08/15/2026
Dear friends,
The Hidden Cost of Leverage: How Borrowed Money Can Destroy Wealth Faster Than It Creates It - Stay away from (DAY) trading or investing in stocks or options using a margin (DEBT) account, leveraged ETFs (such as TQQQ, SOXL, SQQQ, SOXS and NVDL), or any leverage-based financial products?
Written By Jeyamariappan Ganapathy, CFA | Registered Investment Advisor | Samatva Wealth Management LLC Business CPA & CFO Services | Tax Filing | Business Incorporation | Bookkeeping | Personal Finance & Estate Planning | NRI Fund Repatriation
According to recent FINRA data, customer margin debt has reached approximately $1.5 trillion, an all-time high. While rising margin debt often accompanies bull markets and increasing asset values, elevated leverage can amplify market volatility during periods of stress.
You must consider and understand the current magnitude of margin account leverage. As of today, traders or investors have borrowed $1.5 trillion—more than the entire credit card debt in the USA—to trade stocks or ETFs to enhance their returns.
Furthermore, the amount of leverage used for trading is reaching a stratospheric level every month and is not sustainable in the long run. This musical chairs game may continue for one, two, or three years or more, and no one can exactly predict when it will crash. When it does, the crash will be very brutal and could wipe out the entire equity of the investors using this kind of leverage to amplify their returns.
Leveraged ETFs are designed to deliver a multiple of the DAILY performance of an underlying index or stock. Because they reset daily, long-term returns can differ significantly from the expected multiple due to volatility and compounding effects. In highly volatile markets, investors may experience substantial losses even if the underlying investment ultimately moves in the expected direction.
Historically, periods of excessive leverage have often contributed to sharper market declines. While no one can predict the timing of a market correction, investors using significant leverage may face disproportionately large losses during severe downturns.
The most recent one occurred in a South Korea ETF which is nearly 50% dominated by two semiconductor stocks, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. It dropped very drastically for a few days, wiping out the equity of many investors using excessive leverage. I suspect that many AI and semiconductor-related stocks in the USA trade at extreme valuations due to this leveraged trading. Many AI Big technology businesses are adding billions in leverage every quarter to support data center capacity expansion which is more than their free cashflows soon their total debt could reach in trillion at the current rate. We do not know If these businesses will ever achieve the ROI (Return on Investment) that their shareholders expect, but they will go through volatility during this journey and their own leverage will drive down their valuations and create a much bigger collapse for your leverage based investments.
Excessive leverage can create a risk profile similar to high-stakes gambling, where a relatively small adverse move can result in substantial or even permanent capital loss.
Excessive leverage does not simply create investment risk—it can create lifestyle risk. A severe loss may affect retirement plans, education funding for your kids, home ownership, and overall financial security. Investors should carefully consider whether the potential upside justifies these broader risks.
Leverage can be a powerful financial tool, but it can also become a wealth-destroying force when markets move unexpectedly. While leveraged ETFs and margin accounts may appear attractive during strong bull markets, investors should understand that the same leverage that magnifies gains also magnifies losses.
For most long-term investors, a diversified portfolio of low-cost index funds or high-quality businesses purchased at reasonable valuations may provide a more sustainable path toward financial independence without exposing their family's future to unnecessary risk.
Be proactive; unfortunately, you will have no time to react when it happens.
If your spouse is involved in any form of leverage-based trading or investing please share this blog with them.
I hope this helps you and your family.
I wrote this blog for educational purposes only and should not be construed as tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult qualified tax, legal, financial aid, and residency professionals regarding your specific circumstances.
Jeyamariappan (Mari) Ganapathy, CFA Samatva Wealth Management | Registered Investment Advisor. Website: www.samatva.us | Email: [email protected] | WhatsApp: 301-758-4052. Facebook: www.facebook.com/samatva.us | eBook & Blogs: www.samatva.us/blogs
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