There are a number of risks that you need to consider in deciding to trade securities on margin. These include:
- Your firm can force the sale of securities in your accounts to meet a margin call.
If the equity in your account falls below the maintenance margin requirements of 100% (Leveraged 1:1) under the law or the firm's higher "house" requirements, your firm can sell the securities in your accounts to cover the margin deficiency. You will also be responsible for any shortfall in the accounts after such a sale.
- Your firm can sell your securities without contacting you.
Some investors mistakenly believe that a firm must contact them first for a margin call to be valid. This is not the case. Most firms will attempt to notify their customers of margin calls, but they are not required to do so. Even if you're contacted and provided with a specific date to meet a margin call, your firm may decide to sell some or all of your securities before that date without any further notice to you. For example, your firm may take this action because the market value of your securities has continued to decline in value. - You are not entitled to choose which securities or other assets in your accounts are sold.
There is no provision in the margin rules that gives you the right to control liquidation decisions. Your firm may decide to sell any of the securities that are collateral for your margin loan to protect its interests.
- You are not entitled to an extension of time on a margin call.
While an extension of time to meet a margin call may be available to you under certain conditions, you do not have a right to the extension. - You can lose more money than you deposit in a margin account.
A decline in the value of the securities you purchased on margin may require you to provide additional money to your firm to avoid the forced sale of those securities or other securities in your accounts.