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Commodity Trading Advisors

Commodity Trading Advisors

Who are Commodity Trading Advisors (CTAs)?

 

Commodity Trading Advisors are professional account managers who trade and manage your account on your behalf.

Commodity Trading Advisors make up the backbone of the Managed Futures industry. Some key attributes that separate CTAs from other styles of trading investments in the futures and commodities world include:

• CTAs publish what is a called a “Disclosure Document.” It details information about the CTA, the trading style or strategy, markets traded, if options are used, starting minimums, performance data, principal background, etc. Commodity Trading Advisors (CTAs) publish performance net of any and all fees.

• The CTAs manage accounts via a limited Power of Attorney (POA). An investor will have their own individual separated account: that is, their account and the traded futures contracts are not co-mingled with anyone else’s trades unlike that of a pool or a fund.

• A CTA program has two types of fees that typically can be charged:

Management Fee: This fee often ranges from 0% to 2.25% annually, usually billed monthly or quarterly in arrears. The fee is generally calculated as a percentage of the annualized asset value in the account on the end-of-month or end-of-quarter date.

Incentive Fee: CTAs charge a percentage of profits. This is the “incentive” the trader has in order to make money for the client. The incentive fee is only charged on net profits, net meaning after prior incentive fees and all costs of trading have been deducted.

Performance and CTAs

Now let’s review performance in order to select CTAs that line up with your interests! This task is made much easier with our assistance using our extensive Managed Futures Database powered by Autumn Gold.

Access the CTA Database

Keep in mind that you are welcome to drive the database solo. However, we really encourage you to take along one of our Ascent Capital Investment Specialists for the first few drives. We think there’s more to evaluating the performance of a trading manager and programs than just a few stats. Though those stats are important, there is more to the picture, especially to the well-seasoned eye. Ascent Principals have personally vetted many of the managers in the database and has invested in MANY of the Commodity Trading Advisors (CTAs). We have experiences we’d like to share that we believe will make you a better investor. There is more to a car than the engine horsepower, and there is more to a trading program than Rate of Return. Let us share that experience with you.

These comments are generally true for most Commodity Trading Advisors (CTAs)  however, an investor must read the disclosure document of the CTA for the details as they relate to their programmatic investment. 

RISKS – While the benefits of using Commodity Trading Advisors (CTAs) to manage your futures investments are numerous, there is no way to completely eliminate risk. Investments in futures contracts are inherently risky due to the significant leverage involved in the type of contracts traded. Each investor must carefully consider whether these types of investments are appropriate for them. Investing in futures provides the opportunity for elevated returns and with that opportunity comes the elevated risk of loss. Only true risk capital should be used to invest.

  • CTA Database

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    TRADING FUTURES AND OPTIONS INVOLVES SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF LOSS AND IS NOT SUITABLE FOR ALL INVESTORS. THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES OF PROFIT NO MATTER WHO IS MANAGING YOUR MONEY. PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.

    All Ascent Capital Management (herein after as “ACM”) associated information, publications, reports, including the ACM website and the websites of its DBAs, and any information distributed by ACM shall be construed as a solicitation. ACM does not distribute research reports, employ research analysts, or maintain a research department as defined in CFTC Regulation 1.71. The following link or document may contain information obtained from sources believed to be reliable, and or has been created by another firm or body. Such information is being provided as a courtesy but such information has not been independently verified and ACM does not guarantee its accuracy. Information and opinions expressed by a source or author other than ACM are not necessarily supported by ACM and ACM makes no guarantees of such. Any mention of performance in any context whether actual or hypothetical is no guarantee of future results. Phone calls to and from ACM or its DBAs may be recorded.

    THE RISK OF LOSS IN TRADING COMMODITY INTERESTS CAN BE SUBSTANTIAL. YOU SHOULD THEREFORE CAREFULLY CONSIDER WHETHER SUCH TRADING IS SUITABLE FOR YOU IN LIGHT OF YOUR FINANCIAL CONDITION. IN CONSIDERING WHETHER TO TRADE OR TO AUTHORIZE SOMEONE ELSE TO TRADE FOR YOU, YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING: IF YOU PURCHASE A COMMODITY OPTION YOU MAY SUSTAIN A TOTAL LOSS OF THE PREMIUM AND OF ALL TRANSACTION COSTS.

    IF YOU PURCHASE OR SELL A COMMODITY FUTURES CONTRACT OR SELL A COMMODITY OPTION YOU MAY SUSTAIN A TOTAL LOSS OF THE INITIAL MARGIN FUNDS OR SECURITY DEPOSIT AND ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT YOU DEPOSIT WITH YOUR BROKER TO ESTABLISH OR MAINTAIN YOUR POSITION. IF THE MARKET MOVES AGAINST YOUR POSITION, YOU MAY BE CALLED UPON BY YOUR BROKER TO DEPOSIT A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL MARGIN FUNDS, ON SHORT NOTICE, IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN YOUR POSITION. IF YOU DO NOT PROVIDE THE REQUESTED FUNDS WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME, YOUR POSITION MAY BE LIQUIDATED AT A LOSS, AND YOU WILL BE LIABLE FOR ANY RESULTING DEFICIT IN YOUR ACCOUNT. UNDER CERTAIN MARKET CONDITIONS, YOU MAY FIND IT DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO LIQUIDATE A POSITION. THIS CAN OCCUR, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THE MARKET MAKES A ‘‘LIMIT MOVE.’’

    THE PLACEMENT OF CONTINGENT ORDERS BY YOU OR YOUR TRADING ADVISOR, SUCH AS A ‘‘STOP-LOSS’’ OR ‘‘STOP-LIMIT’’ ORDER, WILL NOT NECESSARILY LIMIT YOUR LOSSES TO THE INTENDED AMOUNTS, SINCE MARKET CONDITIONS MAY MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO EXECUTE SUCH ORDERS. A ‘‘SPREAD’’ POSITION MAY NOT BE LESS RISKY THAN A SIMPLE ‘‘LONG’’ OR “SHORT” POSITION.

    THE HIGH DEGREE OF LEVERAGE THAT IS OFTEN OBTAINABLE IN COMMODITY INTEREST 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 CTA 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”).

    A COMPLETE DISCUSSION OF FEES AND CHARGES ARE REPORTED IN THE CTA’s DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT. MANAGED FUTURES MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE PROFITABLE UNDER ALL MARKET CONDITIONS AND ALSO MAY NOT NECESSARILY REDUCE VOLATILITY.

    THIS MATERIAL MAY MENTION SERVICES, WHICH RANK THE PERFORMANCE OF COMMODITY TRADING ADVISORS. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE RANKINGS APPLY ONLY TO THOSE CTAS WHO SUBMIT THEIR TRADING RESULTS. THE RANKINGS IN NO WAY PURPORT TO BE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE OF COMMODITY TRADING ADVISORS. THE MATERIAL IN NO WAY IMPLIES THAT THESE RESULTS ARE OFFICIALLY SANCTIONED RESULTS OF THE COMMODITY INDUSTRY. BE ADVISED THAT AN INDIVIDUAL CANNOT INVEST IN THE FUTURES INDEX ITSELF AND THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN FOR AN INDIVIDUAL PROGRAM MAY SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFER AND BE MORE VOLATILE THAN THE INDEX. INVESTORS SHOULD NOTE THAT ADDING MANAGED FUTURES TO AN EXISTING STOCK PORTFOLIO CAN POTENTIALLY INCREASE THE ANNUAL RETURN OF THAT PORTFOLIO. THE ADDITION OF MANAGED FUTURES TO A PORTFOLIO HOWEVER CANNOT PROTECT YOU FROM LOSS AND IN FACT CAN DECREASE A PORTFOLIO’S EFFICIENCY.

    By agreeing, you acknowledge the risks described above.

    • I AgreeI Disagree

  • Davis Commodities, LLC – Ag Program – QEPs Only

    Click a button at the bottom of this page to continue.

    TRADING FUTURES AND OPTIONS INVOLVES SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF LOSS AND IS NOT SUITABLE FOR ALL INVESTORS. THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES OF PROFIT NO MATTER WHO IS MANAGING YOUR MONEY. PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.

    All Ascent Capital Management (herein after as “ACM”) associated information, publications, reports, including the ACM website and the websites of its DBAs, and any information distributed by ACM shall be construed as a solicitation. ACM does not distribute research reports, employ research analysts, or maintain a research department as defined in CFTC Regulation 1.71. The following link or document may contain information obtained from sources believed to be reliable, and or has been created by another firm or body. Such information is being provided as a courtesy but such information has not been independently verified and ACM does not guarantee its accuracy. Information and opinions expressed by a source or author other than ACM are not necessarily supported by ACM and ACM makes no guarantees of such. Any mention of performance in any context whether actual or hypothetical is no guarantee of future results. Phone calls to and from ACM or its DBAs may be recorded.

    THE RISK OF LOSS IN TRADING COMMODITY INTERESTS CAN BE SUBSTANTIAL. YOU SHOULD THEREFORE CAREFULLY CONSIDER WHETHER SUCH TRADING IS SUITABLE FOR YOU IN LIGHT OF YOUR FINANCIAL CONDITION. IN CONSIDERING WHETHER TO TRADE OR TO AUTHORIZE SOMEONE ELSE TO TRADE FOR YOU, YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING: IF YOU PURCHASE A COMMODITY OPTION YOU MAY SUSTAIN A TOTAL LOSS OF THE PREMIUM AND OF ALL TRANSACTION COSTS.

    IF YOU PURCHASE OR SELL A COMMODITY FUTURES CONTRACT OR SELL A COMMODITY OPTION YOU MAY SUSTAIN A TOTAL LOSS OF THE INITIAL MARGIN FUNDS OR SECURITY DEPOSIT AND ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT YOU DEPOSIT WITH YOUR BROKER TO ESTABLISH OR MAINTAIN YOUR POSITION. IF THE MARKET MOVES AGAINST YOUR POSITION, YOU MAY BE CALLED UPON BY YOUR BROKER TO DEPOSIT A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL MARGIN FUNDS, ON SHORT NOTICE, IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN YOUR POSITION. IF YOU DO NOT PROVIDE THE REQUESTED FUNDS WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME, YOUR POSITION MAY BE LIQUIDATED AT A LOSS, AND YOU WILL BE LIABLE FOR ANY RESULTING DEFICIT IN YOUR ACCOUNT. UNDER CERTAIN MARKET CONDITIONS, YOU MAY FIND IT DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO LIQUIDATE A POSITION. THIS CAN OCCUR, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THE MARKET MAKES A “LIMIT MOVE.”

    THE PLACEMENT OF CONTINGENT ORDERS BY YOU OR YOUR TRADING ADVISOR, SUCH AS A “STOP-LOSS” OR “STOP-LIMIT” ORDER, WILL NOT NECESSARILY LIMIT YOUR LOSSES TO THE INTENDED AMOUNTS, SINCE MARKET CONDITIONS MAY MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO EXECUTE SUCH ORDERS. A “SPREAD” POSITION MAY NOT BE LESS RISKY THAN A SIMPLE “LONG” OR “SHORT” POSITION.

    THE HIGH DEGREE OF LEVERAGE THAT IS OFTEN OBTAINABLE IN COMMODITY INTEREST 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 CTA 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”).

    A COMPLETE DISCUSSION OF FEES AND CHARGES ARE REPORTED IN THE CTA’s DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT. MANAGED FUTURES MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE PROFITABLE UNDER ALL MARKET CONDITIONS AND ALSO MAY NOT NECESSARILY REDUCE VOLATILITY.

    THIS MATERIAL MAY MENTION SERVICES, WHICH RANK THE PERFORMANCE OF COMMODITY TRADING ADVISORS. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE RANKINGS APPLY ONLY TO THOSE CTAS WHO SUBMIT THEIR TRADING RESULTS. THE RANKINGS IN NO WAY PURPORT TO BE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE OF COMMODITY TRADING ADVISORS. THE MATERIAL IN NO WAY IMPLIES THAT THESE RESULTS ARE OFFICIALLY SANCTIONED RESULTS OF THE COMMODITY INDUSTRY. BE ADVISED THAT AN INDIVIDUAL CANNOT INVEST IN THE FUTURES INDEX ITSELF AND THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN FOR AN INDIVIDUAL PROGRAM MAY SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFER AND BE MORE VOLATILE THAN THE INDEX. INVESTORS SHOULD NOTE THAT ADDING MANAGED FUTURES TO AN EXISTING STOCK PORTFOLIO CAN POTENTIALLY INCREASE THE ANNUAL RETURN OF THAT PORTFOLIO. THE ADDITION OF MANAGED FUTURES TO A PORTFOLIO HOWEVER CANNOT PROTECT YOU FROM LOSS AND IN FACT CAN DECREASE A PORTFOLIO’S EFFICIENCY.

    By agreeing, you acknowledge the risks described above.

    • I AgreeI Disagree
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