3 Risks of Using a Discount Futures Broker

With the advent of technology, the means to communicate clear objectives, or with any human, drives most people to ignore full-service futures brokers. Why? It is a spirit of independence. Computers have created a superhighway of trading, and accelerated the pace at which commodities, stocks, in short the financial market operates. These various methods have raised barriers between clients and full-service brokers, but given rise to- discount futures brokers. In reality, what the future of the financial markets beckons, is a direct and honest appraisal of the quick and easy model, versus the client and broker relationship. If the “Great Recession” taught us all anything, if you are not vigilant, or the means to track your investment, there is an inherent risk.

Knowledge vs. Education

Brain to Understanding is to hat on a head, both are useful, if absolutely used for maximum benefits to create larger profits to debt losses. Most experienced futures brokers understand the full scope of the financial market, and this long range vision gives insight into the behaviors of certain commodities. Conversely, when opting out of choosing a full-service futures broker, you are presented with limited tools, vision and insight.

Vision, in the entrepreneurial sense, is the act or power of anticipating what will come to be. If you are a newcomer, choosing discount futures brokers, may lead to a lack discernment or experience to sell or buy at appropriate times to gain the maximum profit, while minimizing the loss. This vital quality reigns supreme on experienced traders in the financial sector. However, the key to having a strong vision is insight.

Insight varies to vision, in that you see both near and far and eventually the end result of a business decision. Good judgment plays an integral part in evaluating leverage metrics, whether using gold as a hedge, or evident world events that will signal either a sharp decline or increase in the markets.

Overall, vision and insight, help with the learning curve in the futures market. In addition, being green in this market can cost you a great deal of time and money. Adding vision and insight to your expansive market toolbox can aid in shortening common investment mistakes, with the aid of the seasoned futures broker as your guide. Conversely, selecting a discount futures broker, they may not have the ability to reign in your decision making. Bad decisions – loss of profit. Consequently, bucking traditional wisdom, you could lose larger returns, and run into dangerous investment decisions.

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Top Things to Consider When Choosing a Futures Broker

With many economists, researchers and traders calling for the next bull market in commodities, and you have disposable risk capital to take advantage of these potential trends you may be asking yourself – How can I begin my search for a solid reliable Futures Broker? I have included 9 items below that you should be cognizant of to assist you in finding a reliable partner for your commodity trading needs.

1. The Futures Brokers history

How long has the Futures Broker been in business? What is the commodity trading brokers regulatory history? you can check here by selecting BASIC then responding to the prompts to bring up a regulatory profile of the firms or individuals that you are interested in researching. http://www.nfa.futures.org/ Many times you will be able to find a nuisance regulatory issue and other times you may find regulatory actions that would cause you to pause. If you pause, move on to another broker as all legitimate Commodity Futures Brokers must be registered with the National Futures Association (NFA). if you can’t find your broker on the NFA website, you may not be dealing with a regulated entity.

2. Trading Platform choices

You would be looking for a Discount Futures broker if platform choice is critical to your trading strategy. Opportunities to use a variety of tools and risk management software to enhance your trading experience as an online, self-directed trader will vastly improve your traders toolbox. Preferably you will want to use a Discount futures broker that can offer a wide array of trading solutions software to execute your plan. Not all Platforms and Data feeds are alike and in this day of wifi and internet , the speed and accuracy of your software will be critical to your success, not to mention the bandwidth you will be piping into your computer.

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Important Factors When Choosing a Futures Broker

Choosing a Futures Broker can be somewhat of a daunting task. Most popular factors I see considered: cost, customer service, experience and knowledge. Going through the process of one’s own due diligence of researching your broker’s firm, trying a futures platform and comparing costs is a process one must take to find a broker that fits him or her.

Being a broker myself, I hear many concerns about cost before I even here about the type of future trading platform one would like to be set up with that fit his or her trading style. Please note cost should not be all when choosing a futures broker. Most reasonable and competitive commission quotes, for example the mini S&P cost less than half a tick. Unless you are trading high volume, less than half a tick should not hurt your account balance per round turn. When you look for “deep discount” commodity brokers, these brokers may provide you with an appealing commission cost but they may lack quality service and or even knowledge of the futures/commodities markets. This happens countless times in the industry; where clients will sacrifice service and knowledge of a broker for fifty cents less in commission because a lower commission cost seems to be more important for a client. Please be aware commission costs are only one ingredient of choosing a broker when trading futures.

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Futures Trading Levels

A more important component, I believe to be than cost when choosing a futures broker is customer service. Always note how long it takes your broker to respond for example to an email you send him or her. Does your broker respond in a timely manner? If your request was urgent did he/she give you the attention that’s required to solve the issue? These are very important factors one must consider when choosing a broker. If you, the client, end up with a commodities broker who is non responsive and not willing to help when the time is needed, there will be no value in you having a broker.

Look for the added values your broker can provide to help increase your success in futures trading, such as experience and knowledge. In my opinion, a great futures broker wants their clients to be successful in futures trading. Never be afraid to use your broker to pick his or her brain about the futures markets you are trading; go over strategies that you are using but may not be working for you. You choose your broker for a reason and your broker’s job is to service your futures account; be able to help you with your trading platform and every so often give his or her opinion of the markets you are trading if it’s asked by the client. In many “deep discount” firms, brokers seem to lack this type of service. I have seen many times where the client is left to figure out the platform themselves and are trading blindly because they lack direction from a licensed broker.

Although I agree that cost is a large component when choosing a broker, always consider the other factors such as customer service, knowledge and experience. Because if a broker lacks those three qualities but can provide you only cost, you may see your account having a shorter life span in the futures markets.

SPECIAL NOTE: Trading Futures, Options on Futures, and retail off-exchange foreign currency transactions involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. You should carefully consider whether trading is suitable for you in light of your circumstances, knowledge, and financial resources. You may lose all or more of your initial investment. Opinions, market data, and recommendations are subject to change at any time.

Futures Trading Levels and Economic Reports for May 15, 2013

Connect with Us! Use Our Futures Trading Levels and Economic Reports RSS Feed.

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1. Market Commentary
2. Futures Support and Resistance Levels – S&P, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Russell 2000, Dollar Index
3. Commodities Support and Resistance Levels – Gold, Euro, Crude Oil, T-Bonds
4. Commodities Support and Resistance Levels – Corn, Wheat, Beans, Silver
5. Futures Economic Reports for Wednesday May 15, 2013

Hello Traders,

For 2013 I would like to wish all of you discipline and patience in your trading! 

Below is a daily chart of the mini Russell 2000 for review with potential extensions to the top side along with possible support lines.

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Futures Trading Levels and Economic Reports for April 26, 2013

Connect with Us! Use Our Futures Trading Levels and Economic Reports RSS Feed.

Like us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterView our profile on LinkedInFind us on Google+Cannon Trading Futures Trading Resistance & Support Levels and Economic ReportsFind us on Yelp

1. Market Commentary
2. Futures Support and Resistance Levels – S&P, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Russell 2000, Dollar Index
3. Commodities Support and Resistance Levels – Gold, Euro, Crude Oil, T-Bonds
4. Commodities Support and Resistance Levels – Corn, Wheat, Beans, Silver
5. Futures Economic Reports for Friday April 26, 2013

Hello Traders,

For 2013 I would like to wish all of you discipline and patience in your trading! 

 

Hello Clients and friends,

 

Please take a moment to log in to your google account and then visit our page:

 

https://www.cannontrading.com/services/self-directed-online-futures-traders

 

Scroll down and to the right you will see the following:

719

 

As long as you are logged in to your gmail account you should be able to click on the +1, if you appreciate the information we provide and would like to leave a reviewthat will be appreciated!!!

 

 

 

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Futures Trading Levels and Economic Reports for April 17, 2013

 

Jump to a section in this post:

1. Market Commentary
2. Futures Support and Resistance Levels – S&P, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Russell 2000, Dollar Index
3. Commodities Support and Resistance Levels – Gold, Euro, Crude Oil, T-Bonds
4. Commodities Support and Resistance Levels – Corn, Wheat, Beans, Silver
5. Futures Economic Reports for Wednesday April 18, 2013

Hello Traders,

For 2013 I would like to wish all of you discipline and patience in your trading! 

 

Where do I look and when do I pay attention?

By: Justin Smith, Cannon Trading Commodities Broker

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Every trader has done it. You’ve done it, your friends have done it, even your broker has done it at one point early in their career.

Here’s the scenario:

You’ve finally finished your futures education at Cannon Trading Company. You’ve done you’re homework on stops, limits, indicators and price movements for the market you’re trading. You’re ready to go, you enter your limit order and you wait.

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**DING**

You get filled. Your heart rate picks up, a wry smile crosses your face and you begin to imagine the possibilities of the one trade you’re in: How much can I make? How much can I lose before it’s too much? You’ve waited through months of technical trading and deep meditation to get here, and now it’s finally paying off with one of your first trades in the live market. Sayonara paper trading; aloha live futures.

Then, all of a sudden…...continue reading

 

Futures Trading Levels and Economic Reports for April 10, 2013

 

Jump to a section in this post:

1. Market Commentary
2. Support and Resistance Levels – S&P, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Russell 2000, Dollar Index
3. Support and Resistance Levels – Gold, Euro, Crude Oil, T-Bonds
4. Support and Resistance Levels – Corn, Wheat, Beans, Silver
5. Economic Reports for Wednesday April 10, 2013

Hello Traders,

For 2013 I would like to wish all of you discipline and patience in your trading! 

This is the third time that SP futures touched against that 1568-1569 level. We backed down a few points before the close but I think it is important to see how we open tomorrow morning. If we can climb above 1570 then in my opinion we have good chances of visiting 1587 in the next few days or so. On the flip side, failure to do so for the third time can result in a much more meaningful sell off.

 

Daily chart of the mini SP 500 futures for your review below:

 

daily mini sp 500 chart

 

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Trading Levels and Economic Reports for March 28, 2013

 

Jump to a section in this post:

1. Market Commentary
2. Support and Resistance Levels – S&P, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Russell 2000, Dollar Index
3. Support and Resistance Levels – Gold, Euro, Crude Oil, T-Bonds
4. Support and Resistance Levels – Corn, Wheat, Beans, Silver
5. Economic Reports for Thursday March 28, 2013

 

Hello Traders,

For 2013 I would like to wish all of you discipline and patience in your trading! 

Globex® / ICE Good FridayHolidaySchedule

(dates and times are subject to change)

The following link will take you to the Globex Good Friday Holiday Schedule, including for CME & CBOT equity products, interest rate & FX products, NYMEX & COMEX products, CBOT, KCBT, grain & agricultural products and others (PDF file):

 

http://www.cmegroup.com/tools-information/holiday-calendar/files/2013-good-friday.pdf

 

The following link will take you to the ICE Good Friday Holiday Schedule, including for the Dollar Index, Russell Indexes, CRB Index, as well as others (PDF file):

 

https://www.theice.com/marketdata/Calendar.shtml?calendars=Holiday&expirationEnabled=false&calendars=SpecialTradingHours

 

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