Advantage Futures

Advantage Futures is a Chicago-based futures commission merchant (FCM) registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). It is a member of the National Futures Association (NFA). 
Advantage provides clearing and execution services for futures and options on futures trading to professional traders, proprietary trading groups, CTAs, hedge funds and other institutions. The firm also caters to a diverse institutional client base facilitating high volume execution.
Advantage provides clients with 24/6 technology support, risk oversight, operational and back-office support with 24-hour global execution services available from via an independent execution team. The firm can also deliver customized CSV files throughout the day. Advantage has two trading facilities, server colocation at multiple data centers and a disaster recovery center. 
Advantage is a clearing member or exchange member of the CME Group (including CME, CBOT, NYMEX, COMEX, KCBOT), NFX (Nasdaq Futures Exchange), ICE Futures U.S.,ICE Clear U.S., ICE Futures Europe, ICE Clear Europe, Options Clearing Corp, CBOE Futures Exchange, Dubai Mercantile Exchange, as well as a foreign approved participant of the Montreal Exchange and non-clearing member of
Eurex. Advantage also provides trading access to major Asian-Pacific exchanges through various correspondent broker relationships.
As of October 2016, Advantage was number 28 on Futures Magazine's Top 30 Brokers.
In 2016, the firm processed more than 252 million contracts. In 2015, Advantage Futures was listed in "Top 10 Brokerage Firms For Day Trading" by Investopedia. 
== History ==
Advantage Futures was founded on June 2, 2003. The firm has processed more than 3.9 billion contracts since inception.
== Milestones ==
*On April 11, 2017, Advantage Futures client funds topped $700 Million 
*On March 31, 2015, Advantage Futures and DWC entered into a spoofing surveillance software agreement. 
*On April 4, 2014, Advantage Futures announced that they had acquired all futures accounts from non-clearing futures commission merchant Institutional Liquidity LLC (ILQ). 
*On Apr. 3, 2013, Advantage Futures announced the move of the firm's Chicago headquarters to 231 South LaSalle Street in the city’s financial district. 
*On Apr. 6, 2011, Advantage Futures Joins Patsystems XConnect. 
*On Apr. 4, 2011, Advantage Futures announced that client funds held by the firm attained a record level in excess of $500 million. 
*On Dec. 15, 2010, ELX Futures, L.P. announced that Advantage Futures would become an authorized participant and offer Futures Commission Merchant services for ELX. 
*On Nov. 9, 2010, Advantage Futures began offering cross-connect access to NYSE Liffe from its Equinix Frankfurt data center. The move enabled NYSE Liffe traders to utilize the Advantage Futures cross-connect for lower latency access to the Liffe global derivatives trading platform. 
*On Apr. 13, 2009, Advantage Futures announced it had been approved by the CBOE Futures Exchange (CFE) as a clearing member.
*On March 5, 2009, Advantage Futures was approved for clearing membership by NYMEX and COMEX. 
*On Feb. 17, 2009, Advantage Futures introduced a new server hosting data center at Equinix in Franfurt, Germany, in addition to its current data centers located in Chicago and Houston. The new data center provides Advantage clients direct connection to Eurex exchange.
*On July 24, 2008, Advantage Futures signed a software license agreement for a full installation from Patsystems. The installation enabled Advantage Futures to offer Patsystems’ front-ends, including Patsystems Pro-Mark and Patsystems J-Trader. The installation also provided Advantage Futures with global connectivity to derivatives markets including the CME Group, Eurex, and Liffe exchanges.
*On June 4, 2008, Advantage Futures announced it had been approved for membership with ICE Clear U.S.. 
*On June 23, 2005 Advantage Futures and Trading Technologies International, Inc. announced they had reached an agreement ensuring that there were no issues between the parties regarding TT's MD Trader patents. As part of the agreement, Advantage agreed to honor TT’s MD Trader patents and agreed to only use the static ladder order entry technology provided by TT or its licensed sources. TT agreed to absolve Advantage and its customers from liability for very limited past infringement.
== Key People ==
File:Joseph_Guinan,_Chairman_and_Chief_Executive_Officer.jpg|Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Joseph Guinan 
File:Advantage red-1.png|Curt Paloumpis, Chief Risk Officer
File:Lisa_Jones,_Chief_Compliance_Officer.jpg|Chief Compliance Officer, Lisa Jones 
File:Thomas_Guinan,_Chief_Technology_Officer.jpg|Chief Technology Officer, Thomas Guinan
File:Michael_McLaughlin,_President,_Institutional_Sales.jpg|President, Institutional Sales, Michael McLaughlin 
File:Carlos_Rodriguez,_Chief_Financial_Officer.jpg|Chief Financial Officer, Carlos Rodriguez 
File:Michael_O’Malley,_Executive_Vice_President,_Business_Development.jpg|Executive Vice President, Business Development, Michael O’Malley 
File:MarkFrank copy.jpg|Mark Frank, Senior Vice President, Co-Head Operations
File:Advantage red-1.png|Michael O’Brien, Senior Vice President, Co-Head Operations
== Office Locations ==
ADVANTAGE FUTURES
231 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, IL 60604
312.800.7000
DOWNERS GROVE TRADING FACILITY
1501 W. Warren Ave., Downers Grove, IL 60515
630.353.2700
== Registration ==
National Futures Association Registration
*ADVANTAGE FUTURES LLC - NFA ID: 0327359
== References ==
Category:Clearing Firms
Category:Futures Commission Merchants
Category:Advantage Futures