Should I Be Buying Stocks On Margin ?

By Richard Moran

You can use someone else's money to leverage your capital for stock purchases. That is buying on margin and is the same as buying other things on credit. The difference comes to the control you have over your investment - with the stock market you are at the whims of the day-to-day market fluctuations. Many of the recent financial problems drove the market down and therefore lost money for those who held their stock on margin. These circumstances left many stocks at all time slows.

Cash is still king when it comes to purchasing stock

When you buy stocks outright you pay for your stocks at the time you purchase them. For example, you may purchase one hundred shares of stock at fifty dollars per share costing you five thousand dollars. It is over and done, you own the stocks, and they are free to earn you the money instead of earning someone else money. Since most brokerage firms require you to have a minimum equity of two thousand dollars to begin with before buying on margin, it simply makes sense to drop the number of shares you purchase and own them outright.

Using A Brokers' Margin System

When you buy stocks on margin, you are requesting a loan for the money to purchase those stocks. In return for the loan from the brokerage firm, you will pay interest on that loan. The brokerage firm is virtually making money on your loan and will hold your stocks as collateral against the loan. If you do not pay the firm back, they sell the stocks. In short they have little risk involved in loaning you the money for the stocks. On the other hand, you have to see to it that the stocks you select make enough in profits to not only put money in your pocket but to pay the loan back to the brokerage firm.

Regardless of How You Pay You Still Must Know What Stocks To Buy

Realistically, if you pick all stocks that go up you are going to make money. Many people have a feel for the market any make their living doing just that. Once you get into margin buying the market becomes more than just a simple investment. You can no longer buy a stock and look in the Sunday paper to see how you did the past week. The potential for loss is high, and you may have to "bite the bullet" and sell a stock before you lose too much on it. Most successful investors use margins sparingly, many times only when they have good knowledge that a stock will rise significantly in the short term.

So Which Way Should You Go?

Basically, buy with cash if you can. When a special situation arises where you are sure of the stock health and "know" it will rise buying on margin can net you some super profits without a big cash outlay. You will of course still be limited by the equity you have in your brokerage account. Unless you are wealthy, or have great credit at a bank they won't lend you money to buy a stock so the broker is normally the only avenue available. Another "trick" used by savvy investors is to use the 7 day payment period used by most brokers. You can buy the stock today and wait a few days to pay, or just sell it before the payment is due. Then any profit is yours without interest - that is if the stock goes up. If the price falls the purchase price is still due, so be sure you have a backup if you are using this plan. - 23218

About the Author:

Richard Moran is a Financial Consultant and maven for Money Helpers. The Blog contains 100's of articles, charts, and calculators to assist you in your financial well-being. All the aspects of the Blog are free and it is updated on an almost daily basis. If you are searching for any financial information or products they can be found on Money Helpers.