EntityIronbeam, Inc. (CFTC FCM; NFA ID 415708 — pending manual BASIC confirm)JurisdictionUnited States — no CIPF; entity-mismatch fires for Canadian clients; provincial availability unverified at scoring dateRegulatorCFTC (FCM) + NFA; DSRO: CME Group. Founder/CEO: Omid M. Farr (sole owner via Tavage, Inc.). FCM since 2001.SchemeNo compensation scheme — SIPC excludes futures; no CIPF equivalent for US-jurisdiction FCMs
Capped at 7.0/10 — no negative-balance protection (jurisdiction not mandating it).
Transparency & Conduct5.8/108%
Withdrawal Integrity — dimension ceiling
No (jurisdiction not mandating it). Withdrawal Integrity is capped at 7.0/10 regardless of other withdrawal performance (it would otherwise be 7.2). Approximate composite impact: −0.2 points.
Verdict
Ironbeam scores 56/100 (Adequate) — Ironbeam, Inc. is a self-clearing US FCM with a real regulatory floor (CFTC + NFA + CME DSRO + §4d statutory segregation) and a 25-year single-founder operating history, but three structural facts keep the score in the Adequate band. First, US futures has no investor compensation scheme — SIPC excludes futures by statute and no CIPF equivalent exists (D2 = 1.8/10). Second, the December 2025 disclosure describes its bank-depository policy without naming a single institution, and fifteen customers comprise half the segregated-funds pool — thin custody verifiability on a concentrated client base. Third, a CME Business Conduct Committee action (settled May 2026, $50,000, neither admit nor deny) found Ironbeam exceeded CFTC Reg 1.25 concentration limits on money-market-fund investments of customer segregated funds on October 30, 2025 — corrected the next day, no shortfall, but a client-money-controls finding inside the scoring window.
Best for
US futures traders who want a self-clearing FCM with direct ownership, long operating tenure, and §4d-only protection — and who accept the absence of any compensation scheme.
Skip if
Canadians (no CIPF at any tier, entity-mismatch, provincial availability unverified); anyone who requires named custodian banks or a compensation scheme; traders who read a recent client-money-controls finding as disqualifying.
TraderVerdict brokerage scores assess custodial safety from a Canadian investor perspective. Scores do not constitute investment advice. Verify all details directly with the broker before opening an account.
Evidence & Sources
Scores are on a 1–10 scale. = one step on the scoring ladder. Source links open primary evidence.
“The Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") requires each futures commission merchant ("FCM"), including Ironbeam, Inc. ("Ironbeam"), to provide the following information to its customers. Ironbeam's designated self-regulatory organization is the CME Group.”
“Ironbeam, Inc.: NFA member (ID 415708 — carried from June-7 draft; VERIFY on NFA BASIC before relying, host blocks automated checks); CFTC FCM registration active at scoring date; no suspension, revocation, conditions, or restrictions on the license found in the December 2025 FCM disclosure or evidence review June 2026.”
“Ironbeam's sole business is operating as an FCM registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Ironbeam's designated self-regulatory organization is the CME Group.”
“SIPC explicitly excludes commodity futures contracts and futures accounts from coverage. Ironbeam, Inc. is a CFTC FCM — futures accounts are not eligible for SIPC coverage. No CIPF equivalent exists for US-registered FCMs with respect to futures customer funds.”
“No compensation scheme membership — see d2_scheme_membership. No per-customer coverage limit applies because there is no scheme. CFTC §4d segregation ring-fences the aggregate customer pool but establishes no per-investor dollar ceiling on recovery.”
“No excess insurance or private compensation top-up referenced anywhere in Ironbeam's December 2025 CFTC 1.55(k) Disclosure Document or public materials reviewed June 2026.”
“Customer Segregated Account for customers that trade futures and options on futures listed on U.S. futures exchanges… held in a Customer Segregated Account in accordance with section 4d(a)(2) of the Commodity Exchange Act. Customer Segregated Funds held in the Customer Segregated Account may not be used to meet the obligations of the FCM or any other person, including another customer.”
“If we elect to invest customer segregated funds, Ironbeam will typically invest in U.S. Treasury Securities, which the U.S. Government guarantees as to principal and interest. We have invested in certificates of deposit (permitted investments under CFTC Regulation 1.25) in the past, but currently do not hold any.”
“We analyze our concentration among our depositories and ensure that we have established multiple relationships to mitigate this risk. We also review FDIC deposit insurance coverage for each depository and determine the regulatory and supervisory bodies responsible for monitoring each entity holding customer-segregated funds. Ironbeam also conducts ongoing monitoring and a thorough due diligence review of each depository at least annually.”
“As of November 30, 2025, Ironbeam's net capital was $18,064,739, its adjusted net capital was $16,549,665, its net capital requirement was $3,244,619, and its excess net capital was $13,305,046.”
“Mr. Farr began his career in the commodity futures and options industry in 1995… ultimately led to the creation of an FCM in 2001. Mr. Farr is also the sole owner of Tavage, Inc.”
“The only material commitment between Ironbeam and its affiliates other than what is already disclosed is the subordinated debt between Ironbeam and its parent company, Tavage, Inc. As of November 30, 2025, the outstanding subordinated debt balance is $0.”
“Ironbeam, Inc.: CFTC FCM withdrawal obligations governed by CFTC Part 1 customer fund rules. No documented systemic withdrawal failures, delays, or withdrawal-related enforcement actions found in evidence review June 2026.”
“Standard ACH and wire transfer withdrawal methods; no unusual documentation requirements, hold policies, or withdrawal barriers documented in the December 2025 disclosure or public materials reviewed June 2026.”
“No percentage-based exit fees, forced-haircut paths, or materially-above-norm flat fees on withdrawal routes documented in the December 2025 disclosure, account documents, or public pricing reviewed June 2026.”
“If we elect to invest customer segregated funds, Ironbeam will typically invest in U.S. Treasury Securities, which the U.S. Government guarantees as to principal and interest.”
“CME 24-1755-BC: A Panel of the CME Business Conduct Committee found that on October 30, 2025, Ironbeam failed to maintain adequate procedures and controls to ensure compliance with CFTC Regulation 1.25 concentration limits following a reduction in segregated assets — MMMF holdings exceeded the 50% total and 10% per-issuer concentration limits. Ironbeam liquidated holdings and returned to compliance October 31, 2025. $50,000 fine; settled, neither admitted nor denied. Notice posted May 22, 2026. (Primary URL bot-blocks automated checks — verify manually; facts corroborated via fxnewsgroup.com June 2026.)”
“Ironbeam's sole business is operating as an FCM registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission… Ironbeam does not currently engage in any proprietary trading activities, over-the-counter transactions…”
Primary sources
Every Ironbeam variable score traces to a public, primary source. The full verbatim extract and verification date for each is in the Evidence tab above; the underlying documents are listed here.