Use commodity trading adviser (CTA) information resources to help you make your investing decisions. CTAs are traders who are qualified and licensed to help provide specific commodity futures trading advice.

You will learn through your CTA research that any CTA in business has to be registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission if you receive compensation for giving people advice on futures or options, or if you help with the actual trading of managed futures accounts.

To make the most of commodity trading adviser (CTA) information resources:

1. Start with basic CTA research information. Learn the terms, the acronyms, the definitions and the overall concepts.

2. Go further in your CTA information by pursuing advanced topics.

3. Round out your CTA industry research by joining the National Futures Association and/or signing up for one of the industry publications.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Start with CTA resource information

Do basic CTA research on definitions, and work to better understand the concept and processes before proceeding.

I recommend: Register for free to join CTA-Information. You can also sign up for a free three month subscription to both their monthly newsletter and their quarterly reports. Check out Commodity Pool Operators and Commodity Trading Advisors information from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Take a look at Investopedia's definition and explanation of Commodity Trading Adviser. Register for free to The Commodity Channel.

Move into more advanced commodity trading adviser information resources

After you've done your basic CTA research, dive into more complex concepts such as educational topics, trade commodities and additional industry background and information.

I recommend: Learn about advanced concepts and technologies from optionsXpress. Use the educational side of their site to learn about long calls, strangles, spreads, volatility and Greeks. Learn how to trade commodities from Wizetrade. Use Commodity Central as a portal to additional CTA industry resources. Sign up online for a free CTA consultation from CTAGuide.

Use publications and affiliations as an additional CTA resource

Join an industry group or pick up a trade publication to give you additional CTA resource information.

I recommend: Find out who has to register under the Commodity Exchange Act from the National Futures Association. Join the group to become a part of the self-regulated organization responsible for reviewing and accepting CTA registrations. Sign up for a subscription to Futures Magazine. Subscribe to Futures Truth magazine. Check out CTA reference materials from the Futures Trading Journal.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure that as a CTA you realize you can also be held accountable for giving bad advice or providing erroneous CTA research information, and you must keep accurate records of your trading results. You must also comply with the rules and regulations set forth by oversight organizations.