Smt Marketing Presentation

Click Here to Contact Us

Archer Financial Services, Inc.

Ag-Hedge Team

Scott Harms, Mark Soderberg, and Tim Smith

Click Here to Contact Us

4/6/2011 1

mailto:[email protected]?subject=Farm Marketing Info


Click Here to Contact Us Click Here to Contact Us

Archer Financial Services, Inc. (“AFS”)

• AFS is a relationship-driven brokerage firm dedicated to providing a quality brokerage environment to both independent brokers and customers. Both AFS and ADMIS are mutually committed to offering the best executing and clearing services available in the industry.

• AFS is a wholly owned subsidiary & Guaranteed Introducing Broker of ADM Investor Services, Inc. (“ADMIS”).

• Our Clearing Firm - ADMIS

– Wholly owned subsidiary of Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE:ADM)

– Full service Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) for more than 45 years • One of the Largest non-financial FCM’s in the industry

– Full clearing member of all U.S. and key international exchanges, with global access to all other major markets

4/6/2011 2




AFS Strengths

• Tailored Risk Management Services

• Proprietary and Contracted Research

• Efficient Professional Execution

• Experience and Targeted Customer Service

• Extended Trading Accessibility and Flexibility

4/6/2011 3




Hedge Team Philosophy

• Agricultural marketing is an ever challenging exercise in today’s volatile environment. Our objective is to reduce these challenges through the use of managed marketing programs, including the use of professional advisory services as well as measured use of futures and options that is targeted to meet the marketing objectives included in the clients’ individual marketing plan. Our team specializes in agricultural hedging with individual attention a key component to our customer service philosophy. The tools that are available to AFS clients, from the extensive research, to the specialized programs, to the focus on the individual client’s objectives, will be used to ease the burden of marketing grain production and allow our clients to allocate more focus to the remaining aspects of their business operation. Our primary objective is to be an integral partner in our client’s operation with the shared goal of their success.

4/6/2011 4




Individual Analysis and Consultation

• Involved in agricultural hedging since 1989, our team is fully qualified to assist you in managing the risk inherent to your business.

• Our team will: – Assist in identifying your costs and price objectives.

– Introduce you to the marketing programs offered at AFS including our latest tool, “Farm Tracker”.

– Assist in developing strategies that may be used to achieve your objectives.

– Initiate a plan that includes a comfortable combination of marketing programs and individualized marketing strategies.

– Work with crop insurance providers, lenders, and other marketing partners to help maximize your business returns.

– And more!

4/6/2011 5




Market Advisory

• Fundamental analysis of supply and demand issues affecting the markets being used for hedging purposes.

• Technical analysis of the markets being used for hedging purposes

• In-Depth coverage and analysis of U.S.D.A reports

• In-Depth coverage and perspective on weekly crop progress and condition reports throughout the U.S. and South America

• Special reports and analysis as requested

• Global weather advisory

• Daily and Intra-day market observations

• Weekly commentary on crop progress from planting through harvest

4/6/2011 6




Farm Tracker Software

• Farm Tracker gives producers the ability to... – Market grain production more efficiently.

– Identify cost of production and break-even levels.

– Calculate expected return on operation.

– Monitor progress towards objectives as the marketing year progresses.

– Create informational PDFs that are essential when meeting with landlords and lenders

– And More!

4/6/2011 7




Account Types

4/6/2011 8

AFS Ag-Hedge Program AFS Seasonal Pricing

Program

Full-Service Discount Self-Directed

E-Trading




AFS Ag-Hedge Program

• Incorporates the advice of 10 different independent advisers • Advice is monitored and efficiently executed by your AFS Team • The client maintains control of cash sale decisions • Client will be notified whenever a transaction is made by their

adviser(s) • Client can change production and advisers at any time • The client gets the benefit of professional analysis and timely

execution which frees them from day to day marketing decisions • No separate management fee is tied to this program • Marketing results of this program are published monthly by Top

Producer Magazine *For more information on this program or to see a 5 year analysis of the advisers included please contact us.

4/6/2011 9

Back to Account Types




AFS Seasonal Pricing Program

• This program takes an indexing approach to grain marketing • The objective is to accept a price which is representative of a longer term average • The client determines a fixed amount of grain to commit to the program • An equal sale is made weekly over a 30-week period • Long options may be used to protect upside margin exposure Program Benefits: • This simplistic approach eliminates the guesswork as to when to pull the trigger • Producer maintains control of the product and is able to shop for the most

favorable basis • Historically this marketing method has resulted in a final price which is favorable to

the overall price range and the fall harvest price

4/6/2011 10





Full-Service Account

We can act as a second set of eyes for you, relieving the need to constantly monitor the market. When desired, we can also assist you in fine tuning your trading strategies. An AFS Full-Service account includes the following:

– Efficient Order Execution and Timely Fill Reporting – “Flash Fills in most markets” – Contingency Order Placement – Individual Broker Support – Both Fundamental and Technical Market Analysis – Electronic Transmission of Daily and Monthly Statements – Risk Management Consulting

4/6/2011 11





Discount Account

This account plan is for customers who make their own trading decisions and understand the process of placing their own trades either by telephone or via electronic platform. Discount customers monitor their own accounts and should have a clear understanding of risk and margin requirements. An AFS Discount account includes the following:

– “Flash Fills in most markets” – Contingency Order Placement (most discount services do not

accept this) – Price alerts – Electronic Transmission of Daily and Monthly Statements

4/6/2011 12





E-Trading Account

An E-Trading Account will provide up-to-the-minute accounting of your positions and balance of your account. E-Trading accounts are not restricted to trading online; Your Ag Hedge team is also available when you are away from your computer. An AFS E-Trading Account includes the following:

– Parking Orders for placement at a later time – State-of-the-art trading platforms – Automatic offsetting of position(s) just a click away – Real time “last trade” quotes – E-Mail Fill Confirmation

4/6/2011 13





Your Ag-Hedge Team

4/6/2011 14

Mark Soderberg Scott Harms Tim Smith




Scott Harms – Ag Risk Specialist Scott was raised on a grain and livestock farm in Forest City, a small town located in Central Illinois. He attended the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics in 1989. Upon graduation Scott moved to Chicago where he began working for Merrill Lynch Futures in their Agricultural Hedging Services area. In 2000, Scott became a partner in the Agricultural Hedging Services at Prudential Securities. In 2008, Scott moved to Archer Financial Services, Inc. which is a wholly owned subsidiary and Guaranteed Introducing Broker of ADM Investor Services, Inc. He currently runs the Agricultural Hedge Marketing Program which is a unique program that assists customers with their marketing by monitoring several advisory services and efficiently initiating their marketing advice on the customers’ behalf. In addition, he works with individual customers as they develop and implement marketing plans that are vital to their success. Scott resides in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood.

4/6/2011 15

Back to “Your Ag Hedge Team




Mark Soderberg – Ag Risk Specialist

Upon graduating from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, Mark moved to Chicago and began his career in the futures industry in 1990 with the Agricultural Hedging Group at Merrill Lynch. In 1997, Mark earned a Master’s of Science in Financial Markets & Trading from the Illinois Institute of Technology. In 2000, his team moved to Prudential Bache Commodities. Throughout his career he has serviced a wide array of agri-business including farmers, grain elevators, poultry operations, cattle and hogs feeders, seed companies, food manufacturers, and ethanol plants. Mark’s goal is to help clients quantify their risk exposures, assist in determining risk management objectives, and develop strategies that are consistent with their risk tolerances in order to help attain their objectives. In Feb 2009, he joined the Archer Financial Services team. Along with their 3 children, Mark and his wife Tracy, reside in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. Most of his free time is spent coaching his children’s baseball and basketball teams.

4/6/2011 16





Tim Smith – Ag Risk Specialist Tim Smith began his career with an Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) while still in college, as a member of the maintenance staff at ADM's Ethanol plant in Decatur, Illinois. After graduation, he moved to Chicago, IL to begin his career in the futures industry with ADM's wholly owned subsidiary, ADM Investor Services, Inc. (“ADMIS”). Tim joined ADMIS as an Associate in the Marketing and Sales department. In November 2009 Tim took on additional responsibility as the Assistant Director of Operations for Archer Financial Services ("AFS"), where he was responsible for the daily oversight of marketing, brokerage services and trading risk for the company. In April 2011, Tim joined Scott Harms and Mark Soderberg at AFS as an Ag Risk Specialist, where he continues to provide unparalleled risk management services to producers and end-users.

Tim grew up surrounded by agriculture in Decatur, Illinois, a city fondly referred to as "Soybean Capitol of the World". A 2004 graduate of Lincoln College and a 2006 graduate of Millikin University, Tim currently lives in Chicago. He enjoys sampling Chicago's great restaurants and attending sporting events with family and friends.

4/6/2011 17





Ag-Hedge Team Contact Info:

Scott Harms, Mark Soderberg, and Tim Smith

Phone: 312.242.7970 | 800.933.3996

Archer Financial Services, Inc. (“AFS”)

Chicago Board of Trade Building

141 West Jackson Blvd. Suite 1600A

Chicago, IL 60604

Ag-Hedge Team Member Direct Contact Info:

Scott Harms –

Email: [email protected]

Direct Phone: 312.242.7971

Mark Soderberg –



Tim Smith –



4/6/2011 18

Our goal is to provide risk management services with a clear focus on your bottom line.

Objective Advice… Excellence in Service.

We are committed to total customer satisfaction. We strive to provide services that are

Beyond Your Brokerage Expectations.



mailto:[email protected]



Smt Marketing Presentation

Documents

Transcript of Smt Marketing Presentation