I can testify to the fact that a trader absolutely needs to find a reliable, skilled and compatible commodities broker, if she wants to be successful in the futures business. Commodities are not for the faint of heart and the concept can be difficult for some to master. There’s a whole new vocabulary to learn, including “puts” and “calls.” (I’d love to know who came up with those…)

A point of particular caution should be sounded for technical traders when choosing a broker. Don’t choose someone who thinks they know more than your charts do. That’s all you must base your transactions. The fundamentals don’t enter into your buying and selling decisions. Naturally they play their part in the overall market dynamic, but the real analysis comes from your historical data and the patterns emerging on the charts. Whether you make your own by hand or utilize an online service, a technical trader can’t do without charts. Like the famous spaghetti sauce slogan, “It’s in there!”