Information is essential to participants in our markets. Our markets are ever changing not only with price action but also with best practices and regulations. NIBA wants to make sure our members know their way around both the NFA and CFTC and as such will be publishing an ongoing series discussing who is who and how you can get a hold of key regulators and/or information if you ever need to.
As the designated self-regulatory organization for the U.S. derivatives industry, National Futures Association (NFA) recognizes that its members, CFTC registrants, industry professionals and the general public may have questions about registration matters, regulations and other related topics. To ensure that people receive prompt, accurate answers to their questions, NFA established its Information Center in July 1985 to be a one-stop shop for almost any questions or problems that people may have.
The Information Center, which typically has a staff of four people working each day, regularly assists people via phone or email. Each Information Center staff member is comprehensively trained to respond to a wide range of inquiries, and has access to multiple computer systems, including NFA's Online Registration System and EasyFile. Information Center staff frequently is able to assist callers with all of their questions without transferring them to a different department. Because of this, the Information Center responds to about 83 percent of all inquiries that come in to NFA. In the first quarter of 2014, Information Center staff received 11,296 calls and 961 email inquiries.
The Information Center is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (CST) at 312-781-1410 or 1-800-621-3570, and can be reached via email at information@nfa.futures.org.