• TempermentalAnomaly@lemmy.world
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      11 hours ago

      Can you provide an example? I’m not sure I get how that works out in their favor. In my view, paying debt with more debt is a terrible mistake and will get you in financial trouble. But I get that they have far more assets than I do. I just don’t quite see where it doesn’t go wrong.

      Do they not have to pay the principle?

      • untorquer@lemmy.world
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        6 hours ago

        Other reply was good.

        To answer your question, you can borrow against equity tied up in assets without down payment. For example, if you have a house you can borrow against the value less any mortgage up to some percent of the total value. In my situation i can borrow up to 60% of the value of a house.

        Down payments are for purchasing assets where the purchased asset will act as collateral. The idea is that the bank walks away with something if you immediately fail to pay on debts.

        Stocks can act as equity assets in a similar way as the house. Equity loans generally have relatively low interest.

        As a side note, this is all bullshit, interest is evil, and the system should be burnt to the ground and billionaires rotisseried over the coals for dinner.

      • WolfLink@sh.itjust.works
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        9 hours ago

        I borrow $1000, assuring you I can pay you back because I have $5000 worth of stock.

        A few years later, I borrow $5000, assuring you I can pay you back because I have $10000 worth of stock (it’s not more stock, it’s just worth more now). I use that $5000 to pay off the $1000 debt plus interest, and then have some left over.

        Few years later, I borrow $10000, assuring you I can pay you back because I have $50,000 worth of stock. I use that $10000 to pay off the $5000 debt plus interest and then have some leftover.

        Repeat as necessary. The bank does eventually get their money (when you die or are for some reason forced to sell, paying off the debt with cash rather than promises). To the bank this is an investment. To you, it’s a way to get cash without having to actually sell your stocks, avoiding taxes, and letting your value continue to skyrocket.

        • TempermentalAnomaly@lemmy.world
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          8 hours ago

          Okay. Thanks. That makes sense.

          I guess the cycle continues if you will the stock to your children. So it could be decades until anyone pays taxes.

          And if the stock tanks, then I guess you declare bankruptcy.