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How to Prepare for a Margin Call

by Sonal Shukla

Before opening a margin account, investors should consider whether they need one. Most long-term investors do not need a margin to make a profit. Furthermore, the loans are not free. Brokers charge interest on their transactions. 

Crypto traders might borrow and mix money from certain exchanges with their assets to maximize their prospective gains. Margin trading, also known as leverage trading, enables traders to execute far bigger deals than would otherwise be feasible without using borrowed cash.

However, if you wish to invest in the margin, you can do a few things to manage your account, avoid margin calls, or be prepared for them if they arise. Monitor your open trades, equity, and margin loan regularly, if not daily. 

  • Make a well-balanced portfolio. Because a single position is less likely to diminish account value, it may help to avoid margin calls.
  • Build a custom alert that is comfortable over the margin maintenance need if your account falls into this category, and deposit money or securities to increase your equity.
  • Make sure you have cash available to put into your account right away. Consider putting it in an interest-paying brokerage account.
  • If you get a margin call, respond promptly.

When a margin call occurs, it usually signifies that the value of the assets in the margin account has decreased. The securities in an investor’s margin account are purchased using a combination of the trader’s own money and money borrowed from the trader’s broker. 

Purchasing with margin is not for everyone. Although it may give investors more bang for their buck, there are certain downsides. It is only favorable if the value of your securities rises enough to repay the margin loan plus interest. 

The call happens when an investor’s equity, defined as a percentage of the total market value of assets, falls below a specified level (Maintenance margin). The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the governing body for the majority of securities companies in the United States, both require investors to maintain a minimum equity level of 25% of the total value of their assets when purchasing on margin. 



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