Alan has been a commodity analyst since 1976 focusing on the fundamental and technical aspects of stock index, interest rate and foreign currency markets. He has authored several articles for "Stocks Futures and Options" magazine and produced the "Futures Tech Focus" program, which is a technically based market outlook. Alan served on the faculty of Oakton College as instructor of a course entitled "Principles of Technical Analysis." He has been interviewed on many national television programs, appearing on the Nightly Business Report, CNBC, CNN Moneyline, Reuters Television and Web FN. In addition, he has been frequently quoted in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Bond Buyer and the Chicago Tribune and has been regularly interviewed on Chicago's WMAQ radio business reports.

Cory was born and raised in Chicago, IL. He worked for IBM immediately after college. His career in the futures industry began in 1975 when he opened a trading account with Miller Lane Commodities, a firm owned by George Lane (considered by many to be the father of Stochastics). Dr. Lane did the road show for Cory's first customer accounts. In 1976 Cory bought a seat on the MidAmerica commodity exchange, while attending DePaul University with, Richard Dennis, the future father of the internationally famous Turtles Group. After purchasing a seat on the Chicago Board of Trade, Cory traded across the pit from the first inductee to the trader's hall of fame, Tom Baldwin. In April of 2008, Cory joined Archer Financial Services, a subsidiary of ADM investor Services Inc. Cory, brings 25 years of integrity, discipline, in-depth, real-time, "on the floor" market experience for the use of his clients.

Tom has been trading futures for over 20 years. He began in the business with a summer job as a runner for a large grain company. After graduating from Florida State University with a degree in Economics, he traded at the Mid-am exchange. In 1990, he spent a year trading at the MATIF in Paris and the next year trading in London on the LIFFE. After trading in the Dow futures for 7 years, he moved off the floor to use his experience in the brokerage industry.

Brent, a Wisconsin native and graduate of the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, began his financial services career in 1987 with discount futures broker J.F. Dalton Associates; a subsidiary of Chicago based FCM TransMarket Group LLC (TMG). In 1991, Brent was named Vice President-Retail Brokerage with TMG, managing all aspects of futures and securities trading, including business development, operations and risk control for independent traders and foreign Introducing Brokers. In 2000, Brent was presented with the opportunity to start his own firm and founded Alta Trading Services LLC, a guaranteed IB of ADM Investor Services. In addition to Alta, Brent also began to operate a branch office of NASD broker-dealer Segerdahl & Company Inc., specializing in stock, option, and ETF trading. In 2005, Brent joined the team at AFS and continues to offer a full complement of futures and securities products to his clients.

NASD Licenses: 3, 4, 7, 24, 53, & 63

Greg Grow is a product of four generations of American farming. He was raised on a grain and livestock feeding operation in northwest Indiana. After graduation from the University of Wyoming with a B.S. degree in economics, Greg left the family business and began his career in the futures industry. His experiences in the Futures business range from trading floor operations and branch management, to general sales and brokerage activities for the commercial division of a large Chicago based brokerage firm.

After a nine year relationship with another Chicago based brokerage firm, Greg joined Archer Financial Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of ADM Investor Services in December of 2003. Greg works with agricultural interests both large and small in facilitating their use of risk management via the futures markets.

Greg is married with a daughter and makes his home in the Chicago area. He is proud to mark 25 years of service to the America's agricultural community.

Brian developed his interest for the futures market, while growing up on a small grains and livestock farm in North Central North Dakota. These experiences allowed him to gain hands on knowledge of the risks associated with farming. Brian pays close attention to the ever changing developments of the agricultural industry. Brian's first opportunity on the business side of the futures industry was with ADM Investor Services, Inc. As an employee of ADM Investor Services on the trading floor of the MGEX, Brian provided market insight to various customers ranging from large commercial grain companies to country elevators and producers. As a member of the MGEX, Brian experienced the futures industry as a floor broker. His current duties as an Introducing Broker for ADM Investor Services allow Brian to use his experiences to provide clients with insight into market functionality, market analysis and risk management.

Jared Irish graduated with a B.S. in Finance with major course work completed at the Carlson School of Management and his undergraduate studies at Metropolitan State University. After working for a bank and a small hedge fund, he joined Archer Financial Services in 2006. He was led to the commodity markets in 2001 through his study of Austrian Economics and the Daily Reckoning newsletter. He believes commodities as an investment offer the potential to protect and profit from inflation, war, natural disaster, and famine. Jared is currently a member of the Agora Wealth Reserve, Chicago Coin Club, Chicago Rotary Club, CAIA, and Sovereign Society. He is also an avid drummer.

Chris is originally from Ft. Wayne, Indiana but spent much of his formative years in Decatur, Illinois. He graduated from Loyola University in Chicago in 1990 with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. Chris immediately went to work for ADM after graduation, working his way up the ranks at ADM's Chicago Mercantile Exchange operations. He worked with ADM's commercial clientele in the livestock sector with order execution and analytical advice. Chris moved to the Chicago Board of Trade in 1997 to do technical grain analysis for ADM's daily research bulletins while also speaking to seminar groups on technical expectations for the grain and livestock markets. Some of his work has been published in several major trade journals. Chris became a full-time futures broker in 2001 with the focus of his business on the technical and fundamental outlooks for the grain and livestock futures sectors. Chris lives in the far southwest suburbs with his wife and 3 children.

Ben Mancha attended SIU University. Ben began working at the CME in 1989. Ben comes from a long line of family that worked at the CME. He is one of five brothers who worked in the industry. He started his career at Gelderman where he honed his skills, in the ags, currencies, and S&P futures & options. He then went to work with Man Financial, and made his way through different divisions of the company. He left the trading floor for a more challenging environment, finding his way to FOX Investments, a division of Man Financial. Ben started as a broker's assistant, working his way up to acquiring his series three commodities brokers' license. He then moved to Archer Financial Services, where he provides the highest level of integrity and professional service in the futures industry, with a commitment to exceptional customer service.

Mike grew up in rural Michigan and graduated from Western Michigan University in 1987 with a B.B.A. in Management and Finance. He came straight to Chicago after college and began working at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange for a major wire house. Working through the ranks, Mike spent much of his time in the agricultural quadrant but covered all products while becoming a member and floor manager. In 1997 he left the floor and went to work at the Morgan Stanley DW Futures, Forex & Metals desk. This position covered all aspects of futures trading from execution to clearing, and also included extensive work with the CTA community. He also gained a wide range of knowledge in the spot foreign exchange and physical precious metals business while at MSDW.

Mike lives in the Chicago suburbs with his wife and 2 children.

Steve Platt has been involved in the commodity markets for over 30 years. Steve has an extensive background in commodity research, trading, administration, risk management and futures hedging.

After graduating from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. with a BS in Business Administration and Economics, he joined an economic consulting firm focused on agricultural policy and research. In 1979, Steve relocated to Chicago, IL where he worked for two major brokerage houses as Senior Analyst and Research Director, servicing the needs of both institutional and retail clients. In 1998, Steve set up and was given operational control of a trading desk at Morgan Stanley, DW Inc. specializing in precious metals, foreign exchange, and futures. The desk also serviced specialized spec and hedge futures accounts trading in U.S. and international markets. Over the years, Steve has been quoted in major financial publications and seen on a variety of financial news programs discussing market fundamentals.

Francisco "Cisco" Ramirez brings a diverse professional and educational background to the futures business. Having been an owner-operator of one of the first Cyber-Game Café businesses in the US and having earned a Physical Education degree at Syracuse University, Cisco typically is able to think "outside the box" in his approach to the markets.

Cisco joined Archer Financial Services in 2005 to offer a wider variety of services to his clients. These services include online trading, traditional full-service advisory, and Managed Futures. Cisco has recently implemented a new trading system for clients (a system that he developed largely in part through observing both amateur and professional traders). His system covers a wide array of markets and makes heavy use of options. He also continues to track the performance of various Commodity Trading Advisors and is able to assist clients in structuring a Managed Futures portfolio.

Mark graduated from DePaul University in Chicago with a B.S. in Finance in 1996. During his time at DePaul, Mark worked on the S&P floor at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. This experience further sparked his interest in the Futures Industry. After graduation, Mark worked for R.J. O'Brien and Associates. Here he gained extensive experience in several areas including the grain floor, bond floor, and the globex/24-hour desk. In January of 2003, Mark joined Archer Financial Services, a subsidiary of ADM Investor Services Inc. Mark's commitment to integrity, service and putting his customers first has enabled him to attract traders who are focused on agricultural, livestock, and financials in both futures and options.

Dennis Smith has been a full service commodity broker specializing in grain and livestock trading for over 20 years. Dennis has a wide range of customers many of whom are grain and livestock producers. Dennis develops and helps execute hedging and speculative trading strategies in his Daily Livestock Wire which is prepared each afternoon exclusively for his customers. Dennis grew up in Central Illinois and earned a Masters Degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Illinois before launching his brokerage career.