Balance Information
Once you are logged into your account, click the My Account tab at the top to see your balance information. Below is a sample of what a day trading margin account might look like:
*Numbers displayed are examples only
You'll notice that not only is your balance listed, but you will also see important account information to alert you to funds available for certain kinds of trading. It's helpful to check your balances before engaging in trading to ensure your trades are able to be placed. Positions Stocks, Mutual Funds & Bonds not held on Margin - Value of any positions held in the cash portion of the account Stocks, Mutual Funds & Bonds held on Margin - Value of any positions held in the margin portion of the account Short Stocks Market Value - Value of any positions held in the short portion of the account Total Stocks, Mutual Funds, Bonds & Short Stocks Market Value - value is calculated as the sum of the three fields above Options Market Value - Value of current option positions, excluding non-standard options Money Balances Cash Balance - Money balance in the cash portion of the account (debit or credit) Margin Balance - Money balance in the margin portion of the account (debit or credit) Short Stock Reserve - Money set aside for buy back of short positions in the account. This is calculated each day, based on the previous day's closing price of current short positions in the account. Total Money Balance - Cash money balance, plus margin money balance, plus short sale proceeds Total Account Value - The sum of the following: Total stocks, mutual funds, bonds and short stocks market value + Options Market Value + Total Money Balance Short Stock Detail Short Stock Reserve - Money set aside for buy back of short positions in the account. This is calculated each day, based on the previous day's closing price of current short positions in the account. Short Stock Market Value - Value of any positions held in the short portion of the account. Today's credit/debit for shorted stocks - Potential mark-to-the-market based on current stock prices of short positions and profit/loss on closed short positions Margin Equity Percentage - The percentage of equity you own on margin Buying Power Positive Cash and Margin Balance - The net positive balance of money in the cash and margin portion of the account. If the sum of the cash and margin balance is negative, the amount will display as $0.00 Loan Value from Marginable Securities - The amount of equity from marginable securities, which may be withdrawn or used to purchase additional securities Funds Applied to Open Buy Orders - The amount that your Day Trading Buying Power has been reduced due to the open buy or sell short orders currently in your account Buying Power: Non-Marginable Securities - May be used to purchase non-marginable securities or to withdraw from the account. Any buying power used in excess of the available money balance is a loan and will be charged margin interest. Buying Power: Marginable Securities - May be used for the additional purchase or short selling of marginable securities. Buying Power is equal to twice the amount that may be used to purchase Non-Marginable Securities. Any buying power used in excess of the available money balance is a loan and will be charged margin interest Cash Available for Withdrawal - The sum of the following: Stock loan value of marginable stocks + Cash money balance + Margin money balance + Short sale proceeds + Funds applied to open buy orders. Any amount withdrawn in excess of the Positive Cash and Margin Balance available money balance is a loan and will be charged margin interest. Day Trading Buying Power (DTBP) Account Maintenance Excess - Amount of marginable equity above your minimum requirement as of 8 a.m. Eastern Time. Maintenance Excess will not update throughout the day. Beginning of Day DTBP - Account Maintenance Excess x 4. This is the starting point at the beginning of the day. Day Trading Buying Power can never exceed the starting point. Today's Impact on DTBP - The net value of today's trades, using yesterday's closing prices. This value adjusts the Day Trading Buying Power. Day Trading Buying Power Impact is affected by either an opening transaction or a closing transaction on a position opened today (Day Trade). A Day Trade is any of the following occurring the same day: The Day Trading Buying Power Impact - calculated based on yesterday's closing price as follows: *Refers to charges and releases throughout the trading period, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET and 4:15 to 8 p.m. ET for the extended hours trading session. Funds Applied to Open Buy Orders - The amount that your Day Trading Buying Power has been reduced due to the open buy or sell short orders currently in your account. Current Day Trading Buying Power - Resulting Day Trading Buying Power figure, based on the difference between the Day Trading Buying Power impact and what you started with (Beginning DTBP) at the start of the trading period. Yesterday's Positions' Value Stocks, Mutual Funds & Bonds not held on Margin - Value of any positions held in the cash portion of the account, excluding options, as of yesterday's close. Stocks, Mutual Funds & Bonds held on Margin - Value of any positions held in the margin portion of the account, excluding options, as of yesterday's close. Short Securities Market Value - Value of any positions held in the short portion of the account as of yesterday's close. Market Value as of Yesterday's Close - Sum of the following: Stocks, Mutual Funds & Bonds not held on Margin + Stocks, Mutual Funds & Bonds held on Margin + Short Securities Market Value
Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Detailed information on our policies and the risks associated with options can be found in Scottrade's Options Application and Agreement, Brokerage Account Agreement, and Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options (available at your local Scottrade branch office or from the Options Clearing Corporation at 1-888-OPTIONS or by visiting www.888options.com). All option accounts require prior approval by Scottrade. Market volatility, volume, and system availability mayimpact account access and trade execution. Supporting documentation for any claims will be supplied upon request.
Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of mutual fund carefully before investing. A prospectus contains this and other information about the fund and is available through www.scottrade.com or through a Scottrade branch office. The prospectus should be read carefully before investing.
Margin trading involves interest charges and risks, including the potential to lose more than deposited or the need to deposit additional collateral in a falling market. Scottrade's margin agreement, available at scottrade.com or through a Scottrade branch office, contains the Margin Disclosure Statement and information on our lending policies, interest charges and the risks associated with margin accounts.
| Day Trading Overview |
| Leverage |
| Tax Information for Brokerage Accounts |
| Tax Information for Retirement Accounts |
| Trading Web Site | 7/10/10 |
| ScottradeELITE | 7/10/10 |
| Trading Web Site | 7/31/10 |
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Any specific securities, or types of securities, used as examples are for demonstration purposes only. No information on this Web site should be considered a recommendation or None of the information provided should be considered a recommendation or solicitation to invest in, or liquidate, a particular security or type of security.
Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses of a mutual fund carefully before investing. A mutual fund's prospectus contains this and other information about the mutual fund. Prospectuses are available through our trading site or through a Scottrade branch office. The prospectus should be read carefully before investing. No transaction fee (NTF) funds are subject to the terms and conditions of the NTF funds program. Scottrade is compensated by the funds participating in the NTF program through recordkeeping, shareholder, or SEC 12b-1 fees.
Investors should consider the investment objectives, charges, expense, and unique risk profile of an Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) carefully before investing. Leveraged and Inverse ETFs may not be suitable for long-term investors and may increase exposure to volatility through the use of leverage, short sales of securities, derivatives and other complex investment strategies. A prospectus contains this and other information about the ETF and should be obtained from the issuer. The prospectus should be read carefully before investing.
Margin trading involves interest charges and risks, including the potential to lose more than deposited, or the need to deposit additional collateral in a falling market. Margin Disclosure Statement (PDF) is available for download, or it is available at one of our branch offices. It contains information on our lending policies, interest charges, and the risks associated with margin accounts.
Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Detailed information on our policies and the risks associated with options can be found in the Scottrade Options Application and Agreement, Brokerage Account Agreement, and by downloading the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options and Supplements (PDF) from The Options Clearing Corporation, or by requesting a copy from your local branch office. Supporting documentation for any claims will be supplied upon request.
Market volatility, volume, and system availability may impact account access and trade execution.
Testimonials may not be representative of the experience of other clients and are no guarantee of future performance or success.