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Understanding Leverage

Borrowing to Invest: Understanding Leverage

It is intended as an overview of borrowing to invest. Before you invest with borrowed money, make sure you understand the risks of using a leverage strategy in your portfolio.

What is Leverage?

Leveraged investing is defined as borrowing money to finance an investment.
You are familiar with the concept of leverage if you’ve ever:

Borrowed money to make additional contributions

Used a credit line for investing

Bought securities on margin from an investment dealer

Both individuals and companies use leverage as an investment strategy; a company with a lot of debt is considered highly leveraged. Leverage can be an effective way to boost returns in your investment portfolio, but you should also understand the potential consequences of borrowing to invest.

Leverage magnifies your losses as well as your gains, and you must be able to withstand those losses if you are going to use borrowed money to invest. The leveraged investment should be suitable to your investment goals and objectives and be consistent with the "know your client" information that you have provided to your dealer or adviser. It is both your responsibility and your adviser’s to ensure that you understand the investment, and are comfortable with the risk level.

Can You Handle the Risk?

Is leverage right for you? Ask yourself these questions:

Do you understand the risks of borrowing to invest?

Can you afford to lose the collateral you pledged as security for the loan?

Do your leveraged investments fit your risk tolerance profile?

Are you able to comfortably pay back your loan?

What are the interest and repayment terms of your loan?

Are you monitoring interest rates and inflation?

Do you understand their effects on your return?

How much money will you lose in your worst-case scenario?

Can you afford it?

Are you aware of the tax consequences that apply to your investment?

Lesson #1: The Secured Investment Loan

John Doe uses $50,000.00 from a bank line of credit to buy stocks. He secures the credit line using his home as collateral. This type of investment is a form of leverage, because John is using borrowed funds to finance his investment in stocks. John hopes that the value of his investment will increase to the point where he earns more from the investment than he is paying toward the interest on the line of credit.

If John’s investment decreases in value, he still has to make his monthly line of credit payment at the amount he originally negotiated. If John cannot make his monthly payment, he may have to sell the shares even if they have decreased in value. If the value of the shares does not cover the balance owing, he may be forced to sell his home.

Any asset used as collateral, including your house, can be taken by your creditor to satisfy the debt.

Lesson #2: The Mutual Fund Loan

Larry has $75,000 saved for his retirement, which is five years away. Concerned that his savings will not support his lifestyle, Larry consults with a mutual fund salesperson. He tells Larry that a lender will match the amount of Larry’s investment with a $75,000 loan, which he can use to invest in more mutual funds.

According to the salesperson, Larry will easily be able to make the monthly interest payments on the loan by selling a small portion of the mutual funds each month. In this example we assume that fund companies allow 10% of holdings to be sold each year without triggering deferred sales charges.

This strategy will only work if the value of the new mutual funds steadily increases. If the funds decrease, Larry will still have to make the interest payments on the borrowed money. Larry should also realize that the mutual fund salesperson receives a commission check for the initial sale of the funds, and may receive ongoing commission (trailer fees). Larry might also consider whether he wants to go into debt for an investment that can fluctuate in value, considering his approaching retirement.

Investors should always be in a position to be able to pay for investment loans out of cash flow. Closely consider the fees associated with this type of investment. Many investors use leverage in this way to contribute more money and generate a higher tax refund. A common strategy is to use the tax refund to pay off or pay down the loan, decreasing the amount of interest payable.