Education: Learn About Managed Futures, Commodities, and Foreign Exchange

The Landmark Lintner Study - A historical perspective of the Lintner study of Modern Portfolio Theory including updates from Business Week and Managed Account Reports (MAR)

Facts and Fantasies about Commodity Futures - Yale Study: Evaluation of an equally-weighted index of commodity futures monthly returns over the period between July of 1959 and December of 2004 in order to study simple properties of commodity futures as an asset class.

The Next New Thing - Excerpt from the "Daily Reckoning" by Jim Rodgers on the importance of commodities in your investment decisions.

Commodities and Equities: A "Market of One"? - Amidst a sharp rise in commodity investing, many have asked whether commodities nowadays move in sync with traditional financial assets. We provide evidence that challenges this idea.

Managed Futures Can Save Your Tail - Some investors who are unfamiliar with managed futures are nervous about the volatility of the asset class. Unbeknownst to them, they may be missing an opportunity to reduce the overall risk of loss in their investment portfolios.

Investing in the Commodities Market - Excerpt from the "Daily Reckoning Australia" by Jim Rodgers on the risks and benefits of investing in the commodities markets

Not necessarily a risky business: Study of commodities trading debunks stereotypes - By Mark Hulbert, Dow Jones Market Watch. The stereotypical view of commodity investing is also wrong in almost all major respects. And it′s important to discard it, especially if the next several years prove to be as difficult for the stock and bond markets as many currently suspect it will be. In that event, commodities may be the one asset class that provides attractive returns.

All About Futures Markets - Comprehensive online guide covering futures and options on futures with information published by the National Futures Association (NFA).

The Story Behind the Financial Integrity of the U.S. Futures Markets - Customer losses due to the insolvency of a futures brokerage firm have been virtually non-existent. Indeed, such losses have totaled less over 50 years than the Securities Investor Protection Corporation has paid, on the average, to reimburse customers of the securities industry for member firm insolvency losses each year. For anyone considering participation in the nation's futures markets, the reasons behind this continuing and impressive record of financial soundness are worth knowing about.

Asset Allocation Principles - Asset allocation is the process of developing a diversified portfolio by effectively allocating investable resources among multiple asset classes seeking to maximize hypothetical returns and minimize potential risk.

Asset Allocation Quilt Chart - View the importance of diversification in a global economy

Investor Introduction to National Futures Association (NFA): Regulation Redefined - National Futures Association (NFA) is the industry wide, self-regulatory organization for the U.S. futures industry. We strive every day to develop rules, programs and services that safeguard market integrity, protect investors and help our Members meet their regulatory responsibilities.

Trading in the Retail Off-Exchange Foreign Currency Market - An overview of the retail off-exchange foreign currency market and other important information that investors should know.

The Benefits of Managed Futures: 2006 Update - In this annual update, the return and risk characteristics of various managed futures strategies are reviewed as well as the risk and return impacts of adding CTAs to traditional stock and bond portfolios. In addition, results are presented on the impact of market factors such as changes in credit spreads or market volatility on CTA returns.

Managed Futures and Hedge Funds: A Match Made in Heaven - Study of the possible role of managed futures in portfolios of stocks, bonds, and hedge funds. We find that allocating to managed futures allows investors to achieve a very substantial degree of overall risk reduction at, in terms of expected return, relatively limited costs. Apart from their lower expected return, managed futures appear to be more effective diversifiers than hedge funds...