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Q: What Is Wash Trading?

Wash trading, also referred to as wash sale and round-trip trading, occurs when an investor buys and sells the same security at the same time in an attempt to influence pricing or trading activity.

Mar

2025

Wash Trading: What Is It and How Does It Work?

By Rebecca Lake | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off

Wash trading is a practice which involves entering into securities transactions for the express purpose of giving the appearance that a trade has taken place although their portfolio has not substantially changed. Also referred to as round-trip trading, wash trading is a prohibited activity under the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

In some cases, wash trading is a direct attempt at market manipulation. In others, wash trading may result from a lack of investor knowledge. This may be the case with wash sales, in which an investor sells one financial instrument then replaces it with a similar one right away. It’s important to understand the implications of making a wash trade and what one looks like in action.

Key Points

• Wash trading involves investors engaging in the simultaneous buying and selling of securities to create the illusion of trading activity.

• Wash trading involves the simultaneous buying and selling of the same or similar securities.

• This practice can be a form of market manipulation or result from a lack of investor knowledge.

• The goal of wash trading is to influence pricing or trading activity, often through collaboration between investors and brokers.

• Wash trading is illegal and can result in penalties, including the disallowance of tax deductions for losses.

What Is Wash Trading?

Wash trading occurs when an investor buys and sells the same or a similar security investment at the same time. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) also refers to this as a wash sale, since buying the same security cancels out the sale of that security. It’s also called round-trip trading, since you’re essentially ending where you began — with shares of the same security in your portfolio.

Wash trades can be used as a form of market manipulation. Investors can buy and sell the same securities in an attempt to influence pricing or trading activity. The goal may be to spur buying activity to send prices up or encourage selling to drive prices down.

Investors and brokers might work together to influence trading volume, usually for the financial benefit of both sides. The broker, for example, may benefit from collecting commissions from other investors who want to purchase a stock being targeted for wash trading. The investor, on the other hand, may realize gains from the sale of securities through price manipulation.

Wash trading can be a subset of insider trading, which requires the parties involved to have some special knowledge about a security that the general public doesn’t. If an investor or broker possesses insider knowledge they can use it to complete wash trades.

How Does Wash Trading Work?

On the surface level, a wash trade means an investor is buying and selling shares of the same security at the same time. But the definition of wash trades goes one step further and takes the investor’s intent (and that of the broker they may be working with) into account. There are generally two conditions that must be met for a wash trade to exist:

• Intent. The intent of the parties involved in a wash trade (i.e. the broker or the investor) must be that at least one individual involved in the transaction must have entered into it specifically for that purpose.

• Result. The result of the transaction must be a wash trade, meaning the investors bought and sold the same asset was bought and sold at the same time or within a relatively short time span for accounts with the same or common beneficial ownership.

Beneficial ownership means accounts that are owned by the same individual or entity. Trades made between accounts with common beneficial ownership may draw the eye of financial regulators, as they can suggest wash trading activity is at work.

A telling indicator of wash trading activity is the level of risk conveyed to the investor. If a trade doesn’t change their overall market position in the security or expose them to any type of market risk, then it could be considered a wash.

Wash trades don’t necessarily have to involve actual trades, however. They can also happen if investors and traders appear to make a trade on paper without any assets changing hands.

💡 Quick Tip: How to manage potential risk factors in a self-directed investment account? Doing your research and employing strategies like dollar-cost averaging and diversification may help mitigate financial risk when trading stocks.

Example of a Wash Trade

Here’s a simple wash trade example:

Say an investor who’s actively involved in day trading owns 100 shares of ABC stock and sells those shares at a $5,000 loss on September 1. On September 5, they purchase 100 shares of the same stock, then resell them for a $10,000 gain. This could be considered a wash trade if the investor engaged in the trading activity with the intent to manipulate the market or to unfairly claim a tax deduction for the loss.

Is Wash Trading Illegal?

Yes. The Commodity Exchange Act prohibits wash trading. Prior to the passage of the Act, traders commonly used wash trading to manipulate markets and stock prices. The Commodity Futures Trade Commission (CFTC) also enforces regulations regarding wash trading, including guidelines that bar brokers from profiting from wash trade activity.

The IRS has rules of its own regarding wash trades. The rules disallow investors from deducting capital losses on their taxes from sales or trades of stocks or other securities that are the result of a wash sale. Under the IRS rules, a wash sale occurs when you sell or trade stocks at a loss and within 30 days before or after the sale you:

• Purchase substantially identical stock or securities

• Acquire substantially identical stock or securities in a fully taxable trade

• Acquire a contract or option to buy substantially identical stock or securities, or

• Acquire substantially identical stock for your individual retirement arrangement (IRA) or Roth IRA

Wash sale rules also apply if you sell stock and your spouse or a corporation you control buys substantially identical stock. When a wash sale occurs, you’re no longer able to claim a tax deduction for those losses.

So, in short, yes, wash trading is illegal.

Difference Between Wash Trading & Market Making

Market making and wash trading are not the same thing. A market maker is a firm or individual that buys or sells securities at publicly quoted prices on-demand, and a market maker provides liquidity and facilitates trades between buyers and sellers. For example, if you’re trading through an online broker you’re using a market maker to complete the sale or purchase of securities.

Recommended: What Is a Brokerage Account?

Market making is not market manipulation. A market maker is, effectively, a middleman between investors and the markets. While they do profit from their role by maintaining spreads on the stocks they cover, this is secondary to fulfilling their purpose of keeping shares and capital moving. Without market makers, trades would take longer to execute and the markets could become sluggish.

How to Detect & Avoid Wash Trading

The simplest way to avoid wash trading as an investor is to be aware of what constitutes a wash trade or sale. Again, this can mean the intent to manipulate the markets by placing similar trades within a short time frame, or it can mean inadvertently executing a wash sale because you’re not familiar with the rules.

In the latter case, you can avoid wash trading or wash sales by being mindful of the securities you’re buying and selling and the time frame in which those transactions are completed. So selling XYZ stock at a loss, then buying it again 10 days later to sell it for a profit would likely constitute a wash sale, if you executed the trade in an attempt to be able to deduct the initial loss.

It’s also important to understand how the 30 days period works for timing wash sales. The 30 day rule extends to the 30 days prior to the sale and 30 days after the sale. So effectively, you could avoid the wash sale rule by waiting 61 days to replace assets that you sold in your portfolio to be on the safe side.

💡 Quick Tip: Look for an online brokerage with low trading commissions as well as no account minimum. Higher fees can cut into investment returns over time.

Wash Trading in Crypto Trading

Cryptocurrency can be a target for wash-trading activity. In the EOS case, wash trades were suspected of being used as a means of driving up investor interest surrounding the cryptocurrency during its initial offering. High-frequency trading has also been a target of scrutiny, as some believe it enables wash trading in the crypto markets. Whether wash trading rules and regulations specifically apply to crypto, however, is a bit murky.

The Takeaway

Wash trading involves selling certain securities and then replacing them in a portfolio with identical or very similar securities within a certain time period. This is done so as to avoid making substantial changes in your portfolio. Wash trading is illegal in practice but it’s also avoidable if you’re investing consciously and with a strategy in place.

Understanding when wash sale rules apply can help you to stay out of trouble with the IRS. If you’re unclear about it, you can consult with a financial professional for guidance.

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Photo credit: iStock/mapodile

About the author

Rebecca Lake

Rebecca Lake has been a finance writer for nearly a decade, specializing in personal finance, investing, and small business. She is a contributor at Forbes Advisor, SmartAsset, Investopedia, The Balance, MyBankTracker, MoneyRates and CreditCards.com. Read full bio.

SoFi Invest®

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Mar

2025

Everything You Need to Know About Lifestyle Funds and Lifestyle Investing

By Rebecca Lake | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing, Preparing for Retirement | Comments Off

Lifestyle funds are investment funds that base their asset allocation on someone’s age, risk tolerance, and investing goals. Individuals who want to build wealth over the long term in a relatively hands-off way might consider lifestyle investings.

There are different types of lifestyle funds investors may choose from, based on their appetite for risk, the level of risk needed to achieve their goals, and their investing time horizon. Lifestyle assets often also appear inside different types of retirement accounts, including employer-sponsored retirement plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). Whether becoming a lifestyle investor makes sense for you can depend on what you hope to achieve with your portfolio, how much risk you’re comfortable taking, and your overall time horizon for investing.

What are Lifestyle Funds?

A lifestyle fund or lifestyle investment holds a mix of investments that reflect an investor’s goals and risk tolerance. These investment funds tailor their investment mix to a specific investor’s needs and age to provide a simplified solution for reaching their goals.

Lifestyle funds may invest in both equities (i.e. stocks) and fixed-income securities, such as bonds and notes. These funds may require fewer decisions by the asset owner, since they adjust automatically through changing lifestyle needs until you reach retirement. With lifestyle assets, as with other types of funds, it’s important to consider the balance between risk and reward.

Lifestyle funds that carry a higher degree of risk may offer higher returns to investors, while those that are more conservative in terms of risk may yield lower returns.

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How Do Lifestyle Funds Work?

Typically purchased through a retirement account or a brokerage account, lifestyle funds work by creating a diversified portfolio to meet an investor where they are, while also taking into account where they’d like to be 10, 20 or 30 years from now.

An investor can choose from an initial lifestyle fund allocation, then adjust the risk level up or down based on their preferences. A fund manager reviews the asset allocation for the fund and rebalances periodically to help an investor stay on track with their goals.

The level of risk an investor takes may correlate to the average age of retirement, which for most people is around 65. So someone who’s 25 years old now has 40 years to invest for the future, meaning they can afford to take more risk to achieve their goals. As they get older, their tolerance for risk may decrease which could mean moving away from stocks and toward fixed-income investments.

Unlike target-date funds, the level of risk in lifestyle funds doesn’t change significantly over time. So if you were to choose an aggressive lifestyle fund at 25, the asset allocation of that fund would more or less be the same at age 65. That’s important to understand for choosing the lifestyle fund that’s appropriate for your risk tolerance and goals.

Recommended: Explaining Asset Allocation by Age

Two Stages of Lifestyle Funds

Lifestyle investing can work in different stages, depending on where you are in your investing journey. Lifestyle funds accommodate these different stages by adjusting their asset allocation.

This is something the fund manager can do to ensure that you’re working toward your goals without overexposing yourself to risk along the way. The two stages of lifestyle funds are the growth stage and the retirement target date stage.

1. Growth Stage

The growth stage represents the period in which a lifestyle investor is actively saving and investing. During the growth stage, the emphasis is on diversifying investments to achieve the appropriate balance between risk and reward. This phase represents the bulk of working years for most people as they move from starting their careers to reaching their peak earnings.

In the growth stage, lifestyle funds hold an asset allocation that reflects the investor’s goals and appetite for risk. Again, whether this is more conservative, aggressive or somewhere in-between depends on the individual investor. At this time, the investor is typically concerned with funding retirement accounts, rather than withdrawing from them.

2. Retirement Target Date

The retirement target date stage marks the beginning of the countdown to retirement for an investor. During this stage, the focus shifts to preparing the investor to begin drawing an income from their portfolio, rather than making new contributions or investments.

At this point, a lifestyle investor may have to decide whether they want to maintain their existing asset allocation, shift some or all of their assets into other investments (such as an annuity), or begin drawing them down in cash. For example, an investor in their mid-50s may decide to move from an aggressive lifestyle fund to a moderate or conservative lifestyle fund, depending on their needs, anticipated retirement date, and how much risk they’re comfortable taking.

Different Types of Lifestyle Funds

Lifestyle funds aren’t all alike and there are different options investors may choose from. There are different ways lifestyle funds can be structured, including:

• Income-focused funds. These lifestyle funds aim to produce income for investors, though capital appreciation may be a secondary goal. Fixed-income securities typically make up the bulk of lifestyle income funds, though they may still include some equity holdings.

• Growth-focused funds. Lifestyle growth funds are the opposite of lifestyle income funds. These funds aim to provide investors with long-term capital appreciation and place less emphasis on current income.

• Conservative asset allocation funds. Conservative lifestyle funds may have a long-term goal of achieving a set total return through both capital appreciation and current income. These funds tend to carry lower levels of risk than other lifestyle funds.

• Moderate asset allocation funds. Moderate lifestyle funds often take a middle ground approach in terms of risk and reward. These funds may use a “fund of funds” strategy, which primarily involves investing other mutual funds.

• Aggressive asset allocation funds. Aggressive lifestyle funds may also use a “fund of funds” approach, though with a slightly different focus. These funds take on more risk, though rewards may be greater as they seek long-term capital appreciation.

Lifestyle Investment Risks

Investing for retirement with lifestyle assets has some risks, so it’s important to make sure that the fund you choose matches your risk tolerance. Risk tolerance refers to the amount of risk an investor is comfortable taking in their portfolio. Risk capacity is the amount of risk needed to achieve investment goals.

Typically, younger investors can afford to take more risk in the early years of their investment career as they have more time to recover from market declines. But if that investor has a low risk tolerance, they may still choose to stick with more conservative investments. If their risk tolerance doesn’t match up with the amount of risk they need to take to achieve their investment goals, they could fall far short of them.

When considering lifestyle funds, it’s important to consider your risk mix and risk level. While lifestyle funds can simplify investing in that you don’t necessarily need to make day-to-day trading decisions, it’s still important to consider how your risk tolerance and risk capacity may evolve over time.

As you move from the growth stage to the retirement target date stage, for instance, you may need to make some adjustments to your lifestyle fund choices in order to keep pace with your desired goals.

💡 Quick Tip: When you’re actively investing in stocks, it’s important to ask what types of fees you might have to pay. For example, brokers may charge a flat fee for trading stocks, or require some commission for every trade. Taking the time to manage investment costs can be beneficial over the long term.

Advantages of Lifestyle Funds

In addition to their risks, lifestyle funds offer numerous advantages to investors, starting with simplicity. When you invest in a lifestyle fund, you know more or less what to expect in terms of asset allocation, based on the risk tolerance that you specify. These funds don’t require you to be an active investor in order to realize returns.

Some funds also automatically rebalance on behalf of investors, so there’s very little you need to do, other than be mindful of how the fund’s risk mix reflects your risk tolerance at any given time.

A lifestyle fund can offer broad diversification, allowing you to gain exposure to a variety of assets without having to purchase individual stocks, bonds or other securities.

Compared to other types of mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs), lifestyle funds may carry lower expense ratios. That can allow you to retain more of your investment returns over time.

Finally, lifestyle funds encourage investors to stay invested through market ups and downs. That can help you to even out losses through dollar-cost averaging.

Lifestyle Funds vs Target Date Funds

If you have a 401(k), then you’re likely familiar with target date funds as they’re commonly offered in workplace retirement plans. A target date fund, or lifecycle fund, is a mutual fund that adjusts its asset allocation automatically, based on the investor’s target retirement date. These funds are distinguishable from lifestyle funds because they typically have a year in their name.

So a Target Date 2050 fund, for example, would attract investors who plan to retire in the year 2050. Target date funds also take a diversified approach to investing, with asset allocations that include both stocks and fixed-income securities.

The difference between target date funds and lifestyle funds is that target date funds follow a specific glide path. As the investor gets closer to their target retirement date, the fund’s asset allocation adjusts to become more conservative. Lifestyle funds don’t do that; instead, the asset allocation remains the same.

The Takeaway

Whether you choose to invest with lifestyle funds, target date funds, or something else, the most important thing is to get started saving for retirement. The longer your time horizon until retirement, the more time your money has to grow through the power of compounding interest.

If you feel like incorporating lifestyle funds into your investing strategy may help you reach your financial goals, be sure to take the pros and cons into consideration. It may also be helpful to consult with a financial professional for guidance.

For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.

FAQ

What is a lifestyle pension fund?

A pension fund is a type of defined benefit plan, in which employees receive retirement benefits based on their earnings and years of service. A lifestyle pension fund is a pension fund that allocates assets using a lifestyle strategy in order to meet an investor’s goals and needs.

What is a lifestyle strategy?

In investing, a lifestyle strategy is an approach that chooses investments that can help an investor to reach specific milestones or goals while keeping their age and risk tolerance in mind. With lifestyle funds, the asset allocation doesn’t change substantially over time.

What is a lifestyle profile?

A lifestyle profile is a tool that investors use to help them select the most appropriate lifestyle funds based on their age, risk tolerance goals.

About the author

Rebecca Lake

Photo credit: iStock/GaudiLab

SoFi Invest®

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

Mar

2025

What Are Variation Margins? How Do They Work?

By Rebecca Lake | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off

Margin variation is money needed to maintain margin level in a margin account. Variation margins serve as collateral or security against potential losses. Another way to think of it is as unrealized profit or loss in open derivative positions.

When a margin account balance drops below the brokerage’s specified limits, the brokerage can extend a margin call to request a futures variation margin payment. If a trader does not have the funds to meet the margin call, the brokerage may sell securities in their account to make up the difference.

What Is Variation Margin?

Variation margin is a collateral payment made by one party to a counterparty to cover any change in value of underlying assets used in futures contracts.

Traders may make these payments on a day-to-day or intraday basis as directed by the clearing house. Variation margin serves as a risk management tool for the clearing house. By collecting these payments, the clearing house can sustain its targeted risk level while allowing traders to have margin debt in their accounts.

💡 Quick Tip: Are self-directed brokerage accounts cost efficient? They can be, because they offer the convenience of being able to buy stocks online without using a traditional full-service broker (and the typical broker fees).

Margin Trading Basics

To understand variation margins, it’s helpful to review some of the basics of margin trading. When an investor trades on margin, it essentially means they’re trading using borrowed money. So, for example, an investor who wants to purchase futures contracts may invest 50% of their own money and borrow the remaining 50% from their brokerage.

In exchange, the brokerage requires investors to maintain an initial margin, maintenance margin, and variation margin amount in liquid funds. Each one represents a different balance threshold. Margin accounts require investors to meet the minimum requirements.

Recommended: How Does a Margin Account Work?

How Do Variation Margins Work?

Variation margin works by filling gaps in margin account balance levels. When trading futures, variation margin allows clearing houses to continue facilitating trades while managing risk. Understanding stock volatility can help with understanding how variation margin works.

Equity prices fluctuate as volatility ebbs and flows in the markets. Changing prices can directly affect investor profits or losses, and trading equity derivatives on margin can amplify those profits and losses.

Variation margins work by accounting for changes in the prices of financial securities being traded. Traders make these payments, typically in cash, from the party who lost value to the party that’s gained value in a margin transaction. The amount due depends on the type of security being traded, expected price movements for that security and overall market conditions. That’s why it’s called variation margin, as the amount may vary from transaction to transaction.

Variation Margin Example

Here’s a simple example of how variation margin works. Assume an investor purchases 100 shares of stock for $30 each. The initial margin for the purchase is set at 50%. This would mean the broker would need to have $1,500 in their account at all times in order to make trades (50% of 100 x $30). Meanwhile, the maintenance margin is $1,000.

If the stock’s share price were to fall to $20, then the brokerages would deduct $1,000 in losses from the initial margin balance. Now the initial margin balance is $500. The new initial margin amount required becomes $1,000 (50% of 100 shares x $20 per share). So the investor would have to add $500 to their account as a variation margin payment to meet the new initial margin requirement.

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Variation Margin Calculation

Calculating variation margin depends on the type of security being traded and its price movements. So it’s something that must be done on a transaction-by-transaction basis, since every security is different.

But there is a simple variation margin formula that can be used for calculations:

VM = Initial margin – Margin balance

So to calculate variation margin, an investor needs to know three things:

• Initial margin requirement

• Maintenance margin requirement

• Current price of the underlying security

Finding variation margin means doing some math to determine how much the new initial margin requirement works out to when the price of the underlying security drops. But as the previous variation example illustrates, it’s not overly complicated.

Initial Margin vs Variation Margin

Initial margin and variation margin are often mentioned together when discussing margin trading but they’re not the same thing. Initial margin refers to the amount of money an investor can borrow inside a margin account.

Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board allows investors to borrow up to 50% of the purchase price of securities being traded on margin. Though some brokerages may require a larger deposit to satisfy initial margin requirements.

Initial Margin	Variation Margin
Money that must be paid upfront to purchase securities on margin	Money that’s paid when a security being traded on margin loses value
Paid in cash prior to purchasing securities	Paid daily or intraday, typically in cash
Federal regulations set at initial margin at a minimum of 50% of the security’s price, though brokerages may set the amount higher	Amounts due for variation margin can depend on the type of security, its price movements, and market conditions.

Variation Margin and Maintenance Margin

Maintenance margin is another term often used in discussions of margin trading and it’s often used synonymously with variation margin. The maintenance margin represents the minimum amount of equity a trader must maintain in a margin account at all times. Equity is the difference between the value of securities held in the account and any amounts owed to the brokerage.

Under Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules, maintenance margin must be at least 25% of the total market value of margin securities being held. Brokerage firms set the bar higher, however, requiring investors to meet a 30% or 40% margin maintenance requirement.

The maintenance margin is not the same thing as minimum margin. Minimum margin is the minimum amount required to open a margin account. FINRA requires this amount to be $2,000 or 100% of the purchase price of margin securities, whichever is less.

💡 Quick Tip: Investment fees are assessed in different ways, including trading costs, account management fees, and possibly broker commissions. When you set up an investment account, be sure to get the exact breakdown of your “all-in costs” so you know what you’re paying.

The Takeaway

To recap, variation margin is a collateral payment made by one party to a counterparty to cover any change in value of underlying assets when discussing futures contracts. It’s a fairly high-level concept, and many investors may not need to worry much about it, or even encounter it if they stick to a relatively simple investment strategy.

With that said, margin trading can potentially yield significant returns for investors, though it has more risks than traditional trading. Understanding variation margin and margin requirements can help traders manage that risk.

For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.

FAQ

Is variation margin a derivative?

Variation margin is not a derivative, but is a factor in derivatives markets. It’s one of the chief types of collateral that is required to protect investors or other parties in the market.

Is variation margin the same as mark to market?

Variation margin is a type of collateral, and is determined, in part, but the size of a party’s exposure in a trade – that, too, depends on mark-to-market value of the derivatives at play. As such, the two are not the same.

Can variation margin be negative?

It is possible for variation margin to be negative, and in that case, it would mean that there’s been a loss.

Is variation margin collateral?

Variation margin is a type of collateral, and is payment made by one party to a counterparty to cover any change in value of underlying assets used in futures contracts.

Why is variation margin important?

For investors or traders, variation margin is important as it informs them of the amount of funds that they need to solidify margin levels in order to trade.

Photo credit: iStock/Prostock-Studio

About the author

Rebecca Lake

SoFi Invest®

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

SOIN1023008

Mar

2025

Exchange-Traded Notes: What Are ETNs? ETN Risks, Explained

What Is an Exchange-Traded Note (ETN)?

By Ashley Kilroy | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off

Exchange-traded notes, or ETNs, are debt securities that offer built-in diversity, and offer alternatives to other investment vehicles that may have certain problems for investors, like tracking errors and short-term capital gains taxes.

ETNs are similar to ETFs (exchange-traded funds), in that they may be a popular pathway to diversification because they expose investors to a wide range of financial assets, and come with lower expense ratios compared to mutual funds. As such, it can be beneficial for investors to understand ETNs and how they work.

What Is an Exchange-Traded Note (ETN)?

An ETN, or an exchange-traded note, is a debt security that acts much like a loan or a bond. Issuers like banks or other financial institutions sell the “note,” which tracks the performance of an underlying commodity or stock market index benchmark.

ETNs do not yield dividends or interest in the way that ETFs do. Before investors can earn a profit from an ETN, they must hold the security long enough for it to mature — typically ten to thirty years. Upon maturity, the ETN pays out one lump sum according to their underlying commodity’s return.

Exchange-Traded Notes Meaning

The term “exchange-traded note” may sound a bit off to some investors, but its meaning is fairly straightforward. For one, ETNs are “exchange-traded” because they’re literally traded on exchanges, like many other securities. And they’re called “notes” because they are debt securities, not pools of investments like a fund (as in ETF).

Examples of ETNs

To further illustrate how an ETN works and is constructed, suppose you purchase an ETN that tracks the price of gold. As an investor, you don’t own physical gold, but the note’s value tracks gold’s performance. When you sell the ETN, during or at the end of the holding period, your return will be the difference between gold’s sale price at that time and its original purchase price, deducting any associated fees.

Similarly, you could, hypothetically, create an ETN that tracks the price of a commodity like oil. Again, investors don’t actually own barrels of crude, but the ETN would track oil prices until it matures, and then pay out applicable returns.

💡 Quick Tip: Did you know that opening a brokerage account typically doesn’t come with any setup costs? Often, the only requirement to open a brokerage account — aside from providing personal details — is making an initial deposit.

Pros of ETNs

ETNs are a relatively newer type of financial security compared to some others available on the market. Their design comes with perks that some investors may find appealing.

Access to New Markets

Some individual investors may struggle to access niche markets like currencies, international markets, and commodity futures, since they require high minimum investments and significant commission prices. ETNs don’t have these limitations, making them more available to a larger pool of investors.

Accurate Performance Tracking

Unlike ETFs, ETNs don’t require rebalancing. That’s because ETNs do not own an underlying asset, rather they duplicate the index or asset class value it tracks. This means investors won’t miss any profits due to tracking errors, which means a difference between the market’s return and the ETF’s actual return.

Tax Treatment Advantages

Investors of ETNs don’t receive interest, monthly dividends, or annual capital gains distributions — which in turn means they don’t pay taxes on them. In fact, they only face long-term capital gains taxes when they sell or wait for an ETN to mature.

Liqudity

Investors have two options when selling ETNs: They can buy or sell them during regular day trading hours or redeem them from the issuing bank once a week.

Cons of ETN

Every investor must be wary of their investments’ drawbacks. Here are some potential cons of trading ETNs.

Limited Investment Options

Currently, there are fewer ETN options available to investors than other investment products. Additionally, though issuers try to keep valuations at a constant rate, pricing can vary widely depending on when you buy.

Liquidity Shortage

ETFs and stocks can be exchanged throughout the trading day according to price fluctuations. With ETNs, however, investors can only redeem large blocks of the security for their current underlying value once a week. This has the potential to leave them vulnerable to holding-period risks while waiting.

Credit, Default, and Redemption Risk

There are a range of risks associated with ETNs.

1. Risk of default. An ETN is tied to a financial institution such as a bank. It’s possible for that bank to issue an ETN but fail to pay back the principal after the holding period. If so, they’ll go into default, leaving you with a loss. There’s no absolute protection for owners in this case since ETNs are unsecured. External and social factors can lead to a default, too, not just economic influences.

2. Redemption risk. Investors can also take a loss if the institution calls its issued ETNs before maturity. This is called call or redemption risk. In this case, the early redemption may result in a lower sale price than the purchase price, leading to a loss.

3. Credit risk. The institution that issues the ETN impacts the credit rating of the security, which has to do with credit risk. If a bank experiences a drop in its credit rating, so will the ETN. That leads to a loss of value, regardless of the market index it tracks.

ETN vs. ETF: What’s the Difference?

Comparing ETNs and ETFs may help investors to see the pros and cons of either asset more clearly. Both ETNs and ETFs are exchange-traded products (ETPs) that track the metrics of an underlying commodity they represent. Other than that, though, they operate differently from each other.

Asset Ownership

ETFs are similar to a mutual fund, in that investors have some ownership over multiple assets that the ETF bundles together. You invest in a fund that holds assets. They issue periodic dividends in returns as well.

In comparison, ETNs are debt instruments and represent one index or commodity. They are an unsecured debt note that tracks the performance of an asset but doesn’t actually hold the asset itself. As a result, they only issue one payout when you sell or redeem them.

Taxation

These differences impact taxation. An ETF’s distributions are taxable on a yearly basis. Every time a long-term holder of a conventional ETF receives a dividend, they face a short-term capital gains tax.

Comparatively, ETN’s one lump-sum incurs a single tax, making it beneficial for investors who want to minimize their annual taxes.

Recommended: ETF Trading & Investing Guide

The Takeaway

ETNs are unsecured debt notes that track an index or commodity, and are sold by banks and other financial institutions. Like any investment, ETNs have both benefits and drawbacks — and while they may sound like ETFs, there are differences between these two products, notably that with ETNs you do not own any underlying assets.

ETNs may have a place in an investment portfolio, but it’s important that investors fully understand what they are, how they work, and how they can be incorporated into an investment strategy. It may be helpful to speak with a financial professional for guidance.

For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.

FAQ

Who developed ETNs?

Barclays, a large international bank, first developed exchange-traded notes (ETNs) in 2006 as a way to give retail investors an easier path to investing in asset classes like commodities and currencies.

How is an ETN related to ETPs?

ETPs, or exchange-traded products, is a term that refers to a range of financial securities that trade on exchanges. ETNs, or exchange-traded notes, fall under the ETP umbrella, since they are investments that trade on exchanges.

Where are ETNs listed?

ETNs are listed on different exchanges, and can often be found by searching for their respective ticker or symbol.

About the author

Ashley Kilroy

Ashley Kilroy is a seasoned personal finance writer with 15 years of experience simplifying complex concepts for individuals seeking financial security. Her expertise has shined through in well-known publications like Rolling Stone, Forbes, SmartAsset, and Money Talks News. Read full bio.

Photo credit: iStock/Drazen_

SoFi Invest®

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

SOIN0723164

Mar

2025

What Are Calendar Spreads and How Do They Work?

By Mike Zaccardi, CMT, CFA | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off

Editor's Note: Options are not suitable for all investors. Options involve risks, including substantial risk of loss and the possibility an investor may lose the entire amount invested in a short period of time. Please see the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options.

Many options spread strategies consist of buying and selling call or put options that expire at the same time. Calendar spreads, on the other hand, involve buying and selling call or put options on the same underlying asset with different expiration dates. A calendar spread typically includes selling a near-dated option and buying a longer-dated (or longer maturity) option with the same strike price.

Rather than seeking favorable directional movement in the underlying stock, the calendar spread takes advantage of implied volatility and the way that it typically changes over time.

Like other option spread strategies, a calendar spread limits a trader’s potential losses, but it also caps their potential return. Calendar spreads are considered an advanced option trading strategy, so it’s important to have a handle on how they work and the potential risks.

Key Points

• Calendar spreads attempt to capitalize on implied volatility changes over time.

• After the near-term option expires, shifts in implied volatility can significantly impact the profitability of the remaining long-dated position.

• A rise in implied volatility benefits the long-dated option position.

• Implied volatility changes can affect the breakeven calculation.

• A calendar spread involves selling a near-term option and buying a longer-term option with the same strike price but different expiration dates.

Calendar Spreads Defined

A calendar spread, also known as a horizontal spread, is an options trading strategy that is created by simultaneously taking a long and short position on the same underlying asset and strike price, but with different expiration dates. Calendar spreads can consist of either calls or puts. Typically, the long-dated option is purchased (the long leg), and the nearer-dated option is sold (the short leg).

How Calendar Spreads Work

Calendar spreads are typically established for a net debit, meaning you pay at the outset of the trade. Generally speaking, a longer-dated option will be more expensive than a shorter-dated one if the strike prices are the same, given there is more time for the underlying asset’s value to move up or down. This reflects the effect of time decay, which is the decline in an option contract’s value as it approaches its expiration date.

Time decay is essential to how calendar spreads work. It tends to accelerate as an option’s expiration approaches, meaning the value of the near-dated short option in a calendar spread could lose value more quickly than the long option that has more time until expiration.

A calendar spread is best positioned for profitability when the stock price remains near the options’ strike price at the time of the short-term expiration date, as the short option will have declined in value or expired out of the money, while the long option retains potential gains. Calendar spreads function fairly similarly whether constructed with calls or puts. Depending on where the stock price is relative to the strike price selected at the outset of the trade, and whether calls or puts are used, a calendar spread can be neutral, slightly bearish, or slightly bullish.

Maximum Profit on Calendar Spread

A calendar spread strategy reaches its maximum profit when the stock price settles at the near-term strike price by that option’s expiration, which applies to the common approach of selling a near-term option and buying a longer-term option. This is not the end of the trade, however. The trader may also benefit if stock price rises after the near-dated option’s expiration, since they still have a long position with the later-date call option.

A rise in implied volatility after the short-term option expires can also benefit the longer-term option position. Some traders might choose to close the long option position when the near-dated option expires.

Maximum Loss on Calendar Spread

A calendar spread is typically considered a debit spread since the cost of the later-dated option is greater than the potential proceeds from the near-date option’s sale. Thus, the trader can not lose more than the premium paid.

Break-even Point

The precise break-even calculation on a calendar spread option trade cannot be determined due to the two different option delivery dates. Changing option Greeks – such as implied volatility levels and market interest rates — complicate the calculation of an exact break-even price.

Traders must estimate what the value of the long-dated option contract will be on the near-dated option’s expiry. One way to do this is by using an online option strategy profit and loss calculator to estimate a break-even price.

Calendar Spread Example

Suppose a trader holds a stock that they believe will not change much in value during the next month. The trader sells a call option expiring in one month, and buys a call at the same price that expires in two months at a slightly higher premium, which is more expensive because it has more time value than the near-dated call.

During the next month, the stock fluctuates after the trade was executed, but settles back to its strike price by the afternoon of the short-term option’s delivery date. Since time has passed and the stock has not drifted from its original value, the near-dated short call option has lost considerable time value, and may expire worthless. The later-dated call is now worth slightly more.

Calendar Spread Payoff Diagram

Calendar Spread Risks

There are several risks that traders must keep in mind when using calendar spreads.

Limited Upside

The risk and profit potential of a calendar spread depend on whether the strategy is a long or short calendar spread.

A long calendar spread, where the trader buys a longer-dated option and sells a near-term option, has a capped profit potential if the trade is closed at the expiration of the near-dated option. Option traders benefit from time decay in this case, as well as increases in implied volatility. When the short option expires or is brought to a close, there is unlimited upside with the remaining long call, assuming it is held beyond the near-term option’s expiration date.

A short calendar spread, where the trader buys a near-term option and sells a longer-dated option, has theoretically unlimited risk if the underlying stock moves significantly. Because the short position is in the longer-dated option, potential losses can exceed the initial premium collected.

If the trader uses puts, the risk dynamics remain similar, but the profit potential and exposure depend on whether the put calendar spread is long or short.

Delivery Dates

Traders must make a choice when the near-dated option is close to expiring. The trader can let it expire if the position is out of the money. If it is in-the-money, it might be worthwhile for the trader to buy and close the option or consider the potential impact on the remaining position.

Timing the Trade

Being correct about the near-term direction of the stock, as well as changes in implied volatility and time decay, can be challenging. Successfully timing the trade requires accurate predictions of both short-term price movements and also changes in volatility, which can be unpredictable and carry inherent risk.

Types of Calendar Spreads

There are several types of calendar spreads. Here’s a look at some of the most popular strategies.

Put Calendar Spread

A calendar put spread option is a strategy in which a trader sells a near-dated put and buys a longer-dated put. A trader would put this trade on when they are neutral to bearish on the price change of the underlying stock in the near-term. Once again, this type of calendar spread options strategy aims to benefit from time decay or higher implied volatility.

Call Calendar Spread

A calendar call spread involves shorting a near-term call and buying a longer-dated call at the same strike. (This is the strategy outlined in the earlier example.) The near-term outlook on the underlying stock is neutral to slightly bearish while the trader might have a longer-term bullish view.

Diagonal Calendar Spread

A diagonal calendar spread uses different strike prices for the two options positions. This strategy still uses two options — either two calls or two puts — with different expiration dates. This strategy can be either bullish or bearish depending on how the trade is constructed. The term diagonal spread simply refers to the use of both a calendar spread (horizontal) and a vertical spread.

Short Calendar Spread

Traders can use a short calendar spread with either calls or puts. It is considered a “short” calendar spread options strategy because the trader buys the near-dated option while selling the longer-dated option. This is the opposite of a long calendar spread. A short calendar spread profits from a large move in the underlying stock, but carries the risk of substantial loss if volatility increases. However, because both legs are options, a long calendar spread has a limited maximum loss, while a short call calendar spread carries theoretically unlimited risk.

The Bottom Line

Calendar spreads are useful for options traders who want to profit from changes in stock variables other than price direction. They’re an advanced strategy, however, that may not make sense for beginner investors.

Investors who are ready to try their hand at options trading despite the risks involved, might consider checking out SoFi’s options trading platform offered through SoFi Securities, LLC. The platform’s user-friendly design allows investors to buy put and call options through the mobile app or web platform, and get important metrics like breakeven percentage, maximum profit/loss, and more with the click of a button.

Plus, SoFi offers educational resources — including a step-by-step in-app guide — to help you learn more about options trading. Trading options involves high-risk strategies, and should be undertaken by experienced investors. Currently, investors can not sell options on SoFi Active Invest®.

🛈 While investors are not able to sell options on SoFi’s options trading platform at this time, they can buy call and put options to try to benefit from stock movements or manage risk.

FAQ

Is a calendar spread bullish or bearish?

Calendar spreads can be neutral, slightly bullish, or slightly bearish depending on the trader’s outlook. An options trader may construct the spread using puts or calls and a specific strike price that aligns with their view of market conditions.This depends on the way the spread is set up as well as the trader’s outlook. The primary objective is to benefit from changes in time decay and implied volatility changes, rather than a significant price move in the underlying asset.

Are calendar spreads good to use?

Calendar spreads can be a useful strategy for traders who are trying to benefit from volatility or time decay, rather than directional price movement. As with any options strategy, they come with risks, including the potential for limited profits and the complexity of managing both the short- and long-dated positions. Calendar spreads are generally considered an advanced strategy, so they may not be suitable for all investors.

Should you let a calendar spread expire?

Whether to let a calendar spread expire depends on the position of the trade as it nears expiration. If the short-term option expires out of the money, the trader may allow it to expire and keep the longer-term option open. However, if the short-term option expires in the money, it might be worth closing both positions or rolling the trade to adjust the strategy. The decision should align with the trader’s market outlook and risk tolerance.

Photo credit: iStock/Tatomm

SoFi Invest®

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below: Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.
For a full listing of the fees associated with Sofi Invest please view our fee schedule.

Options involve risks, including substantial risk of loss and the possibility an investor may lose the entire amount invested in a short period of time. Before an investor begins trading options they should familiarize themselves with the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options . Tax considerations with options transactions are unique, investors should consult with their tax advisor to understand the impact to their taxes.
Disclaimer: The projections or other information regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results, and are not guarantees of future results.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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