Futures Made Simple

Unlock the World of Futures Trading with Clarity and Confidence

“Futures Made Simple” is the ultimate starting point for anyone curious about diving into the powerful world of futures trading. Designed for new and aspiring traders, this book strips away the jargon and complexity, providing a straightforward and engaging guide to understanding futures contracts, how they’re traded, and how to manage risk in this dynamic market.

Author Kel Butcher — a seasoned trader, mentor, and financial writer — lays out a step-by-step path to help readers grasp the mechanics of futures markets, explore different trading instruments (like grains, energy, metals, and financial indices), and most importantly, apply practical risk and money management techniques.

Whether you’re an investor looking to expand into futures or a trader seeking structure, this book is a reliable companion that covers everything from how contracts are structured, who trades them (and why), to technical and fundamental strategies and how to work with brokers and platforms.

What You’ll Learn

• What futures contracts are, and how they evolved from ancient trading to today’s electronic markets
• Key differences between hedging and speculation, and how both parties shape futures markets
• How to place market, limit, stop, and OCO orders with confidence
• Methods for managing trading risk, using stop-losses and calculating position sizes
• How leverage works and how to use it without blowing up your account
• Overview of commodity and financial futures: grains, metals, energy, equity indices, and interest rates

Key Benefits

• Beginner-friendly explanations with real-world trade examples
• Covers essential trading psychology and practical execution
• Includes charts, trading setups, and contract specifications
• Written by a respected trader and trading coach with global experience
• Helps you avoid common beginner mistakes

Who This Book Is For

• Beginner traders who want a simplified, complete introduction to futures
• Investors seeking to diversify using futures contracts
• Students of finance and trading eager to understand leveraged instruments
• Traders looking to systematize their futures trading approach

Table of Contents

Part I: Trading Futures — Principles and Practice

• 1.What is a futures contract?
• 2.The history of futures trading
• 3.Orders and brokers
• 4.Risk and money management

Part II: Natural Commodity Futures Contracts

• 5. Grain futures
• 6. Soft commodity futures
• 7. Meat futures
• 8. Energy futures
• 9. Metals futures

Part III: Financial Markets Futures Contracts

• 10. Interest rate futures
• 11. Equity index futures
• 12. Currency futures