Accounts and eligibility
Sections ↑Optimus Futures arranges exchange-traded futures and options accounts as a US introducing broker. Its published retail pricing centres on Ironbeam as the carrying FCM. Selecting another clearing firm changes the account agreement, funding process and potentially the cost of trading.[3][23]
Reference table01
Account choices and starting funding
| Attribute | Micro-focused self-directed | E-mini / standard self-directed | IRA | Trust, LLC or other legal entity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Published funding | USD 500 | USD 2,000 | Separate retirement-account application | FCM-specific reviewSource 2Source 7Source 4 |
| Main distinction | Individual, joint or corporate trading; margin and a loss buffer must also fit the intended contract. | Larger contracts require more margin; this amount does not fund every overnight position. | Futures IRA access is offered; trustee arrangements and approval determine the available account. | Choose the appropriate ownership form; the online process collects financial and personal information.Source 2Source 7Source 4 |
Account comparison02
Clearing-firm selection
| FCM route | Published starting deposit | Implication |
|---|---|---|
| Ironbeam | USD 500 | Default basis of the website’s displayed commission and reduced-margin schedules.Source 3 |
| ADM Investor Services | USD 10,000 | Alternative clearing relationship with its own platform, margin and account-fee terms.Source 3 |
| Phillip Capital or Wedbush | USD 5,000 | Separate FCM agreements; published minimums and service fees differ from the default route.Source 3 |
Process03
Before the first deposit
| Stage | What the applicant needs |
|---|---|
| Application | Select account ownership and complete the financial, experience and identity information requested by the FCM.Source 4 |
| Residence | International applications are accepted from eligible countries; the general page does not establish an unrestricted worldwide service.Source 5 |
| Ironbeam address verification | A current driving licence, utility bill, mortgage or lease is accepted; bank statements and mobile-phone bills are not address evidence.Source 6 |
| Approval and funding | Complete the application and risk disclosures before sending funds, then use instructions for the actual FCM and account number.Source 18 |
Markets and contract choices
Sections ↑Specifications04
Representative futures contracts
| Contract | Economic size | Outright tick value |
|---|---|---|
| MES — Micro S&P 500 | USD 5 × index | 0.25 point = USD 1.25Source 36 |
| MNQ — Micro Nasdaq-100 | USD 2 × index | 0.25 point = USD 0.50Source 36 |
| MGC — Micro Gold | 10 troy ounces | USD 0.10/oz = USD 1.00Source 38 |
| MCL — Micro WTI crude | 100 barrels | USD 0.01/barrel = USD 1.00Source 39 |
| 6E — Euro FX | EUR 125,000 | USD 0.00005/EUR = USD 6.25Source 37 |
Availability05
Access beyond the core Micro contracts
| Market | Published offer and distinction |
|---|---|
| Equity indices, energy and metals | Standard and smaller contracts appear in the margin schedule, including ES, NQ, CL, GC and 1OZ.Source 14 |
| Currencies, rates and agriculture | Currency futures, Treasury contracts, grains and livestock are included; the currency offer is exchange-traded futures.Source 14 |
| Crypto futures and international exchanges | CME and other listed derivatives are available through compatible connections; exchange and FCM permissions determine access.Source 25Source 3 |
Commissions, data and account charges
Sections ↑Pricing & charges06
Ironbeam-route commission tiers
These rates cover qualifying new self-directed accounts opened after 20 September 2022. Volume discounts require a request and approval; they do not adjust automatically or apply retroactively. Platform/feed eligibility matters. Lower intraday margins or overnight positions may carry higher commissions. Non-US clients may incur additional clearing of USD 0.16 per Micro side or USD 0.25 per standard side.[8]
Pricing & charges07
Costs added to commission
| Component | Published charge |
|---|---|
| Ironbeam clearing | USD 0.09 per Micro side; USD 0.25 per standard side. Canadian terms may differ.Source 9 |
| NFA assessment | USD 0.02 per contract per side; exchange charges depend on the product and membership status.Source 9 |
| Order routing | Rithmic or CQG: USD 0.10/side; Firetip: zero; TT: USD 0.50/side; CTS: quoted.Source 9 |
| Data connection | Rithmic: USD 25/month; CQG: USD 10/month.Source 9 |
Pricing & charges08
Monthly software and market-data budget
| Item | Price and condition |
|---|---|
| Optimus Flow | No platform subscription for funded clients; order-flow tools and trading journal included.Source 16 |
| CME Level 1 rebate | At least ten trades during the month plus a monthly rebate request; otherwise the published CME-only charge is USD 3.Source 8Source 10 |
| Non-professional CME Group bundle | Level 1: USD 9; full market depth: USD 41 per month.Source 9 |
| Individual exchange depth | CME, CBOT, COMEX or NYMEX: USD 15.50 each per month.Source 9 |
| TradingView | Brokerage connection is offered on desktop, web and mobile; any chosen TradingView subscription is a separate product.Source 17 |
Pricing & charges09
Inactivity and service costs vary by FCM
| Route or charge | Published terms |
|---|---|
| Ironbeam account maintenance | No fee simply for holding the account. Paid data, connections and strategies remain separate.Source 11 |
| ADMIS inactivity | USD 25/month for relevant self-directed accounts; IRA/trust exemption and initial opening-month plus following-month exemption.Source 12 |
| Wedbush inactivity | USD 40/account/month after two years without trading.Source 13 |
| Default margin-call administration | USD 50; forced-liquidation charges are separate.Source 9 |
Platforms, margin and order handling
Sections ↑Platforms & products10
Platform choices
| Platform | Useful capability | Access condition |
|---|---|---|
| Optimus Flow | DOM, footprint/volume tools, TPO, replay and simulation | Based on the Quantower engine; funded-client access is free.Source 16 |
| TradingView | Chart-based futures dealing across desktop, browser and mobile | Select Optimus Futures and use supplied CQG credentials; existing accounts may need enablement.Source 17 |
| Alternative front ends | Sierra Chart, R Trader Pro and other supported applications | Agree the FCM, feed and enabled markets before subscribing.Source 3 |
Pricing & charges11
Published intraday margin examples
Process12
Holding positions and risk intervention
| Situation | Operational consequence |
|---|---|
| Approaching session close | The broker recommends closing day-trading positions by 15:45 Chicago / 16:45 New York, 15 minutes before the usual close, unless sufficient overnight initial margin is available.Source 15 |
| Risk threshold breached | Onboarding may specify a minimum balance or percentage trigger. The FCM can liquidate positions if those settings or overnight requirements are breached.Source 15 |
| Default forced liquidation fee | USD 25 per Micro stock-index contract; USD 50 for other contracts under the published Optimus pricing terms.Source 8 |
| Stops and deficits | Stop orders may fail to cap losses at their intended level; futures losses can exceed the initial deposit.Source 22 |
Deposits, withdrawals and statements
Sections ↑Process13
Funding an Ironbeam-cleared account
| Method | Procedure or restriction |
|---|---|
| Bank wire | Send from an account in the matching name; third-party wires and listed money-transfer intermediaries are refused.Source 18 |
| ACH | Use the application or approved portal bank link. Ironbeam quotes 3–4 business days to clear, a ten-business-day withdrawal hold and a 60-calendar-day originating-bank withdrawal restriction.Source 20 |
| Cheque | Same-name cheques are accepted subject to collection; the broker’s instructions say cheque processing occurs weekly on Wednesdays.Source 18 |
| Broker transfer | Provide a signed transfer authorisation and recent account statement. Coordinate any open positions with the receiving FCM.Source 18 |
Pricing & charges14
Ironbeam-route withdrawals
| Item | Published basis |
|---|---|
| Request | Use the Ironbeam account portal; the route-specific instructions list wire or cheque.Source 19 |
| Bank wire | USD 40 domestic; USD 60 international. Incoming wires have no FCM fee.Source 11 |
| Cheque | Ordinary delivery: zero; overnight domestic: USD 40; overnight international: USD 60.Source 11 |
| Available cash | Open-position margin, pending settlement and deposit holds limit the amount available. A generic ACH fee line does not establish ACH withdrawals on this route.Source 19Source 20 |
| Currency conversion | The general schedule lists no broker conversion fee, but bank rates may apply; confirm the FCM’s supported currencies before remitting.Source 9 |
The facts15
Account records
| Measure | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Statements | Use the carrying FCM’s portal | Daily and monthly statements are generally emailed. The clearing firm supplies the credentials; requested paper statements can carry a fee.Source 21 |
Regulation and customer-funds protection
Sections ↑Protections & eligibility16
The protection attached to this relationship
| Area | Scope |
|---|---|
| Current registration | Official NFA BASIC returned Optimus Futures LLC, ID 0481133, as an approved NFA member and registered CFTC introducing broker on 12 October 2026.Source 1 |
| Custody | An IB does not accept customer trading collateral. Identify the carrying FCM on the agreement and send funds to its designated customer account.Source 23 |
| Exchange corroboration | CME lists Optimus Futures LLC as a broker, not a CME clearing member.Source 25 |
| Insolvency protection | Futures segregation does not create an industry-wide insurance payout for a shortfall at a failed FCM.Source 24 |
| Trading losses | Registration and segregation do not insure market losses or create a guaranteed zero floor on the trading account.Source 22 |
Support and dealing interruptions
Sections ↑Official support channels
Optimus international telephoneTelephone
+1 561 367 8686Source 26Source 27
Scope Account, platform and broker assistance
Hours Monday–Friday, 08:00–17:00 Eastern, published as EST
Optimus US toll-free telephoneTelephone
+1 800 771 6748Source 26Source 27
Scope Broker assistance
Hours Monday–Friday, 08:00–17:00 Eastern, published as EST
Optimus help centreWebsite
Ironbeam live-account trade deskTelephone
+1 312 765 7250Source 28
Scope Only for an account carried at Ironbeam
Hours 24 hours while futures markets are open
Process17
If the trading interface fails
| Action | Reason |
|---|---|
| Contact the carrying desk | Ironbeam’s disclosure directs clients with technical problems to report them and enter orders through the order desk until resolved.Source 29 |
| Check order status | Ask the desk to confirm the actual working orders, fills and positions before placing replacement instructions; platform interruption alone is not confirmation of cancellation.Source 29Source 22 |
| Other FCM account | Use the emergency route provided by that FCM during onboarding. Optimus’s normal support hours and a carrying desk’s market-hours service are different.Source 27 |
Trade copying, automation and additional services
Sections ↑Process18
Optimus Flow trade copier
| Control | What it means |
|---|---|
| Copy relationship | Optimus documents copying a parent account’s transactions into child accounts on the same connection.Source 30 |
| Stopping and restart | The Quantower engine’s guide requires stopping the copy bot explicitly before exit; a previously running bot can resume when the terminal restarts.Source 31Source 16 |
| Disconnection | Copying needs the terminal running and active connections. Rejections or disconnects can leave child orders and positions different from the parent.Source 31 |
| Residual exposure | Inspect each account and the copier logs. Confirm any required closing trades and cancellations separately; stopping replication is not proof that positions are flat.Source 31 |
Availability19
iSystems and discretionary management
| Service | Commitment and exit responsibility |
|---|---|
| iSystems strategy licence | Select a strategy and purchase its recurring licence before activating live trading; the fee is taken from the FCM account.Source 32 |
| Execution charge | The linked agreement adds a per-contract platform charge to the strategy licence. Obtain the current tariff; its historical dollar examples are not current quotes.Source 33 |
| Activation and sizing | Choose contract quantity; signals continue until the strategy is deactivated. Its own margin allocation and FCM limits still apply.Source 32Source 33 |
| Stopping and billing | The published agreement bills an active licence periodically. Confirm strategy status, remaining positions and licence cancellation separately; current automatic closure on deactivation was not established.Source 33 |
| Manual intervention | The agreement warns that outside orders can disrupt synchronisation and cause extra trades. Coordinate strategy status and remaining positions with the FCM before intervention.Source 33 |
| Managed futures | A CTA can receive trading authority for a discretionary futures programme. Manager documentation, minimum allocation and fees govern that service.Source 34 |
Company and legal identity
Sections ↑Entities & regulation20
Identity and history
| Item | Established information |
|---|---|
| Operating entity | Optimus Futures LLC — United States; NFA ID 0481133.Source 1 |
| Business and origins | The company describes a business founded in 2004, led by founder Matt Zimberg, based in Boca Raton, Florida.Source 35 |
| Recorded trading names | NFA lists Ag Optimus, Optimus Ag and Optimus Trading Group as DBAs. They are alternative names of this entity.Source 1 |
| Current-status check | The official BASIC response had no pending-withdrawal flag. Current registration is separate from the terms of any particular customer’s FCM account.Source 1 |
Legal entities & licences
These are source-dated records, not a blanket assessment of the broker. Read each issuer, identifier, status and scope together.
Optimus Futures LLC
United StatesSource 1
| Issuer & identifier | Recorded status | Date & scope |
|---|---|---|
| Commodity Futures Trading CommissionIB; NFA ID 0481133 | Registered | Checked 12 Oct 2026Official NFA BASIC current registration record returned IB / REG for this exact legal name and identifier.Source 1 |
| National Futures Association0481133 | Registered | Checked 12 Oct 2026Official BASIC membership response: NFA Member Approved; no pending withdrawal flag on the check date.Source 1 |
Sources & further reading
- Current official legal-name, membership and IB registration match National Futures Association · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Account funding requirements and self-directed account opening Optimus Futures · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- FCM selection and published route-specific terms Optimus Futures · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Application choices and personal/financial information Optimus Futures · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Non-US resident eligibility Optimus Futures · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Ironbeam accepted proof of address Ironbeam · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Futures IRA account route Optimus Futures · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Self-directed Ironbeam commission tiers and qualifications Optimus Futures · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Clearing, routing, market-data and connection fees Optimus Futures · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Monthly CME Level 1 rebate request Optimus Futures · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Ironbeam-route account and administrative charges Optimus Futures · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- ADMIS route inactivity and account charges Optimus Futures · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Wedbush route inactivity and account charges Optimus Futures · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Contract-specific day margins Optimus Futures · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Preset risk limits and overnight-margin cutoff Optimus Futures · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Optimus Flow features and funded-client platform access Optimus Futures · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- TradingView account connection and eligibility Optimus Futures · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Ironbeam account deposit and transfer instructions Optimus Futures · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Ironbeam-route portal withdrawals Optimus Futures · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Ironbeam ACH clearance, withdrawal hold and originating-bank restriction Ironbeam · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- FCM portal credentials and account statements Optimus Futures · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Futures loss, contingent-order and electronic-trading risk Optimus Futures · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Role of an introducing broker and custody restriction National Futures Association · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Customer-funds protection and absence of industry-wide insurance Futures Industry Association · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Exchange listing of Optimus Futures LLC CME Group · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Broker telephone, web support and location Optimus Futures · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Broker customer-support hours Optimus Futures · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Live-account FCM trade desk Ironbeam · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- FCM alternate dealing during electronic failures Ironbeam · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Optimus Flow same-connection trade copier Optimus Futures · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Quantower Copy Trading restart and disconnection behavior Quantower · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Strategy licensing and activation process Optimus Futures · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Optimus iSystems customer agreement; document dated September 2017 iSystems / Optimus Futures · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Managed futures and discretionary CTA service Optimus Futures · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Company history and introducing-broker business Optimus Futures · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Micro E-mini contract multipliers and outright ticks CME Group · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Euro FX contract size and price increment CME Group · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Gold and Micro Gold contract sizes and ticks CME Group · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Micro WTI cash settlement, size and tick economics CME Group · Accessed 12 Oct 2026
This profile reports dated public information, including broker-published services and terms. It does not independently test or guarantee execution, pricing or withdrawals. Inclusion is not an endorsement. Permissions and protections apply only to the named legal entity, service and client category; check the current official records and your contract.