Of course, along with those potentially appealing attributes comes plenty of risk. The path to commodity exposure is full of potential obstacles and pitfalls that can erode returns and lead to a less-than-optimal investing experience. Below are ten rules of thumb that will help you achieve a more successful experience investing in commodity markets.

Perhaps the most common, and most dangerous, misconception about commodity ETFs and ETNs is that these products offer investors exposure to the spot prices of the underlying commodities. While some physically-backed precious metals ETFs, such as IAU and SLV, do hold physical bullion, the vast majority of commodity ETPs on the market achieve targeted exposure through the use of futures contracts.

This is very important to note because it means that the returns generated will ultimately depend on three factors:

• Changes in spot price of the commodity
• Slope of the futures curve
• Interest earned on uninvested cash

It’s not uncommon for the second point on that list to be the driving force, and the reason why returns on commodity ETPs can deviate significantly from a hypothetical investment in the spot commodity [see also 25 Things Every Financial Advisor Should Know About Commodities].

For an investor solely investing in futures contracts, contango may not be as big of an issue. But given the fact that commodity ETPs have soared in assets in recent years, there are many investors who rely on these products for their commodity exposure, and it is highly likely that a number of them have been burned by contango. A futures-based ETP follows a strict process which, when combined with contango, slowly but surely destroys a position. The most popular kind of commodity exchange-traded product is a first-generation futures fund that simply invests in front-month futures and features an automated roll process. Here is where the issue comes into play.

When and ETP’s contract is about to reach maturity, the fund executes an automated roll process so as to avoid delivery. When futures are contangoed, this forces the particular fund to sell the contract low and buy the next contract for a higher price, erasing value with the blink of an eye. When this process is dragged out over several months, these funds have a nasty habit of producing some rough returns. But how can investors keep away from such a common anomaly?

It is first important to remember that first-generation futures funds, like UNG and USO, should be used as trading instruments. Their automated roll process will always fall prey to a contangoed environment, and therefore it is unwise to establish a long-term position in such a fund. Instead, investors should measure their holding periods of these products in days and hours, rather than weeks and months, to avoid the pitfalls of the auto-roll. But for those who are uncomfortable with actively trading a fund, there is now a wide variety of ETPs focused on eliminating contango. These next-generation products will often hold several futures contracts at once and their roll process does not always involve buying the next month’s contract, but rather one that matures further into the future.

A quick glance at the index description of a futures-based fund will tell you if it is utilizing the dangerous front-month strategy, or if it is using an alternative means to avoid contango. Also note that investors can use physically-backed products to avoid this issue, though that space is generally limited to precious metals.

Most investors are aware that there are distinctions between exchange-traded funds and exchange-traded notes; ETFs hold a basket of underlying securities and may experience tracking error, while ETNs are debt securities that will expose investors to the credit risk of the issuing institution.

At the same time, investors tend to gloss over the differences between these two product types because they generally function in almost identical fashion. When it comes to accessing commodities, however, the differences between these two product structures can be significant. For starters, tracking error can become a big issue with products that regularly “roll” futures contracts to avoid taking physical possession; ETFs that are continuously buying and selling futures contracts are likely to deviate slightly from their target index. ETNs don’t have that concern since there are no underlying holdings; the value of these securities simply moves along with the index.

It should be noted that ETNs can also avoid the fees that come along with rolling futures contracts and implementing a futures-based investment strategy. ETFs incur costs in the form of brokerage commissions whenever they sell or buy futures contracts. ETNs simply calculate the change in value of the underlying index, and the value of the note adjusts accordingly [see also 25 Ways To Invest In Natural Gas].

Basically, it is worthwhile to do your homework into the various structures available for accessing commodities; the choice you make can have a potentially significant impact on credit risk, tax liabilities, and tracking error. Most investors look at ETNs with skepticism, wary of the credit risk contained. That risk component certainly shouldn’t be completely ignored, but it is worth noting that there are some appealing attributes of the ETN structure as well.

The issues of tracking error and expenses aren’t the only times when the choice of structure matters; the difference between a commodity ETF and a commodity ETN can translate into sizable discrepancies in tax obligations. Most commodity ETPs that actually hold futures contracts, meaning the non-ETN segment of the universe, are structured as partnerships for tax purposes. That means that these securities are taxed at a blended rate between short-term and long-term capital gains (the 60/40 split results in an effective rate of about 23%). Moreover, these securities incur an annual tax liability regardless of whether or not shares were sold. And they require advisors to fill out a K-1, which can be an administrative headache to some [see also Dividend Special: Top Companies In Every Major Commodity Sector].

Compare all of that to the simplicity of commodity ETNs, which are generally only taxed upon sale at the applicable short-term or long-term rates. Moreover, commodity ETNs are reported on a form 1099; there’s no K-1 to deal with on these products.

One other note on the subject of commodities and taxes. It’s important to note that physically-backed ETPs aren’t the only products subject to strange rules. For example, physically-backed precious metals ETFs, such as the ultra-popular GLD and IAU, are taxed as collectibles [see also 25 Ways To Invest In Silver].

When it comes to commodity investing, many investors commit the sin of energy bias, whereby the majority of their commodity holdings fall under the umbrella of an asset like crude oil or natural gas. To be fair, energy products are among the most popular in the commodity world, but exhibiting a bias towards these investments can have adverse effects on a portfolio. Energy products are quite often highly correlated to the movement of general markets, meaning that they will move closely in line with something like the S&P 500. One of the main reasons that commodity exposure is essential to a portfolio is the low correlation and diversification benefits it offers. An energy-heavy portfolio will likely only steepen an investor’s losses on bad days, which may not be erased by days in the black [see also The Ultimate Guide To Natural Gas Investing].

Energy investments are obviously very important, as the majority of these commodities offer relatively inelastic demand since we cannot survive without them in our daily lives. But with these futures and products being particularly volatile, committing a bias may only hurt portfolios in the long run. Rather, it is important to remember to keep vital energy holdings in check with other commodities like precious metals or softs. This way, a portfolio will still reap all of the benefits offered from energy, but will also gain the diversity of commodities tied to vastly different price drivers that offer sometimes zero correlation to major benchmarks.

Commodity investing can be an expensive venture, and if one is not careful, it can be easy to erase value through expenses like commissions and other fees associated with trading. One of the first things every investor should do is take a look at their strategy and then research if there is a cheaper way to gain the exposure. Oftentimes, there is a corresponding exchange-traded product to a futures-based strategy that can offer a much more enticing expense structure. The constant shifting of positions required by commodity investing can quickly eat away bottom-line returns, as commission fees quickly stack up, not to mention the capital gains on a short-term trade. Failing to consider one’s expenses is essentially allowing the markets to steal from you [see also Why Commodities Belong In Your Portfolio].

When considering your commodity trading strategy, it is important to see the bigger picture. Is there a fund that trades the same contracts for a lower price? Is there a company that offers good exposure to a commodity and that doesn’t require the constant movements needed for futures investing? And most important of all, is there a cheaper way to employ the same strategy? While a few measly basis points may not seem like a lot, consider a portfolio of $1,000,000. Let’s say that each year that portfolio is subject to fees of 1% of total assets (not an uncommon expense for active traders). Eliminating 0.25% from that figure would equal to a savings of $2,500 every year. Drag that out over ten years of trading and you have an extra $25,000 sitting in your pocket. Commodity investing can be expensive, but there are plenty of ways to beat the fees, it simply takes diligent and careful research.

Investing in commodities generally means holding either the actual physical natural resources (typically gold or another precious metal) or holding futures contracts that are linked to the commodity. But there is another option for tapping into this asset class that takes an indirect route to commodities; stocks of companies whose operations revolve around the exploration, extraction, and sale of commodities. For example, stocks of gold mining firms can be seen as an indirect investment in gold [see also The Ultimate Guide To Gold Investing].

These companies tend to exhibit relatively strong correlations to the underlying resources. That’s because the profitability of these companies depends on the market price for the goods they sell. In the case of a gold miner, higher gold prices will translate into higher earnings because they will receive more money for each ounce of the metal they uncover and sell. Similarly, oil stocks tend to perform well when crude prices climb and timber stocks do well when lumber prices are elevated. The benefit of this approach is that stocks don’t exhibit the contango that is common in commodity futures contracts–often to the detriment of positions in these securities.

It should be noted, however, that stocks of commodity-intensive companies will not always exhibit perfect correlation with the underlying natural resource. These stocks are, after all, stocks, meaning that they will be impacted by movements in broad global equity markets. That may diminish one of the appealing attributes of commodities; the potential for diversification benefits and a low correlation with stocks and bonds [see also Six Academic Studies Every Commodity Investor Must Read].

The old saying is that there is more than one way to skin a cat. That’s certainly applicable when it comes to investing in commodities; there are a number of different ways to tap into this asset class. Even in a futures-based approach to investing in natural resources, there are multiple options for crafting a commodity position. The details of an investment in commodities may seem insignificant, but they can actually end up having a meaningful impact on bottom-line returns and volatility.

For any given commodity, there typically are multiple futures contracts that are distinguished by the maturity date. For example, there are crude oil contracts traded on the NYMEX expiring each month of the year. Other futures have four or five maturity points in each calendar year, and in many cases there are contracts listed for years in advance (it is possible, for example, to invest in a crude oil futures contract that expires in 2015) [see also Crude Oil Guide: Brent Vs. WTI, What’s The Difference?].

Exchange-traded commodity products can be categorized into three groups, depending on which type of futures contracts they hold:

• Front-Month Futures
• Rolling 12-Month Futures
• “Dynamic” Futures

Many of the commodity ETPs on the market focus on front-month futures contracts, rolling exposure as the contracts approach expiration and using the proceeds to invest in the second-month futures contracts. The benefit of this strategy is that front-month futures tend to exhibit the strongest correlation to spot prices in the short term, meaning that products such as USO and UNG are optimal for those expecting to be in a position for a short period of time.

The downside is the potential adverse effects of contango; because products that focus on front-month futures must roll holdings on a monthly basis, they are vulnerable to more frequent return erosion resulting from an upward-sloping futures curve. ETPs that spread exposure across 12 months of futures contracts, on the other hand, may not experience the same degree of return erosion since only a fraction of the portfolio changes each month. In return for that benefit, these products might not exhibit quite the same correlation to spot prices.

Finally, there are a growing number of ETPs that don’t stick to a pre-determined roll strategy. Rather, they examine observable market prices to determine which contracts are optimal for minimizing the adverse impact of contango or maximizing the benefit of backwardation.

While these approaches and the products that employ them may seem similar, they can lead to very different results. Make sure you understand the nuances of each strategy before jumping into a commodity ETP.

A large part of the appeal of investing in commodities is protection against inflation; this asset class is generally assumed to be an effective way to protect investor portfolios from its adverse impact. Because inflation by definition means an increase in prices, this can obviously be a boost to natural resource prices. Rising prices for energy, metals, and agriculture results in a higher consumer price index (CPI). While inflation is generally bad for fixed income and can have an adverse impact on stock prices as well, the conventional wisdom is that this phenomenon is a big positive for positions in commodities [see also Invest Like Jim Rogers With These Three Agriculture Stocks].

It is important to understand, however, that not all individual commodities are equally effective as inflation hedges. Some exhibit a very strong correlation with indications of rising prices, such as the CPI, while others are not nearly as effective. That means that for investors primarily concerned with protecting their portfolios from the ravages of inflation, picking the right commodity (or commodities) is extremely important.

A detailed study on the effectiveness of various commodities presents some interesting conclusions; this piece is certainly a key resource for those looking to use commodities as an inflation hedge.

Though estimates vary, as many as 90% to 95% of commodity investors report losses from their trading activities. Commodities are volatile, difficult to predict, and as such, can be extremely frustrating investments. But one sure way to lose money is to simply neglect a position. While it seems fairly obvious that a lack of monitoring is a poor choice, the recent influx in commodity ETPs has made this asset class more readily accessible to those who may not be used to keeping a watchful eye on their positions.

A commodity position will typically be measured in hours and days rather than months and years. Prices can be extremely volatile, with seemingly insignificant events having a major trickle-down effect on the underlying investment. Therefore, the need for active monitoring is vital to the commodity space. Note that this piece of advice is most applicable to futures-based investments (there are a select few physically-backed commodity ETPs as well as equity investments that can be used for longer term strategies). If you do not have the time to watch your position throughout the day, you probably have no business making the investment in the first place. Other than VIX contracts, commodities can be some of the most volatile investments available today and investors need to proceed with caution [see also The Guide To The Biggest Companies In Every Major Commodity Sector].

On the flip side, actively monitoring will not only avoid losses, but will typically lead to gains. Those who keep one ear to the ground, so to speak, will have a much better chance of hopping in and out of trends intraday and turning a quick profit from the momentum of commodity markets. Commodity trading is meant to be volatile and for those who are unable to stomach the risk, it can be a brutal investing process. As a more general piece of advice, have a profit objective for each position and be willing to accept your losses when you are wrong. A sound and stable mind combined with good risk management will lead to smarter and more effective commodity trades.

[For more commodity ideas sign up for our free CommodityHQ newsletter]

Disclosure: No positions at time of writing.