Introduction
|
Welcome Professor/Instructor/Other Investment Groups:
Thank you for your interest in National Commodities Market Simulations. We are now in our 14th year of providing custom financial market simulations to the education market--by "education market" we mean colleges, high schools, middle schools, investment clubs, brokers in training, and any other group of individuals. While we have seen competitors come and go, we have consistently provided a valuable service at a reasonable price to finance students, economics students and other students in the United States and abroad.
In addition, we provide a toll-free phone number if your students have questions about their account or any other issues. This number allows the educators to concentrate on concepts and leaves the our customer service to answer all trivial questions about ticker symbols, dividends, splits, etc. Each year we strive to improve our service, and we listen to what our valuable professors/instructors tell us. We attend the national finance conferences and many of the regional finance meetings so that we can hear first-hand comments and criticisms. Our ability to respond to the demands of the market has allowed us to grow consistently even in turbulent times. If you are new to CMS, give us a try and find out what you and your students are missing!
Commodtites Markets Simulation is the most comprehensive investment simulation on the internet and the easiest to implement into any Finance, Economics, or Investments class. CMS is the only simulation offering commodities, futures, options, and spots. We have constructed this page to assist professors/instructors with ideas on how to implement CMS into their classroom and how to get started. Keep in mind that if you have any questions that are not addressed on this web page contact us immediately at 1-866-767-3375 Monday-Friday from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm EST. |
|
| Getting Your Class Started is SIMPLE! |
| 1. |
Fill out the on-line Sign-Up Sheet. Since we customize the trading period to each professor/instructor, you will need to specify the start and stop date of the trading period for your class, as well as the initial cash balance. Generally you should allow two weeks of classes before your trading period starts, and have the trading period end a week or two before your last class.You will receive Student Registration Forms on or before the date requested. |
| |
|
| 2. |
If you requested hard copy registration forms, upon receiving them, hand them out to each person or team in your class. Their account number will be on the bottom right of the registration form. If you have requested our Express Registration service, you will receive your students account numbers via email. Pass out a unique account number to each student or student team and encourage them to print out a copy of the rules themselves from the web page. |
| |
|
| 3. |
Instruct your students to go to CMS's web site, click on the "Open Account" link on the left column, and open their account number. Upon registering they will be asked to choose a password, and then they will be asked to proceed to a secure credit card screen to make their payment. If students do not have a credit card, then they can mail us a check (they must write their account number on the check) and we will open the account once the check is received. |
| |
|
| 4. |
Review the CMS rules with your students, especially when the markets are open, what price they will be receiving and encourage them to get started right away. Many students seem shy at first, but once they make their first trade they see how easy it is. |
| |
|
| 5. |
Discuss any specific investment objectives or class assignments with your students. If this is your first time using CMS we recommend you do something like the following:
 |
Create a one page assignment for your students that says "Suppose you inherited $500,000 and in order to keep the money you must do the following transactions over the next 10 week trading period. |
|
|
In week one design an asset allocation mix that is appropriate for your age (If you are a 20 year old student you can keep 50% commodities, 20% futures, 20% options and 10% cash). |
|
|
By the end of the second week the students have to invest at least half of their money following that asset allocation mix. Educators benefit from this because it buys them time to discuss various topics. |
|
|
By the third week the students can start buying on margin, selling short and dollar cost average. |
|
|
By the fifth week the students can start learning about options. Once students make money on a commodity/future they can buy a protective put and lock in the profit. If student have not made money in their investments they can write a covered call in order to bring more income to the account to help increase the position. Also, for the investments they bought they can trade options to hedge their initial positions. |
|
|
By the seventh week, the professor can hypothetically say Alan Greenspan is meeting this week. What do we think he will do? If the class decides he will raise rates, the students can buy commodities that will benefit from an interest raising environment. |
|
|
By the eight week the professor can hypothetically say the Iraq issue is resolved and Osama Bin Laden is caught. The professor can ask what will happen to oil prices and the market if world peace exists. |
|
|
By the ninth week students can learn about futures. They can buy future options to hedge investments. |
|
|
We don't recommend educators grade their students based on portfolio value, but rather with a written assignment based on the trades made. The students can write about what they traded, why they traded it and what they learned from the trade. Educators can see from written assignments if the students understand what is going on. They can also encourage their students by using a dart board account or say whoever beats me will receive 2 bonus points on their exam. If the students have a risk and a reward they will trade differently. If you have any questions or would like to discuss this further please call us. |
|
| |
|
| 6. |
Educators can always manage an account or two compliments of CMS. Just give us a call and we will be glad to set them up for you. If you have further questions, please visit the Educator's User Manual. |
| |
|
|
| |
Getting your students started with the Commodities Market Simulation is just that simple. If you have questions or special requests, please call 1-866-767-3375.
If you are ready to sign up click here and please fill out the Sign-Up Sheet. You will receive your CMS account numbers shortly.
Sincerely,
Mark T. Brookshire
President
Stock-Trak, Inc
|
|
 |
|
|
| |
| |
 |
 What
is the CMS?
Learn how you can use the National CMS in your
Ag Econ or Ag Business classes.
|
|
| |
|
