TRADE DEPOT FAQ

(Frequently asked Questions)

Over the years we’ve noticed that many customers tend to ask similar questions before deciding on the purchase of Trade Depot. We have listed below many of those Questions and Answers for your convenience.

Q: Is Trade Depot Year 2K compliant?

A: Yes.

Q: Is Trade Depot suitable for use on my Windows 95 computer?

A: Yes. Trade Depot works well on all Windows 95, 98, NT4 systems and also the new Windows 2000, Windows Me, and XP operating systems.

Q: Is the program user-friendly?

A: Yes. Very. Trade Depot was specifically designed with the consideration that it might be used by junior back-office personnel often with little or no computer experience.

Q: Does Trade Depot accommodate other types of traded contracts in addition to Futures?

A: Yes. Trade Depot also handles Futures Options, Stocks, Stock Options, Forex, and Cash contracts equally well.

Q: Can I ‘mix and match’ different types of contracts in a single portfolio?

A: Yes. You can mix them all you want.

Q: How many Brokers and how many Clients will the program handle?

A: Trade Depot will handle an unlimited number of Brokers and an unlimited number of Clients for each Broker.

Q: What is the maximum number of closed trades that the program will handle for each client?

A: There is virtually no limit to the number of trades it will handle other than the limitation of your Hard Disk capacity. Each complete trade uses only about 100 bytes on your Hard Disk.

Q: Is Trade Depot networkable?

A: Yes.

Q: Will the program handle Pools and/or Funds and if so how many Pools or Funds will it handle?

A: The program will handle an unlimited number of Pools or Funds and an unlimited number of Clients for each. You may select to either issue shares or not. It will handle an unlimited number of shares for each Pool or Fund.

Q: For Pools and/or Funds, does it automatically calculate management and incentive fees based on "high watermark" calculations?

A: Yes it does. You do not need an outside accountant to do these calculations for you. Everything is automatic and perfectly accurate.

Q: What is the major benefit of Trade Depot to me?

A: Trade Depot will give you fast, accurate record-keeping of all trading activities plus a substantial yearly saving in bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing services. Its reports are ideal for tax purposes. It additionally gives you a fast reference to all your open and closed positions at all times and is ideal for verifying your broker's statements. If you are a CTA, CPO, or Fund manager it generates your necessary disclosure documents and also statements ready to be mailed, faxed, or emailed to your clients directly from within the program if you wish.

Q: Will Trade Depot print daily Purchase & Sale statements?

A: Yes. The power of Trade Depot allows you to print not only a daily Purchase & Sale statement for the current date but also for any past date you wish. Perfect for audit purposes of any kind.

Q: Do I need to purchase a new version every time a trading contract is added or changed?

A: No. Trade Depot allows you to add new contracts at any time or change existing ones. Your program can never become obsolete.

Q: Can the program handle cash deposits and withdrawals, cash transfers, and funds on deposit in say, CDs or T-Bills?

A: Yes. It additionally allows you to record notes applicable to all these entries. It automatically allocates all deposits, withdrawals and transfers.

Q: What kind of support do you supply?

A: We supply full support via e-mail, telephone, fax, or mail. Please see the copies of letters we’ve received from actual customers relating to our support. See letters. We also continually post the latest version of the program to our website so that you can always download a free copy containing the newest features. See updates.

Q: Do you supply a separate manual with Trade Depot?

A: Yes. We supply a well-detailed 76-page manual with the program showing every screen and the way to use it. We use a special fold-out design covering one topic per page making it very easy to use. Additionally, there is a complete pull-down Help file built in to Trade Depot that can be quickly and easily accessed by the user at any time. The manual includes a complete schema for the Access 7 database used by the program.

Q: What type of database do you use?

A: We use the well-known, fast and robust Microsoft Access 7 relational database.

Q: Do I need to purchase a copy of Access 7 to use the program?

A: No. Your purchase cost includes a license to use the included Access 7 database.

Q: Are there any ongoing license or maintenance fees after I make my initial purchase?

A: No. Your initial cost is your total cost.

Q: Do you provide updates and if so, what is their cost?

A: Yes. Historically we have brought out a version every year that includes a number of optional new features. These updates have always been optional and have been priced at simply the difference in price between the old version and the new version. There is no charge for updates within the current version. See updates.

Q: Do you supply different versions for different types of traders i.e. individual traders vs. CTAs?

A: No. Trade Depot is designed for every type of trader rather than one specific type. This is actually more economical for us to do rather than maintaining separate versions. It is also reassuring to our customers to know that if they change their trading style at any time they don’t have to purchase another program.

Q: How do I enter last or closing prices in order to determine my open trade equity?

A: Trade Depot allows you to enter last or closing prices in three ways. 1> You may enter them by simply typing the numbers in on your screen. 2> You may subscribe to a number of data suppliers who will download the prices into your computer via a modem and Trade Depot will automatically read them from your Hard Disk. 3> You may subscribe to a live data service that supplies last prices continuously into your computer. Trade Depot will automatically read the data feed and update your open positions converted into the currency of your choice right on your screen.

Q: Does Trade Depot provide for the entry of commissions, exchange fees, and NFA fees?

A: Yes. Trade Depot accommodates all three. It also automatically "remembers" these fees that were used the last time for any particular contract and client as defaults so unless the amounts change you don’t need to re-enter them every time you make a trade.

Q: Sometimes I need to make a reference note beside certain trades. Can I do that with Trade Depot ?

A: Yes. Trade Depot allows you to make a note against any trade which will be automatically printed on your Closed Trade reports.

Q: I’m a CTA and would like to send statements to my customers. How does Trade Depot handle that?

A: Trade Depot prints just about any kind of report. See reports. All the reports may be sent directly to your screen or printer. These reports can also be sent to a file, e-mailed, or faxed to your clients automatically directly from within the program.

Q: I have a number of trades that I have already made. Can these be entered into the program?

A: Yes. Trade Depot allows you to set the trade entry date and time for any past trades. It automatically sorts and stores all trades chronologically by the date and time you specify regardless of the actual time that you actually enter them into the program.

Q: I trade with several different brokers. Can I merge the accounts from these brokers into one master account for generating perfomance reports and tax purposes?

A: Yes. Trade Depot allows you to merge any number of accounts into one master account while keeping the individual accounts intact. You can also easily add or delete individual accounts from the merged account at any time.

Q: Sometimes I get a revised fill from my Broker. How can I handle that?

A: Trade Depot provides for complete on-screen editing of all data at any time. You may change any aspect of an open or closed trade you wish.

Q: I have a junior clerk who will be entering all the data for me. How can I verify that this clerk has made all entries correctly?

A: Trade Depot maintains an automatic transaction log that records all data entered in a separate log file. You can print this log file out at any time to verify all entries.

Q: I have Brokers and Clients who trade in a currency other than the US dollar. Can the program handle this?

A: Yes. Trade Depot has a built-in currency converter that is Broker specific. In other words, you can set any Broker for any currency you wish. All Clients of that Broker will reflect this currency. The currency used displays in ISO format on all screens and reports related to that Broker. The currency converter is automatically updated daily at no cost to you providing you have an internet connection and you can easily display and/or use historical conversions for any day of the past year.

Q: I’m a CTA and charge fees to my Clients for my services. How does the program handle that?

A: Trade Depot allows you to deduct either Incentive Fees or Management Fees or both. You may do this manually or automatically. When you choose to do the fee deductions automatically, Trade Depot allows you to insert the percentages you wish and their periodic deduction period, usually monthly or quarterly. The rates and periods are 'remembered' by the program as defaults for each different client. Fees are calculated using "high watermark" formulas.

Q: I’m a CTA and have multiple Clients for each Broker. Can Trade Depot print a composite report of all Clients for that Broker that includes all open position profits and losses together with their margin positions?

A: Yes. We call this report an equity run. It can be printed at any time. You can also send it to your Broker via fax or e-mail directly from within the program for quick verification.

Q: I would like to monitor my margin position at all times. Can you handle that?

A: Yes. Trade Depot allows you to set both Initial and Maintenance margin values for each contract you trade. These margin values are available from your Broker. The program automatically switches from the initial margin value to the maintenance margin value for any trades that are held overnight. You may view or print the total at any time.

Q: Does Trade Depot print performance reports as required by the NFA to be included in CTA and CPO disclosure documents?

A: Yes. It prints both the NFA prescribed 15-column performance report in accordance with NFA specifications and a graphical printout of the same information which is also acceptable to NFA and looks very impressive in your disclosure documents. Both these reports can be printed for any period you wish. They both include the optional VAMI column.

Q: Does Trade Depot print monthly statements for Clients of a Pool or Fund?

A: Yes. It will print a Pool or Fund Client statement for any period you wish (usually monthly). These statements conform to the NFA and CFTC specifications. If you wish they can be sent directly to your clients from within the program via fax or e-mail.

Q: Can I print my letterhead on all forms, statements and reports?

A: Yes. Trade Depot allows you to either enter a detailed letterhead using its standard fonts or else it will print your own actual letterhead.

Q: What are the major differences between Trade Depot and your previous program Account Manager 11?

A: Trade Depot is the newest version of our accounting software that was introduced in January 2000 in response to many requests for a fully networkable version. It is priced at $995 (only $100 more than AM11) and in addition to its networkability it contains many new features such as:

• More reports.
• An improved currency converter that is automatically updated free from the web.
  
• The ability to set trading limits (both margin and quantity) for all contracts in the trading portfolio. This is ideal for trading rooms where it is desirable to have trading or margin limits for either traders or clients.
  
• An improved automatic data back up form. 
• The ability to incorporate your own letterhead into every report.
• The ability to merge accounts to create and print composite reports.

Q: How long have you been in business?

A: 20 years.

Q: Are you listed with the Better Business Bureau?

A: Yes, we have been a member in good standing of the Better Business Bureau of South Florida for 19 years.

Q: How quickly do you reply to questions or problems?

A: Always the same day.

Q: If I have any trouble installing or using Trade Depot, will you walk me through it over telephone?

A: Certainly. At any time.

Q: If I place an order now, how soon can I receive Trade Depot?

A: All orders received before 4:00PM EST are shipped the same day. To assure you of prompt and reliable delivery we use Federal Express on all shipments unless otherwise advised. This gives overnight delivery to you for domestic shipments. Overseas shipments usually take 2-3 days.

Q: How can I order Trade Depot?

A: You can place your order via telephone, fax, or . Additionally there is a secure order form on our website that will automatically e-mail your order to us.

Q: How do I make payment?

A: We accept Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. We also accept checks, cashier’s checks, money orders, or wire transfers. Checks are subject to clearing by our bank before shipping.