Earlier this month, we kicked off the NIBA Annual Membership Campaign. All current members have been mailed a 2014 renewal reminder and can simply return the form with a renewal check. If you prefer to pay by credit card or if you need to update your firm information in order to bring your online directory listing current, please go online to the membership page on the NIBA website.  To join for the first time, please use the online form. NIBA membership continues to be a real value – your dues include free attendance to membership meeting throughout the year and…...

Dear Members,              “The AML session was the best I’ve ever attended…”             “Loved the CTA Due Diligence session…”             “Legal Update is always my favorite part of the NIBA Conference. I get so much information I don’t get anywhere else…”  These are the top three comments heard from attendees at our September Fall Membership Conference. Several ‘old’ members told me this meeting was the best in last few years because: (i)  every session provided information CFTC registrants/NFA members need in order to keep up with the numerous changes taking place in the industry;             (ii) the presentations explained how…...

When brokers mention the Walsh Agency it’s usually followed by a John Walsh story. Everyone I have spoken with in the past few months have told me what a character he was.   It is with a heavy  heart that I inform you that John passed away earlier this year. He was lucky, he played golf, and bridge on Wednesday, got sick on Thursday, and never woke up. His faith was very strong, and I have no doubt John is making people laugh in heaven. Here is a link to his obituary.   John started the Walsh Agency over 43…...

We have compiled a list of the top 21 Chief Technology Officers in the electronic trading industry, operating in North America. The 21 CTOs were selected based on a survey distributed through our Total Trading blog with the following criteria in mind: Excellence in building and maintaining technological infrastructure Respected selection of technological products Influence on the electronic trading industry We want you to gain a true insight into North America’s top technology officers, so we asked all of them the same questions: 1.) What has been your biggest achievement or accomplishment as CTO? 2.) Which future technology or advancement…...

CHICAGO—The Alpha Pages, LLC recently acquired Futures Magazine and its digital properties, including Futuresmag.com, ResourceInvestor.com and all related e-newsletters from Summit Business Media. The Alpha Pages is a new media firm focused on alternative investments. The firm was founded and is led by Kristin Fox and Jeff Joseph, two seasoned alternative investment industry veterans. Fox has spent more than 20 years creating print and digital platforms in the alternative investment space, including HedgeWorld.com, which was sold to Reuters in 2005. Joseph was the former managing director of Alternative Investment Strategies at Rydex Investments where he developed and introduced a number…...

Dear NIBA Members – 2013 is going to be busy! Last month’s tri-sponsored get-together in Southern California was a terrific success.  Fifty-five industry professionals – many at their first-ever NIBA event, gathered in Newport Beach, CA, on January 24. Along with our partners, the CME Group and the NFA, the NIBA plans to make this meeting an annual event. We are in the midst of our membership campaign, and have already welcomed 18 Vendor Sponsors to the Association this year. We have great FCM and exchange support too, and will have an updated listing next month. NIBA is proud to announce…...

On January 24, 2013, the CME Group, NFA and NIBA will co-sponsor an afternoon event in Southern California. The CME Group will present an economic outlook for the coming year. NFA will present regulatory and rule changes which will be effective in 2013. There will also be plenty of networking time. Details on this event will be available soon. It is open to all NIBA member and other financial members....

Dear Members – As Swaps Dealers began to register this month, I started thinking once again about the current state of Introducing Brokers (IBs). An IB’s role in the industry is to have direct contact with the market end-user – soliciting and servicing the customer. But what is the value of an IB to a customer? Why do customers open their accounts directly with IBs? Well, Your IB helps new investors understand the risks of the futures market. Your IB has the training that can prevent a customer from making an easily avoidable, costly mistake during the order placement process.…...

Dear Members – The NIBA is committed to providing education to its members about issues and events that impact compliance duties, enhance ability to generate revenue and generally affect business. On September 10, 2012, we notified the PFG bankruptcy trustee that NIBA opposed one of his options to distribute funds and customer information to a single highest bidder FCM rather than directly to prior PFG customers. The bankruptcy court has since authorized a transfer of up to $123,000,000 total directly to commodity customers on or before October 8, 2012. On September 12, 2012, over 200 IBs, CTAs, FCMs and APs…...

On September 12, 2012, over 200 IBs, CTAs, FCMs and APs attended the 21st Fall NIBA Conference. Each session taught something about compliance, business or marketing. Every presentation sent members home equipped to put lessons learned into action. All the speakers at the fall conference invite you to contact them with any questions or to follow-up their presentations. Mike Tannura, T-storm Weather – [email protected] David Oppedahl, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago – [email protected] Mike Coglianese, Michael Coglianese, CPA – [email protected] John Roe, BTR Trading – [email protected] James Bibbings, Turnkey Trading Partners – [email protected] Steve Pherson, Schuyler, Roche & Crisham –…...