Margin debt can be a strategic tool for wealth building, similar to traditional debt, if used responsibly and with proper safety buffers. Suggested rules include having a solid financial foundation, ...

Margin trading allows investors to borrow money from a brokerage to increase buying power. While it offers the potential for larger returns, it also increases the risk of losses that can exceed the ...

In a traditional brokerage account, you use your own money to buy securities. With a margin account, you borrow money from your brokerage firm to pay for part of your investment. When you leverage ...

In a cash account, all trades must be settled in cash on the settlement date, which occurs two days after the trade date for most securities. A margin account, however, is quite different. If you ...

Margin debt has surged to a record $1.2 trillion, growing 45% y/y while the S&P rises at a slower 20% y/y pace. Investor leverage, measured by the margin debt to free credit balances ratio, has ...