Borrowing to invest, also known as gearing or leverage, is a risky business. While you get bigger returns when markets go up, it leads to larger losses when markets fall. You still have to repay the investment loan and interest, even if your investment falls in value.
Are our investment loans rights for you?
Yes, if you:
- Plan to invest for at least 10 years
- Have enough income to make your loan and tax payments
- Have a high risk tolerance and feel comfortable with an approach that magnifies gains or losses
*Borrowing to invest is a high-risk strategy for experienced investors. If you’re not sure if it’s right for you, speak to a financial adviser.
FAQS
How borrowing to invest works
Borrowing to invest is a medium to long term strategy (at least five to ten years). It’s typically done through margin loans for shares or investment property loans. The investment is usually the security for the loan.
Margin loans
A margin loan lets you borrow money to invest in shares, exchange-traded-funds (ETFs) and managed funds.
Margin lenders require you to keep the loan to value ratio (LVR) below an agreed level, usually 70%.
Loan to value ratio = value of your loan/value of your investments
The LVR goes up if your investments fall in value or if your loan gets bigger. If your LVR goes above the agreed level, you’ll get a margin call. You’ll generally have 24 hours to lower the LVR back to the agreed level.
To lower your LVR you can:
- Deposit money to reduce your margin loan balance.
- Add more shares or managed funds to increase your portfolio value.
- Sell part of your portfolio and pay off part of your loan balance.
If you can’t lower your LVR, your margin lender will sell some of your investments to lower your LVR.
Margin loans are a high risk investment. You can lose a lot more than you invest if things go sour. If you don’t fully understand how margin loans work and the risks involved, don’t take one out.
Investment property loans
Investment property loans can be used to invest in land, houses, apartments or commercial property. You earn income through rent, but you have to pay interest and the costs to own the property. These can include council rates, insurance and repairs.
Borrowing to invest is high risk
Borrowing to invest is a medium to long term strategy (at least five to ten years). It’s typically done through margin loans for shares or investment property loans. The investment is usually the security for the loan.
Borrowing to invest is high risk
Borrowing to invest gives you access to more money to invest. This can help increase your returns or allow you to buy bigger investments, such as property. There may also be tax benefits if you’re on a high marginal tax rate, such as tax deductions on interest payments.
But, the more you borrow the more you can lose. The major risks of borrowing to invest are: [Make Card For These 4 Points]
- Bigger losses— Borrowing to invest increases the amount you’ll lose if your investments fall in value. You need to repay the loan and interest regardless of how your investment goes.
- Capital risk— The value of your investment can go down. If you have to sell the investment quickly it may not cover the loan balance.
- Investment income risk— The income from an investment may be lower than expected. For example, a renter may move out or a company may not pay a dividend. Make sure you can cover living costs and loan repayments if you don’t get any investment income.
- Interest rate risk— If you have a variable rate loan, the interest rate and interest payments can increase. If interest rates went up by 2% or 4%, could you still afford the repayments?
Borrowing to invest only makes sense if the return (after tax) is greater than all the costs of the investment and the loan. If not, you’re taking on a lot of risk for a low or negative return.
Important:
Some lenders let you borrow to invest and use your home as security. Do not do this. If the investment turns bad and you can’t keep up with repayments you could lose your home.
Benefits of an investment loans
Choose a 100% or 3:1 multiplier loan
Borrow 100% of the amount you want to invest (from $10,000 to $300,000) or borrow up to 3x the amount you personally contribute to your investment contract with a 3:1 multiplier loan (from $10,000 to $1,000,000).
Generate higher long-term returns
Compound returns – returns earned on the previous years’ gains – can be a very powerful way to accumulate wealth. And the higher the amount you start with, the higher your compound returns can be.
Be a disciplined saver
It can be hard to pay yourself first when you have many financial priorities. With an investment loan, you can maximize your investment, and interest-only payments can help you stretch your cash flow.
Choose a 100% or 3:1 multiplier loan
Borrow 100% of the amount you want to invest (from $10,000 to $300,000) or borrow up to 3x the amount you personally contribute to your investment contract with a 3:1 multiplier loan (from $10,000 to $1,000,000).
Generate higher long-term returns
Compound returns – returns earned on the previous years’ gains – can be a very powerful way to accumulate wealth. And the higher the amount you start with, the higher your compound returns can be.
Be a disciplined saver
It can be hard to pay yourself first when you have many financial priorities. With an investment loan, you can maximize your investment, and interest-only payments can help you stretch your cash flow.