> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.questflow.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.questflow.ai/financial-harness/models.md).

# Models

**Short answer:** Models are the cognitive core of Questflow’s financial harness — GPT, Claude, Gemini, and open / finance-specialized models. The model thinks. It is not the alpha source. Skills supply judgment; plugins supply data; execution supplies venues. Questflow is model-agnostic on purpose.

## The rule

```
Agent = Model + Harness
```

Swap the model, keep the harness. That is how coding agents work and how a finance agent should work. The moat is accumulated context and distilled investor judgment — not which logo is on the API this month.

## Model tiers the harness is built to route

| Tier                   | Role                                                   | Examples the stack is designed for     |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------- |
| **Frontier**           | Hard reasoning, thesis writing, subscriber explanation | GPT, Claude, Gemini                    |
| **Open / self-hosted** | High-frequency scans, pattern jobs, cost control       | Llama-class, Hermes-class open weights |
| **Specialized**        | Sentiment, risk, execution microstructure              | Finance-tuned and task-specific models |

A router should pick by task: quality vs latency vs cost. Drafting a Fund thesis is not the same job as watching funding every minute.

## What models do *not* do

* Invent alpha from a prompt
* Replace a fund manager’s invalidation rules
* Bypass kill switches and scoped permissions
* Excuse a missing skill or missing data plugin

Research Questflow cites (Thinking Machines / Bridgewater, 2026): when everyone has the same public information, edge comes from expert judgment — and models tuned on that judgment beat a raw frontier model on financial tasks. That is why Questflow invests in distillation, not “pick the biggest chatbot.”

## How models show up for users

Free / Pro / Max gate **AI depth** (how much reasoning, monitoring, and auto-execution you unlock), not whether you can trade. Trading access stays open. The model picker is a capability unlock inside the agent workflow, not a separate app.

Related: Four pillars · Coding agent vs finance agent · What is an AI Finance Agent?

*Nothing here is financial advice.*