Does a cash account or a margin account actually fit how I trade right now?

How this is scored

• Each question is worth 0, 1, or 2 points toward margin readiness, for a maximum of 12 points across all 6 questions.
• 0 to 4 reads as Cash Account Fits Better Right Now. 5 to 8 reads as Could Go Either Way, Start Cautious. 9 to 12 reads as Margin Could Fit, With Guardrails.
• Until June 2026, a margin account under $25,000 in equity was subject to pattern day trader rules if you traded U.S. equities frequently. FINRA eliminated that rule (brokers are phasing out the old version through October 2027), replacing it with an intraday margin standard that isn't tied to a fixed day-trade count or equity floor. A cash account was never subject to either version, though it carries its own settlement and good-faith violation rules.
• This is a self-assessment framework only. It does not know your specific broker margin requirements, interest rate, or maintenance rules, and it is not a recommendation to open or avoid any account type.
• Read your actual broker margin agreement before opening or using a margin account, regardless of what your score says here.