What is it?

Buying on margin allows an investor to buy securities partially with his or her own funds and partially with funds borrowed from a broker. To buy on margin, an investor must open an account, called a margin account, with a broker. The investor deposits a portion of the purchase price into the account. This deposit is known as "margin," hence the term "buying on margin." The investor can then borrow the balance of the purchase price from the broker. The newly purchased securities are kept in the margin account as collateral until the investor sells the stock and/or repays the loan, including whatever interest is owed.

When you buy on margin, you're using leverage to increase your purchasing power. Leverage magnifies the results of your investment decisions. It can lead to profits or losses that are greater than if you had invested your own money exclusively. As a result, it is a more aggressive strategy than nonleveraged equity investing.

Example(s): You already hold 1,000 shares of XYZ Corp., which you purchased for $20 per share. The stock's most recent closing price also is $20 per share. You believe XYZ Corp. shares will double over the next year. You decide to purchase 1,000 additional shares of XYZ Corp. using your margin account and funds loaned to you by your broker. The margin rate in this hypothetical example is 8 percent. One year later, the stock is at $40 a share as you predicted. Excluding commissions, your total position is worth $80,000 (1,000 shares + 1,000 shares = 2,000 shares, 2,000 shares x $40/share = $80,000). Your cost is

$41,600, broken down as follows: $20,000 (your original cash investment for the first 1,000 shares) plus $20,000 (principal owed to your broker for the margin loan) plus $1,600 owed to your broker in margin interest (ignoring compounding in this simple example). Your total profit is $38,400 (the $80,000 value of your 2,000 shares minus your $41,600 in costs, not including commissions). That $38,400 profit represents a much higher, leveraged rate of return on your deployed capital of $20,000 as compared to the return — $20,000 — you would have had on the position had you simply bought the stock outright.

However, the risks associated with buying on margin are high. If the price of the securities bought on margin does not rise but falls instead, an investor can lose more than the amount deposited to the margin account. Also, in order for the trade to be profitable, your return on the shares purchased with the margin loan needs to exceed the interest owed to the broker plus trading commissions.

Caution: Using the same example above, if XYZ Corp. declines to $10 a share, you have doubled your capital losses in addition to still having to pay the margin interest. In this example, your loss would be $21,600 (excluding commissions). The $21,600 includes a loss of $10/share x 2,000 shares — in other words, all of your deployed capital — plus the margin interest of $1,600 you owe the broker. By comparison, had you not doubled your position using the borrowed funds, your loss would have been limited to

$10,000 and you would still have half of your deployed capital. In addition, as your stock's value falls, you would likely have to meet a margin call (see below), which would require you to add money to your account to meet margin maintenance requirements. Alternatively, you might have to sell the position before you wish to in order to stay within your broker's margin guidelines.

This strategy is typically used by sophisticated investors who have a high tolerance for risk. Investors who are considering using this strategy should clearly understand how a margin account works, the restrictions that may be imposed, the tax ramifications, and especially the risks associated with trading securities in a margin account.

Tip: A margin account may also be used to make short sales. A short sale occurs when an investor sells stock that has been borrowed from a broker, hoping to buy back the stock at a lower price.

How is it done?

To buy on margin, an investor must first open a margin account with a broker; you must meet certain financial tests to qualify for a margin account. The investor must sign a margin agreement and disclosure documents. The account is subject to the margin rules (see below for more on this). The investor can borrow money from the broker to buy stock (and the broker can loan securities to the account in a short sale) using the value of the margin account as collateral.

Caution: The broker can also loan out securities in the investor's margin account to other investors without the investor's knowledge.

The general rule is that the value in the investor's margin account must equal at least 50 percent of the purchase price (e.g.,

$1,000 of stock or cash held in a margin account allows the investor to borrow $1,000). The broker then buys the securities for the investor on the open market and deposits the securities into the investor's margin account. The securities are held in the margin account as collateral for the loan until the investor repays the loan. Interest is charged on the loan, and the investor will also be charged the usual commissions and fees associated with any securities purchase or sale. The investor pays back the loan when the securities are sold.

Tip: The margin requirement for certain securities may vary. For example, a long-only exchange-traded fund (ETF) that invests in so-called exempted securities, such as government debt securities, may have a lower initial and maintenance margin requirement than one that employs short selling. Also, ETFs that use leverage have maintenance margin requirements that are commensurate with the amount of leverage used; if an ETF uses 200 percent leverage, the normal 25 percent maintenance margin requirement for a long-only ETF would be doubled (up to 100 percent of the value of the holding),

Tip: The broker is required to provide the investor with written terms of the margin loan, including the interest rate that will be charged and how that interest will be computed. The broker must also provide the investor with periodic statements that detail transactions in the account, including interest charges.

Margin requirements

The Federal Reserve Board (FRB), the SEC, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and the New York Stock Exchange impose many rules on margin accounts. Additionally, individual brokers may also impose their own (stricter) rules.

Securities that can be bought on margin

Not all securities can be bought on margin. In general, securities that can be bought on margin include the following:

• Listed common and preferred stocks
• Municipal bonds
• Federal government bonds, notes, and bills
• Securities on FINRA's National Market System
• Over the counter securities on the FRB's margin list
• Convertible bonds (if convertible into a marginable security)
• Corporate bonds (if rated Baa or higher by Moody's)

Tip: Some securities may not be bought on margin, but may be "marginable" (i.e., they may be used as collateral), for example, mutual funds that have been owned in full for 30 days.

Minimum margin

Minimum margin refers to the initial amount an investor must deposit into a margin account before he or she can begin to trade on margin. Generally, an investor must deposit $2,000 to open a margin account, but some brokers may require more.

Initial margin

Once the account is open and operational, an investor may borrow up to 50 percent of the purchase price for new, or initial, purchases (per Regulation T).

Maintenance margin

After an investor buys stock on margin, the investor is required to keep a minimum amount of equity in his or her margin account. The equity in a margin account is the value of the securities in the account less how much is owed to the broker. The rules require an investor to have at least 25 percent of the total market value of the securities in a margin account at all times. Many brokers have higher maintenance requirements, typically between 30 percent to 40 percent, and sometimes higher depending on the type of stock purchased.

Example(s): John purchases $16,000 worth of securities by paying $8,000 in cash and borrowing $8,000 from his broker. Some time later, the market value of the securities in John's account falls to $12,000, and the equity in John' account falls to $4,000 ($12,000 - $8,000). John's broker has a 25 percent maintenance requirement, so John must have $3,000 in equity in his account (25 percent of $12,000). In this case, John has enough equity because the $4,000 in equity in his account is greater than the

$3,000 maintenance requirement.

Example(s): But, now say John's broker has a maintenance requirement of 40 percent. In this case, John does not have enough equity. John's broker requires John to have $4,800 in equity (40 percent of $12,000). John's $4,000 in equity is less than the broker's $4,800 maintenance requirement. As a result, John's broker may issue a "margin call," since the equity in John's account has fallen $800 below the broker's maintenance requirement.

What is a margin call?

If an investor's margin account falls below the broker's maintenance requirement, the broker may make a margin call, demanding that the investor deposit (usually immediately) more cash or securities into the account or sell some securities. If the investor is unable to meet the margin call, the broker may sell any and all of the investor's marginable securities to increase the equity in the margin account so that it meets or exceeds the broker's maintenance requirement.

Caution: Though different firms approach a margin call differently, a firm is not required to notify an investor that the margin account has fallen below the maintenance requirement, though it may try to do so as a courtesy. The broker also may be able to sell any of the investor's marginable securities at any time without consulting the investor first about which securities or other assets to sell to meet the margin call. Under most margin agreements, even if the broker offers to give the investor time to increase the equity in the margin account, the broker can sell the marginable securities without waiting for the investor to meet the margin call.

Risks

Investors can lose more than their investment

One downside to using margin is that if the stock price decreases, substantial losses can mount quickly. For example, assume the price of a stock bought for $50 falls to $25. If an investor fully paid for the stock, the investor loses 50 percent of his or her money. But if an investor bought on margin, he or she loses 100 percent, and must also pay interest on the loan. As a result, you can lose more funds than you deposit in the margin account.

Risk of margin call

If the price of the securities bought on margin declines, or the equity in investor's margin account otherwise falls below the broker's maintenance requirements, a margin call may be issued. Though individual policies vary from broker to broker, it's important to keep the following risks in mind:

• The broker can force the sale of securities in the investor's account to cover the margin The investor will also be responsible for any shortfall in the account after such a sale.
• The broker can force the sale of securities or other assets in an investor's margin account, or sell the investor's securities or other assets without contacting him or her. Though most brokers will attempt to notify their customers of margin calls, they are not required to do so. Even if notification is provided, the broker can still take necessary steps to protect its financial interests, including immediately selling the securities without further notice to the investor.
• The investor is not entitled to choose which securities in the margin account are liquidated or sold to meet a margin call — the broker has the right to decide which securities to sell in order to protect the broker's interests.
• The broker can increase its maintenance requirements at any time and is not required to provide investors with advance notice. These changes in policy often take effect immediately and may result in the issuance of a maintenance margin
• Investors are not entitled to an extension of time on a margin While an extension of time to meet margin requirements may be available to investors under certain conditions, an investor does not have a right to the extension.

Managing risk with limit orders and stop loss orders

Investors sometimes use limit orders or stop loss orders to help manage the level of risk they face. Such orders can be especially useful when buying on margin. When an investor places a "market order" with a broker, the broker will purchase the ordered stock at the prevailing market price, regardless of what that price is. A "limit order," on the other hand, is an order to buy or sell only when a stock reaches a certain price or better. Investors sometimes use limit orders hoping to buy a little below (or sell a little above) the current market. Investors may also use them to be sure that they don't get blind-sided by a sudden move in the market.

Example(s): XYZ stock is currently selling for $11 per share, but the price has been slipping lately. Jane believes the intrinsic value of the stock is at least $11 per share, and she feels that any price less than $11 would be a bargain. Jane places a limit order with her broker to buy the stock for any price up to $10.

A "stop loss" order is an order to sell stock at a price lower than the current market price. Investors use stop loss orders to predetermine the maximum loss they may suffer on the stock.

Example(s): Jane buys XYZ stock for $50 per share, but is only willing to take a $3 per share loss on the stock. Jane places a stop loss order with her broker to sell if the stock drops to $47 or below.

Caution: A stop loss order does not guarantee that the investor's losses will be limited to the stop loss price. If the stock price drops suddenly, the investor stock will be sold at the current market price even if it is below the stop loss price.

Caution: Brokers may charge a higher fee for limit orders and stop loss orders than for market orders.

Tax considerations

Margin interest may be tax deductible

The interest that you pay on margin loans that relates to taxable investments may be tax deductible up to the amount of net income earned from investments (any excess amount can be carried forward). It is itemized on Schedule A of Form 1040, as a miscellaneous itemized deduction (subject to the general 2 percent of adjusted gross income threshold that applies to miscellaneous itemized deductions).

Caution: Where a margin account holds dividend-paying stock, certain considerations apply. Qualified dividends paid to individual shareholders from domestic corporations (and qualified foreign corporations) are taxed at long-term capital gains tax rates rather than as ordinary income. Those rates are 0%, 15%, and 20%, depending on your marginal tax rate. However, for purposes of the deduction for investment interest (which is limited to net investment income), investment income is not considered to include qualified dividends subject to tax at capital gains rates. Individuals may elect to treat such dividends as investment income for purposes of deducting investment interest, but doing so makes the dividends ineligible for taxation at capital gains rates.

Caution: Generally, you cannot deduct interest on margin loans to the extent the loan is used to purchase tax-exempt securities.

Content in this material is for general information only and not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly.

The information provided is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax planning or legal advice. We suggest that you consult with a qualified tax or legal professional.

LPL Financial Representatives offer access to Trust Services through The Private Trust Company N.A., an affiliate of LPL Financial.

This article was prepared by Broadridge.

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