Get to Know EdgeClear

4.3

out of 5 • 69 Ratings

out of 5 • 317 Reviews

Our Mission

Together we are working to bring you to your highest trading and investing potential by leveraging our industry experience, influence, innovations, and relationships to deliver better services and direct access.

Our exceptional, highly knowledgeable, and very motivated team combines vast technical and practical trading experience, applying them to your toughest challenges and requirements.

We build practical solutions that are innovative, cost-effective and provide a more sustainable trading journey.

EdgeClear has a marketing agreement with Benzinga. Brokerage categories are limited to companies that are nominated for an award.

Meet Our Team

Executives

Morad Askar

CEO/Founder

Known online as FuturesTrader71, Morad has long had a vision to create a brokerage solution that is designed for online traders around the globe. Morad has a strong background in prop trading, trader development, helping traders manage risk and creating tools that focus on helping traders reduce errors, understand the risk of trading futures and improve outcomes as much as possible. A serial entrepreneur since freshman year at tech university, he is the founder of EdgeClear and several other running companies.

Max Timmins

President

Max launched his career in 2011 as a Broker while studying Finance in Chicago, quickly advancing to Senior Broker. With a deep understanding of financial markets and a keen eye for emerging trends, he has built a reputation for strategic thinking and execution. Now serving as President, he specializes in the fintech community, leveraging his expertise to identify opportunities, developing strategic plans, and driving them to success. Outside of work, Max enjoys long-distance cycling, the Chicago Bears, and exploring the world with his family.

Ian Blanke

Executive Director

Ian Blanke began his career in futures in 2015 as a broker where he specialized in retail customers trading futures and options on futures. He also has experience in connecting traders to fully automated strategies, direct market access to CME, and managed futures. He is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago and is our Director of Brokerage Services. Believe it or not, Ian used to play bass, guitar, drums in bands and can really rock.

Brokers

Giancarlo Saraceno

Senior Broker

Giancarlo is a Senior Broker who joined our team right after graduating from DePaul University with a B.Sc. in Finance. An avid Equity Option and Crypto trader, Giancarlo has a passion for the markets and a drive to be the best at what he does. On his free time, he enjoys reading, creating music, and DJ-ing. He is the type of person who can’t rest until his mailbox is empty and all of his traders are taken care of. Much to our surprise, he recently became a cat owner.

Max Hessling

Broker

Maxwell Hessling is a recent graduate of Miami University’s Farmer School of Business with a Bachelor of Finance. He has had a passion for futures and options since he first learned them from his father, a seasoned broker in the CME’s option pits. He has taken a keen interest in energy markets. He’s ready to start his career with a successful and growing firm. In his free time, he enjoys golfing and playing tennis with family and friends. Oh…and we know him as Hess!

Niko Pozzi

Broker

Niko has come into the futures industry with a passion for the process. Having worked in connecting blockchain talent with companies, he is clearly a people-person. Niko is driven by an environment where healthy competition leads to progress and better service for traders. A DePaul University graduate, he joins our team as a Broker. In his free time, Niko enjoys golfing, listening to music, and being a miserable Chicago sports fan.

Operations

Shahzeb Rasheed

Head of European Desk

Shahzeb is a self-starter who has studied Chartered Accountancy from ACCA in the UK. He pivoted away from traditional accounting toward the world of trading. He gained an accredited diploma in Trading and Financial Market Analysis from the London Institute of Banking and Finance. He has been a member of various trading communities, demonstrating rapid improvement and learning. He dedicates his free time to volunteering at local charities, reading, and martial arts.

Joanna Collins

Compliance Manager

Joanna is a dedicated compliance officer with years of experience since earning a Sociology degree from Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame and her paralegal certificate from Roosevelt University in 2020. Originally from the western Chicago suburbs, she has built a strong foundation in the legal field while balancing her love for the outdoors. Summers are best spent at her lake house outside of Madison, WI, cruising her jet ski, or soaking up all the seasonal fun Chicago has to offer. At home, she shares her space with two beloved cats whom she’s had since middle school.

Kevin Trainor

Customer Success Manager

Kevin is the person behind making the experience of being a member at EdgeClear enjoyable. From the moment that a futures trader starts an account application until they are comfortable with the trading platform, Kevin is on standby ready to assist. A grad from DePaul, he loves to figure out processes and to squeeze out more with the tools he has. In your travels with EdgeClear, Kevin is most likely someone you will engage with.

Daniel Manriquez

Account Manager

Daniel Manriquez brings over 17 years of experience navigating global markets and advising institutions on results-driven, strategic solutions. At EdgeClear, he applies his institutional leadership, Chicago-based education, and operational acumen to deliver scalable efficiencies and actionable insights that align with client needs and market demands. Daniel holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law and is a proud Double Demon with a Bachelor of Science in Economics & Finance and an M.B.A. from DePaul University.

Khadijah Rasheed

Overnight Risk Associate

Khadijah is key to our global risk and service desk. She has a knack for picking up new challenges and overcoming them quickly. We know this because she handles a lot of sophisticated systems and tasks within EdgeClear as our Overnight Risk Associate and does so with ease. Her love of music, the arts, reading and writing keeps her in balance.

Marketing

Rachael Bilby

Marketing Manager

With over 15 years of experience in digital marketing, Rachael is passionate about crafting meaningful customer journeys and helping brands tell their stories. Her career spans tech startups and trading organizations, equipping her with a diverse skill set that she now applies to drive our marketing strategy. Originally from the UK, Rachael relocated to British Columbia in 2016, drawn by the region’s stunning mountains and active lifestyle. When she’s not in the office, you’ll find her exploring the outdoors with her family—whether it’s hiking, snowboarding, paddleboarding, or discovering local wineries.

Sofia Zapata

Content Associate

Sofia is a passionate Communications Specialist with a talent for crafting compelling content and developing brand positioning strategies across digital platforms. She is skilled in designing training and development programs that foster seamless internal communication and align teams with corporate goals. Known for delivering impactful messages through exceptional public speaking and innovative storytelling, Sofia brings fresh ideas to the table, building authentic connections both within organizations and with external audiences. Her love for music, cinema, and creative writing adds depth to her work, driving narratives that resonate and inspire.

Sara Cardenas

Graphic Designer

Sara has several years of experience in creating graphic pieces for various media, both digital and print, always aiming to deliver visual solutions that communicate clearly and creatively. She firmly believes in the importance of design in achieving effective communication: good design not only attracts, but also connects, informs, and adds value across any platform.Sara is a proactive individual, passionate about creative challenges and eager to keep learning. She enjoys working in teams and contributing to the growth of projects from both a strategic and visual perspective. In addition, she is passionate about reading and illustration—two activities that enrich her creative and professional process.

Information Technology

Ross Scrivener

Systems Manager

Ross brings more than 20 years of DevOps, Application and Web Development experience to the EdgeClear team. He is an avid trader with the experience in discretionary trading as well as automated systems development and implementation. What we love most about having worked with Ross for years is his no-nonsense approach to devising solutions to financial technology problems and then executing the plan with stability as a priority.

Reviews

See what our customers are saying about us
Testimonials are not indicative of future performance or success.

The entire team at EdgeClear provides the Rolls Royce experience of brokerage. Proactive communication regarding industry changes as well as a personal broker that is very responsive and helpful with software, clearing, and anything else that could be beneficial to your trading. They have very competitive pricing. Highly highly recommend to any and all level of traders

Brian Harrison

I opened an account with EdgeClear a while back and the service has been great. Ian helped with all the necessary setup instruments as well as providing some technical assistance is getting everything up and running. Commissions are really good and Id recommend you check them out if you’re looking for a reputable broker. Thanks for all your help and support Ian.

Kurt White

I give EdgeClear 10 STARS -but they only let me post 5!!. Their customer service is unmatched in the trade industry. Its important to have a broker with superior quality trade software and tools-and EdgeClear has those for sure–but its EQUALLY important for that broker to have FAST and RESPONSIVE customer service–and these folks really excel in that category. They are ALWAYS available during trade hours for service. Thank you for making doing business with a broker fun!

Jeff P

EdgeClear is all about the people. They actually care. I just can’t recommend EdgeClear enough. Their costumer service is outstanding, they respond in no time and the communication with Ian and Max is fantastic. I really recommend this brokerage professionally and on a personal level.

Ari Amit

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Start Trading! A forward-thinking futures broker. Led by industry experts who understand the complexities of trading, Edge Clear has the team that combines the best of technology, service and risk control.

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