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What are Managed Futures?

What are Managed Futures?

Defining Managed Futures

The term Managed Futures refers to a 30+ year-old industry made up of professional money/account managers known as Commodity Trading Advisors (CTAs). CTAs are required to be registered with the U.S. government’s Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) before they can offer themselves to the public as CTAs.

Where do Managed Futures fit in the investment universe?

This diagram is for illustrative purposes.

Using the simplified diagram above as a guide, Managed Futures is a subset of the alternative investment asset class. Conventional wisdom supports the idea of multiple asset classes representing your investment portfolio. We recommend always considering the advice of your financial planner, too.  Typically, alternative investments, and Managed Futures especially, perform with low or even negative correlation to traditional investments. Additionally, they may have little to no correlation with other counterparts in the alternative investment space, like real estate or even commodities themselves. For this reason, Managed Futures has the potential to reduce the overall investment risk of your portfolio.

Who invests in Managed Futures?

Investors of all types—from individuals to large institutions—use Managed Futures. CTA programs come in all shapes and sizes using various markets and methods to accomplish their strategy. The CTA dictates the minimum investment requirement. Some CTAs will accept as little as $10,000 to start.

Additionally, investors may use different ownership structures if they find it beneficial. Accounts owned by entities like an LLC or corporation maintain frequent use. You can even use qualified money held in an IRA. View our CTA Database of trading programs and talk with an Investment Specialist about which programs are the best fit for your portfolio.

In short, Managed Futures has the potential to perform independently of your traditional stock and bond investments. Factors that cause the stocks and bonds to perform better or worse may or may not have any effect on Managed Futures investments. To put it another way, these investments don’t require a positive economic environment to perform well.

How do I decide if they are right for me?

We believe Managed Futures is an excellent investment opportunity, but it’s not for everyone. There are a number of considerations before investing, so we strongly encourage you to get to know an Investment Specialist. We work with individuals and institutions. We don’t charge for our information or expertise. Give us a call or fill out our contact form, and we will guide you through the process hassle-free.

  • 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.

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  • Davis Commodities, LLC – Ag Program – QEPs Only

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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
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