(1) How to Evaluate a Futures Professional

Commodity brokers, advisors, authors, analysts…are they legitimate?

How can I find out?

This is how.

Legitimate futures and options professionals are registered with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC"), the federal regulatory agency with jurisdiction over the futures and options market within the United States. To become registered, the registrant must submit personal information including fingerprints, employment and educational history and disciplinary history (if any), and evidence of industry knowledge via the achievement of a passing grade (70%) in the NASD Series 3 National Commodities Futures Examination.

The National Futures Association ("NFA") assists the CFTC in its registration and regulatory duties. The NFA, through its own rules and regulations, also promotes just and equitable principles of trade and, in general, protects the public interest.

You can check the registration status, as well as the disciplinary history of a firm or individual by using the BASIC system on the NFA web site. Go to www.nfa.futures.org and click on ' BASIC: Information About Futures Professionals ' and then 'Begin a Search'. For faster service, use the hyperlink below.

You can search by NFA ID number (which you probably don’t have) or by the name of an individual or firm.

While you are there, why not check us out. Initiate a search for the firm, World Link Futures. You will see that we are registered as a Commodity Trading Advisor.

The information provided by the NFA’s BASIC system also includes corporate address, list of principals (as they are defined by the NFA) and registration history. Most importantly, though, is the disciplinary history.

The NFA records and makes public via its BASIC system, any regulatory actions brought against a registered firm or individual by the NFA, the CFTC, or by a futures exchange. If the firm or individual has ever participated in the NFA arbitration procedure (which usually arises from customer grievance), then any awards made to the claimant or respondent will be shown. Finally, you can also check if the firm or individual has been involved in reparation cases administered by the CFTC. A clean bill of health is signified by zeros in all of these columns. If there is an incident on record, then you should request additional information from the firm or individual and then make your own determination.

Within the futures and options marketplace, you are now an educated consumer.

Click here to start a search...

(2) Bookstore Special

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(3) Looking for a futures broker?

World Link Futures is not a broker, but we can recommend one to you. And we always check the registration and disciplinary history of our recommended brokers with the NFA as was described earlier in this newsletter.

Yes, I need a broker...

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