Traders who are new to futures can take steps to become acclimated to this exciting market.

Futures can be useful in trading diversification. Self-directed investors seeking a futures broker should not only familiarize themselves with the risks associated with trading futures, but make sure that the firms they vet have the right answers. To get those answers, here are some key questions investors should ask:

What is the cloud?

The cloud -- short for cloud computing -- is the inescapable buzzword that has made its way into the mainstream. And it’s not going anywhere.

It seems as if futures trading has been the underdog of the trading world since before the Civil War, when many eyed futures traders with suspicion of the markets being an insiders-club open to a select few with elite connections in Chicago.

We’ve seen many signs in the first quarter of 2015 (and earlier) that favor futures trading. It’s great to see news that brings much-deserved attention to the instrument and we only anticipate that its star will continue to rise, enhancing market opportunities, attracting new participants, and ultimately enriching traders’ lives.