NIBA Journal

Insights, analysis, and updates from the National Introducing Brokers Association

Why you should get involved in managed futures
Managed Futures
7 min read

Why you should get involved in managed futures

Happy New Year everyone! With the holidays behind us, I thought this would be a good opportunity to look at new business opportunities for the upcoming year. I work almost exclusively in the managed futures space. In speaking with brokers, I have found that they tend to be segregated into those who work primarily in transactional business, retail brokerage and hedging, and those who focus on managed futures accounts. Many transactional brokers know that commodity trading advisors (CTA’s) are out there, but they don’t know how they can become involved in that side of the business. The first question one should ask is, “why should I get involved with managed futures?” The biggest objection I run into when talking with transactional brokers is giving up control over trading their customers’ accounts. This is a natural reaction as nobody likes to give up control over their business. But I’m going to...

By NIBARead article
Michael T. Burke, CEO HighGround Trading LLC NFA Board of Directors IIB Representative, President NIBA
Member Announcements
3 min read

Michael T. Burke, CEO HighGround Trading LLC NFA Board of Directors IIB Representative, President NIBA

It has been my great pleasure for the last year to serve as your NFA Board of Directors IIB Representative. I appreciate your continued support and it is my honor to be allowed to serve a second one year term in this position in addition to serving my first term as President of the NIBA. I am pleased to report that during my first term on the NFA Board my suggestion to NFA staff to offer electronic voting to NFA members in NFA elections has been approved by the NFA Board and will come to fruition. While on the face this initiative may not seem to be a major accomplishment, it will allow for changes to be made that will give IB owners the ultimate control over who can be nominated as their representative for NFA board positions, who can sign petitions for individuals to be placed on the ballot...

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NIBA Special Edition: NFA Elections 2016
Member Announcements
2 min read

NIBA Special Edition: NFA Elections 2016

Most of us have received our ballots for the upcoming NFA elections. NIBA is excited and looking forward to working with Paul Georgy and Mike Burke as the representatives for GIBs and IIBs on the NFA Board of Directors. They have both shown a deep understanding of the IB community and its needs. Paul and Mike are respected by both the IBs they represent and the regulators, and will continue to be effective voices for our opinions. NIBA has been asked to endorse all four candidates running in the contested races for CTA/CPO positions. There are currently 18 members of the NIBA board. Eleven are NFA-registered in the IB or CTA category, and therefore, eligible to vote on this issue. All non-registered members and FCM representatives were deemed ineligible to vote. NIBA board members were split on which candidates to support this year with John Roe and Doug Bry slightly...

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POSITION PAPER OF JAMES L. KOUTOULAS, ESQ. AND JOHN L. ROE
Member Announcements
6 min read

POSITION PAPER OF JAMES L. KOUTOULAS, ESQ. AND JOHN L. ROE

Dear Members, It is time for another NFA Board of Directors election. If it seems like we just asked you for your vote, it’s because we did as you elected us to two-year terms less than a year ago. However, due to changes to the Board’s composition, we currently find ourselves up for election yet again in the only two contested races on the whole Board. We know that the constant stream of elections may seem unimportant, but as someone who makes their living subject to ever-increasing regulation, taking the time to vote for effective Board representation directly benefits your business. One of the unique things about NFA is that it is chartered as a democratic, Member-run self-regulatory organization. This carries with it substantial responsibilities for both Members and Management to balance maintaining the rights of Members with protecting customers and avoiding regulatory capture whereby the organization could be run...

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Joint Statement of Douglas Bry and Ernest Jaffarian Candidates for NFA Board of Directors CTA/CPO Seats
Member Announcements
7 min read

Joint Statement of Douglas Bry and Ernest Jaffarian Candidates for NFA Board of Directors CTA/CPO Seats

Dear CTA/CPO NFA Member – Two of the CTA/CPO Board Seats are contested this year, your vote is critical, and we would appreciate your consideration. We’ve served on the NFA Board for the past 4 years, running in and winning contested elections in 2012. The decision to run was driven by our disappointment with NFA’s response to the bankruptcy of MF Global, and our belief that a fresh perspective was needed to move the organization forward. Each of us has experienced over 25 years of growth and evolution in the futures industry, and we bring a small business entrepreneurial spirit to a Board that is for the most part dominated by large Wall Street firms who do not share our view on quite a few issues. Often in the minority, we have been strong, polite and persistent advocates, and have good working relationships with the other Board members and NFA...

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NFA Board GIB Rep Paul Georgy, President of Allendale Inc.
Member Announcements
2 min read

NFA Board GIB Rep Paul Georgy, President of Allendale Inc.

Paul has been involved in the IB business for more than 30 years. He has served the NIBA in all officer positions before being elected to the NFA Board of Directors. Paul has served on several committees at the NFA as well as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. IB owners, office managers, and compliance personnel; 2016 will be another year of adjustments and likely more consolidation in the futures industry. Since Congress passed the Dodd-Frank bill, the CFTC has been developing regulation to meet the goals of this legislation which continues to impact our business. In recent conversations with the CFTC Chairman and other commissioners, it appears they may be willing to revisit the scope and benefit of some of post Dodd-Frank rule making. The NFA continues to provide guidance to the Commission on the impact to the industry caused by current policy and suggests possible adjustments for...

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2016 Member Events
Member Announcements
1 min read

2016 Member Events

The following association events are currently scheduled for 2016. Please mark your calendar now to save-the-dates. If you are interested in being on the planning committee for any meeting, please contact the meeting chairperson. April 20: New York City - Annual east coast meeting held at the New York Athletic Club. Two or three business sessions beginning at about 1:30pm followed by a networking cocktail hour. (CTA Expo NYC is scheduled for April 21, the following day) Chairman: Howard Rennell, hrennell@e-windham.com July 14: Chicago - Co-sponsored event held at DePaul University, downtown Chicago campus. Two business sessions beginning at about 1:30pm followed by a networking cocktail reception. Chairman: Jerry Nolan, jnolan@countycorkllc.com September 14: Chicago - Annual membership membership meeting held at CME Group Building. A full-day program including a demonstration hall, lunch and speaker and a cocktail reception. (CTA Expo Chicago full-day is scheduled for September 15) Chairman: TBA --...

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Chairman Letter December 2015
Member Announcements
2 min read

Chairman Letter December 2015

Dear Members - The NIBA was founded in June 1991. During the past 25 years, we have become known as the association who educates and speaks for the retail professional community. We have earned the respect of our regulators and our industry by participating in the rule- making process at both the CFTC and NFA, and submitting position papers on everything from ethics training requirements to increased transparency for FCM financial reports. As we enter our 25th Anniversary Year, NIBA will continue to represent your opinions. You will also see some changes. Originally, the NIBA’s membership was almost entirely made up of Introducing Brokers. A few years ago Commodity Trading Advisors and inpidual Associated Persons were invited to join the association. Today about one-third of the membership is registered in the CTA category, either as a dual registration or stand-alone. CTAs and APs are represented on the board of directors...

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Housekeeping, Reminders, and Updates December 2015
Housekeeping
3 min read

Housekeeping, Reminders, and Updates December 2015

COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION Extension of Time-Limited No-Action Relief from Certain Recordkeeping Requirements On December 8th, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) issued a press release regarding the no-action letter issued by the Pision of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight and Pision of Market Oversight (Press Release: PR729-15) . The no-action letter extended the relief relating to records of oral communications, which was originally set forth in CFTC Staff Letter No. 14-147, from 2014. The relief in Letter No. 14-147 was set to expire on December 31, 2015. The 2014 letter granted no-action relief to commodity trading advisors (“CTAs”) that are registered with the CFTC and are members of designated contract markets or of a swap execution facilities from the requirement to record oral communications under CFTC Regulation 1.35(a). Further, the relief is also granted to market participants covered by the rule. Such market participants will not be required to...

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NIBA - Get to Know the Regulator
6 min read

NIBA - Get to Know the Regulator

U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission Division of Clearing and Risk Who is in charge of the Division of Clearing and Risk: DCR is run by a Director, who is assisted by the DCR Deputy Directors and Chief Counsel. Jeffrey Bandman is the Acting Director, and the Deputies and their respective branches are as follows: Eileen Donovan, Deputy Director of Clearing Policy; Sarah Josephson, Deputy Director of Product Review; John Lawton, Deputy Director of Risk Surveillance; and Julie Mohr, Deputy Director of Examinations. Robert Wasserman is the DCR Chief Counsel. How many employees are a part of DCR: DCR has 72 employees, who are located in the CFTC’s Washington, D.C. Headquarters and in the Chicago regional office. What is the general function of DCR: DCR oversees compliance with the provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act and Commission regulations pertaining to clearing, derivatives clearing organizations (DCOs), and related matters. For example, DCR...

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