Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Elizabeth Warren
(D-MA) have asked the CFTC, in conjunction with the SEC, to study what specific
disclosures and additional investor information might improve the opportunity
for investors in all managed-futures funds to retain more of the substantial
profits that the industry is making and keeping through what appear, from
financial press reports, to be unreasonably high fees, commissions, and
expenses. In a letter to CFTC Chair Gary Gensler, the Senators said that one
improvement for the protection of unwary investors would be to require that
managers of these managed-futures funds clearly explain in writing how severely
fees and commissions can consume or affect gross profits over time. Senator Nelson chairs the Special Committee
on Aging, of which Senator Warren is a member.
The legislators emphasized that individual investors, especially
senior investors looking to find a suitable place to place their retirement
savings, should be made aware of these managed-future funds’ fees and
commissions and the draining effect of such upon their investments. Although these funds are purported to be for
sophisticated investors, some of these firms have a very low minimum investment
that can be made from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). The Senators are
very concerned about the potential impact that these fees could have on the
retirement security of the persons who invest in these funds.