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Express Legal Funding Blog > Resources > Fact Check: Margin Loans vs. Mortgage

Fact Check: Margin Loans vs. Mortgage

Updated: October 25, 2024 11:25 am
•
5 min read
Aaron Winston, Strategy Director at Express Legal Funding.
Aaron R. Winston, PhD
Author & Strategy Director

Keypoints

This article examines the differences between margin loans and mortgages, focusing on interest rates. It fact-checks a claim that margin loans typically have lower rates than mortgages, concluding that this is not always accurate. Margin loan rates can fluctuate and are often higher than mortgage rates, which are influenced by the Federal Reserve. The article stresses the importance of understanding these distinctions for financial accuracy.

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Title:
Fact Check: Margin Loans vs. Mortgage
Thumbnail:
"Margin loans have better rates than a mortgage."
Author:
Aaron R. Winston
Published Date:
August 24, 2023
Last Updated Date:
October 25, 2024 11:25 am
Publisher:
Express Legal Funding
Copyright Owner:
© Unkown Entity Holdings, LLC

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Claim: Margin loans have better rates than a mortgage.

Claimed By: Forbes

Fact Check: From a historical perspective, the claim by author and wealth manager Aviva Pinto, CDFA, CDA, in a Forbes article that a margin loan has a lower interest rate than a mortgage, is only true part of the time. The statement is mostly true and not entirely factual because margin loan rates have been higher than that of a mortgage.

In fact, margin interest rates currently (2023) are set at significantly higher percentages than mortgage loan rates (influenced by the U.S. Federal Reserve).

Moreover, this statement is risky to make as, ultimately, brokerage firms decide what to set their margin rates (and can shave off different percentage fractions), which fluctuate monthly.

Also, margin rates can’t be locked in, unlike a long-term mortgage.

In summary, although margin interest rates are generally less than mortgage rates, that is not always the case, which makes the claim posted by Forbes on behalf of a Forbes Council member mostly true.

Regardless, this distinction about a financial product is critical to make for the sake of complete accuracy.

Fact Check By: Express Legal Funding

Disclaimer: Express Legal Funding is a pre-settlement funding company and is not a law firm. While the content on this page is well-researched and reviewed by licensed attorneys, it does not constitute legal advice and should not be considered a substitute for legal representation.

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About the Author

Aaron R. Winston, PhD

Aaron Winston, PhD, is the Strategy Director of Express Legal Funding. Widely recognized as “The Legal Funding Expert,” Aaron Winston brings over a decade of experience in the consumer finance industry, including years as a consultant to a leading financial advisory firm managing more than $400 million in client assets.

Aaron Winston is a respected author, strategist, and legal content innovator whose SEO-focused research spans multiple industries. He earned the title “The Legal Funding Expert” by writing authoritative, well-researched guides and blog posts on pre-settlement funding, legal finance, and law firm marketing. His articles attract tens of thousands of readers every month and include some of the most widely read content in the lawsuit funding space.

As a PhD holder in Legal Technology, Aaron Winston applies academic rigor to real-world consumer finance issues. In his role at Express Legal Funding, he has dedicated thousands of hours to educating plaintiffs, empowering attorneys, and advancing ethical standards in the legal funding industry.

Aaron Winston is also the author of A Word For The Wise. A Warning For The Stupid. Canons of Conduct—a 2023 poetry book of 35 original canons focused on values-driven conduct and strategic thinking.

In early 2022, Aaron Winston earned top 5% recognition in LinkedIn’s SEO skills assessment and holds verified skills badges in both SEO and Google Ads. His unique slogans and company trademarks are registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, reflecting his attention to brand integrity and thought leadership.

Aaron Winston has been featured in multiple high-profile interviews and industry case studies, including a 2021 smith.ai interview and a 2022 legal funding company growth report. In 2023, WordLift highlighted Aaron and Express Legal Funding in a leading SEO author case study for exceptional performance in legal content marketing and E-E-A-T standards. In 2024, a separate case study by Kinsta showcased Aaron Winston’s technical SEO and content scalability methods, further cementing his role as a pioneer in organic legal content strategy.

Born in Lubbock, Texas, and raised in Dallas, Aaron Winston attended Akiba Academy and continues to combine academic insight with forward-thinking innovation. His work at the intersection of law, technology, and consumer advocacy continues to drive meaningful change in how legal funding is understood and accessed.

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