Also known as:Override Commission, Master IB Override, Second-Tier Commission
What is Sub-IB Commission?
Sub-IB Commission is the override a Master IB earns on the trading volume produced by the clients of the Sub-IBs beneath them. Instead of referring traders directly, the Master IB recruits and supports other partners and takes a slice of every lot flowing up the network.
The payout is the spread between two tier rates. If the broker pays the Master IB $8 per standard lot and the Master IB passes $6 to the Sub-IB, the override is $2 per lot on all of that Sub-IB's client volume — earned without the Master IB ever speaking to the underlying trader.
Key takeaways
Override = Master rate minus Sub-IB rate, earned on the Sub-IB's client volume.
Scales with number of active Sub-IBs, not personal referrals.
Requires broker support for multi-tier attribution in the CRM.
Underpay Sub-IBs and they defect to the broker directly.
Semi-passive, but only if you actively enable your partners.
This is the engine behind multi-tier partner programs. A Master IB with 50 active Sub-IBs, each generating 100 standard lots a month at a $1 override, earns $5,000 monthly from the second tier alone, layered on top of their own direct referrals. Growth becomes a function of recruiting and enabling partners rather than chasing individual leads.
Because the money comes from a rate differential, the Master IB's economics depend on keeping Sub-IBs both productive and loyal. Set the pass-through rate too low and Sub-IBs leave for the broker directly; set it too high and the override barely covers the cost of running the network. The whole model is a balancing act between attractive Sub-IB payouts and a sustainable margin.
How it works
The broker assigns the Master IB a headline per-lot rate and allows them to set lower sub-rates for the partners they recruit. The difference between the Master's rate and each Sub-IB's rate is the override the Master keeps.
Every time a Sub-IB's client trades, the broker's CRM attributes the lot to that Sub-IB, pays the Sub-IB their agreed rate, and credits the Master IB the override on the same volume. Some programs support three or more tiers, with each layer taking a smaller cut of the spread as volume rolls upward.
1
Negotiate a Master rate with headroom
Secure a top-tier per-lot rate high enough to leave a viable spread after paying Sub-IBs.
2
Recruit Sub-IBs into your link/hierarchy
Onboard partners under your account so the broker's CRM attributes their volume to your network.
3
Set fair pass-through rates
Offer Sub-IBs a competitive per-lot rate while retaining an override that funds your support and margin.
4
Enable and retain your partners
Share creatives, training, and reporting so Sub-IB volume grows and they have no reason to go direct.
5
Collect overrides on aggregate volume
Earn the spread on the total lots produced across every Sub-IB, paid automatically each cycle.
Why it matters for partnership: Override commission turns a partner from a salesperson into a network operator: recruit and support Sub-IBs, then earn on the rate spread across their combined volume. It is the primary path to scalable, semi-passive income in IB programs.
A Master IB on Exness sets a $2 override and recruits 40 Sub-IBs. Collectively their clients trade 4,000 standard lots in a month, so the Master earns 4,000 × $2 = $8,000 in overrides — separate from commissions on their own direct clients. If the top three Sub-IBs alone drive 2,500 of those lots, protecting those relationships becomes the priority.
Direct IB vs Master IB (override) model
Dimension
Direct IB
Master IB (override)
Who you recruit
Individual traders
Other partners (Sub-IBs)
Income basis
Own client lots
Rate spread on Sub-IB lots
Scalability
Limited by your reach
Compounds with each Sub-IB
Main effort
Lead generation
Partner enablement and retention
Pro Tip
Share your best-converting funnels and creatives openly with Sub-IBs — every lot they gain lifts your override, so their success is literally your income.
Common Pitfalls
Hoarding too much of the spread; if Sub-IBs feel underpaid they will approach the broker for a direct deal and take their entire volume out of your network.
FAQ
How is Sub-IB commission calculated?
It is the difference between your Master rate and the rate you pass to the Sub-IB, multiplied by that Sub-IB's client volume. A $2 spread on 1,000 lots pays $2,000.
Is override commission passive income?
It is semi-passive. You do not service the end traders, but overrides only grow if you actively recruit, train, and retain productive Sub-IBs.
How many tiers can an IB program have?
Most support two tiers (Master and Sub-IB); some allow three or more, with each layer taking a smaller share of the spread as volume rolls up.
Can a Sub-IB later become a direct IB?
Yes, which is the main risk. If your added value is thin, the Sub-IB can negotiate a direct deal with the broker and leave your network.
Does the broker or the Master IB pay the Sub-IB?
Typically the broker's CRM pays each tier its agreed rate automatically, crediting the Sub-IB their rate and the Master the override on the same volume.
What override rate is fair to keep?
There is no fixed rule, but leaving Sub-IBs a competitive rate while retaining $0.50–$3 per lot is common. Price it against the support you actually provide.
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