# Question

**URL:** <https://forums.collective2.com/t/question/7345>\
**Category:** C2\
**Created:** [December 21, 2009, 9:47am UTC](https://forums.collective2.com/t/question/7345 "2009-12-21T09:47:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![MoneySuccessInc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@MoneySuccessInc](https://forums.collective2.com/u/MoneySuccessInc)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 9:47am UTC](https://forums.collective2.com/t/question/7345/1 "2009-12-21T09:47:34Z")

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I am not sure how this works. I started a portfolio with $10,000. I purchased 264 shares of SSO at $37.43 (=9881.52). However, the info says that I still have $4,931 of buying power. What am I missing?[LINKSYSTEM\_44330033]

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**Author:** ![JamesNelson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@JamesNelson](https://forums.collective2.com/u/JamesNelson)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 9:51am UTC](https://forums.collective2.com/t/question/7345/2 "2009-12-21T09:51:56Z")

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It’s called margin.

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**Author:** ![MatthewKlein](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forums.collective2.com/matthewklein/32/21382_2.png) [@MatthewKlein](https://forums.collective2.com/u/MatthewKlein)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 9:54am UTC](https://forums.collective2.com/t/question/7345/3 "2009-12-21T09:54:11Z")

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We assume all stock trades are made with 50% margin. You don’t have to take advantage of this. Simply only buy half the stock you are allowed to buy.  
  
  
  
For example, if you start with $10,000, you are allowed to buy $20,000 worth of stock. Don’t want to use margin? Then limit your portfolio to only $10,000 worth of stock.

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**Author:** ![FredPenney](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forums.collective2.com/fredpenney/32/159_2.png) [@FredPenney](https://forums.collective2.com/u/FredPenney)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 10:24am UTC](https://forums.collective2.com/t/question/7345/4 "2009-12-21T10:24:38Z")

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Matthew:  
  
  
  
The buying power is not as clear to new members as I think it should be. I had the same issue when I first joined. In my opinion, the account info should clearly state how much cash is available and how much margin is available.  
  
  
  
Fred

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**Author:** ![AspireTrader](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forums.collective2.com/aspiretrader/32/315_2.png) [@AspireTrader](https://forums.collective2.com/u/AspireTrader)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 10:46am UTC](https://forums.collective2.com/t/question/7345/5 "2009-12-21T10:46:21Z")

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I totally agree with you Fred.  
  
  
  
Collective2 could do a better job by being more specific in this area on its web site.

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**Author:** ![Index2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@Index2](https://forums.collective2.com/u/Index2)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 10:57am UTC](https://forums.collective2.com/t/question/7345/6 "2009-12-21T10:57:38Z")

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not looking at it now, but does it have one of those ? help popups to give explanation?

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**Author:** ![FredPenney](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forums.collective2.com/fredpenney/32/159_2.png) [@FredPenney](https://forums.collective2.com/u/FredPenney)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 11:16am UTC](https://forums.collective2.com/t/question/7345/7 "2009-12-21T11:16:19Z")

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When you open a ticket to buy or sell a stock or ETF, the buying power appears above the top right corner of the ticket but there isn’t a breakdown of buying power into cash and margin thus making it confusing.