Commodity Trading Advisors (CTAs)

Commodity Trading Advisors (CTAs)

 

Managed futures are operated by licensed Commodity Trading Advisors, or CTAs, who are regulated in the United States by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the National Futures Association. Commodity trading advisors (CTAs) are asset managers who follow a set of systematic investment strategies. Essentially, they are the operators of managed futures accounts and are directly responsible for the actual trading. They originally operated predominantly in commodities markets, but today invest in any liquid futures market. There are approximately 800 CTAs registered with the National Futures Association (NFA), the self-regulatory organization for futures and futures options markets. Because of the direct involvement of the CTA in manage futures, choosing the appropriate CTA may be critical in performance and or diversification characteristics.

The two major types of advisors are technical traders and fundamental traders. Technical traders may use computer software programs to follow price trends and perform quantitative analysis. Fundamental traders forecast prices by analysis of supply and demand factors and other market information. Some advisors may use a combination of these two techniques for their managed futures programs.

Some CTAs are compensated on a performance fee basis, usually 15% to 30% of profits. Other CTAs are compensated by charging a per trade cost whenever the account or fund trades. Most CTAs also charge a management fee per year, usually between 1% to 2% of the account size.

See Performance Data for Over 400 Commodity Trading Advisors >

Risk Disclosures

PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS. THE RISK OF LOSS IN TRADING COMMODITY FUTURES, OPTIONS, AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE ("FOREX") IS SUBSTANTIAL.

YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER WHETHER SUCH TRADING IS SUITABLE FOR YOU IN LIGHT OF YOUR FINANCIAL CONDITION. THE HIGH DEGREE OF LEVERAGE THAT IS OFTEN OBTAINABLE IN COMMODITY FUTURES, OPTIONS, AND FOREX TRADING CAN WORK AGAINST YOU AS WELL AS FOR YOU. THE USE OF LEVERAGE CAN LEAD TO LARGE LOSSES AS WELL AS GAINS. IN SOME CASES, MANAGED COMMODITY ACCOUNTS ARE SUBJECT TO SUBSTANTIAL CHARGES FOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORY FEES. IT MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THOSE ACCOUNTS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO THESE CHARGES TO MAKE SUBSTANTIAL TRADING PROFITS TO AVOID DEPLETION OR EXHAUSTION OF THEIR ASSETS. THE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT CONTAINS A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE PRINCIPAL RISK FACTORS AND EACH FEE TO BE CHARGED TO YOUR ACCOUNT BY THE COMMODITY TRADING ADVISOR ("CTA"). THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION ("CFTC") REQUIRE THAT PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS OF A CTA RECEIVE A DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT BEFORE THEY ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WHEREBY THE CTA WILL DIRECT OR GUIDE THE CLIENT'S COMMODITY INTEREST TRADING AND THAT FEES AND CERTAIN RISK FACTORS BE HIGHLIGHTED. IASG WILL PROVIDE YOU A COPY OF THE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT AT NO COST. YOU SHOULD REVIEW THE CTA'S DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT AND STUDY IT CAREFULLY TO DETERMINE WHETHER SUCH TRADING IS APPROPRIATE FOR YOU IN LIGHT OF YOUR FINANCIAL CONDITION. THE CFTC HAS NOT PASSED UPON THE MERITS OF PARTICIPATING IN THE TRADING PROGRAMS DESCRIBED ON THIS WEBSITE NOR ON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CTA'S DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THIS WEBSITE HAS BEEN PREPARED BY IASG FROM SOURCES DEEMED RELIABLE, BUT IASG DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ADEQUACY, ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF ANY INFORMATION. NEITHER IASG NOR ANY OF ITS RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES MAKE ANY WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER, AND NONE OF THESE PARTIES SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSSES, DAMAGES, OR COSTS, RELATING TO THE ADEQUACY, ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF ANY INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT.