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.

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.

FINRA 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.

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.

Upon graduating from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, Mark Soderberg moved to Chicago and began his career in the futures industry with the Agricultural Hedging Group at Merrill Lynch in 1990. In 1997, Mark earned a Master’s of Science in Financial Markets & Trading from the Illinois Institute of Technology. In 2000 his team moved to Prudential Bache Commodities. Throughout his career he has serviced a wide array of agri-business including farmers, grain elevators, poultry, cattle, and hogs feeders, seed companies, food manufacturers, and ethanol plants. Mark’s goal has been to help clients identify and quantify their risk exposures, help determine risk management objectives, and develop strategies consistent with their risk tolerances to help attain their objectives. In Feb-09 , he joined the Archer Financial Services team. Mark resides in the southwest suburbs of Chicago where he enjoys his free time with his wife Tracy and 3 children.

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.

Scott Harms was raised on a grain and livestock farm in Forest City, a small town located in Central Illinois. He attended the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics in 1989. Upon graduation Scott moved to Chicago where he began working for Merrill Lynch Futures in their Agricultural Hedging Services area. After 10 years at Merrill Lynch, Scott spent 8 years at Prudential Bache Commodities before joining Archer Financial Services, Inc. in 2008.

Scott has specialized in grain hedging where he assists both producers and end users achieve their marketing objectives. He currently manages the Agricultural Hedge Marketing Program, which is a unique program that assists grain producers with their marketing.

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.

John Booth began his career as a Commodity Futures Broker in 1974, with Heinold Commodities. His experience includes branch office management, regional management and service as a division president of the Futures Industry Association (FIA).

He now conducts his trading and brokerage business through Archer Financial Services, Inc. ("AFS"), a wholly owned subsidiary of ADM Investor Services, Inc. ("ADMIS"), working with corporate hedge accounts and individual speculative traders. His approach emphasizes price structure and sound money management. Additional services include managed futures consultation for accredited investors.

John stands ready to serve clients with technical information, dedication and experience.

Joe Lemel attended Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL where he received his Business Administration, BSBA, degree in accounting...After graduation Joe served for a period of 1 year as the Vice President of the schools finance board.

Mr. Lemel has approximately 40 years of experience in the futures industry. He has extensive knowledge in regards to account and broker management, commodity research, market analysis, risk management and trading. Throughout his career, Joe has authored many commodity reports, been interviewed on national television programs including "Ask the Expert", distributed market analysis on Reuter’s news and organized the launch of the first financial futures fund.

Joe now resides in Chicago, IL and conducts his business through Archer Financial Services, Inc. ("AFS") which is a wholly owned subsidiary of ADM Investor Services, Inc ("ADMIS")