Yes initial margin on a stock purchase for reg-t will be 50% and then reduce later to around 25%. The broker will be on the hook to their counter party, but you

Yes initial margin on a stock purchase for reg-t will be 50% and then reduce later to around 25%. The broker will be on the hook to their counter party, but you are now required to pay your broker. So a worse case situation is normally 4 to 1 leverage. That is for stocks, with options the margin call can grow to a value quickly where a retail investor cannot afford it ever. Edit: Looking at td margin schedule shows they'll require 20% in a reg-t account, so only 5 to 1 leverage at least. Still can risk $5k and owe 20k to your broker.