Special margin requirements refer to higher-than-normal requirements for margin traders. That typically means requirements that are above 25%.
According to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), many brokers keep even higher maintenance margin requirements, typically between 30% and 40% — and sometimes higher depending on the type of securities purchased. These special margin requirements may vary.
What Are Special Margin Requirements?
Special margin requirements are higher than standard margin requirements — above a maintenance margin rate of 25%. Higher margin rate requirements mean you must maintain a higher equity amount in your account when trading on margin.
Margin trading refers to using cash and securities in your account as collateral to purchase more assets. In doing so, you can use leverage to amplify returns — but you must also pay interest on borrowed funds. For anyone interested in trading on margin, it’s important to know the rules of margin accounts and also which stocks feature special margin requirements.
When it comes to trading stocks on margin, there are plenty of blanket rules and regulations in place. For instance, the Federal Reserve requires a 50% initial margin and a 25% maintenance margin.
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) also require at least $2,000 of cash or securities to be deposited before someone can trade in a margin account.
Special margin requirements are often found on highly volatile stocks, so just a small drop in the price of these stocks can trigger a margin call. Brokers might also issue special margin requirements on concentrated positions in your account. Leveraged positions and other factors might also trigger special margin requirements.
Leverage and margin are related — but not the same.
Brokers do not just haphazardly issue special margin requirements. An analysis of historical volatility is used along with the use of SPAN margin. SPAN margin is calculated by standardized portfolio analysis of risk — a system used by exchanges around the world to control risk. SPAN margin determines margin requirements based on an assessment of one-day risk for a trader’s account. It is used primarily in options and futures markets. The SPAN system allows an exchange to know what a “worst-case” one-day move could be for any open futures position.
Special vs Standard Margin Requirements
Special Margin Requirement
Standard Margin Requirements
Brokers can determine special margin rates
Initial margin set at 50%
A special margin requirement might exist for a concentrated position
Some securities cannot be purchased on margin
💡 Quick Tip: Are self-directed brokerage accounts cost efficient? They can be, because they offer the convenience of being able to buy stocks online without using a traditional full-service broker (and the typical broker fees).
Increase your buying power with a margin loan from SoFi.
Borrow against your current investments at just 10%* and start margin trading.
How Do Special Margin Requirements Work?
Special margin requirements work by enforcing stricter equity deposits in your account when trading volatile stocks. The broker wants to protect itself in the event the securities in your account rapidly drop in value. Another way a broker protects itself is by issuing margin calls when special margin requirement percentages are breached.
With a margin call, you must deposit more cash or securities into your account to meet the call. You can also liquidate your holdings to generate cash and increase your equity percentage. If you fail to meet the call on time, the broker might liquidate your positions for you.
For a broker, it’s important to have safeguards like special margin requirements in place in case financial markets turn volatile. If many investors face margin calls all at once, the broker could face credit risk if those investors are unable to repay loans used in margin trading. 💡 Quick Tip: When you trade using a margin account, you’re using leverage — i.e. borrowed funds that increase your purchasing power. Remember that whatever you borrow you must repay, with interest.
Pros and Cons of Special Margin Requirements
In terms of benefits and drawbacks, the upside is that special margin requirements help to control risk when investors engage in day trading — and the downside is more restrictions on your margin trading account.
Here’s a deeper dive into positives and negatives for the broker and for the investor.
Pros and Cons for Brokers
Pros
Cons
Reduces risk when markets turn volatile
More restrictive trading could turn away customers
Allows for tighter margin calls on risky positions
Individuals might seek looser requirements from other brokers
Historical data provides a guide as to which stocks are most volatile
Uncertainty exists when trying to predict what the most volatile securities will be going forward
Pros and Cons for Investors
Pros
Cons
Highly volatile stocks are easier to identify
Higher equity is required to trade certain stocks
Provides a guardrail when trading stocks
Margin calls can trigger more quickly
Can be a tool to identify highly volatile stocks for options trading
Margin percentages can change without notice
The Takeaway
While many stocks and ETFs have initial margin amounts of 50% and maintenance margin levels at 25%, some volatile stocks have higher special margin requirements. These requirements help protect both brokers and investors in the event that the stock tanks.
Margin trading is typically riskier than trading with a cash account. Investing with borrowed funds amplifies returns — positive and negative. It is important to be aware of the risks involved with this strategy.
If you’re an experienced trader and have the risk tolerance to try out trading on margin, consider enabling a SoFi margin account. With a SoFi margin account, experienced investors can take advantage of more investment opportunities, and potentially increase returns. That said, margin trading is a high-risk endeavor, and using margin loans can amplify losses as well as gains.
Get one of the most competitive margin loan rates with SoFi, 10%*
FAQ
What is a special margin account?
A margin account is a type of brokerage account in which your broker lends you cash, using the account’s equity as collateral, to purchase securities. These securities are known as marginable securities. Margin increases your purchasing power but also exposes you to the potential for larger losses.
What are margin requirements?
Margin requirements are percentages of equity you must maintain in your margin trading account. According to Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, the initial margin for equities is 50% and maintenance margin is 25%. There are higher special margin requirements for highly volatile stocks. In addition, if you have a concentrated position, you might face a special higher margin requirement.
How much money do you need to open a margin account?
The NYSE and FINRA require a deposit of $2,000 or cash or securities with your broker before trading on margin. Some firms may require larger deposits.
Photo credit: iStock/akinbostanci
SoFi Invest® INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below:
Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
*Borrow at 10%. Utilizing a margin loan is generally considered more appropriate for experienced investors as there are additional costs and risks associated. It is possible to lose more than your initial investment when using margin. Please see SoFi.com/wealth/assets/documents/brokerage-margin-disclosure-statement.pdf for detailed disclosure information. Claw Promotion: Customer must fund their Active Invest account with at least $25 within 30 days of opening the account. Probability of customer receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. See full terms and conditions.
A margin call is when an investor is required to add cash or sell investments to maintain a certain level of equity in a margin account if the value of the account decreases too much.
Margin trading — when an investor borrows money from a brokerage firm to enhance trades — is a risky endeavor. Placing bets with borrowed funds can boost gains but can also supercharge losses. Brokers require traders to keep a minimum balance in their margin accounts for this reason.
If the margin account dips below a certain threshold, this is when the brokerage firm will issue a margin call. A margin call is one of several risks associated with margin trading.
Margin calls are designed to protect both the brokerage and the client from bigger losses. Here’s a closer look at how margin calls work, as well as how to avoid or cover a margin call
Key Points
• A margin call occurs when an investor must contribute cash or sell investments to uphold a specific equity level in their margin account.
• Margin trading involves borrowing money from a brokerage firm to enhance trades, but it comes with risks.
• If the equity in a margin account falls below the maintenance margin, a margin call is issued by the brokerage firm.
• Margin calls are designed to protect both the brokerage and the client from bigger losses.
• To cover a margin call, investors can deposit cash or securities into the margin account or sell securities to meet the requirements.
What Is a Margin Call?
A margin call is when a brokerage firm demands that an investor add cash or equity into their margin account because it has dipped below the required amount. The margin call usually follows a loss in the value of investments bought with borrowed money from a brokerage, known as margin debt.
A house call, sometimes called a maintenance call, is a type of margin call. A brokerage firm will issue the house call when the market value of assets in a trader’s margin account falls below the required maintenance margin — the minimum amount of equity a trader must hold in their margin account.
If the investor fails to honor the margin call, meaning they do not add cash or equity into their account, the brokerage can sell the investor’s assets without notice to cover the shortfall in the account. This entails a high level of responsibility and potential risk, which is why margin trading is primarily for experienced investors, not for investing beginners.
💡 Quick Tip: How do you decide if a certain trading platform or app is right for you? Ideally, the investment platform you choose offers the features that you need for your investment goals or strategy, e.g., an easy-to-use interface, data analysis, educational tools.
How Do Margin Calls Work?
When the equity in an investor’s margin account falls below the maintenance margin, a brokerage firm will issue a margin call. Maintenance margins requirements differ from broker to broker.
Additionally, regulatory bodies like the Federal Reserve and FINRA have rules for account minimums that all firms and investors must follow to limit risk and leverage.
Regulation T
The Federal Reserve Board’s Regulation T states that the initial margin level should be at least 50% of the market value of all securities in the margin account. The minimum equity amount must be valued at 50% or more of the margin account’s total value. For example, a $10,000 trade would require an investor to use $5,000 of their own cash for the transaction.
Recommended: Regulation T (Reg T): All You Need to Know
FINRA
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) requires that investors have a maintenance margin level of at least 25% of the market value of all securities in the account after they purchase on margin. For example, in a $10,000 trade, the investor must maintain $2,500 in their margin account. If the investment value dips below $2,500, the investor would be subject to a margin call.
Example of Margin Call
Here is how a margin trade works. Suppose an investor wants to buy 200 shares of a stock at $50 each for an investment that totals $10,000. He or she puts up $5,000 while the brokerage firm lends the remaining $5,000.
FINRA rules and the broker require that the investor hold 25% of the total stock value in his or her account at all times — this is the maintenance requirement. So the investor would need to maintain $2,500 in his or her brokerage account. The investor currently achieves this since there’s $5,000 from the initial investment.
If the stock’s shares fall to $30 each, the value of the investment drops to $6,000. The broker would then take $4,000 from the investor’s account, leaving just $1,000. That would be below the $1,500 required, or 25% of the total $6,000 value in the account.
That would trigger a margin call of $500, or the difference between the $1,000 left in the account and the $1,500 required to maintain the margin account. Normally, a broker will allow two to five days for the investors to cover the margin call. In addition, the investor would also owe interest on the original loan amount of $5,000.
Increase your buying power with a margin loan from SoFi.
Borrow against your current investments at just 10%* and start margin trading.
Margin Call Formula
Here’s how to calculate a margin call:
Margin call amount = (Value of investments multiplied by the percentage margin requirement) minus (Amount of investor equity left in margin account)
Here’s the formula using the hypothetical investor example above:
$500 = ($6000 x 0.25%) – ($1,000)
Investors can also calculate the share price at which he or she would be required to post additional funds.
Again, here’s the formula using the hypothetical case above:
$33.33 / share = $50 x (1-0.50/1-0.25)
💡 Quick Tip: When you trade using a margin account, you’re using leverage — i.e. borrowed funds that increase your purchasing power. Remember that whatever you borrow you must repay, with interest.
2 Steps to Cover a Margin Call
When investors receive a margin call, there are only two options:
1. They can deposit cash into the margin account so that the level of funds is back above the maintenance margin requirement. Investors can also deposit securities that aren’t margined.
2. Investors can also sell the securities that are margined in order to meet requirements.
In a worst case scenario, the broker can sell off securities to cover the debt.
How Long Do I Have to Cover a Margin Call?
Brokerage firms are not required to give investors a set amount of time. As mentioned in the example above, a brokerage firm normally gives customers two to five days to meet a margin call. However, the time given to provide additional funds can differ from broker to broker.
In addition, during volatile times in the market, which is also when margin calls are more likely to occur, a broker has the right to sell securities in a customer’s trading account shortly after issuing the margin call. Investors won’t have the right to weigh in on the price at which those securities are sold. This means investors may have to settle their accounts by the next trading day.
Tips on Avoiding Margin Calls
The best way to avoid a margin call is to avoid trading on margin or having a margin account. Trading on margin should be reserved for investors with the time and sophistication to monitor their portfolios properly and take on the risk of substantial losses. Investors who trade on margin can do a few things to avoid a margin call.
• Understand margin trading: Investors can understand how margin trading works and know their broker’s maintenance margin requirements.
• Track the market: Investors can monitor the volatility of the stock, bond, or whatever security they are investing in to ensure their margin account doesn’t dip below the maintenance margin.
• Keep extra cash on hand: Investors can set aside money to fulfill the potential margin call and calculate the lowest security price at which their broker might issue a call.
• Utilize limit orders: Investors can use order types that may help protect them from a margin call, such as a limit order.
The Takeaway
While margin trading allows investors to amplify their purchases in markets, margin calls could result in substantial losses, with the investor paying more than he or she initially invested. Margin calls occur when the level of cash in an investor’s trading account falls below a fixed level required by the brokerage firm.
Investors can then deposit cash or securities to bring the margin account back up to the required value, or they can sell securities in order to raise the cash they need.
If you’re an experienced trader and have the risk tolerance to try out trading on margin, consider enabling a SoFi margin account. With a SoFi margin account, experienced investors can take advantage of more investment opportunities, and potentially increase returns. That said, margin trading is a high-risk endeavor, and using margin loans can amplify losses as well as gains.
Get one of the most competitive margin loan rates with SoFi, 10%*
FAQ
How can you satisfy your margin call in margin trading?
A trader can satisfy a margin call by depositing cash or securities in their account or selling some securities in the margin account to pay down part of the margin loan.
How are fed and house calls different?
A fed call, or a federal call, occurs when an investor’s margin account does not have enough equity to meet the 50% equity retirement outlined in Regulation T. In contrast, a house call happens when an investor’s margin equity dips below the maintenance margin.
How much time do you have to satisfy a margin call?
It depends on the broker. In some circumstances, a broker will demand that a trader satisfy the margin call immediately. The broker will allow two to five days to meet the margin call at other times.
SoFi Invest® INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below:
Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.
*Borrow at 10%. Utilizing a margin loan is generally considered more appropriate for experienced investors as there are additional costs and risks associated. It is possible to lose more than your initial investment when using margin. Please see SoFi.com/wealth/assets/documents/brokerage-margin-disclosure-statement.pdf for detailed disclosure information. Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Margin accounts give investors the ability to borrow money from a brokerage to make bigger trades or investments than they would have been able to make otherwise. Just as you can borrow money against the equity in your home, you can also borrow money against the value of certain investments in your portfolio.
This is called margin lending, and it happens within a margin account, which is a type of account you can get at a brokerage. Most brokerages offer the option of making a taxable account a margin account. Tax-advantaged retirement accounts, such as traditional IRAs or Roth IRAs, generally are not eligible for margin trading.
What Is a Margin Account?
As mentioned, a margin account is used for margin trading, which involves borrowing money from a brokerage to fund trades or investments.A margin account allows you to borrow from the brokerage to purchase securities that are worth more than the cash you have on hand. In this case, the cash or securities already in your account act as your collateral.
Margin accounts are generally considered to be more appropriate for experienced investors, since trading on margin means taking on additional costs and risks.
When defining a margin account, it helps to understand its counterpart — the cash account. With a cash brokerage account, you can only buy as many investments as you can cover with cash. If you have $10,000 in your account, you can buy $10,000 of stock.
Margin Account Rules and Regulations
When it comes to margin accounts, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), FINRA, and other bodies have set some rules:
• Minimum margin: There is a minimum margin requirement before you can start trading on margin. FINRA requires that you deposit the lesser of $2,000 or 100% of the purchase price of the stocks you plan to purchase on margin.
• Initial margin: Your margin buying power has limits — generally you can borrow up to 50% of the cost of the securities you plan to buy. This means, for example, that if you have $10,000 in your margin account, you can effectively purchase up to $20,000 of securities on margin. You would spend $10,000 of your own money and borrow the other 50% from the brokerage. (You can also borrow much less than this.) Your buying power varies, depending on the value of your portfolio on any given day.
• Maintenance margin: Once you’ve bought investments on margin, regulators require that you keep a specific balance in your margin account. Under FINRA rules, your equity in the account must not fall below 25% of the current market value of the securities in the account. If your equity drops below this level, either because you withdrew money or because your investments have fallen in value, you may get a margin call from your brokerage.
Example of a Margin Account
An example of using a margin account could look like this: Say you have a margin account with $5,000 in cash in it. This allows you to use 50% more in margin, so you actually have $10,000 in purchasing power – you are able to actually make a trade for $10,000 in securities, using $5,000 in margin.
In effect, margin extends your purchasing power as an investor, and you’re not obligated to use it all. 💡 Quick Tip: When you’re actively investing in stocks, it’s important to ask what types of fees you might have to pay. For example, brokers may charge a flat fee for trading stocks, or require some commission for every trade. Taking the time to manage investment costs can be beneficial over the long term.
Increase your buying power with a margin loan from SoFi.
Borrow against your current investments at just 10%* and start margin trading.
Benefits of a Margin Account
For an experienced investor who enjoys day trading, having a margin account and trading on margin can have some advantages:
• More purchase power. A margin account allows an investor to buy more investments than they could with cash. That might lead to higher returns, since they’re buying more securities and may be able to diversify their investments in different ways.
• A safety net. Just as an emergency fund offers access to cash when you need it, so does a margin account. If you need funds but you don’t want to sell investments at their current price point, you can take a margin loan for short-term cash needs.
• You can leave your losers alone. In another scenario, if you need cash but your investments aren’t doing so well, taking a margin loan allows you to keep your securities where they are instead of selling them right now at a loss.
• No loan repayment schedule. There is no repayment schedule for a margin loan, so you can repay it at any rate you please, as long as your equity in the account maintains the proper threshold. Monthly interest will accrue, however, and be added to your account.
• Potentially deductible interest. There may be tax situations in which the interest in a margin loan can be used to offset taxable income. A tax professional will tell you whether this is a move you can consider.
Drawbacks of a Margin Account
Despite the advantages, using a margin account has risks. Here are some things to consider before trading on margin:
• You could lose substantially. While it’s possible that trading on margin can help realize greater returns if an investment does well, you will also see greater losses if an investment takes a dive. And even if an investment you’ve purchased on margin loses all of its value, you’ll still owe the margin loan back to the brokerage — plus interest.
• There may be a margin call. If your investments tank, it’s possible that you’ll have to sell securities or deposit additional funds to bring your account back up to the required margin threshold. It’s also possible for a brokerage to sell securities from your account without alerting you.
How to Open a Margin Account
Opening a margin account is as simple as opening a cash account, but you’ll likely need to sign a margin agreement with your brokerage. You may also need to request margin for your account, depending on the brokerage.
But there are some other things to keep in mind.
If you’re a beginner investor, a cash account gives you an opportunity to learn how to trade and invest, and there’s a low level of risk. If you’re a more experienced investor and fully understand the risks of trading on margin, a margin account may offer the opportunity to expand and diversify your investments.
Some financial advisors suggest that clients open margin accounts in case they need cash in a hurry. For instance, if you need money quickly, it takes time to sell investments and for the money to be deposited in your account. If you have a margin account, you can take a margin loan while your securities are being sold. Typically, margin accounts don’t carry any additional fees as long as you aren’t borrowing on margin.
You also need a margin account for short selling. With short selling, you borrow a stock in your brokerage account and sell it for its current price. If the price of the stock falls — which you’re betting will happen — you repurchase shares of the stock and return it to the original owner, pocketing the difference in price.
Like trading on margin, short selling is a strategy for experienced investors and comes with a large amount of risk.
Things to Know About Margin Accounts
Here are a few other things to keep in mind about margin accounts.
Margin Calls
Margin calls are a risk. If the equity in your margin account drops below a certain threshold, you may get an alert from your brokerage, called a margin call. This is meant to spur you to either deposit more money into your account or sell some securities to bolster the equity that’s acting as collateral for your margin loan.
It’s worth noting that if your investment value drops quickly or significantly, you may find that your brokerage has sold some of your securities without notifying you. Commonly, investors are forced by a margin call to sell investments at an inopportune time — such as when the investment is priced at less than you paid for it. This is an inherent risk of trading on margin.
Margin Costs
Investors should also know about relevant margin costs. When you borrow money from the brokerage to buy securities, you are essentially taking out a loan, and the brokerage will charge interest. Margin interest rates are different from company to company, and may be somewhat higher than rates on other kinds of loans.
Consider interest costs when you’re thinking about your margin trading plan. If you use margin for long-term investing, interest costs can affect your returns. And holding investments on margin means the value of your securities must hold steady. 💡 Quick Tip: Look for an online brokerage with low trading commissions as well as no account minimum. Higher fees can cut into investment returns over time.
How to Manage Margin Account Risk
If you decide to open a margin account, there are steps you can take to try to minimize the amount of risk you’re taking by leveraging your trading:
• Skip the dodgy investments. Trading on margin works if you’re earning more than you’re paying in margin interest. Speculative investments can be a risky portfolio move, since a swift loss in value can result in a margin call.
• Watch your interest costs. Although there is no formal repayment schedule for a margin loan, you’re still accruing interest and you are responsible for paying it back over time. Regular payments on interest can help you stay on track.
• Maintain some emergency cash. Having a cushion of cash in your margin account gives you a little wiggle room to keep from facing a margin call.
The Takeaway
A margin account is an account that lets you borrow against the cash or securities you own, to invest in more securities. As with other lending vehicles, margin accounts do charge interest.
While margin accounts do come with risk — including the risk of losing more money than you originally had, plus interest on what you borrowed — they also offer benefits including more purchasing power and a safety net for short-term cash needs. If you’re unsure about using a margin account, it may be worthwhile to discuss it with a financial professional.
Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, alternative funds, and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).
For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.
FAQ
Is a margin account right for me?
A margin account may be a good tool for a specific investor if they’re comfortable taking on additional risks and investment costs, but also want to extend their purchasing power.
How much money do you need to open a margin account?
Before opening a trading account, investors will need a minimum of $2,000 in their brokerage account, per regulator rules.
Is a margin account taxable?
Any capital gains earned by using a margin account will be subject to capital gains tax, and the ultimate rate will depend on a few factors.
Should a beginner use a margin account?
It may be best for a beginner to stick to a cash account until they learn the ropes in the markets, as using a margin account can incur additional risks and costs.
Who qualifies for a margin account?
Most investors qualify for a margin account, granted they can reach the minimum margin requirements set forth by regulators, such as having $2,000 in their brokerage account.
What’s the difference between a cash account and a margin account?
A cash account only contains an investor’s funds, while a margin account offers investors additional purchasing power by giving them the ability to borrow money from their brokerage to make bigger trades.
SoFi Invest® INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below:
Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Claw Promotion: Customer must fund their Active Invest account with at least $10 within 30 days of opening the account. Probability of customer receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. See full terms and conditions.
When an investor buys a security using a margin account, the initial margin or initial margin requirement is how much of the purchase price – represented as a percentage – that the investor must cover with either cash or the collateral in that account.
The Federal Reserve Board’s Regulation T sets the minimum initial margin at 50%, meaning investors trading on a margin account must have cash or collateral to cover at least half of the market value of the securities they buy on margin.
Using Initial Margin
Investors who want to open a margin account at a brokerage must first deposit the initial margin requirement. They can make that deposit in the form of cash, securities or other collateral, and the amount they deposit will vary depending on how much trading the investor plans to do on margin, and where the brokerage firm sets its initial margin.
Once the investor makes that initial margin deposit as collateral, they essentially have a line of credit with which they can begin margin trading. That line of credit allows the investor to buy securities with money borrowed from the brokerage.
As noted, Regulation T sets minimum initial margin levels. It’s important to note, however, that the Federal Reserve Board’s Regulation T only sets the minimum for margin accounts. Brokerage firms offering margin accounts can set their initial margin requirement higher than 50% based on the markets, their clients, and their own business considerations. But brokerages cannot set the initial margins for their clients any lower than 50%. The level that a brokerage sets for margin is known as the “house requirement.”
Risks of Margin Trading
Trading on margin brings its own unique set of opportunities and risks. It can lead to outsized profits if investors buy appreciating stocks on margin. But if investors buy sinking securities on margin, they can lose even more than if they’d purchased the securities outright.
In the unfortunate situation where the securities purchased on margin lose all value, the investor must deposit the full purchase price of the securities to cover the loss. Given these risks, you’re typically not able to trade on margin in retirement accounts such as an IRA or a 401(k).
Sometimes investors use margin to short a stock, or bet that it will lose value. In that instance, they’d borrow shares from the brokerage firm that holds a position in the stock and sell them to another investor. If the share price goes down, the investor can purchase them back at a lower price.
In general, investors looking for safer investments might want to avoid margin trading, due to their inherent risk. Investors with a high appetite for risk, however, might appreciate the ability to generate outsize returns. 💡 Quick Tip: When you’re actively investing in stocks, it’s important to ask what types of fees you might have to pay. For example, brokers may charge a flat fee for trading stocks, or require some commission for every trade. Taking the time to manage investment costs can be beneficial over the long term.
How Do You Calculate Initial Margin?
An investor who wants to trade in a margin account, must first determine how much to deposit as an initial margin. While that will depend on how much the investor wants to trade, and how big a role margin will play in their strategy, there are some guidelines.
The New York Stock Exchange and some of the other securities exchanges require that investors have at least $2,000 in their accounts. For day traders, the minimum initial margin is $25,000. Each brokerage has its own set of requirements in terms of the amount clients need to keep as collateral, and the minimum size of the account necessary to trade on margin.
Increase your buying power with a margin loan from SoFi.
Borrow against your current investments at just 10%* and start margin trading.
Initial Margin Requirement Examples
It’s possible, for example, that a brokerage firm might require 65% initial margin. That’s the first number an investor needs to know. The next is how much they plan to invest. The initial margin calculation simply requires the investor to multiply the investment amount by the initial margin requirement percentage. For an investor who wants to buy $20,000 of a given security, they will take that purchase price, multiply it by the margin requirement is 65% or 0.65 – to arrive at an initial margin requirement of $13,000.
The advantage for the investor is that they get $20,000 of exposure to that stock for only $13,000. In a scenario where the investor is buying a stock at a 50% margin, that investor can buy twice as many shares as they could if they bought them outright. That can double their return if the stock goes up. But if the stock drops, that investor could lose twice as much money.
If the price falls far enough, the investor could get a margin call from their broker. That means that they must deposit additional funds. Otherwise, the broker will sell the stock in their account to cover the borrowed money. 💡 Quick Tip: How to manage potential risk factors in a self-directed investment account? Doing your research and employing strategies like dollar-cost averaging and diversification may help mitigate financial risk when trading stocks.
Initial Margin vs Maintenance Margin
For investors who buy securities on margin, the initial margin is an important number to know when starting out. But once the investor has opened a margin account at their brokerage, it’s important to know the maintenance margin as well.
The maintenance margin is the minimum amount of money that an investor has to keep in their margin account after they’ve purchased securities on margin. It is generally lower than the initial margin.
Currently, the minimum maintenance margin, as set by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA,) is 25% of the total value of the margin account. As with the initial margin requirements, however, 25% is only the minimum that the investor must have deposited in a margin account. The reality is that brokerage firms can – and often do – require that investors in margin accounts maintain a margin of between 30% to 40% of the total value of the account.
Some brokerage firms refer to the maintenance margin by other terms, including a minimum maintenance or a maintenance requirement. The initial margin on futures contracts may be significantly lower.
Maintenance Margin Example
As an example of a maintenance margin, an investor with $10,000 of securities in a margin account with a 25% maintenance margin must maintain at least $2,500 in the account. But if the value of their investment goes up to $15,000, the investor has to keep pace by raising the amount of money in their margin account to reach the maintenance margin, which rises to $3,750.
Maintenance Margin Calls
If the value of the investor’s margin account falls below the maintenance margin, then they can face a margin call, or else the brokerage will sell the securities in the account to cover the difference between what’s in their account and the maintenance margin.
With a maintenance margin, the investor could also face a margin call if the investment goes up in value. That’s because as the investment goes up, the percentage of margin in relation by comparison goes down.
The Takeaway
Initial margin requirements and maintenance margins are just two considerations for investors who are looking to trade on margin. They allow investors to understand how much cash they need to hand on hand in order to trade on margin — and when they might be susceptible to a margin call.
Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).
For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.
FAQ
What is an example of initial margin?
If initial margin is 65% and an investor wants to purchase $20,000 of a given security, they will take that purchase price, multiply it by the margin requirement is 65% or 0.65 – to arrive at an initial margin requirement of $13,000.
Is initial margin refundable?
Yes, initial margin is refundable, as it acts as a deposit put forward to enact a transaction or trade.
Why is initial margin important?
Initial margin is important because it acts as a form of collateral to cover a loss in the event loses money using borrowed funds. It helps the lender – or brokerage – recoup some of those losses.
Why is initial margin paid?
Initial margin is paid or put forth to act as a deposit or a form of collateral and establish good faith between a borrower and lender, typically an investor or trader and their brokerage.
Who sets the initial margin requirement?
Initial margin requirements are established by the Federal Reserve’s Regulation T. But there can also be other requirements put in place by an individual brokerage, and FINRA’s additional margin rules can further increase the amount.
Does initial margin have to be cash?
Generally, initial margin needs to be in the form of cash deposits, but it’s possible that some brokerages will allow it to take the form of other securities, such as government bonds.
Is initial margin a cost?
Initial margin is not a cost per se, but a form of collateral, and is money that is returned or refunded like a deposit. As such, it’s not spent or a typical “cost,” though it may be a financial barrier of sorts for some traders.
Photo credit: iStock/FG Trade
SoFi Invest® SoFi Invest refers to the two investment and trading platforms operated by Social Finance, Inc. and its affiliates (described below). Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of the platforms below.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA(www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above, including state licensure of SoFi Digital Assets, LLC, please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform. Information related to lending products contained herein should not be construed as an offer or pre-qualification for any loan product offered by SoFi Bank, N.A.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
*Borrow at 10%. Utilizing a margin loan is generally considered more appropriate for experienced investors as there are additional costs and risks associated. It is possible to lose more than your initial investment when using margin. Please see SoFi.com/wealth/assets/documents/brokerage-margin-disclosure-statement.pdf for detailed disclosure information. Claw Promotion: Customer must fund their Active Invest account with at least $10 within 30 days of opening the account. Probability of customer receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. See full terms and conditions.
Maintenance margin, as it relates to margin accounts and trading, refers to the necessary amount of funds an investor needs to maintain in their brokerage account in order to utilize margin. Margin accounts work differently than other trading accounts. Instead of allowing the trader to do regular trades, the margin account allows leveraged trades.
This means that the trader can buy securities including stocks, bonds, or options for more than the amount that they have in their account, paying only a deposit on the trade. They borrow the rest of the cash needed for the investment from the broker.
Maintenance Margin Definition
In margin trading, the maintenance margin is the minimum amount of funds that a trader must hold in their portfolio to avoid being issued a margin call, for as long as they are actively involved in a trade. If a trade they enter decreases in value, the trader may owe money, which is taken from their account.
Minimum margin requirements for leveraged accounts are regulated by the government. Currently the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) sets the maintenance margin at 25% of the total value of securities that a trader holds in their margin account.
Specific brokerage firms also maintain their own requirements. It is common for brokerage requirements to be higher than the government required amount to provide the firm with greater financial security.
Margin maintenance requirements shift based on various factors, including market liquidity and volatility. And different stocks have differing maintenance requirements: if they are more likely to be volatile, the requirements may be higher.
Does a Maintenance Margin Mitigate Risk?
Maintenance margin doesn’t mitigate risk for traders. Margin investing is risky because traders can lose more money than they have in their account, creating a debt with the broker, called margin debt.
When a trader opens a margin account, they must sign an agreement and deposit a certain amount into the account before they can start trading. To pay off any debt from assets that have lost value, the trader will need to deposit additional funds, deposit securities, or sell off holdings.
Therefore, margin trading isn’t recommended for beginner traders, and it’s important for traders to understand the risks and how it works before trying it out. 💡 Quick Tip: When you’re actively investing in stocks, it’s important to ask what types of fees you might have to pay. For example, brokers may charge a flat fee for trading stocks, or require some commission for every trade. Taking the time to manage investment costs can be beneficial over the long term.
Increase your buying power with a margin loan from SoFi.
Borrow against your current investments at just 10%* and start margin trading.
Maintenance Margin Requirement Examples
Let’s look at an example of how maintenance margin requirements work.
Let’s say a trader wants to purchase 100 shares of Company XYZ at $40 per share. They don’t have sufficient funds to purchase the entire number of shares. The trader can use a margin account which allows them to purchase the entire amount of shares but only deposit a percentage of the total price into the trade and also pay a financing fee. This deposit amount is known as the initial margin requirement.
In this example, the initial maintenance margin requirement is 40% of the purchase price of the trade. For the trader to purchase the full 100 shares, they need to maintain a balance of 40% of the trade purchase amount in their margin account.
When Maintenance Margin Requirements Aren’t Met
If the amount in their account dips below the minimum requirement, their broker will issue a margin call notification. Generally, the trader will have between 2-5 days to either add more funds to their account or sell some of the assets they are invested in to move enough cash funds back into their account.
If the trader doesn’t sell holdings or add funds to their account to meet the margin maintenance requirement, the broker may sell the trader’s securities without notifying them, and they have the right to decide which ones they sell. They are also allowed to charge the trader commissions and even sue the trader for losses.
A margin call can also be sent out if the brokerage firm changes their requirements, which they can do at any time. 💡 Quick Tip: How to manage potential risk factors in a self-directed investment account? Doing your research and employing strategies like dollar-cost averaging and diversification may help mitigate financial risk when trading stocks.
Calculating Maintenance Margin
Each brokerage firm has their own maintenance margin requirements. The formula to calculate the maintenance margin is:
This can be used to determine the stock price that will trigger a margin call.
For example, a trader opens a margin account and deposits $20,000 into it, then borrows $10,000 from the broker in a margin loan in order to purchase 200 shares of stock at a price of $100 each. The broker’s maintenance margin is 30%. Here is what the calculation would be to figure out what account balance would trigger the margin call:
That means that if the trader’s account dips below $14,285.71, or if the price of the stock falls below $71.43 ($14,285.71 / 200 shares) then the broker will issue a margin call.
Recommended: What Is Margin Interest and How to Calculate It
Maintenance Margin vs Initial Margin
When traders open a margin account, there is an initial margin amount they are required to deposit before they can start trading. This is set by FINRA, and brokers may also have their own additional requirements. The initial margin required by FINRA is currently $2,000 in cash or securities.
After a trader starts buying on margin, they must meet the maintenance margin on their account — at least 25% of the market value of the securities in their account.
The Takeaway
A maintenance margin is a monetary buffer for traders with margin accounts. The maintenance margin is a minimum balance required to execute leveraged trades. If a trader’s margin account dips below the minimum set by FINRA and the broker, the broker will issue a warning, or margin call, so that the trader can add cash to their account or sell holdings to cover the gap.
Maintenance margins do not mitigate risks for traders, and if an investor is utilizing margin as a part of their investment strategy, they should know what they’re getting into. Margin accounts have their pros and cons, but it’s important to keep the risks in mind.
Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).
For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.
FAQ
What happens if you go below maintenance margin?
Generally, if a trader or investor’s account goes below the maintenance margin, their brokerage will send them a margin call, or otherwise warn them that they need to deposit funds or sell holdings.
What does current maintenance margin mean?
Current maintenance margin refers to the literal current maintenance margin set by financial regulators or by a specific brokerage. For example, it may be 25% of the value of an investor’s total holdings.
What is the difference between maintenance margin and minimum margin?
Minimum margin refers to the minimum amount of collateral needed in a margin account to execute leveraged trades, while maintenance margin is the total capital that needs to remain in the account as the investor continues to utilize a margin account.
Who sets the maintenance margin?
FINRA currently sets the maintenance margin, which is 25%. But specific brokerage firms can set their own beyond that, and often, at a higher threshold.
Why is my maintenance margin so high?
Maintenance margin requirements can be determined by a number of factors beyond regulatory minimums, such as market conditions and volatility, and the specific types of securities an investor is trading.
What does 25% maintenance margin mean?
Twenty-five percent maintenance margin means that an investor must hold 25% of the total value of their holdings in their account. It is the minimum amount of equity that must be maintained in their margin account.
Photo credit: iStock/StockRocket
SoFi Invest® The information provided is not meant to provide investment or financial advice. Also, past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment decisions should be based on an individual’s specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile. SoFi can’t guarantee future financial performance. Advisory services offered through SoFi Wealth, LLC. SoFi Securities, LLC, member FINRA / SIPC . SoFi Invest refers to the three investment and trading platforms operated by Social Finance, Inc. and its affiliates (described below). Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of the platforms below. 1) Automated Investing—The Automated Investing platform is owned by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor (“Sofi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC, an affiliated SEC registered broker dealer and member FINRA/SIPC, (“Sofi Securities).
2) Active Investing—The Active Investing platform is owned by SoFi Securities LLC. Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
3) Cryptocurrency is offered by SoFi Digital Assets, LLC, a FinCEN registered Money Service Business.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above, including state licensure of Sofi Digital Assets, LLC, please visit www.sofi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform. Information related to lending products contained herein should not be construed as an offer or prequalification for any loan product offered by SoFi Bank, N.A.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Claw Promotion: Customer must fund their Active Invest account with at least $10 within 30 days of opening the account. Probability of customer receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. See full terms and conditions.
Day trading is a type of active trading where an investor buys and sells stocks or other assets based on short-term price movements. Day trading is often thought to differ from a buy-and-hold strategy typically used by long-term investors.
With day trading, the investor is not necessarily looking for assets that will make money over the long-term. Instead, a day trader seeks to generate short-term gains.
Investors should know, though, that day trading is an incredibly risky strategy and there’s a high chance of losing money.
What Is Day Trading?
Day trading incorporates short-term trades on a daily or weekly basis in an effort to generate returns. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) says that “day traders buy, sell and short-sell stocks throughout the day in the hope that the stocks continue climbing or falling in value for the seconds or minutes they hold the shares, allowing them to lock in quick profits.”
A long-term investor, conversely, may buy a stock because they think that the company will grow its revenue and earnings, creating value for itself and the economy. Long-term investors believe that that growth will ultimately benefit shareholders, whether through share-price appreciation or dividend payouts.
A day trader, on the other hand, likely gives little credence to whether a company represents “good” or “bad” value. Instead, they are concerned with how price volatility will push an asset like a stock higher in the near-term.
Day trading is a form of self-directed active investing, whereby an investor attempts to manage their investments and outperform or “beat” the stock market.
Recommended: A User’s Guide to Day Trading Terminology
Best Securities For Day Trading
Day traders can work across asset classes and securities: company stocks, fractional shares, ETFs, bonds, fiat currencies, cryptocurrencies, or commodities like oil and precious metals. They can also trade options or futures — different types of derivatives contracts.
But there are some commonalities that day-trading markets tend to have, including liquidity, volatility, and volume.
Liquidity
Liquidity refers to how quickly an asset can be bought and sold without causing a significant change in its price. In other words, how smoothly can a trader make a trade?
Liquidity is important to day traders because they need to move in and out of positions quickly without having prices move against them. That means prices don’t move higher when day traders are buying, or move down when they’re starting to sell.
Volatility
Market volatility can often be considered a negative thing in investing. However, for day traders, volatility can be essential because they need big price swings to potentially capture profits.
Of course, volatility could mean big losses for day traders too, but a slow-moving market typically doesn’t offer much opportunity for day traders.
Volume
High stock volume may indicate that there is a lot of interest in a security, while low volume can indicate the opposite. Elevated interest means there’s a greater likelihood of more liquidity and volatility — which are, as discussed, two other characteristics that day traders look for. 💡 Quick Tip: When you’re actively investing in stocks, it’s important to ask what types of fees you might have to pay. For example, brokers may charge a flat fee for trading stocks, or require some commission for every trade. Taking the time to manage investment costs can be beneficial over the long term.
Day Trading Basics — How to Get Started
Before starting to day trade, some investors set aside a dollar amount they’re comfortable investing — and potentially losing. They need to figure out their personal risk tolerance, in other words.
Getting the hang of day trading can take some time, so newbie day traders may want to start with a small handful of stocks. This will be more manageable and give traders time to hone their skills.
Recommended: How Many Stocks Should I Own?
Good day traders can benefit from staying informed about events that may cause big price shifts. These can range from economic and geopolitical news to specific company developments.
Here’s also a list of important concepts or terms every prospective day trader should know.
1. Trading Costs
If you’re utilizing day trading strategies, it’s wise to consider the cost. Many major brokerage firms accommodate day trading, but some charge a fee for each trade. This is called a transaction cost, commission, mark up, mark down, or a trading fee. Some firms also charge various other fees for day trading or trading penny stocks.
Some platforms are specifically designed for day trading, offering low-cost or even zero-cost trades and a variety of features to help traders research and track markets.
2. Pattern Day Trader
A pattern day trader is a designation created by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). A brokerage or investing platform will classify investors as pattern day traders if they day trade a security four or more times in five business days, and the number of day trades accounts for more than 6% of their total trading activity for that same five-day period.
When investors get identified as pattern day traders, they must have at least $25,000 in their trading account. Otherwise, the account could get restricted per FINRA’s day-trading margin requirement rules.
3. Freeriding
In a cash account, an investor must pay for the purchase of a security before selling it. Freeriding occurs when an investor buys and then sells a security without first paying for it.
This is not allowed under the Federal Reserve Board’s Regulation T. In cases where freeriding occurs, the investor’s account may be frozen by the broker for a 90-day period. During the freeze, an investor is still able to make trades or purchases but must pay for them fully on the date of the trade.
4. Tax Implications of Trader vs Investor
The IRS makes a distinction between a trader and an investor. Generally, an investor is someone who buys and sells securities for personal investment. A trader on the other hand is considered by the law to be in business. The tax implications are different for each.
According to the IRS, a trader must meet the following requirements below. If an individual does not meet these guidelines, they are considered an investor.
• “You must seek to profit from daily market movements in the prices of securities and not from dividends, interest, or capital appreciation;
• Your activity must be substantial; and
• You must carry on the activity with continuity and regularity.”
5. Capital Gains Taxes
Another important tax implication to note is that the IRS differentiates between short-term and long-term investments for capital gains tax rates. Generally, investments held for over a year are considered long-term and those held for under a year are short-term.
While long-term capital gains may benefit from a lower tax rate, short-term capital gains are taxed at the same rate as ordinary income.
A capital loss occurs when an investment loses value. In certain circumstances, when a capital loss exceeds a capital gain, the difference could potentially be applied as a tax deduction. Some brokerages may also offer automated tax loss harvesting as a way to strategically offset investment profits.
6. Wash Sale Rule
While capital losses can sometimes be taken as a tax deduction, there are certain regulations in place to prevent investors from abusing those benefits. One such regulation is the wash sale rule, which says that investors cannot benefit from selling a security at a loss and then buy a substantially identical security within the next 30 days.
A wash sale also occurs if you sell a security and then your spouse or a corporation you control buys a substantially identical security within the next 30 days.
Get up to $1,000 in stock when you fund a new Active Invest account.**
Access stock trading, options, auto investing, IRAs, and more. Get started in just a few minutes.
**Customer must fund their Active Invest account with at least $10 within 30 days of opening the account. Probability of customer receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. See full terms and conditions.
7 Common Day Trading Strategies
Some common types of day trading strategies that you may want to research include technical analysis, scalping, momentum, swing trading, margin and so on. Here’s a closer look at them.
1. Technical Analysis
Technical analysis is a type of trading method that uses price patterns to forecast future movement. A general rule of thumb in investing is that past performance never guarantees future results. However, technical analysts believe that because of market psychology, history tends to repeat itself.
Support and resistance are price levels that traders look at when they’re applying technical analysis. “Support” is where the price of an asset tends to stop falling and “resistance” is where the price tends to stop climbing. So, for instance, if an asset falls to a support level, some may believe that buyers are likely to swoop in at that point.
2. Swing Trading
Swing trading is a type of stock market trading that attempts to capitalize on short-term price momentum in the market. The swings can be to the upside or to the downside and typically from a couple days to roughly two weeks.
Generally, a swing trader uses a mix of fundamental and technical analysis to identify short- and mid-term trends in the market. They can go both long and short in market positions, and use stocks, ETFs, and other market instruments that exhibit volatility.
3. Momentum Trading
Momentum trading is a type of short-term, high-risk trading strategy. While momentum trades can be held for longer periods when trends continue, the term generally refers to trades that are held for a day or several days, on average.
Momentum traders strive to chase the market by identifying the trend in price action of a specific security and extract profit by predicting its near-term future movement. Looking for a good entry point when prices fall and then determining a profitable exit point is the method to momentum trading.
4. Scalp Trading
In scalp trading, or scalping, the goal of this trading style is to make profits off of small changes in asset prices. Generally, this means buying a stock, waiting for it to increase in value by a small amount, then selling it. The theory behind it is that many small gains can add up to a significant profit over time.
5. Penny Stocks
Penny stocks — shares priced at pennies to up to $5 apiece — are often popular among day traders. However, they can be difficult to trade because many are illiquid. Penny stocks aren’t typically traded on the major exchanges, further increasing potential difficulties with trading. Typically, penny stocks sell in over-the-counter (OTC) markets.
6. Limit and Market Orders
There are types of orders that day traders quickly become familiar with. A limit order is when an investor sets the price at which they’d like to buy or sell a stock. For example, you only want to buy a stock if it falls below $40 per share, or sell it if the price rises to over $60. A limit order guarantees a particular price but does not guarantee execution.
With a market order, you are guaranteed execution but not necessarily price. Investors get the next price available at that time. This price may be slightly different than what is quoted, as the price of that underlying security changes while the order goes through.
7. Margin Trading
Margin accounts are a type of brokerage account that allows the investor to borrow money from the broker-dealer to purchase securities. The account acts as collateral for the loan. The interest rate on the borrowed money is determined by the brokerage firm.
Trading with this borrowed money — called margin trading — increases an investor’s purchasing power, but comes with much higher risk. If the securities lose value, an investor could be left losing more cash than they originally invested.
In the case that the investor’s holdings decline, the brokerage firm might require them to deposit additional cash or securities into their account, or sell the securities to cover the loss. This is known as a margin call. A brokerage firm can deliver a margin call without advance notice and can even decide which of the investor’s holdings are sold.
Which Day Trading Strategy Is Best for Beginners?
There’s no single answer that’s going to be correct for every trader. But investors might want to stick to the simpler strategies to get a hang of day trading. For instance, they could take a try at technical analysis to try and determine which trades may end up being profitable. Or, they could stick with swing trades to test the waters, too.
Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind is that day trading is, as mentioned, incredibly risky. 💡 Quick Tip: How do you decide if a certain trading platform or app is right for you? Ideally, the investment platform you choose offers the features that you need for your investment goals or strategy, e.g., an easy-to-use interface, data analysis, educational tools.
Best Times to Day Trade
As mentioned, day traders seek high liquidity, volatility and volumes. That’s why when it comes to stocks, the first 15 minutes of the trading day, after the equity market opens at 9:30am, may be one of the active stretches for day traders.
The stock market tends to be more volatile during this time, as traders and investors try to figure out the market’s direction and prices react to company reports or economic data that was released before the opening bell. Volume also tends to pick up before the closing bell at 4pm.
For futures, commodities and currencies trading, markets are open 24 hours so day traders can be active around the clock. However, they may find less liquidity at night when most investors and traders in the U.S. aren’t as active.
Day Trading Risk Management
The SEC issued a stern warning regarding day trading in 2005, and that message still holds value today. They noted that most people do not have the wealth, time, or temperament to be successful in day trading.
If an individual isn’t comfortable with the risks associated with day trading, they shouldn’t delve into the practice. But if someone is curious, here are some steps they can take to manage the risks that stem from day trading:
1. Try not to invest more than you can afford. This is particularly important with options and margin trading. It’s crucial for investors to understand how leverage works in such trading accounts and that they can lose more than they originally invested.
2. Investors and traders often benefit from tracking and monitoring volatility. One way to do this is by finding one’s portfolio beta, or the sensitivity to swings in the broader market. Adjusting one’s portfolio so it’s not too sensitive to sweeping volatility may be helpful.
3. Day traders often benefit from picking a trading strategy and sticking with it. One struggle many day traders contend with is avoiding getting swept up by the moment and deviating from a plan, only to lock in losses.
4. Don’t let your emotions take the driver’s seat. Fear and greed can dominate investing and sway decisions. But in investing, it can be better to keep a cool head and avoid reactionary behavior.
Is It Difficult To Make Money Day Trading?
While it may feel like it’s easy to make a couple of lucky moves and turn a profit from some trades, it isn’t easy to make money day trading. Again, it’s very, very risky, and new traders would do well not to assume they’re going to make any money at all. That said, there are professional traders out there, but they use professional-grade tools and experience to help inform their decisions. New traders shouldn’t expect to emulate a professional trader’s success.
The Takeaway
Day trading involves making short-term stock trades in an effort to generate returns. It can be lucrative, but is extremely risky, and prospective traders would likely do well to practice and learn some tools of the trade before giving it a shot. They’ll also want to closely consider their risk tolerance, too.
Again, while stock investing can be an important way to build wealth for individuals, it’s crucial however to know that the consequences of risky day trading can be catastrophic. Investors need to be disciplined, cautious and put in the time and effort before delving into day trading strategies.
Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).
For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.
FAQ
What is day trading and how does it differ from other trading strategies?
Day trading involves making short-term trades with stocks or other securities in an effort to make a profit. Other strategies may involve longer-term investments, which are not bought and sold on a daily or weekly (or monthly) basis.
Are there any risk management techniques specific to day trading strategies?
Traders can do many things to try and limit their risks, and that can include working with different brokers or platforms, incorporating thinking patterns or rituals before making trades, setting up stop-losses, and diversifying their portfolios.
Are day trading strategies suitable for all types of markets, such as stocks, forex, or cryptocurrencies?
Day trading can be done in many asset classes and markets, which can include stocks, forex, and even crypto. But each asset is different, and the markets may not behave the same ways, either. As such, traders may want to do some homework before jumping in.
How much capital is typically required to implement day trading strategies?
It’s generally recommended that traders start with at least $25,000 in their brokerage accounts before day trading.
Are there any specific timeframes or market conditions that are more favorable for day trading strategies?
Perhaps the best times of the day for day traders are immediately after the markets open, and shortly before they close. There may also be more market action on certain days of the week (Mondays, for instance) which create good conditions for day traders.
SoFi Invest® The information provided is not meant to provide investment or financial advice. Also, past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment decisions should be based on an individual’s specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile. SoFi can’t guarantee future financial performance. Advisory services offered through SoFi Wealth, LLC. SoFi Securities, LLC, member FINRA / SIPC . SoFi Invest refers to the three investment and trading platforms operated by Social Finance, Inc. and its affiliates (described below). Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of the platforms below. 1) Automated Investing—The Automated Investing platform is owned by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor (“Sofi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC, an affiliated SEC registered broker dealer and member FINRA/SIPC, (“Sofi Securities).
2) Active Investing—The Active Investing platform is owned by SoFi Securities LLC. Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
3) Cryptocurrency is offered by SoFi Digital Assets, LLC, a FinCEN registered Money Service Business.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above, including state licensure of Sofi Digital Assets, LLC, please visit www.sofi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform. Information related to lending products contained herein should not be construed as an offer or prequalification for any loan product offered by SoFi Bank, N.A.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Claw Promotion: Customer must fund their Active Invest account with at least $10 within 30 days of opening the account. Probability of customer receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. See full terms and conditions.
The housing nightmare continues. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that existing home sales for April came in at 5.41 million, down 3.4% from the previous month and 8.6% from last year. But, the savagely unhealthy data line was that home prices are up 14.8%.
Now that we are almost in July, we can safely say the premise that once mortgage rates hit 4%, the mass panic selling of American homeowners who need to get out at all costs, driving total inventory up in the millions, hasn’t happened. In truth, that was always a terrible premise.
My nightmare scenario, on the other hand, has happened and this is bad news for everyone. Total housing inventory has collapsed to all-time lows since 2020 and because this happened during the years 2020-2024, it created forced bidding and drove prices well above my 23% five-year home-price growth model in just two years.
Now that mortgage rates have risen, demand is getting hit, while we are still showing 14.8% home-price growth data. YIKES!
NAR Research: The median existing-home price for all housing types in May was $407,600, up 14.8% from May 2021 ($355,000), as prices increased in all regions. This marks 123 consecutive months of year-over-year increases, the longest-running streak on record.
Since the summer of 2020, I have truly believed that once the 10-year yield broke over 1.94% — which means 4% plus mortgage rates — the housing narrative would change. Home prices have escalated out of control since then, creating more rate move impact damage than it would have traditionally.
Whenever rates rise, we see it impact demand, and mortgage rates are at 6% and no longer at 3%. This is real demand destruction; prices and rates are a double whammy and why I have stressed we need to get inventory higher as soon as possible. The only way this happens is higher rates.
Since March of this year, housing demand has been falling more and more, but inventory is still below the 2010,2013,2016, and 2019 levels, which is a nightmare. Because housing is shelter, people don’t sell their homes to be homeless; it’s where they live. When you’re trying to sell your home, naturally, you’re a homebuyer too.
Rates have risen at the fastest pace ever, which makes houses more expensive, so in theory, some homebuyers can’t move. Home sellers with high equity aren’t as sensitive to higher rates because they bring a more significant down payment. Inventory skyrocketing back toward historical norms of 2 million to 2.5 million, which I would find to be the best thing ever for housing, is not happening this year. NAR Total Inventory Data Back To 1982:
Getting to that historical inventory level will take more time. I have stressed that housing doesn’t move like the stock market. Homeowners are in a better financial position than stock traders, which is why the idea of mass panic selling doesn’t reflect housing reality. You don’t get a margin call at noon and are forced to sell your house in seconds. A real estate investor, on the other hand, doesn’t have that type of shelter relationship with a home, that a homeowner does.
The goal is simple: We need total housing inventory to reach a range of 1.52-1.93 million to return to normal. Currently, we are at 1.16 million. Weakness in demand, time and the massive hit to affordability will get us there, but not at the speed people promoted last October.
Remember, inventory is very seasonal, and in the next few months, the seasonal inventory will fade, but before that happens we should still break over the previous year’s high. We should all be rooting for more inventory to end this madness.
Regarding the monthly supply for housing, we want this to get above four months as soon as possible. This would be a more traditional level for the housing market; we are making some progress here but not where we want to be yet. NAR Monthly Supply Data Before This report
As a nice jump in monthly supply, we see the seasonal push in inventory tied to sales falling, which means the months of supply should increase. This is the best part of today’s existing home report.
NAR Research: Total housing inventory registered at the end of May was 1.16 units, an increase of 12.6% from April and a 4.1% decline from May 2021. Unsold inventory sits at a 2.6-month supply at the current sales pace, up from 2.2 months in April and 2.5 months in May 2021.
Additional bad news from the report is the data for days on the market. The frustrating data line during this savagely unhealthy housing market has been days on the market stubbornly staying at the teenager level. We want this to go much higher to get back to anything normal.
We recently paid a severe price on the home-price growth nationally, and as long as this data line is still at a teenager level, we will not gain the balance in the housing market we need. We need home prices to fall by 17% to return to the peak growth model for the years 2020-2024 — just to have a regular market.
NAR Research: First-time buyers were responsible for 27% of sales in May; Individual investors purchased 16% of homes; All-cash sales accounted for 25% of transactions; Distressed sales represented less than 1% of sales; Properties typically remained on the market for 16 days.
Regarding sales trends, this data line still lags the reality of the rising rate environment, so we have a lot more room to go lower in sales. When mortgage rates were between 4%-5%, it looked more like a traditional downturn in sales with higher rates, adjusting to the massive price gains since 2020.
However, at 6% plus mortgage rates, we are seeing some real demand destruction as the most significant homebuyer in America, mortgage buyers, get hit with a double whammy.
While the purchase application data four-week moving average trend hasn’t gotten to levels that I thought I would see with mortgage rates this high, which was between 18%-22% year-over-year declines, we are picking up the pace now, and that four-week average is down 16.75% year over year. Remember that starting in October this year, the comps will be much harder to work with, so year-over-year declines of 25% to 35% are in play then.
The savagely unhealthy housing market continues until we can get inventory levels to cool down pricing and hopefully reverse some of the extensive material home price damage in America post-2020. If you want more of a guide on knowing when we will see a material change in that discussion, I wrote this article recently to go over what you should be tracking. A good rule of thumb to consider is inventory between 1.52 – 1 .93 million and over four months of supply, and then we are back to a normal marketplace.
Just imagine how much more damage we would have had this year if mortgage rates hadn’t risen. I, for one, am in total agreement with Fed Chairmen Powell: we need a housing reset because nothing good happens with such savagely unhealthy home-price growth.
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
If you have been trading for a while, then there is a good chance that you have made some trading mistakes along the way.
Unfortunately, it is part of learning how to trade.
After all, trading is a skill that takes time to learn.
Trading mistakes are part of the learning process. I know that sucks to hear, but it is the truth.
The outcome goal is to learn from those trading mistakes.
Then, you can realize what you did wrong so you do not repeat those same mistakes.
However, more than not, it is more common to repeat the same mistake over and over again.
If you are ready to recognize trading errors and learn how to overcome them, then keep digging in. Take notes and adjust your trading plan accordingly.
We will cover emotional trading mistakes, technical trading errors, and option trading mistakes.
What Are Trading Mistakes?
Trading mistakes are errors made by traders when you enter trades, either to purchase stocks or options.
More than likely, you will see the same type of trading error happening over and over again.
Trading mistakes are very common, but they do not have to lead to complete panic.
In order to minimize the chances of making a costly mistake, traders should adhere to their trading strategy. Additionally, traders should always trade with a clear head and stay disciplined.
There are plenty of trading mistakes you can avoid by being smart and adjusting your trading plan where needed.
Why Understanding Trading Mistakes Is Important for Long-term Success
Trading mistakes are the result of traders taking losing trades, which can result in poor overall performance.
Mistakes that occur during trading often include not paying attention to the market, not understanding risk, not having a well-thought out trading strategy, and being bad at managing the trade.
Whatever the reason, trading errors occur and it is how we react to them that matters.
Long-term success in trading is not a goal that can be accomplished overnight.
Achieving long-term success with active trading requires patience, discipline, and practice.
It is easy to get caught up in day-to-day successes and forget to commit to a long-term plan. As traders, it is important to be able to recognize our mistakes so that we can learn from them and move forward.
Top 5 Trading Mistakes
As you will see, we compiled a long list of trading mistakes. Each trader will see some of those trading errors in themselves. Some are small trading mistakes while others are detrimental.
First, we are going to focus on the top five trading mistakes first. This will make or break your success as a trader.
The following are five common trading mistakes that traders make and how to avoid them.
#1 – No Trading Plan
Trading without a plan means you enter a trade without knowing your next step.
No trading plan means that traders are not able to set clear goals, establish risk-reward ratios, and avoid common pitfalls that can occur during a trade. This makes it difficult for traders to know when they should be buying, selling, or holding.
Trading without a plan is risky because it can lead to losses that are much higher than they need to be.
When starting out in trading, it is important to remember that we can only focus on what we can control. This means that we should not worry about things we cannot change, such as the past or the behavior of other traders. Instead, we should form a trading plan and stick to it so that we can succeed in the long run.
Creating your trading plan will happen with many revisions. The goal of the trading plan is to set your overall strategy for trading.
Also, you need to have a specific trading strategy for each trade you enter.
Avoid by: Spending time to develop a trading plan. Revise as needed. Stick to it.
#2 – Risk Management Plan is Missing
A risk management plan is essential for traders and it should be included in any trading plan.
Without a risk management plan, traders are more likely to make emotional decisions that can lead to costly mistakes. For many traders, this is the hardest thing for them to manage.
It is possible to create a risk management plan as your overall trading plan.
In your risk management plan, you must decide (in advance) how much money you are willing to lose based on the amount of profit you perceive to make. For instance, you are willing to risk $300 in order to make $1000.
Many day traders focus on a 2:1 reward-to-risk ratio. Personally, I look for stronger reward-to-risk ratios greater than 3:1.
Avoid by: Understand how risk is a part of making a profit. Set your risk tolerance and do not deviate from it.
#3 – Not Keeping a Trading Journal
One of the most important aspects of successful trading is keeping a journal.
This not only helps you keep track of your trades and performance, but it can also help you remember what worked and what did not. Journaling is so helpful and such an overlooked task.
Your trading journal is the perfect place to take notes, keep track of your wins and losses, and record market movements so that you can learn from past mistakes.
At the end of every trading session, you should take some time to analyze your trades.
What went well?
What didn’t go well?
Why did you make that particular trade?
What was your entry strategy?
What was your exit strategy?
Where was the overall market momentum?
Did you control your emotions?
What grade would you give yourself?
This analysis is important so that you can learn from your mistakes and improve your trading skills. Stay motivated to continue learning about trading and keep more profit.
Avoid by: Start journaling. Spend time after exiting a trade and the market day to understand what happen and why you did a certain trade.
#4 – Watching Too Many Stocks
Watching too many stocks can lead to a decrease in returns and overall confusion on what is happening with your watchlist.
As a result, it is important to be selective.
The same can be said of stock scanners. If you are watching too many variables and possibilities, you can quickly become overwhelmed.
When you develop your trading plan, you need to decide how you find stocks.
Personally, I prefer to focus on a handful of stocks and a few key metrics. Then, watch them closely and trade accordingly.
As a new trader, I would pick about 5-10 stocks to analyze.
Avoid by: Revise your watchlist to half what you are currently watching.
#5 – Actually Exiting Trade as Planned
Above we talked about creating a trading plan and having a trading strategy for each trade taken.
But, the trading mistake happens when you do not exit the trade as planned.
This could be because of “hopemium” that the stock price will recover and you will get back your loss.
Our “hopemium” is that the stock price keeps rising and you will make more money.
Either one can be damaging to your trading account.
You created a plan. As a disciplined trader, you must follow your plan either to maximize your current profit or protect your risk against further losses.
Avoid by: Exiting at your set targets. Period.
12 Typical Emotional Trading Errors
Trading is 80% mental and 20% execution. Okay, I am not sure that there is an official study to back it up. But, I do know as a trader that emotions play heavily into your overall profit.
The typical emotional trading errors that traders make when they are in a trade are overconfidence, jumping into trades before the proper analysis is completed, and inability to take losses.
This is where most of the trading mistakes are made.
When first starting out in trading, it is easy to get caught up in the prospect of making a lot of money quickly. However, most traders find that trading is not easy to do and make common emotional trading errors.
Let’s dig into these emotional mistakes first and then we will follow up on the technical trading mistakes.
1. Letting emotions impair decision making
Emotions are an important part of decision-making, but it can be dangerous to allow them to influence our decisions. We should also take into account that emotions can often lead us astray.
It is clear that emotional trading can lead to bad decision making and, ultimately, financial losses.
When investors let their emotions take over, they are not thinking logically and may make impulsive decisions. For example, they may sell stocks when the market is down in order to avoid further losses, even though the stock may rebound soon after.
In order to be successful traders, it is important to stay calm and rational when making decisions.
Overcome by: Stick to your trading plan and take emotion out of the equation.
2. Unrealistic Profit Expectations
You go into every single trade expecting a home run! Enough money to achieve your dreams overnight!
These types of profit expectations will have you throwing your risk management plan out of the window and set you up for failure with greed, overconfidence, and impatience.
Be realistic about your expectations with trading activity.
Overcome by: Go for base hits. Small consistent wins.
3. Greed
Greed is a deep-seated need for more profit without regard to the chart or market conditions.
The common rationale is hopefully the stock will go up. Typically, you hold your position too long and end up losing some of your gains.
Greed can manifest in many different ways, and people with greed often neglect their own needs in order to attain more.
Overcome by: Set an OCO bracket to exit the trade at your specified level. Take you out of the equation.
4. Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)
You fear that you missed out on a trade, so you decide to jump in. As a result, you are risking more than you should.
This trading mistake is common, especially with online trading communities.
As a result, you may buy at the high and watch the stock reverse.
Overcome by: Realize that there will be missed opportunities. That is part of the game. There will always be another chance.
5. Fear
In many cases, fear is a reaction to why or why not we enter a trade.
For any trader, they may become frozen unable able to make a decision as their mind is wrapped in fear. At the same time, they are either missing out on potential profits or unable to exit a trade due to mounting losses.
Overcome by: This is a real emotion that you must overcome. Take the time and read resources to help you overcome being paralyzed by fear.
6. Overconfidence after a profitable trade
The overconfidence that comes with success can lead to a loss of profits.
When a trader has a winning position, they may become overconfident and make bad decisions because of the previously profitable trade.
For example, they may not take their profits off the table when there is an opportunity to do so or increase their position size when they should be taking profits. This could lead to them losing all of their winnings and more.
Overcome by: Take a break from trading for a few days or a week after a big win.
7. Entering a Trade Based on Your Gut
The process of entering a trade based on your gut is, essentially, following your “gut feeling” and buying or selling shares after the market opens. This is seen as a more risky and less profitable strategy than following a more traditional market timing approach.
Trading is all about making calculated decisions and sticking to a plan.
Trading based on your gut feeling or emotions will only lead to costly mistakes.
Overcome by: Before entering into any trade, make sure you have a solid strategy in place and know all the rules. Only then should you start trading.
8. Not reviewing trades
Not reviewing trades is a common problem for many traders. Traders who don’t review their trades tend to be more likely to make mistakes in their trading and over-trade, which can result in losses.
You will make the same mistake over and over again until you realize the root of the problem.
This is how you move from a losing average to a winning percentage.
Overcome by: Let your journal be your friend. Document everything including your emotions.
9. Following the Herd
Many people enjoy following the herd with stock trading, especially online platforms on Reddit, Discord, or Twitter.
You may decide to follow a certain group of people in order to be fed stock picks or updates.
This can be risky because there is no sound foundation to base your trade upon.
Overcome by: Trade your style and let that fit you.
10. The Danger of Over-Confidence
The “beginner’s luck” experienced by some novice traders may lead them to believe that trading is the proverbial road to quick riches.
Over-confidence is the belief that one’s abilities, knowledge, or qualities are better than average.
This over-confidence is a risk factor for certain types of mistakes and other negative outcomes as it leads to complacency, a lack of preparation, and an overestimation of one’s abilities.
Overcome by: Realize your limitations and watch for overconfidence to appear.
11. The Importance of Accepting Losses
Losses are always a part of trading life, but they can be overwhelming when they occur.
It is important to recognize that losses are in fact an inevitable part of growth and development as a trader.
Overcome by: Journal all of your losses. Look for patterns to appear. Adjust your trading strategy as appropriate.
12. Quit Your Job Too Fast
Quitting your job too fast is not a good idea, as it will force you to place trades that may not be the best set-ups.
Day trading can be a very risky venture, and it is possible to lose everything you have invested.
It is important to be aware of the risks before getting started. More importantly, do not quit your job too fast. This can lead to losses in your investments and could potentially put you in a worse financial situation than you were before.
Overcome by: Keep trading as a side hustle. Hone your trading skills and build up a reserve fund that will cover your monthly expenses. You will know when you are prepared to leave your 9-5.
Common Mistakes in Stock Trading
According to a study by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, technical trading mistakes are actually fairly common among individual investors.
Mistakes in technical trading can be two-fold, either due to lack of knowledge or poor execution.
The most common mistakes are buying at the top and selling at the bottom, overtrading, and not taking the time to properly understand how trading works.
Now, let’s dig into all of the common trading mistakes I see.
1. Overtrading
Let’s start by talking about overtrading. This is a mistake that I see many people make. It is also a mistake that could have been easily prevented if you had just done your research before placing the trade.
Overtrading or placing more orders than you should do is the most common mistake.
Many new traders will simply open up their platform, look at the market, and place a trade. They are often chasing after the last couple of candles or they see an opportunity to get in “on the cheap”.
The problem with this approach is that you have no idea if this is a good trade or not. You are simply taking a shot in the dark and hoping for the best.
Overcome by: Only place the A+ setups that you like. Once you have traded so many times per day or week, stop trading.
2. Buying High and Selling Low
We all have heard the saying, “buy high and sell low.” However, too many novice traders do the complete opposite.
This trend happens with one of the emotional mistakes of FOMO; we already dived into that concept earlier.
Overcome by: Follow your trading plan on when to enter and exit the trade. Practice your strategy in a simulated account and master it.
3. Lack of Trading Knowledge
The lack of trading knowledge is a problem for many traders who are not familiar with how the stock market works. This can cause them to make mistakes when buying and selling stocks, which could result in losing a lot of money.
Just because you made a profit once on one stock does not mean that is a repeatable action.
In order to be successful in trading, it is important to have a good understanding of the markets and the strategies involved.
Without proper training, you are likely to make costly mistakes that can cost you money. Trading courses and tutorials are available online and through other resources to help you gain this knowledge and become a successful trader.
Overcome by: Take an investing course. Spend money on your education and not your losses. Here is a review of my favorite day trading course.
4. Following Too Many Strategies
Following too many strategies is a common problem in the investing world, which can lead to poor performance and more costly mistakes.
There are a million and one different approaches on how to trade the stock market, which indicators to use, whose advice you should follow, so on and so forth.
And then, many traders try and couple the strategies together only to quickly learn they may cause more losses than profits.
One way to avoid following too many strategies is by using a set of rules to decide which strategies are appropriate for investing.
Overcome by: Develop your trading plan. Outline the investing strategies you will use. Test any new strategies in SIM first.
5. Do Your Research
The solution to this problem is simple: do your research!
Before you enter a trade, take the time to do some analysis on the asset you are looking at. Look at past price action, news events, and any other relevant information that you can find.
Understand why the market might move in your favor and be able to build a case for it. The more data points you have supporting your position, the better off you will be.
If you are able to build a strong case for why the asset will move in your favor, then you can enter with confidence. This is because if the market does not move in your favor, you will know that it isn’t because of a lack of research on your part.
When you enter with confidence, this will make it easier to hold through the inevitable volatility and price swings.
Overcome by: If you enter without knowing why something is likely to move in your favor, then you are setting yourself up for failure. Do your research.
6. Not Using Stop-Loss Orders
Stop orders come in several varieties and can limit losses due to adverse movement in a stock or the market as a whole.
Tight stop losses generally mean that losses are capped before they become sizeable. However, you may have your stop loss too tight and get stopped out before your stock has room to move.
A corollary to this common trading mistake is when a trader cancels a stop order on a losing trade just before it can be triggered because they believe that the price trend will reverse.
Overcome by: Plan your stop loss in advance. Stick to it as it is part of an overall risk management strategy.
7. Letting Losses Grow
Active traders can be harmed by refusing to take quick action to close a losing trade.
It is important to take small losses quickly and limit your risk in order to stay profitable.
Stop losses can help you avoid larger losses.
While the stock may come back to your buy price, you have increased your risk far beyond what you planned. If your planned loss was $300 and now you are down over $500, it will take that much longer to overcome that growing loss.
Cut your losses. Review the chart. See what a better entry point may be.
Overcome by: If the stock moves past your pre-determined stop, then exit the trade. Don’t trade on hope.
8. Chasing After Performance
Many day traders are tempted to chase stocks, which is a bad reputation in the day trading world.
This happens when they see a stock that has had a large price increase and they think that it will continue to go up. In reality, this is not usually the case, and chasing stocks can lead to big losses.
What goes up must come down, right?
Overcome by: Wait for a better time to enter the trade according to your trading plan.
9. Avoiding Your Homework
It is important to do your homework. If you avoid doing your homework, then don’t expect fast results
Many new traders often do not do their homework before making any investment decisions.
This can lead to costly mistakes that can be avoided by doing some basic research. Trading is a complex process and should not be taken lightly – make sure you are fully prepared before risking your hard-earned money.
Overcome by: If you have not enrolled in an investing course, do that. Set daily goals on how to improve your trading performance that is not based on profit or loss.
10. Trading Difficult and Unclear Patterns
It is important to stick with the patterns and indicators that are clear and unmistakable so you don’t get caught up in any ambiguous or unclear trading signals.
With a little bit of research and understanding, these market patterns can become quite clear.
By forcing a chart to fit in what you want, then you are putting your trading capital at risk.
Overcome by: If you cannot read a clear chart or pattern, then quickly move to the next stock.
11. Poor Reward to Risk ratios
The most common mistake made by traders is poor risk management. This usually means taking on too much risk in relation to the potential rewards, which can lead to heavy losses if the trade goes wrong.
It is important to always have a solid plan for how much you are willing to lose on any given trade and never deviate from it.
What is the Reward to Risk ratio you look for:
1:1 Reward to Risk
2:1 Reward to Risk
3:1 Reward to Risk
Many beginner traders do not want to take on as much risk because their appetite for potential rewards may be lower. It is important for beginners to consider their trading strategies and risk management plans so that they can make the most informed decisions possible.
Risk-to-reward ratios are an important part of trading, and experienced traders are typically more open to risk in order to maximize their potential rewards. This means that they may be more likely to make high-risk, high-reward trades.
Overcome by: Stick to Risk to reward ratios that fit your trading plan.
12. Ignoring volatility
Volatility is the fear and unknown in the market.
The most important thing to remember about investing is that the stock market can be volatile.
A measure of volatility is from the VIX.
Overcome by: Decide how you will trade when the VIX is high and the news is negative.
13. Too Many Open Positions
Entering too many positions is one of the most common mistakes investors make. A portfolio should consist of a handful of top-performing investments that have proven to be good bets over time.
It is unwise to open too many positions in a short amount of time because it could lead to confusion.
This can be risky because if one or two of the positions go south, the entire portfolio can suffer. For this reason, it is important to carefully consider each position before opening it and make sure that all positions are contributing positively to the overall goal.
Overcome by: As an active trader, stick to under 5 open positions. As a long-term investor, look to build a portfolio of 25 stocks over time.
14. Buying With Too Much Margin
Most brokers offer 2:1 or 4:1 margin to cash. While this is tempting to use, it can also give you a margin call.
Margin can help you make more money by increasing your position size, but it can also exaggerate your losses.
Exaggerated gains and losses that accompany small movements in price can spell disaster for a new trader using margin excessively.
Overcome by: Use your cash only. Stay away from using margin.
15. Following Meme Stocks
These are the stocks made popular by many Reddit personal finance groups.
You have probably heard of Gamestop, Blackberry, AMC, or Bed Bath and Beyond as a meme stock.
While these stocks have risen to crazy highs, they have also fallen just as fast. Chasing the high may leave you with a big and painful loss.
Overcome by: Stick to your stock watchlist.
16. Buying Stocks With No Volume
Buying stocks with no volume is a risky idea that involves placing an order on a stock without knowing how much interest there will be in the shares. This can result in losing money if there are no buyers for the shares.
It is important to validate the price of a stock by looking at volume. The volume shows how much interest there is in a stock and can be indicative of future price movement.
When volume is low, it’s best to stay away from buying stocks as it could be a sign that the stock price is not stable.
Overcome by: Trade stocks with a volume of at least 500,000 or higher.
17. Ignoring Indicators
Indicators are things that tell us the market is going up or down. Examples of indicators would be the stock market at a particular point in time, a company’s performance with regards to earnings, the price of a product or service.
Every trader has their own set of indicators they use.
If you have outlined indicators you use in your trading, make sure to follow them regardless if it is against the way you want the stock to move.
Overcome by: Stick to your trading plan for each stock individually.
18. Trading Too Large Position Sizes
Trading too large position sizes is a risk that traders may run into when they hold positions in their portfolios for extended periods of time.
Position size is the amount of money placed on a trade, and the risk is that a trader may lose more than their capital on the trade if it does not go well.
Overcome by: Base your position size on the amount you are willing to lose. Not how much you want to make.
19. Inexperienced Day Trading
In order to be successful in trading, it is important to have a good understanding of the markets and the strategies you are using. Without proper training, it is easy to make costly mistakes.
Too many day traders turn trading into an unnecessary risky game.
To be successful, a day trader must have a solid foundation in how to invest in stocks for beginners.
Overcome by: Practice in a simulated account and make all of your mistakes there before moving to live money.
20. Inconsistent trading size
Inconsistent trading size is when traders are unable to predict what their position size should be in order to meet the trader’s desired profit goal.
Trading size is one of the most crucial aspects of a trading strategy and should be considered carefully. Larger trade sizes come with an increased risk, so it’s important to be aware of your position size when making trades.
Overcome by: Don’t risk too much on one trade. Stick to your risk management plan.
21. Trading on numerous markets
Trading on numerous markets is when a trader invests in stocks, bonds, commodities, crypto, and other securities.
Every type of market moves differently and takes time to understand how to be profitable.
Overcome by: Find your niche and stick to it.
22. Over-leveraging
Leverage is a powerful tool that can be used to magnify gains and losses in a trade. It is important to be aware of the amount of leverage being used in order to effectively manage risk.
Brokers play an important role in protecting their customers by providing margin calls and other risk management tools.
Overcome by: If you feel over-leveraged, sell some positions before your broker gets involved.
23. Overexposing a position
Overexposure is a term used in the investment world to describe the risk that comes with exposing your position too much in the market. When you have overexposed your position, you are putting yourself at risk of losing money if the stock or security you are invested in falls in value.
You are taking on too much risk.
Overcome by: Stick to your risk management plan. Always have cash reverse on hand in case the market reverses.
24. Lack of time horizon
There are different time horizons for various types of trading strategies. It is important to think about the time horizon you are comfortable with before investing in any type of investment.
If you are a day trader, you plan to close your trades before the end of the trading session. As a swing trader, you typically hold trades for a couple of days maybe up to a month. As a long-term investor, you plan to hold your stocks for longer than a year.
Overcome by: Match the time horizon of that investment purchase with your investing goals.
25. Over-reliance on software
Although some trading software can be highly beneficial to traders, it is important not to over-rely on it.
Automated trading systems are becoming so advanced that they could revolutionize the markets. As a result, human traders need to be aware of the potential for these systems to make mistakes and use them in conjunction with their own judgment.
Overcome by: Set alerts before you want to enter or exit a trade. Then, review if the move still follows your trading strategy.
Top Options Trading Mistakes Beginner Traders Make
These options trading mistakes are specific to option trading.
Trading options is an advanced strategy. If you have losses trading stocks, wait before you start trading options.
1. Not having a Trading Plan
Every trader needs a trading plan that outlines strategies, game plans, and trade metrics.
When you are trading without a plan, you are essentially gambling and hoping for the best.
This is not a recipe for success in the world of stock trading and is especially true for options traders.
A good trading plan should include chart analysis so that you can make informed decisions about when to buy and sell stocks. If you are using HOPE instead of a trading plan, then you need to find out the right way to interpret the chart because that will give you a better idea of what is happening in the market and how likely it is that your investment will succeed.
Overcome by: Create a specific trading plan based on your option strategy.
2. Not properly Researching Option Contracts
Learning to trade options is like going to school for a whole different trade.
There are way too many technical aspects to discuss in this mistake.
Spend time learning what criteria you want from an options contract to be successful.
Overcome by: Learn how options work and practice trading options in the simulator before going live.
3. Trading without an understanding of the underlying asset
Before you start trading options, trade with stocks.
Every stock moves at its own beat. You need to learn how it moves.
Jumping into options prior to knowing the stock can cause extreme losses. Learn how the underlying asset moves first. Be successful in trading stocks before moving to options.
Overcome by: Learn to trade the stock with shares first. Then, practice in a simulator. Once familiar, then trade live with options.
4. Buying Out-of-the-Money (OTM) Call Options
Options trading is a risk-based strategy. It’s important to know which strategies are right for you and what the risks of each option type are before putting on an option trade.
One common mistake that many traders make when it comes to option trades is buying out-of-the-money (OTM) call options.
This is because OTM call options are inexpensive and have a range of around 100,000 to 1 million. To avoid this mistake, it’s important to know what the risks of buying OTM call options are and which option strategies are appropriate for you.
Overcome by: Focus on trading In-the-money (ITM) call contracts. Know your strategy.
5. Not Knowing What to Do When Assigned
When you enter into an options contract, you are essentially agreeing to buy or sell the underlying asset at a specific price on or before a certain date.
If the market moves in a way that benefits the buyer of the option (the person who contracts to buy the asset), they can choose to exercise their option and purchase the asset at the agreed-upon price. However, if the market moves in a way that benefits the seller of the option (the person who contracts to sell), then they may “assign” their contract to someone else – meaning that they no longer want to buy/sell the asset, but would like someone else to take on that responsibility.
This can be jarring if you haven’t factored it into your decision-making when trading options, so it is important to be aware of the possibility.
This is why traders need a higher trading level to sell options contracts or verticals.
Overcome by: Be okay with buying the shares if you are assigned. That is a part of your trading plan.
6. Legging Into Spreads
It is a common mistake for traders to get legged into spreads by entering positions when the market price has moved away from their position. They may have gotten caught up in the belief that they are being a “smart” trader by trying to profit from the spread.
The problem is that they are not taking into account that their cost basis must go up in order to maintain the position. If the market price of the underlying goes up, their cost basis must go up as well.
Overcome by: If you are not comfortable with this advanced strategy, then exit your options contract and place a new one.
7. Trading Illiquid Options
Trading illiquid options is a mistake because traders are taking on too much risk, with potentially disastrous consequences.
Illiquid means that the option cannot be bought or sold at the given time.
In other words, the option is not tradable. When traders trade illiquid options, they are taking a risk that their trades will not be executed because there is no liquidity in the market at that time. They have to hope that the market will become liquid again, and they can then sell their position or buy back their option at a lower price.
Overcome by: Check option volume and open interest at your strike place. Verify you have interest in moving your contract.
8. No Exit Plan
It is important to have a plan in case your trading strategy doesn’t pan out as planned.
This will give you the peace of mind that you won’t be left high and dry without an exit strategy.
With options is it more difficult to limit your risk to reward. As a result, you must decide your exit plan in advance.
Overcome by: Develop your trading strategy and include how and when you will exit the option contract.
Ready to Avoid these Trading Mistakes?
Investors are often their own worst enemy when it comes to trading.
They make emotional decisions instead of logical ones, and this leads to them making costly mistakes. Plus there are many technical errors new and seasoned traders are still making.
In order to be successful in the markets, investors must first learn to accept their losses and move on. Only then can they put that mistake behind them and focus on making profitable trades in the future.
In this post, I shared some of the more common trading mistakes that people make and how to avoid them.
Now, you have to work to avoid these trading mistakes and be profitable.
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
Wall Street is a place that people love to hate.
The Wall Street of today, however, could not be further from the one we know and fear: it’s a trillion-dollar industry with innovation brewing in every corner. You may have heard about these innovations on The Big Short or Moneyball but you might want to broaden your horizons when it comes to movies that feature this major American institution.
While learning about money, finances, and the stock market may or may not be your thing, there is plenty to learn while being classically entertained.
When you’re studying for the MCAT, going through a financial audit, or watching skyrocketing inflation happening before you, it can be hard to find films that accurately portray modern finance.
But Wall Street is full of memorable characters and interesting situations with plenty of twists and turns to keep your attention.
Whether you’re looking for movies about trading on Wall Street or movies about money itself, here are 25 classics worth watching over and over again!
Followed by a list of the best documentaries on stock market trading.
Best Movies About Wall Street
Plenty of movies have been made about Wall Street over the years. There is a fascination with the life of a trader and how it intersects with business.
The order dated from the oldest movie to the most recent film.
Here are 25 of the best films set at the intersection between finance and our culture:
1. “Edison, the Man” (1940)
The movie is about the life of Thomas Edison, one of the most famous inventors in history.
The main character is played by Spencer Tracy, who does a great job portraying businessman Thomas A. Edison. The story follows Edison’s journey from being a stockbroker on Wall Street to becoming one of the most famous inventors in history.
Most of the film’s script is fictionalized or exaggerated, it should be viewed as such.
Watch On:
2. “Citizen Kane” (1941)
Citizen Kane is a 1941 American drama film directed by, produced by, and starring Orson Welles. The picture was Welles’s first feature film. The screenplay, written by Herman J. Mankiewicz and Welles, was based on the life of William Randolph Hearst.
Citizen Kane helped form the idea that there should be a cultural shift in how we view Wall Street. It is considered to be one of the greatest movies ever made because it’s highly innovative, artistic, and technical with many different themes being explored throughout its runtime.
Watch On:
3. “It’s A Wonderful Life” (1946)
“It’s A Wonderful Life” is a classic movie for the generations.
The protagonist of the movie is George Bailey. The movie revolves around the idea that if George Bailey never existed, life would be much worse off. This film is a classic and a must-watch for anyone interested in finance or business.
Ultimately, he learns some valuable lessons about life and himself.
Watch On:
4. “Trading Places” (1983)
“Trading Places” is the funniest movie about Wall Street. The plot revolves around how one man’s fall from Wall Street is another man’s blessing.
It’s a classic movie about Wall Street that is still relevant today. The film follows the story of two men whose lives are drastically changed when they’re made the subject of a bet on Wall Street. It stars Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, Ralph Bellamy, Don Ameche, Denholm Elliott, and Jamie Lee Curtis.
Released in 1983, Trading Places was a box-office success. Earning over $90 million, the film became the fourth-highest-grossing film of that year in the United States and Canada. Furthermore, it was critically acclaimed for its humor and cast.
John Landis directed “Trading Places” and it is an absolute classic. Watching Murphy talk about futures and markets is hilarious.
Watch On:
5. “Working Girl” (1988)
“Working Girl” is a 1986 romantic comedy-drama film directed by Mike Nichols and written by Kevin Wade. The film stars Melanie Griffith, Harrison Ford, Sigourney Weaver, Alec Baldwin, and Joan Cusack. It received many Academy Award nominations in 1989, including Best Picture and Best Actress (for Griffith).
The story follows Tess McGill (Griffith), an ambitious secretary who pitches a profitable idea to her boss only to have her boss take credit. After her boss (Weaver) is out with a medical injury, Tess teams up with investment banker Jack Trainer (Ford) to make a big deal. Things get complicated when her boss comes back and discovers what Tess has been up to.
“Working Girl” was praised by critics upon release and became a box office success. It grossed over $96 million worldwide against its $13 million budget.
The idea for Working Girl came when writer Kevin Wade and producer Douglas Wick were in New York City together in 1984 and noticed throngs of career women walking to work while carrying their high heels (source).
Watch On:
6. “Wall Street” (1987)
“Wall Street” is a 1987 American drama film directed by Oliver Stone and starring Michael Douglas, Charlie Sheen, and Daryl Hannah. The film tells the story of Bud Fox (Sheen), a young stockbroker who wants to make it big in the world of finance.
An eager and inexperienced stockbroker is willing to do anything to get ahead, including going through an unscrupulous shady corporate raider who takes the young-in-awe under his wing.
The movie was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor (Michael Douglas).
A sequel titled “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” was released 23 years later.
Watch On:
7. “Bonfire of the Vanities” (1990)
“Bonfire of the Vanities” is a movie that captures the class-consciousness of 1980s New York.
The film focuses on Wall Street and New York City’s stratification issues. In particular, it focuses on the Manhattan elite and how they are separated from other social classes in the city.
The film is based on a book by Tom Wolfe, who was inspired by his own experiences living in Manhattan during that time period.
Watch On:
8. “Other People’s Money” (1991)
Other People’s Money is a 1991 American comedy-drama film directed by Norman Jewison and starring Danny DeVito, Gregory Peck, and Penelope Ann Miller. DeVito plays a ruthless businessman who buys companies and sells off their assets to make him rich.
Along the way, this corporate raider falls in love with the wife’s daughter, who is a lawyer. An avid lover of this woman, the corporate raider attempts to win her heart through legal maneuvering.
Watch On:
9. “Glengarry Glen Ross” (1992)
Glengarry Glen Ross is a 1992 American drama film adapted by David Mamet from his 1984 Pulitzer Prize-winning play Glengarry Glen Ross. The film was directed by James Foley and stars Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alec Baldwin, Alan Arkin, and Kevin Spacey.
“Glengarry Glen Ross” is a movie about the incentives of real estate salesman. This drama-filled movie shows what people will do to close a sale.
Watch On:
10. “Barbarians at the Gate” (1993)
Barbarians at the Gate is a 1993 American drama made-for-TV movie based on the book of the same name by Bryan Burrough and John Helyar. The film was directed by Glenn Jordan and stars James Garner as H. Ross Perot, Peter Riegert as Henry Kravis, and Swoosie Kurtz as Ruth Harkness.
The film tells the story of a leveraged buyout between two Wall Street insiders who battle for control over a company. It is considered one of the best movies about Wall Street because it provides an inside look at how these deals are made.
Watch On:
11. “The Associate” (1996)
The Associate is an American comedy movie released in 1996.
Investment banker Laurel Ayres (Whoopi Goldberg) is an associate for an investment firm who has great advice but doesn’t get the respect she deserves because she is a black woman.
Money is power, so she uses a white man as her partner. The protagonist has great advice but no one will take it seriously because she’s a woman of color with an African American sounding name. To prove her worth, the protagonist creates a fictional white male figure to be her business partner to make people listen to her more than they would otherwise.
Watch On:
12. “Rogue Trader” (1999)
Rogue Trader is a 1999 British drama film directed by James Dearden and starring Ewan McGregor and Anna Friel. It is based on the true story of Nick Leeson, a British trader who caused £800 million or about $1 billion in losses through unauthorized trades in 1987, and his attempt to cover up his losses by falsifying account documents.
Nick reads in the newspaper that the company went bankrupt and then realizes the severity of his losses. Him and his wife then decided to go back to London, but Nick is arrested en route from Frankfurt. Finally, Nick is extradited to Singapore where he is sentenced to six and a half years in prison.
Watch On:
13. “American Psycho” (2000)
American Psycho is a satirical psychological horror film that was released in 2000 and is based on the novel of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis.
The film stars Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Josh Lucas, Chloë Sevigny, Samantha Mathis, Cara Seymour, Justin Theroux, and Reese Witherspoon. It debuted at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2000, and was released theatrically on April 14, 2000.
American Psycho is a movie about Patrick Bateman, a successful Wall Street executive with an inner darkness that leads him to commit heinous crimes. The film has developed a cult following over the years and is now considered a classic. Additionally, it has made a strong presence in contemporary meme culture.
A direct-to-video sequel, “American Psycho 2” was released in 2002.
Watch On:
14. “Boiler Room” (2000)
Boiler Room is a movie about Wall Street corruption. It stars Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel, Nia Long, Ben Affleck, Nicky Katt, and Jamie Kennedy.
This movie is about a young man, played by Giovanni Ribisi, who ran an unlicensed casino, but wasn’t making the living his father, a New York City judge wanted. So, with the promise of being a millionaire, he becomes a stockbroker in a brokerage firm.
In fact, the brokerage firm was running Pump and Dump schemes – investment scams that involve artificially inflating the price of stocks before dumping them onto uninformed investors.
The movie was met with mixed reviews by critics but audiences seemed to enjoy it more. I mean it did star Ben Affleck.
Watch On:
15. “The Bank” (2001)
This Australian movie “The Bank” is about finance software that predicts stock market trends.
This drama-thriller heist film was directed by Frank Oz and written by Paul Schrader. The critical response was mixed but praised its acting performances, particularly from Al Pacino and Jennifer Wright Penn.
Watch On:
16. “The Pursuit of Happyness” (2006)
“The Pursuit of Happyness” is a 2006 American biographical drama film based on the life of Chris Gardner. It tells the story of how he rose from homelessness to Wall Street success. The movie was directed by Gabriele Muccino and stars Will Smith in the leading role. It grossed over $307 million worldwide, making it one of Smith’s highest-grossing movies. In 2006, Will Smith was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Gardner.
The movie is set in San Francisco, California, and follows Gardner’s trials and tribulations as he strives to become a successful stockbroker. Despite being homeless with a young son, he never gives up on his dream. The film finishes with him landing a job at Dean Witter Reynolds and becoming a millionaire five years later.
Although “The Pursuit of Happyness” is not technically about Wall Street, it is an excellent depiction of what it takes to be successful in this field – grit, determination, and perseverance in the face of adversity.
Watch On:
17. “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” (2010)
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps is a 2010 American drama film directed by Oliver Stone. It is a sequel to Wall Street (1987), which was also directed by Stone. The film stars Michael Douglas, Shia LaBeouf, and Carey Mulligan.
The movie begins with the release of Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) from prison, where he has been for eight years for insider trading and securities fraud. He immediately goes to see his future son-in-law, Jacob (Shia LaBeouf), who is now working on Wall Street. Gordon helps Jacob get back at the man who screwed his mentor’s firm over.
The movie covers the events leading up to the financial crisis of 2008 and explores how it affects individuals, society, and culture. The firm was highly successful at the box office earning more than $134 million worldwide.
Watch On:
18. “Margin Call” (2011)
Margin Call is a movie about Wall Street and bankers. It is considered a classic, and it was released in 2011. The banker in the movie has created a financial model that shows the firm will be completely underwater, but before he can show anyone else, he gets fired. He hands his model off to a junior banker who then has to save everything from this one data point on his laptop in the middle of the night while everyone is asleep.
Everyone wonders if “Margin Call” is a true story. While there is no specific person or company name, it rings true of what happened in the 2007-2008 financial crisis.
Watch On:
19. “Too Big To Fail” (2011)
“Too Big To Fail” is a 2011 HBO adaptation of the book by Andrew Ross Sorkin. The movie covers the 2008 financial crisis and follows bankers who meet behind closed doors with regulators to negotiate the federal bailout of the financial industry.
The film was able to feature a parade of stars who played different bank and investment bigwigs. While it’s based on true events, there are some dramatizations in order to make for a more compelling film.
It’s an interesting look at how Wall Street operates and what happens when things go wrong.
Watch On:
20. “Cosmopolis” (2012)
“Cosmopolis” is a movie starring Robert Pattinson about an incident involving currency speculation. The plot of the movie is quite complicated and may leave viewers scratching their heads as to what just happened.
The protagonist, Eric Packer, is a Wall Street investor who finds himself in the middle of an unexpected incident while in New York City. His wife and lover are introduced throughout the story but it doesn’t make sense why they would be in New York City together.
This movie has a lot of intrigues that will keep you on your toes as you weave through his personal life and the emotional rollercoaster of trading!
Watch On:
21. “Arbitrage” (2012)
“Arbitrage” is a movie about an ambitious hedge fund manager who tries to sell his company before anyone finds out he’s cooked the books. The plot involves a mistress accidentally dying in a car accident and its cover-up, with help from an unlikely source.
The movie is well acted and suspenseful and provides great insight into the world of high finance.
Watch On:
22. “The Wolf of Wall Street” (2013)
The Wolf of Wall Street is a 2013 American biographical black comedy crime film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Terence Winter, based on the memoir of the same name by Jordan Belfort. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Belfort, Margot Robbie as his wife Naomi Lapaglia, Jonah Hill as Donnie Azoff, and Kyle Chandler as Patrick Denham.
This true story of Jordan Belfort, who starts his own company in the early 1990s and quickly grows their company – more importantly their status in the trading community on Wall Street. At the same time, so do their substance abuse and lies. Belfort is named the Wolf of Wall Street by Forbes Magazine. Soon after, the FBI look into Belfort’s trading schemes…
Now, you will have to finish the movie to see what happens.
Watch On:
23. “The Big Short” (2015)
The Big Short is a movie about the 2008 financial crisis and Michael Burry’s role in it. It was directed by Adam McKay and stars the brilliant ensemble cast in this movie of Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, and Marisa Tomei. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director (source).
Viewers praise the film for being entertaining and broad. It is among the top Wall Street movies.
Not many people are brave enough to go against the market trends and big banks except for Michael Burry. Who came out ahead on the big short in the housing market?
Watch On:
24. “Money Monster” (2016)
George Clooney and Julia Roberts team up in this financial thriller as TV show hosts who are taken hostage at gunpoint due to an irate investor. There is a tense standoff taking place on live television.
The film was directed by Jodie Foster and received mixed reviews, but still did well at the box office.
Watch On:
25. “The Wizard Of Lies” (2017)
The Wizard of Lies is a 2017 American biographical drama film about the fall of Bernie Madoff. Madoff’s Ponzi scheme was highly watched across the world as it was the largest spam in US history as he robbed at least $65 billion from unknowning victims. The film stars Robert De Niro as Bernie Madoff, Michelle Pfeiffer as Ruth Madoff, Alessandro Nivola as Mark Madoff, Nathan Darrow as Andrew Madoff, and Kristen Connolly as Catherine Hooper.
The film shows how the family of Bernie Madoff falls apart amidst the scandal.
“Bernie Madoff” is a biopic about the infamous Ponzi schemer who was jailed for orchestrating one of history’s largest financial pyramids. The film utilizes Robert DeNiro as Bernie Madoff, and tells the story from his perspective. Critics praised the film for being powerful.
Watch On:
What movies are about Wall Street?
There are a lot of great movies about Wall Street, but it can be hard to pick the best ones.
Some of our favorites include “Too Big to Fail,” “Boiler Room,” and “The Wolf of Wall Street.”
Which movie is based on stock market? Much Watch Ones
There are many movies based on the stock market. Some of the most popular ones include “The Wolf of Wall Street,” “The Big Short,” and “Margin Call.”
These movies tell the story of people who have made or lost a lot of money trading stocks and other investments. They offer a fascinating look at what happens behind the scenes on Wall Street, and they can be very educational for anyone interested in investing.
What Are the Top 3 Hedge Funds Movies to Watch?
There are a number of great movies about Wall Street and the hedge fund industry. Some of the most popular ones include “The Big Short“, “Boiler Room“, and “Arbitrage.”
These movies offer a fascinating look into the world of high finance and provide an interesting perspective on the industry. Hedge funds can be very profitable, but they can also be risky. Watch these films to learn more about the risks involved in this kind of investing, as well as the rewards.
Best Finance Documentaries
Ever since the 2008 financial crisis, film buffs have been obsessed with anything related to Wall Street.
From the “Trader” to the “Inside Job”, Hollywood seems ready to take on the global financial sector.
We’ve compiled a list of some of the best finance-related documentaries available to watch.
1. “Trader” (1987)
In the 1987 film “TRADER,” Paul Tudor Jones II offers a highly charged look at what it takes to make it as a Wall Street trader. The film was shot before the October 1987 crash, so it is an interesting historical artifact.
It delivers a rarely seen view of this marketplace and explains the workings of this frantic, highly charged area. This film is important because it captures America as it nears the end of its 200-year bull market.
“Trader” is a fascinating look into the minds of traders and their thought processes. It provides an inside look at the strategies that traders use to make money and how they think about the markets. If you are interested in learning about trading or want to get a better understanding of how it works, then Trader is a must-read documentary.
Watch On:
2. “The Trillion Dollar Bet” (2000)
The Trillion Dollar Bet is a documentary about a magic formula, specifically the Black–Scholes–Merton formula, which was dreamed to reduce risk in the stock market.
It is an interesting film because it portrays Wall Street in a way that many people have never seen before. As they started to use this “dream” formula, they started losing huge amounts of investments each day. The movie focuses on the rise and fall of hedge funds, with a specific focus on the 1994-1998 period when one of them went bankrupt.
The documentary will interest many people who are interested in finance, economics, and investing.
Watch On:
3. The Corporation (2003)
“The Corporation” is a documentary film written by Joel Bakan, and directed by Mark Achbar and Jennifer Abbott.
Released in 2003, the film examines the nature of the modern corporation, considering its legal status as a “person”, and how this affects different aspects of corporate behavior. The film won numerous awards including at the Sundance Film Festival (source).
And check out the latest… The New Corporation: The Unfortunately Necessary Sequel
Watch On:
4. Enron – The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)
The film “Enron – The Smartest Guys in the Room” tells the story of Enron, a company that was involved in accounting fraud and created $30 billion worth of debts. Enron is often seen as an example of corporate corruption and the Enron incident is often considered the best example of that.
This documentary tells the story of how Enron became one of the largest companies in America before its collapse.
Critics reviewed the film positively and it also received good ratings from audiences.
Watch On:
5. Wall Street Warriors (Season 1-3 | 2006)
If you’re looking for a reality TV series that will take you inside the fascinating and high-pressure world of Wall Street, look no further than “Wall Street Warriors”.
The show follows the lives of those working on Wall Street – from traders to investment bankers to hedge fund managers.
There are 3 seasons, with each season consisting of 26 episodes. So whether you’re looking for an hour of entertainment or you want to learn more about the financial industry, “Wall Street Warriors” has something for you.
Watch On:
6. The Ascent of Money (2008)
The documentary traces the origins of money, credit, and banking throughout history.
The title is interesting because it provides a comprehensive overview of how money has evolved over time. The documentary also interviews experts from various financial backgrounds, which makes it an insightful watch for anyone looking to gain a better understanding of finance.
The Ascent of Money is a 2008 documentary film written and directed by Michael Lewis and won an International Emmy Award.
Watch On:
7. Floored (2009)
The documentary focuses on the futures exchange in Chicago, and how digitization and computerization are changing trading floor practices. It features interviews with various traders who offer their insights into this rapidly-changing industry.
Watch On:
8. Million Dollar Traders (2009) – Mini Series
These ordinary traders did better than the pros. Some of the best traders included a student, a soldier, and a single mother of 2 children. They may have lacked experience, but they made up for it with guts and determination.
The reality mini-series happens during the recession of 2008 – also known as not a great time to be a trader. As the market falls, the story becomes personal for many of these non-traditional traders.
In fact, this is similar to what Teri Ijeoma is doing today.
Watch On:
9. Capitalism: A Love Story (2009)
Capitalism: A Love Story is a 2009 documentary film written and directed by Michael Moore. The film examines the financial crisis of 2007-2008 and the subsequent economic recession.
The criticism in Capitalism: A Love Story is clearly pointed at businesses that take risks for profit-led motives, with public funds ultimately securing the risk. For example, Moore interviews former Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain, asking how much money he made while his company was losing $8 billion per quarter.
Moore interviews many too financial gurus to ask the question – What is America’s cost for its love of capitalism?
Watch On:
10. “Inside Job” (2010)
Inside Job is a made-for-television documentary about the Fall 2008 financial crisis.
This documentary tackles the 2008 financial collapse in a way that is easily digestible, featuring interviews with experts in the field of finance. The film takes a look at some of the factors which led to the Great Recession, such as deregulation and Wall Street executives going unpunished.
The film walks viewers through topics such as extreme consolidated power on Wall Street, questionable banking practices which helped create the housing bubble, and federal regulators’ bailout that kept most big banks afloat after the 2008 financial collapse.
The movie was directed by Charles Ferguson, and it won an Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2011.
Watch On:
Most Acclaimed Wall Street Movies
Many people ask, is there any movie on stock market? In fact, there are plenty!
In fact, there is probably a new flourish of movies being made about the economic effects from 2020 onward.
These are the top Wall Street Movies you must watch!
What is your favorite movie about wall street?
Everyone will have their favorite pick!
Start a movie club and discuss which Wall Street movies. This is a great way to understand the impact of what is going on in the financial markets.
Which Must Watch Stock Market Movies are on Your List?
These movies and documentaries are incredibly informative to find out what is happening on Wall Street and how things are handled.
They offer great insights into what can happen when things go wrong on Wall Street. If you’re interested in finance or investment banking, I highly recommend watching these movies!
More Resources for You…
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Two rent-related lawsuits were lodged by separate property companies against Atlanta-based Equity Prime Mortgage LLC, adding to the outstanding number of litigation battles the multi-channel lender has to resolve, including one filed by a NASCAR team in late-December.
The lease lawsuits were lodged in Florida and Missouri two months apart by landlords accusing the mortgage company of not paying rent for office spaces.
A suit filed in Florida by TGT Maitland, LLC in April accuses the lender of “failing and refusing to pay the rent and other amounts owed under the lease” for an office space it has been renting since 2019. The sum owed as of March 6 totals close to $30,000.
A month prior, litigation was filed on behalf of Weldon Centre, LLC, a company that owns buildings in Missouri. The company filed a rent and possession lawsuit, a method commonly used by landlords when tenants do not pay rent.
Details regarding the lawsuit are sparse, but as of April 3 the case has been marked as resolved. The attorney representing Weldon Centre would not provide further information about the case.
According to the lawsuit filed in Florida, EPM, which has headquarters in Atlanta, has been renting the office owned by TGT Maitland since May 2019. In September 2022 the mortgage shop renewed the lease for an additional three years. The rent currently due by EPM totals at least three months, with the monthly rate of the property coming in at $8,817, documents show.
The landlord of the property is seeking damages in excess of $50,000 to cover the lease, attorney’s fees and court costs. TGT Maitland is also holding onto a $9 thousand security deposit from EPM, which it will apply to the sum owed, the lawsuit said.
EPM did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The back-to-back lawsuits come after Jesse Iwuji Motorsports announced that it was suing EPM for $4.1 million in a Florida federal court, claiming the firm stopped making six-figure monthly payments last September for commitments including stock car signage.
Per the lawsuit, an EPM executive told the team it wouldn’t make further sponsorship payments because of a “margin call” and was suffering financially from mortgage rate hikes.
“Though JIM sympathized with EPM’s predicament and proposed measures in good faith in order to benefit EPM and continue the parties’ relationship, EPM again reiterated in communications with JIM that the effect of the ‘margin call’ was the reason why future payments would not be made,” said Darren Heitner, attorney at Heitner Legal and JIM’s legal representation.
The mortgage shop fired back with a countersuit in February denying accusations of having financial issues and placed the blame of the sponsorship breakdown on the racing team’s own alleged admission of liability. Negotiations between both parties are still ongoing.
EPM has been in the mortgage business since 2008 and is currently licensed in 50 states, with 75 loan officers on board. The company originated $1.9 billion in residential loans between Jan. 1, 2022 and Oct. 31, 2022, according to data from by S&P Global.