Apart from the podcasts, Rob has also brought on board a few writers who publish their supposed success stories. For example, I came across one post from a guy who claimed that he was ranking among the top 5 technical currency analysts yet he was not making profits during the early stages of his trading career. Then as time went by, he learned how to do it right. All of a sudden, this guy started making $1,000 a day by trading what he had learned.
In situations of economic uncertainty like we are facing right now, the best defense for your hard earned dollars is to be as well-informed and educated as you possibly can. Following the news that impact the markets, researching companies and following the markets should be a full-time job (unless you want to risk your money... you are probably better of at a roulette table).
In the futures market, futures contracts are bought and sold based upon a standard size and settlement date on public commodities markets, such as the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. In the U.S., the National Futures Association regulates the futures market. Futures contracts have specific details, including the number of units being traded, delivery and settlement dates, and minimum price increments that cannot be customized. The exchange acts as a counterpart to the trader, providing clearance and settlement.