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Jack Finfer
LF
Lakefront Briefing
briefing@lakefrontfutures.com
312-347-3877
Grain, Livestock & Energy Futures Hedging
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briefing@lakefrontfutures.com
312-347-3877
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Lakefront Futures
Trading since 1997

Futures brokers for traders, hedgers, and professionals.

Independent brokerage clearing through several major FCMs.
Grains, livestock, energy, metals, softs, currencies, rates, crypto, and indexes.

More about Lakefront →
Open an Account Talk to a Broker First
Choose your path

However you trade, there is a structure for it. Not sure which fits? Just call or email us.

Free platform access is available for any Lakefront customer
Self-directed
Trade on your own
Place trades, manage positions, monitor your account
Access the markets yourself through our platforms. Place trades, manage positions, and monitor your account independently.
Free platform access
Competitive commission rates
Any product you can think of
24/7 trade desk access
Open your account →
Broker assisted
Work with a specialist
Hedging advice, complex spreads, and market insight. Doing it since 1997.
Experienced specialists in grain, energy, and livestock who do this for a living. Get hedging advice, build complex spreads, and talk through positions with someone who knows the markets.
Expert hedging advice
30+ years in the business
Build complicated spread structures
Special margin rates for hedgers
Speculators welcome too!
Talk to us first
Clearing & execution
For CTAs, CPOs, and large traders
Full clearing infrastructure
Full clearing infrastructure for money managers and institutional accounts. We handle the back office so you can focus on trading.
Our managed futures arm, aiSource, has allocated $400M+ across 100+ CTAs
We handle customer onboarding
Connect front and back end APIs from virtually anywhere
Block account setup and allocation management
FIA EGUS give-up agreement system membership
Low give-up rates passed through to executing CTAs
Access to all major trading platforms
Multiple clearing relationships
Back office support and compliance
Managed account support
We handle account transfers
NFA registered firm
Experience in the industry
Learn more
Become a branch
Become a branch office
We provide the infrastructure, you build the business
Join Lakefront Futures as a branch office. Set your own rates, grow your team, and run your business with full back-office support behind you.
Set your own rates
24/7 trade desk
Take time off when you need it
Expand your team
Back office, compliance, account opening, platform support
Interested? Let's talk.
briefing@lakefrontfutures.com 312-347-3877
or
Get in touch
International clients
Cross-border hedging and trading for clients around the world. Countries we have served:
🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇨🇭 Switzerland, 🇨🇳 China, 🇻🇳 Vietnam, 🇧🇴 Bolivia, 🇧🇸 The Bahamas, 🇺🇦 Ukraine, 🇫🇷 France, 🇬🇧 England, 🇲🇽 Mexico, and 🇨🇦 Canada.
Be the next country we serve →
Interested in something else?
We have experience in nearly every corner of the futures industry. Tell us what you need.
Contact us
Worried about transferring? We handle that for you. You don't have to do anything.

About Lakefront

Lakefront Futures was founded in 1997 at the Chicago Board of Trade by partners who believed there was a better way to do business in the futures industry. Nearly three decades later, we still run on that same conviction: customers are people, not account numbers.

Independent brokerage clearing through several major FCMs, executing globally
Hedging, speculation, and managed futures across ags, livestock, energy, metals, softs, currencies, rates, and indexes
Our managed futures arm, aiSource, has helped allocate over $400 million across 100+ CTAs
Platform flexible: we can connect you to virtually any futures trading platform
Every account gets a person who answers the phone, big or small, seasoned or beginner
The team
Jon MarcusCo-founder · Principal
Nick LeblebijianCo-founder · Principal
Paul KokuzianManaging Partner
Rishab SharmaManaging Partner
Rich MurphyTrade Desk
Jack FinferVP of Operations
Joe ThomeTrade Desk
Our branch offices
Headquartered in Chicago, with branch offices across the country plus Nassau, Bahamas and Switzerland.
Get in touch

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Your charted briefing lands minutes after this release.

Covered reports only. All times Central.

CME Globex Trading Hours
🌾 Grains & Oilseeds
Corn, Soybeans, Wheat, Meal, Oil, Oats, Rice
Overnight7:00 PM – 7:45 AM CT
Day session8:30 AM – 1:20 PM CT
DaysSun 7 PM – Fri 1:20 PM
🐄 Livestock
Live Cattle, Feeder Cattle, Lean Hogs
Day session8:30 AM – 1:05 PM CT
DaysMon – Fri
NoteNo overnight session
🥛 Dairy
Class III Milk, Butter, Cheese
Session5:00 PM – 4:00 PM CT (next day)
DaysSun 5 PM – Fri 4 PM
Halt4:00 – 5:00 PM daily
⛽ Energy
WTI Crude, Nat Gas, Heating Oil, RBOB
Session5:00 PM – 4:00 PM CT (next day)
DaysSun 5 PM – Fri 4 PM
Halt4:00 – 5:00 PM daily
🥇 Metals
Gold, Silver, Copper, Platinum
Session5:00 PM – 4:00 PM CT (next day)
DaysSun 5 PM – Fri 4 PM
Halt4:00 – 5:00 PM daily
📈 Equity Indices
S&P 500, Nasdaq, Dow, Russell
Session5:00 PM – 4:00 PM CT (next day)
Halt3:15 – 3:30 PM & 4:00 – 5:00 PM

All times Central. Exchange hours can change on holidays; verify with CME Group.

First Notice & Last Trading Days

FN = First Notice Day (long positions can be assigned delivery). LT = Last Trading Day (contract stops trading). Roll or exit before these dates to avoid the delivery process.

July 2026
Jul 14LTJuly Corn, Soybeans, Wheat (Chi/KC/MN), Oats, Rice, Soymeal, Soyoil
Jul 15LTJuly Lean Hogs, Lumber
Jul 21LTAugust Crude Oil (CL)
Jul 29LTAugust Natural Gas · July Gold, Silver, Copper, Platinum
Jul 31FNAugust Gold, Silver, Copper, Platinum, Soybeans, Soymeal, Soyoil
August 2026
Aug 4FNAugust RBOB, ULSD
Aug 10FNAugust Live Cattle
Aug 14FNAugust Lean Hogs · Soybeans, Soymeal, Soyoil
Aug 20LTSeptember Crude Oil (CL)
Aug 27LTSeptember Natural Gas
Aug 31FNSeptember Crude (CL delivery) · Sep grain FN window opens
September 2026
Sep 14LTSeptember Corn, Soybeans, Wheat (Chi/KC/MN), Oats, Rice, Soymeal, Soyoil
Sep 22LTOctober Crude Oil (CL)
Sep 28LTSeptember Gold, Silver, Copper, Platinum

From the Lakefront 2026 trading calendar. Verify with the exchange before rolling positions.

Futures trading involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.
Lakefront Futures & Options · 325 West Huron Street, Suite 512, Chicago, IL 60654
312-347-3877 · briefing@lakefrontfutures.com