Reviewed by Gotrade Internal Analyst
If you trade with borrowed money, you need to understand what a margin call is.
A margin call is one of the biggest practical risks of using a margin account, and it can force you to close positions at the worst possible time.
This guide explains what a margin call is, how it works, what triggers it, and how to reduce your chances of ever seeing one.
What Is A Margin Call?
A margin call happens when the value of your margin account falls below the broker’s required minimum, known as the maintenance margin.
At that point your broker asks you to either:
- Deposit more cash or securities, or
- Reduce your positions
If you do not act quickly, the broker has the right to sell your holdings to bring the account back into compliance.
In simple terms, a margin call is the broker saying, your collateral is no longer enough for the amount you have borrowed.
How Margin Accounts Work
Initial and maintenance margin
When you open a margin account, your broker allows you to buy more stock than your cash balance would normally allow.
- Initial margin is the amount you must provide to open a leveraged position.
- Maintenance margin is the minimum equity you must keep, usually expressed as a percentage of the total position value.
As long as your account equity stays above the maintenance margin, you are fine.
If it drops below, you get a margin call.
A simple example
Imagine you buy 10,000 dollars of stock using 5,000 dollars of your own money and 5,000 dollars borrowed from your broker.
Your equity is 5,000 dollars, or 50 percent of the position. Suppose the broker’s maintenance margin is 30 percent.
- If the stock falls and the position is now worth 7,000 dollars, your equity is 2,000 dollars.
- Equity ratio is 2,000 / 7,000, about 28.6 percent, which is below the 30 percent requirement.
You are now below maintenance margin. The broker can issue a margin call asking you to deposit cash or close part of the position.
What Triggers A Margin Call?
Several things can cause a margin call.
Price drops in your positions
If your leveraged stocks fall in value, your equity shrinks faster than in a cash account.
Increased margin requirements
In volatile conditions, brokers can raise maintenance margins. Even if prices do not move much, new rules can push your account below the threshold.
Concentration risk
If you borrow heavily to buy one or two names, a sharp move in a single stock can trigger a call.
Unrealised losses piling up
Leaving losing positions open for too long on margin can slowly eat into your equity until it drops below the requirement.
What Happens During A Margin Call?
When your account falls below maintenance margin, the typical sequence is:
Notification
The broker sends an alert, in app, by email, or both, explaining you are below the required margin.
Short window to act
You may get a limited amount of time, sometimes only hours, to add cash or reduce positions.
Forced liquidation
If you do nothing, the broker can sell some or all of your holdings without further notice.
They do this to protect their loan to you, not to maximise your outcome.
Forced liquidations often happen when markets are stressed.
You may end up selling at very poor prices simply to restore margin.
Why Margin Calls Are Risky For Retail Investors
Margin calls are not just an account rule, they shape behaviour.
- They can force you to sell at the bottom of a move, locking in losses.
- They can push you into adding cash to bad trades just to keep them alive.
- They create emotional stress, which makes rational decision making harder.
In a cash only account, you can choose whether to hold or sell a position.
On margin, the broker can make that decision for you if equity falls too far.
How To Reduce Margin Call Risk
If you decide to use margin at all, treat margin calls as something to avoid, not something to manage after the fact.
Use modest leverage
High leverage looks exciting, but it brings margin calls much closer.
Keeping leverage low gives you more room for normal price swings.
Set your own risk limits
Before opening positions, decide:
- Maximum leverage for your whole account
- Maximum size per trade
These self imposed rules help you avoid accidentally pushing your equity too close to the broker’s threshold.
Diversify and avoid illiquid names
Margin plus concentrated bets in thinly traded stocks is dangerous.
Spread risk across several liquid names so one move does not sink your account.
Keep a cash buffer
Leaving some uninvested cash in a margin account gives you flexibility.
If markets move sharply, that buffer can help you stay above maintenance margin without urgent deposits.
Is Margin Trading Right For You?
Margin trading gives you extra buying power, but it comes with the real possibility of margin calls, forced selling and faster drawdowns.
For many long term retail investors, a simple cash account with no leverage is more than enough to build wealth over time.
You avoid margin calls entirely and can focus on consistent investing, diversification and compounding.
Apps like Gotrade let you access US stocks and ETFs through fractional shares from low starting amounts, so you can grow your portfolio without borrowing or worrying about margin rules.
Conclusion
A margin call happens when your account equity drops below the broker’s required maintenance margin.
It is a warning that your collateral is no longer enough for the amount you have borrowed, and if you do not act, the broker may close your positions for you.
Understanding how margin works, how quickly losses can grow when leverage is involved, and how margin calls are triggered can help you decide whether margin trading fits your risk tolerance at all.
If your goal is steady long term investing, starting without leverage is often the safest and simplest path.
FAQ
- What is a margin call in simple terms?
A margin call is a notice from your broker that you need to add money or reduce positions because your account has fallen below the required margin level. - Can a broker sell my stocks without permission in a margin call?
Yes. In a margin account, the broker can liquidate positions if you do not meet the margin call in time. - How can I avoid margin calls?
Use low or no leverage, keep positions small and diversified, and maintain a cash buffer so normal price swings do not push you below maintenance margin.
Reference:
- Investopedia, Understanding Margin Calls: What Triggers Them and How to Respond, 2026.
- Capital.com, What is a Margin Call?, 2026.
Disclaimer
Gotrade is the trading name of Gotrade Securities Inc., which is registered with and supervised by the Labuan Financial Services Authority (LFSA). This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research (DYOR) before investing.
