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Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Successful CTA Careers Can Take Years to Build

By Bill Johnson

Money is the bloodstream of the world, and commodities trading advisors play an important role in keeping the money flowing. According to the National Futures Association, a CTA is any individual or firm that directly or indirectly advises clients on the trading of futures or options contracts. CTAs must be registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission in order to be professional money managers.

To become a CTA, there's no formal education process. Although its advisable to first work at a trading firm prior to starting a CTA career, it doesn't guarantee your success, nor is previous work with a firm required in becoming a CTA. Plenty of CTAs have no formal trading education and still have proven themselves successfully capable in this business However, first trying your hand with a trading firm can help determine whether you have a natural talent for the work.

Although there is no formal training process required, you still need the credentials. Even before applying to the NFA, you must pass the Series 3 exam. This 120-question, two-and-a-half hour test measures your understanding of the futures market, including its makeup and regulations.

Like any other test, you may benefit from tips and suggestions on test preparation, as well as strategies to take the test. There are many professional study guides specifically aimed at the Series 3 exam. Practice tests can keep you from being blindsided the morning of the test.

First you must ask yourself some important questions. Are you really ready to become a CTA? How successful were you in investing in the stock market, and was this success proven over a variety of market conditions? Some success is simply market luck. Real talent can sustain itself over many market conditions.

You should also take finances and personal circumstances into consideration. Beginning any business can be tricky, especially commodities trading. Unless your firm has a substantial amount of work already under management, you should count on never seeing a paycheck for the first year or two. Consider that a $1,000,000 account with a 2 percent management fee only earns $20,000 a year, just barely $1,600 a month.

Plus, you'll also face trading costs, rent, technology costs and fees for traditional support. Establishing a successful CTA career takes time. Be sure you have money in the bank before you begin.

However, if you have the natural talent to invest, a successful career may await you. Even in rocky times such as these, CTAs play a valuable role in the marketplace. Learning to spot market trends early can lead to a sustainable career in the exchange of managed futures. - 23222

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