What should my action plan be if I get hit with a margin call?

Q: What should my action plan be if I get hit with a margin call?

Stop opening new positions, rank your open positions by risk and liquidity, decide whether to deposit cash or reduce positions to meet the call, confirm your broker's automatic-liquidation policy, and review the leverage level that led to the call once it is resolved.

The market doesn't reward being right. It rewards managing being wrong, cheaply.

Jason Parker, Founder of Trading Habits

Enter Your Margin Call

Use the numbers from your broker's actual margin call notice.

Your Result

Enter your call amount, equity, and deadline, then click Generate My Action Plan for a printable step-by-step response.

How this is calculated

This generates a general response process, not specific trade instructions for your positions. Only you know which of your positions to reduce first.
Closing positions to meet a margin call does not require depositing new money, and is often faster than a bank transfer against a same-day deadline.
Some brokers can liquidate positions automatically, without further notice, if a call isn't met by the deadline. Confirm your broker's specific policy directly.
The percent of equity figure shows how large this call is relative to your account, not a prediction of what caused it.

Risk & liability disclaimer: This calculator produces a mathematical estimate based on the numbers you enter. It is not financial advice and does not guarantee any trading outcome. Trading involves risk of loss, and past position sizing decisions do not predict future results. Trading Habits is not a broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, or tax professional, and is not affiliated with any broker, exchange, or data provider. We do not guarantee this tool is error-free or suitable for your situation - always verify results independently and consult a licensed professional before making any trading or financial decision. You could lose some or all of the capital you trade with.

What should my action plan be if I get hit with a margin call?

Enter Your Margin Call

Your Result

How this is calculated

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