FAQ - Most Common Questions

Intraday Margin Buying Power represents the funds available to open positions during the trading day. It is determined by evaluating trading capacity in real time. It is based on your account’s available buying power and current positions (rather than a fixed number of trades), this value is updated throughout the day as positions and buying power change.

The displayed amount is based on securities with standard margin requirements of 25%. If a security has higher maintenance requirements, the amount available for that trade may be lower than the value displayed.

To review this value, locate the Account Info gadget in the left sidebar, or open the Monitor tab, select the Account Statement tab, and expand the Account Summary section.

Note: paperMoney® may not reflect all intraday margin features, and values and availability can differ from a live account.

The Intraday Margin Buying Power field is available only for margin accounts that support intraday margin. This feature requires a minimum account equity of $2,000 and is not available in retirement accounts.

If your account does not display this field or shows it as not available, it may either not meet these requirements or use a different margin setup. Please contact support to confirm eligibility.

Intraday Margin Buying Power can be used to open positions, even when Stock Buying Power is insufficient for the same trade.

When placing an order, the system evaluates both values and applies the greater of Intraday Margin Buying Power or Stock Buying Power to determine whether the position can be entered. After the trade is executed, buying power metrics update to reflect the position. If overnight margin requirements are not met by 8:00 p.m. ET, a Regulation T (Reg T) call may be issued. This indicates the account does not meet initial margin requirements. Meeting those requirements may involve reducing positions or adding funds or marginable securities.

In certain cases, accounts may be subject to restrictions based on prior trading activity. When this occurs, order validation may be based on the lesser of Intraday Margin Buying Power or Stock Buying Power, which can limit the ability to open new positions.

To review buying power and margin metrics, locate the Account Info gadget in the left sidebar, or open the Monitor tab, select the Account Statement tab, and expand the Account Summary section.

Trades can be placed without using Intraday Margin Buying Power when sufficient Stock Buying Power is available.

Intraday Margin Buying Power is displayed only for eligible margin accounts with at least $2,000 in equity. Accounts below this threshold do not display this field but can still place trades based on available funds.

The use of Intraday Margin Buying Power can also be limited on an account. When this is the case, orders are evaluated using the more restrictive buying power value, which can prevent trades that rely on intraday margin. To remove this setting, please contact support.

Buying power values are shown in the Account Info gadget on the left sidebar. They can also be reviewed on the Monitor tab, under the Account Statement tab in the Account Summary section.

When considering a margin loan, you should determine how the use of margin fits your own investment philosophy. Because of the risks involved, it is important that you fully understand the rules and requirements involved in trading securities on margin.

Margin trading increases your level of market risk.

Your downside is not limited to the collateral value in your margin account.

Schwab may initiate the sale of any securities in your account, without contacting you, to meet a margin call.

Schwab may increase its “house” maintenance margin requirements at any time and is not required to provide you with advance written notice.

You are not entitled to an extension of time on a margin call.

To enable real-time stock and option quotes on thinkorswim please log into schwab.com or Schwab Mobile where you’ll be prompted to sign your professional or non-professional agreements. Professional users can request real-time data by calling Schwab at 800-435-9050. For Non-Professionals, after you have completed your non-professional agreements, please log out of thinkorswim and log back in.

15 minutes.

Yes, to access this information, go to Monitor > Account Statement > Account Summary. Your monthly accrued interest is the difference between your Available Funds For Trading and your Option Buying Power as long as your funds are cleared for options trading.

In the example below, the account has $313.66 in Available Funding for Trading and $113.80 in Option Buying Power. The difference of $199.86 is the monthly accrued margin interest, which is debited from the cash balance on the 2nd to last business day of every month.

Account Summary

If balances and positions are not appearing, it may indicate that you currently have view only access on thinkorswim. If you are interested in learning more about gaining access to thinkorswim, please start a chat by selecting “support” at the top of the platform or call us directly at 800-435-9050.

Yes, the Analyze tab is a great resource to simulate potential trades to see how they may impact overall margin requirements prior to placing a trade. In addition, you can calculate theoretical max profit, max loss, breakeven points, as well as the Greeks.

Click the setup button at the top right of the main thinkorswim window. In the menu, select ‘Save workspace as…’ Once you have given your workspace a name and successfully saved it, you will now be able load and share that workspace.