Leverage and Margin Explained: The Power and Peril of Borrowed Money

In this episode of Money Lessons, Andy explores leverage and margin — what happens when investors borrow money to buy stocks. He traces the story from the unchecked margin trading of the 1920s that fueled the 1929 crash through the regulatory response that reshaped modern markets, including Regulation T and FINRA's maintenance margin requirements.

Andy walks through a margin call example to show how borrowed money amplifies both gains and losses, then closes with practical questions every investor should ask before borrowing to invest.