In Focus

sing margin loans to buy stocks is a high-risk gamble. Just look at what the SEC says about it at http://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/margin.htm.

As a result of this high risk, brokerage firms ordinarily cannot "rubber-stamp" approve margin accounts for customers. Firms must conduct some due diligence to determine a customer's financial wherewithal to sustain the adverse effects of using margin.

However, a recent New York Times article casts doubt upon the sufficiency of the margin approval process. The article contends that Salomon Smith Barney in particular became much more lax in approving margin accounts during the technology bubble. Salomon Smith Barney formerly had three pre-approval levels that margin loans had to go through in which compliance employees considered suitability. But during the bubble, margin loans reportedly were processed without any questions.

Fuel to the fire.

— James J. Eccleston
FinancialCounsel.com