About PFG
Named for seven years in a row as one of the "Top 50 Brokers" (Futures Magazine), PFG is recognized for its success since 1980 in anticipating customer needs in electronic trading and full-service brokerage in futures, futures options, retail forex trading, institutional and commercial forex platforms and services, managed accounts and managed funds. The Futures Industry Association ranked PFG the 37th largest broker globally, and PFG has about $240 million in customer funds in futures accounts and more than $14 million in forex.
PFG is deeply committed to the trading success of personal investors and traders — the retail market — yet it also excels at meeting the very sophisticated needs of institutions transacting foreign exchange business on a scale of billions of dollars a day. For commodities futures, financial futures and options, forex products and services, managed futures accounts, managed forex, and alternative investments, "You should be with PFG."
Strategic initiatives include innovative products, services and outspoken advocacy for traders of commodity and financial futures and forex; investor education; technology leadership and advocacy for online trading; stock futures and equity trading; forex products and services; managed futures and portfolio diversification — in sum, innovative personal trading and retail and institutional risk management opportunities.
From day one, PFG has proven to be one of the most technology-driven retail futures trading firm – BEST Direct was the first electronic platform to link retail customers directly into the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Globex trading engine in 1998.
PFG continues to invest heavily in development of technologies that advance the accuracy, ease and speed of futures trade execution, and leading risk management capabilities. Its proprietary platforms include BEST Direct for futures, BEST Direct Forex, BEST Direct FX Express, BEST Direct ProTrader, BEST Direct Web, BEST Direct Navigator, and more. In addition, PFG is continually forging strategic alliances that will help customers to integrate and elect systems that can be customized to their needs. One example was the 2006 partnership with Currenex, for institutions to access the interbank more easily for FX spot, forward, swaps, precious metals and money market instruments. BEST Direct FX continues to provide all of the customer’s back office functionality yet institutional clients can leverage technology and connectivity offered by Currenex.
PFG is also at the forefront of marketing and distribution for existing and new futures and forex products and services, using proprietary and branded technology solutions.
Founded in 1980 by CEO Russell Wasendorf, Sr., the company originally focused on alerting investor clients to long-term price trends in commodities and financial markets, and opportunities for trading in futures and derivative markets. Wasendorf provided proprietary intelligence. He developed price indexes as instruments to guide success in futures trading and market forecasting. Highly personalized customer service for the investor base of futures and spot market participants was, and remains, a core strength. The fast growth in contracts such as the S&P and Dow Jones stock index futures and later e-mini stock index futures helped PFG attract new market participants. Meanwhile, PFG had formed a global network of expert futures and options brokers and advisors to respond to burgeoning client demand for self-directed and broker-assisted derivatives trading.
Today, PFG has a network of more than 200 introducing brokers globally, with offices, brokers and clients in more than 80 countries. The company has Divisions serving Asia, Latin America and Russia, and branches and wholly-owned subsidiaries in 10 locations including Chicago; New York; Cedar Falls, Iowa; California (2); Florida; Germany; Canada; Shanghai, China; and Kiev, Ukraine.
PFG is a powerful advocate of new markets and opportunities they present for investors. Our promise is to make futures and forex markets available to our investors and clients in ways that give them advantages in today's on-demand world.