Stock brokerage accounts that are set up as margin accounts can borrow money from the stock brokerage to pay for a portion of stock investments. The amount borrowed is called a margin loan and is usually used to purchase more stock for the same amount of money invested. However, margin loan money can be used for any purpose. If you have stocks or other securities in an account you can take a margin loan against those securities. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission limit for margin loans is 50 percent of the value of the stocks used as collateral when the loan is initiated.
Call your stockbroker and ask for a margin loan agreement. All of the account holders must sign the agreement, then fax or mail it to the stockbroker.
Call the stock brokerage and ask how long before the margin account is approved. If you meet the minimum account value as set by the stock brokerage, approval is automatic and should take only a few days.
Call the stock broker and ask for a margin loan against your stock holdings. You can initially borrow up to 50 percent of the value of the stocks.
Tell the stock brokerage to wire the margin loan money into your bank account. You will need your bank name, address, account number and the bank routing number.
Use the margin loan proceeds for whatever purpose you desire. Remember your stock brokerage account holdings are collateral for the loan and if you sell any stock the proceeds will be used to pay down the margin loan.
Tips
Minimum investor capital for a margin account is $2,000. There are no regular payment requirements for margin loans. You may be asked to make interest payments on the loan at the discretion of the stock brokerage. Margin loan interest is tax-deductible against your investment earnings.
Warnings
If the value of the stocks in your margin account fall the stock brokerage can issue a margin call asking for money to reduce the margin loan. If you do not provide the money to meet the margin call, the brokerage has the right to sell any stocks in your account to reduce the margin loan. It is important to understand the ongoing requirements of your margin loan.
References
- U.S. Bank on margin loans
- SEC on margin loans
- Securities and Exchange Commission. "Margin: Borrowing Money to Pay for Stocks." Accessed April 15, 2020.
- SEC Office of Investor Education and Advocacy. "Margin Account." Accessed April 15, 2020.
- Fidelity Investments. "Avoiding and Managing Margin Calls." Accessed April 15, 2020.
- SEC Office of Investor Education and Advocacy. "Margin Call." Accessed April 15, 2020.
- SEC Office of Investor Education and Advocacy. "Updated Investor Bulletin: Trading in Cash Accounts." Accessed April 15, 2020.
- SEC Office of Investor Education and Advocacy. "Investor Bulletin: Understanding Margin Accounts." Accessed April 15, 2020.
- Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. "Margin Requirements as a Policy Tool?" Accessed April 15, 2020.
- Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. "The Ins and Outs of Collateral Re-Use." Accessed April 15, 2020.
- Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. "Know What Triggers a Margin Call." Accessed April 15, 2020.
Tips
- Minimum investor capital for a margin account is $2,000. There are no regular payment requirements for margin loans. You may be asked to make interest payments on the loan at the discretion of the stock brokerage. Margin loan interest is tax-deductible against your investment earnings.
Warnings
- If the value of the stocks in your margin account fall the stock brokerage can issue a margin call asking for money to reduce the margin loan. If you do not provide the money to meet the margin call, the brokerage has the right to sell any stocks in your account to reduce the margin loan. It is important to understand the ongoing requirements of your margin loan.
Writer Bio
Tim Plaehn has been writing financial, investment and trading articles and blogs since 2007. His work has appeared online at Seeking Alpha, Marketwatch.com and various other websites. Plaehn has a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the U.S. Air Force Academy.