Dear Members – The last few weeks have been busy for the NIBA. Just as we closed out a very successful member meeting in New York City, we stepped up work on the June 18 event co-chaired with DePaul University, Chicago and we formed a planning committee for our Annual Membership Meeting, September 24. Planning and implementing educational events is one part of the NIBA mission. Keeping up with, and notifying you about regulation update and change is another part.  This month the NFA announced a proposal to reduce the number of members on its board of directors. For many…...

Planning for the NIBA Annual Meeting, September 24 in Chicago is underway. If you would like to serve on the planning committee, please contact Mike Burke, [email protected] or Melinda Schramm, [email protected]. This September’s meeting will include five business sessions, a demo hall and a networking cocktail reception. Topics for two of the business sessions are already being developed and a committee is being formed. To serve on the committee, you must be able to attend planning sessions and help out onsite during the event. If you cannot serve on the committee, your suggestions for topics and speakers are still welcome…...

I have been writing The Complete IB Handbook since 1998 – this year marks the 6th edition. The Handbook is a look at the state of Introducing Broker business today and a how-to guide for starting an IB. CME Group sponsors The Complete IB Handbook and makes it available on its website. In order to update the contents for each year’s edition, CME Group and I created a survey containing questions on subject areas from monthly expenses of running the company to markets most heavily traded by customers of an IB. I compile that data and write eight chapters of…...

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We are delighted to announce our second annual member meeting co-sponsored with DePaul University, Chicago. This year’s event will take place the afternoon of June 18 at the DePaul downtown campus (corner of Jackson Blvd. and State Street). In 2014, NIBA and DePaul University committed to a partnership with the goal of providing our membership with education and insight about the financial business from the academic point of view. Over 100 NIBA members attended last year’s meeting. On June 18, industry and academic experts will present a two-session program focused on managed futures and cyber-security. Registration and the agenda will…...

Registration for the April 30 event at the New York Athletic Club will close on April 28. Please register now for an afternoon of education and networking in New York City.  The afternoon’s first panel will focus on the trends and influences affecting the metals and energies markets. Panel number two is an interactive discussion regarding the state of cyber-security in the futures industry. A networking cocktail reception immediately follows the business sessions. This event is free for all industry professionals, but because space is limited, registration is required. Thank you to our New York City Meeting Sponsors: CME Group,…...

Dear Members: Cybersecurity: The process of applying security measures to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and the availability of data. Cybersecurity attempts to assure the protection of assets, which includes data, desktops, servers, buildings, and most importantly, humans. The goal of cybersecurity is to protect the data both in transit and at rest – Wikipedia  Cybersecurity issues are prime topics at both FIA and MFA conferences this spring. FINRA is conducting an assessment of its member firm’s approaches to managing cybersecurity threats as they pertain to information technology. The CFTC has stated in their 2015 budget proposal, they do not have adequate…...

On April 30, 2015, the NIBA will hold our spring membership meeting at the New York Athletic Club, NYC beginning at 1:30 pm. Two business sessions and a networking cocktail reception are included. Our first session is an update of the metals and energies markets. The panel includes Dr. Mo Ahmadzaden, Managing Partner at Southold Capital, LLC which provides risk management advisory services to the metals industry. Pete Keavey, CME Group will overview the energy market at the exchange, including discussing new products. Dan Cook, NADEX will look at these two market sectors from the perspective of NADEX. During the…...

The Arditti Center for Risk Management at DePaul University is pleased to announce that it is now accepting proposals for its 2015 Summer Research Grant Program. The program’s goal is to encourage practical and innovative research in the field of risk management. In order to promote the Center’s research agenda and continue the Arditti legacy, the Center will provide summer funding for two research proposals that have a blend of theoretical and empirical applications.  Proposals should be sent as one packet, and contain all three of the following materials: a cover page, a description of the proposal (at most ten…...

Congratulations to Mike Burke, John Roe and James Koutoulas who were elected to the NFA Board of Directors in the recent election. John, Roe Capital and James, Typhon Capital Management were re-elected in the CTA/CPO category. Mike Burke, HighGround Trading and NIBA Vice-President was elected to his first 2-year term as the IIB representative. He joins Paul Georgy, Allendale, Inc. and former NIBA President who is the current GIB representative on the NFA board. Thank you to Jeff Malec, Attain Capital Management who served as IIB representative for the past two years....