Investigate Before You Invest

Investigate Before You Invest (NAPSA)—It can pay to investigate before you invest. Traditionally, investors study their portfolios, separate the winners from the losers and consider additional investment opportunities. It’s a smart idea, however, to learn about any products being considered—as well as the firms and individuals who offer them— before making any investment decisions. National Futures Association (NFA) is a congressionally authorized self-regulatory organization for the United States futures industry committed to safeguarding market integrity and protecting investors. NFA believes that one of the best ways to protect investors is to provide them with the information they need to make informed decisions. To that end, NFA publishes several brochures describing the kinds of information you should always obtain first —and questions to ask—about any investment being considered. The list of NFA brochures includes: Glossary of Futures Terms Understanding Opportunities and Risks in Futures Trading Buying Options on Futures Contracts: A Guide to Their Uses and Risks Trading in the Retail OffExchange Foreign Currency Market: What Investors Need to Know. Another important step to take before investing in futures is to conduct a background check of the firms and individuals offering these products. Using NFA’s Background Affiliation Status Informa- NF NATIONAL FUTURES See tion Center (BASIC) on NFA’s Web site (www.nfa.futures.org), investors can quickly and easily check a firm’s or individual’s registration status and disciplinary history. NFA has also published a brochure describing the information available on BASIC and containing instructions on how to conduct a BASIC search. All of NFA’s educational brochures are free. Simply call NFA’s Information Center toll-free at (800) 621-3570 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday. An Information Center Representative will assist you. Brochures can also be downloaded from NFA’s Website. Always remember to be wary of investment schemes that promise significant returns with little risk. Take a close and cautious look at the investment offer itself and continue to monitor any invest- ment you do make. If you have any questions or complaints regarding a futures firm oroneofits employees, contact NFA’s Information Center.