How much leverage should I actually allow myself based on my experience and account size?
Enter Your Trading Background
This builds a personal risk-discipline rule, not your broker's actual margin or leverage limit.
Your Leverage Rule Card
Fill in the fields on the left and click Generate to build your personal max leverage rule card.
How this is calculated
This generator scores 3 factors: months of trading experience, your largest historical drawdown, and whether you have an emergency fund separate from trading capital. Each factor contributes points toward a total out of 7.
The point total maps to one of 4 leverage tiers, from No Leverage up to Leverage Allowed Within Strict Limits. These are personal risk-discipline suggestions, not your broker's actual margin rules, which are set by your broker, FINRA, and Regulation T, and vary by account type.
Leaving the drawdown field blank is treated as unknown history, which scores conservatively, since a trader with no track record under leverage has no evidence yet that they can handle it.
This card is meant to be a limit you set for yourself before you're in a trade, not a target to reach. Revisit it as your experience and drawdown history change.
Print or copy the card and keep it somewhere you'll actually see it before placing a leveraged trade.
Risk & liability disclaimer: This tool generates a plan or reference document based on the numbers and choices you enter. It is not financial advice, does not set your broker's actual leverage or margin limits, and does not guarantee any trading outcome. Trading Habits is not a broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, or tax professional, and is not affiliated with any broker, exchange, or data provider. Always verify results independently and consult a licensed professional before making any trading or financial decision.
Set the Limit Before the Trade, Not During It
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