Margin Accounts
What is the minimum maintenance margin requirement for a long stock position held in a margin account?
Maintenance margin: Long = 25%, Short = 30%. Initial (Reg T) = 50%.
Complete Analysis & Legal Rationale
The minimum maintenance margin for long stock positions is 25% of the current market value. If equity falls below this level, a maintenance call is issued requiring the customer to deposit additional funds.
Distractor Autopsy (Why Other Options Are Traps)
FINRA exam writers design incorrect distractors using specific calculation mistakes and regulatory misconceptions. Review why each option succeeds or fails:
20% is below the regulatory minimum maintenance requirement.
Matches the verified teaching point in the explanation.
30% is the minimum maintenance margin for short positions, not long.
50% is the initial margin requirement (Reg T), not the maintenance requirement.
Official Standard: Outline-level citation pending rule-specific upgrade. Verify against current FINRA materials.