takes today.
Bull and bear flags – how to trade the pattern
Bull and bear flags are continuation patterns. Why the pole decides everything, where the target and stop belong and what Bulkowski's statistics really show.
ADR shares on US exchanges – what you really buy
An ADR is not a share but a certificate issued by a bank. How the ratio works, why the price does not track the home listing and what the depositary takes.