About NFA
NFA is the industrywide, self-regulatory organization for the U.S. derivatives industry. Designated by the CFTC as a registered futures association, NFA strives every day to safeguard the integrity of the derivatives markets, protect investors and ensure Members meet their regulatory responsibilities.
NFA History
In 1974, Congress established the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The same legislation that established the CFTC also authorized the creation of registered futures associations, giving the industry the opportunity to create a self-regulatory organization. NFA's formal designation as a "registered futures association" was granted by the CFTC on September 22, 1981. NFA began its regulatory operations in 1982.
Board of Directors
NFA's Board of Directors is its principal governing and policy development body. The Board consists of both Member Directors and Public Directors.
Committees
NFA has a number of committees that offer guidance on its rulemaking and other initiatives.
NFA Leadership
NFA leadership includes officers and individuals who represent NFA's key functional areas.
Diversity & Inclusion
Diverse viewpoints lead to informed decisions and creativity, which are instrumental for NFA to achieve its mission of safeguarding the derivatives markets and protecting customer funds.
Alumni Network
NFA's Alumni Network allows former staff to take advantage of learning about other alumni and current NFA employees, news, events and opportunities.
Mandatory Membership
Mandatory membership is the cornerstone of NFA's regulatory structure, and makes effective industrywide self-regulation possible.
Funding
NFA is primarily financed with payments from membership dues and fees, and from assessment fees paid by Members and users of the derivatives markets. NFA's Board of Directors reviews and approves its budget annually.
Joint Audit Committee
NFA is a member of the Joint Audit Committee (JAC) which is a voluntary, cooperative organization comprised of a number of derivatives exchanges and NFA.
NFA Security
NFA is committed to having policies and procedures in place that protect its systems and safeguard customer data.
Registration and Membership
The Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) requires certain firms and individuals that conduct business in the derivatives industry to register with the CFTC. CFTC regulations also require, with few exceptions, CFTC registered firms to be NFA Members. The CFTC has delegated registration responsibility to NFA.
Rulemaking
The essence of self-regulation involves identifying industry best practices in certain areas and then mandating those practices for the entire industry.
Enforcement and Registration Actions
To enforce its rules, NFA takes disciplinary actions against Members when appropriate.
Member Education & Resources
NFA provides a number of Member education opportunities to help Members understand their regulatory responsibilities.Arbitration
NFA offers an affordable and efficient arbitration program to help customers and Members resolve futures- and forex-related disputes.
Investor Protection
NFA offers a variety of resources to help investors perform due diligence prior to making any investment decisions.
Outreach Programs
NFA offers training to regulators, exchanges and self-regulatory organizations from around the world on an as-requested basis.Market Regulation
NFA provides regulatory services to designated contract markets (DCM) and swap execution facilities (SEF)—each of which has self-regulatory responsibilities to monitor trading on its platform.
Board Update Videos
View these quarterly videos to hear about Board meeting highlights and other notable information.
Membership Totals and Directories
See NFA membership totals and a list of Member directories.
Contact NFA
NFA's Information Center representatives are available from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday.