Launchpad Vs. Trap: How is Basic Capital different from Leveraged ETFs?

When it comes to leverage, goal and structure matter.

Leverage is defined in physics as the ability to do more with less. In finance, leverage has a similar meaning: the ability to earn more with less. The desire for leverage itself isn’t inherently risky, but the method of achieving it can vary depending on your time horizon and specific goals.

In this piece, we’ll unpack 2x leveraged ETFs, explain why they are a trap for long-term investors, and show how Basic Capital is fundamentally different—and a superior tool.

What Are 2x Leveraged ETFs?

A 2x leveraged ETF is an exchange-traded fund designed to amplify daily returns. If the S&P 500 moves up or down, these ETFs aim to multiply that move by two. If the market rises 1%, the ETF gains 2%. They achieve this leverage not by borrowing funds but by using financial derivatives like futures.


But like many tools, 2x leveraged ETFs come with a twist—one that makes them extremely unsuitable for long-term, buy-and-hold passive investors. Let’s see how:

The Problem with Leveraged ETFs: Loss-Locking Resets

Here’s the catch with leveraged ETFs: they rebalance daily. At the end of each day, the managers reset the exposure to ensure the fund delivers exactly 2x the net amount invested in the ETF. While this sounds like diligent housekeeping, it can work against you over time. Here’s how:

Suppose you start with $100 invested in a 2x leveraged ETF, giving you $200 in exposure (2:1 leverage). Now, let’s assume the market declines by 10%, reducing your exposure by $20. Your original $100 investment is now worth $80.

This 10% decline reduces your $200 exposure to $180. Since the $20 loss is realized, your leverage increases to $180/$80 or 2.25x. To maintain 2x daily exposure, the ETF manager rebalances by selling some of the derivatives to reduce exposure to $160 (2x your $80).

Here’s the problem: the market must now rise by 25% to recover your original $200 exposure. This process, known as rebalancing, eats away at returns over time due to “volatility drag.” Volatility drag means the percentage gain required to recover from a decline is larger than the decline itself.

A Different Approach: Investing Like a Mortgage

Now, let’s consider a different strategy: taking out a long-term amortizing loan, like a mortgage, to invest in the market. Think of it like buying a house, once you lock in your loan terms, you don’t need to reappraise or adjust the loan daily. Similarly, Basic Capital provides long-term financing to invest in the S&P 500 without the inefficiencies of constant rebalancing. You’re not forced to buy high or sell low—you let time and market growth work in your favor.

Using the same example and maintaining the same leverage for simplicity, a $100 investment with 2:1 leverage through Basic Capital gives you $200 of exposure. If the market declines by 10%, your exposure falls to $180, increasing your leverage to 2.25x. With Basic Capital, you don’t rebalance daily or post additional margin. The market only needs to rise 12.5% ($20/$180) to return to the original $200 exposure, compared to 25% ($40/$160) for a 2x leveraged ETF.

In other words, Basic Capital reduces the volatility drag associated with leveraged ETFs because it doesn’t require daily rebalancing.

Who Are Leveraged ETFs Suitable For?

Leveraged ETFs aren’t all bad. They’re an effective, easy way to gain leverage for short-term traders seeking to capitalize on market movements over a few days or weeks. However, for long-term investors, constant rebalancing creates a dynamic where the ETF sells when the market is down, amplifying volatility drag.

This rebalancing is problematic because while markets exhibit a “random walk” in the short-term (up and down volatility), they show a “positive drift” in the long-term (steady appreciation). Investors in leveraged ETFs can’t fully benefit from this positive drift because of the volatility drag created by selling low during market declines

So Where Does This Leave Us?

Leverage is the ability to do more with less. It can be achieved in various ways: margin loans, leveraged ETFs, mortgages, and now Basic Capital.

Leveraged ETFs lock in losses and rebalance daily, meaning it takes longer to recover from a market downturn. Basic Capital minimizes this volatility drag by avoiding daily rebalancing. Designed for long-term investors, Basic Capital offers a buy-and-hold, passive, and effective strategy to build more wealth with less.

No communication by Basic Capital Group Inc. ("BCG"), or any of its affiliates (collectively, "Basic Capital"), through this website or any other medium, should be construed or is intended to be a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold any security or otherwise to be investment, tax, financial, accounting, legal, regulatory or compliance advice, except for specific investment advice that may be provided by Basic Capital Advisors, LLC pursuant to a written advisory agreement between such entity and the recipient.

The accounts, strategies and/or investments discussed in this material may not be suitable for all investors. The appropriateness of a particular account or investment strategy will depend on an investor’s individual circumstances and objectives. Investors should carefully consider their investment objectives and risks, as well as charges and expenses of Basic Capital before investing. Basic Capital investments should only be part of your overall investment portfolio.

This website provides preliminary and general information about the Securities and is intended for initial reference purposes only. It does not summarize or compile all the applicable information. This website does not constitute an offer to sell or buy any securities. No offer or sale of any Securities will occur without the delivery of confidential offering materials and related documents. This information contained herein is qualified by and subject to more detailed information in the applicable offering materials.

Basic Capital Group Inc, is the direct owner of Basic Capital Markets LLC. Basic Capital Markets LLC has not yet been approved as a member of FINRA/SIPC.

Basic Capital Advisors LLC’s internet-based advisory and administrative services are designed to assist clients in achieving customer defined financial goals. They are not intended to provide comprehensive tax advice or provide comprehensive financial planning with respect to all aspects of your financial situation, nor do they account for specific investments held outside our platform. Investing in securities carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing money. While asset allocation and diversification aim to manage risk, they do not ensure profits or protect against losses, and past performance does not guarantee future outcomes.

Any financial projections or returns shown on the website are estimated predictions of performance only, are hypothetical, are not based on actual investment results and are not guarantees of future results. Estimated projections do not represent or guarantee the actual results of any transaction, and no representation is made that any transaction will, or is likely to, achieve results or profits similar to those shown. In addition, other financial metrics and calculations shown on the website (including amounts of principal and interest repaid) have not been independently verified or audited and may differ from the actual financial metrics and calculations for any investment, which are contained in the investors’ portfolios. Any investment information contained herein has been secured from sources that Basic Capital believes are reliable, but we make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy of such information and accept no liability therefore.

Private placement investments are not bank deposits (and thus not insured by the FDIC or by any other federal governmental agency), are not guaranteed by Basic Capital or any other party, and MAY lose value. Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any federal or state securities commission or regulatory authority has recommended or approved any investment or the accuracy or completeness of any of the information or materials provided by or through the website. Investors must be able to afford the loss of their entire investment.

In-app investment advisory services are provided by Basic Capital Advisors LLC ("Basic Capital Advisors"), an SEC registered investment adviser, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Basic Capital Group Inc, a Section C Delaware Corporation.In-app brokerage and custody services are provided by Apex Fintech Solutions LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. IRA plans are provided by Apex Custody Solutions and opened via the Basic Capital application.

Basic Capital is not a bank. Certain services are offered through Plaid, Fragment, Apex and Footprint and none of such entities is affiliated with Basic Capital. By using the services offered by any of these entities you acknowledge and accept their respective disclosures and agreements, as applicable.

Basic Capital, 137 Grand Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10013. 855-800-8322

Articles or information from third-party media outside of this domain may discuss Basic Capital or relate to information contained herein, but Basic Capital does not approve and is not responsible for such content.

Investments in private placements are speculative and involve a high degree of risk and those investors who cannot afford to lose their entire investment should not invest.Investing in private placements requires long-term commitments, and the ability to afford to lose the entire investment.

Investment advisory services are only provided to clients of Basic Capital Advisors, LLC, an investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, pursuant to a written advisory agreement.

Our site uses a third party service to match browser cookies to your mailing address. We then use another company to send special offers through the mail on our behalf.

© 2024 Basic Capital. All rights reserved.

No communication by Basic Capital Group Inc. ("BCG"), or any of its affiliates (collectively, "Basic Capital"), through this website or any other medium, should be construed or is intended to be a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold any security or otherwise to be investment, tax, financial, accounting, legal, regulatory or compliance advice, except for specific investment advice that may be provided by Basic Capital Advisors, LLC pursuant to a written advisory agreement between such entity and the recipient.

The accounts, strategies and/or investments discussed in this material may not be suitable for all investors. The appropriateness of a particular account or investment strategy will depend on an investor’s individual circumstances and objectives. Investors should carefully consider their investment objectives and risks, as well as charges and expenses of Basic Capital before investing. Basic Capital investments should only be part of your overall investment portfolio.

This website provides preliminary and general information about the Securities and is intended for initial reference purposes only. It does not summarize or compile all the applicable information. This website does not constitute an offer to sell or buy any securities. No offer or sale of any Securities will occur without the delivery of confidential offering materials and related documents. This information contained herein is qualified by and subject to more detailed information in the applicable offering materials.

Basic Capital Group Inc, is the direct owner of Basic Capital Markets LLC. Basic Capital Markets LLC has not yet been approved as a member of FINRA/SIPC.

Basic Capital Advisors LLC’s internet-based advisory and administrative services are designed to assist clients in achieving customer defined financial goals. They are not intended to provide comprehensive tax advice or provide comprehensive financial planning with respect to all aspects of your financial situation, nor do they account for specific investments held outside our platform. Investing in securities carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing money. While asset allocation and diversification aim to manage risk, they do not ensure profits or protect against losses, and past performance does not guarantee future outcomes.

Any financial projections or returns shown on the website are estimated predictions of performance only, are hypothetical, are not based on actual investment results and are not guarantees of future results. Estimated projections do not represent or guarantee the actual results of any transaction, and no representation is made that any transaction will, or is likely to, achieve results or profits similar to those shown. In addition, other financial metrics and calculations shown on the website (including amounts of principal and interest repaid) have not been independently verified or audited and may differ from the actual financial metrics and calculations for any investment, which are contained in the investors’ portfolios. Any investment information contained herein has been secured from sources that Basic Capital believes are reliable, but we make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy of such information and accept no liability therefore.

Private placement investments are not bank deposits (and thus not insured by the FDIC or by any other federal governmental agency), are not guaranteed by Basic Capital or any other party, and MAY lose value. Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any federal or state securities commission or regulatory authority has recommended or approved any investment or the accuracy or completeness of any of the information or materials provided by or through the website. Investors must be able to afford the loss of their entire investment.

In-app investment advisory services are provided by Basic Capital Advisors LLC ("Basic Capital Advisors"), an SEC registered investment adviser, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Basic Capital Group Inc, a Section C Delaware Corporation.In-app brokerage and custody services are provided by Apex Fintech Solutions LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. IRA plans are provided by Apex Custody Solutions and opened via the Basic Capital application.

Basic Capital is not a bank. Certain services are offered through Plaid, Fragment, Apex and Footprint and none of such entities is affiliated with Basic Capital. By using the services offered by any of these entities you acknowledge and accept their respective disclosures and agreements, as applicable.

Basic Capital, 137 Grand Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10013. 855-800-8322

Articles or information from third-party media outside of this domain may discuss Basic Capital or relate to information contained herein, but Basic Capital does not approve and is not responsible for such content.

Investments in private placements are speculative and involve a high degree of risk and those investors who cannot afford to lose their entire investment should not invest.Investing in private placements requires long-term commitments, and the ability to afford to lose the entire investment.

Investment advisory services are only provided to clients of Basic Capital Advisors, LLC, an investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, pursuant to a written advisory agreement.

Our site uses a third party service to match browser cookies to your mailing address. We then use another company to send special offers through the mail on our behalf.

© 2024 Basic Capital. All rights reserved.

No communication by Basic Capital Group Inc. ("BCG"), or any of its affiliates (collectively, "Basic Capital"), through this website or any other medium, should be construed or is intended to be a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold any security or otherwise to be investment, tax, financial, accounting, legal, regulatory or compliance advice, except for specific investment advice that may be provided by Basic Capital Advisors, LLC pursuant to a written advisory agreement between such entity and the recipient.

The accounts, strategies and/or investments discussed in this material may not be suitable for all investors. The appropriateness of a particular account or investment strategy will depend on an investor’s individual circumstances and objectives. Investors should carefully consider their investment objectives and risks, as well as charges and expenses of Basic Capital before investing. Basic Capital investments should only be part of your overall investment portfolio.

This website provides preliminary and general information about the Securities and is intended for initial reference purposes only. It does not summarize or compile all the applicable information. This website does not constitute an offer to sell or buy any securities. No offer or sale of any Securities will occur without the delivery of confidential offering materials and related documents. This information contained herein is qualified by and subject to more detailed information in the applicable offering materials.

Basic Capital Group Inc, is the direct owner of Basic Capital Markets LLC. Basic Capital Markets LLC has not yet been approved as a member of FINRA/SIPC.

Basic Capital Advisors LLC’s internet-based advisory and administrative services are designed to assist clients in achieving customer defined financial goals. They are not intended to provide comprehensive tax advice or provide comprehensive financial planning with respect to all aspects of your financial situation, nor do they account for specific investments held outside our platform. Investing in securities carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing money. While asset allocation and diversification aim to manage risk, they do not ensure profits or protect against losses, and past performance does not guarantee future outcomes.

Any financial projections or returns shown on the website are estimated predictions of performance only, are hypothetical, are not based on actual investment results and are not guarantees of future results. Estimated projections do not represent or guarantee the actual results of any transaction, and no representation is made that any transaction will, or is likely to, achieve results or profits similar to those shown. In addition, other financial metrics and calculations shown on the website (including amounts of principal and interest repaid) have not been independently verified or audited and may differ from the actual financial metrics and calculations for any investment, which are contained in the investors’ portfolios. Any investment information contained herein has been secured from sources that Basic Capital believes are reliable, but we make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy of such information and accept no liability therefore.

Private placement investments are not bank deposits (and thus not insured by the FDIC or by any other federal governmental agency), are not guaranteed by Basic Capital or any other party, and MAY lose value. Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any federal or state securities commission or regulatory authority has recommended or approved any investment or the accuracy or completeness of any of the information or materials provided by or through the website. Investors must be able to afford the loss of their entire investment.

In-app investment advisory services are provided by Basic Capital Advisors LLC ("Basic Capital Advisors"), an SEC registered investment adviser, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Basic Capital Group Inc, a Section C Delaware Corporation.In-app brokerage and custody services are provided by Apex Fintech Solutions LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. IRA plans are provided by Apex Custody Solutions and opened via the Basic Capital application.

Basic Capital is not a bank. Certain services are offered through Plaid, Fragment, Apex and Footprint and none of such entities is affiliated with Basic Capital. By using the services offered by any of these entities you acknowledge and accept their respective disclosures and agreements, as applicable.

Basic Capital, 137 Grand Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10013. 855-800-8322

Articles or information from third-party media outside of this domain may discuss Basic Capital or relate to information contained herein, but Basic Capital does not approve and is not responsible for such content.

Investments in private placements are speculative and involve a high degree of risk and those investors who cannot afford to lose their entire investment should not invest.Investing in private placements requires long-term commitments, and the ability to afford to lose the entire investment.

Investment advisory services are only provided to clients of Basic Capital Advisors, LLC, an investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, pursuant to a written advisory agreement.

Our site uses a third party service to match browser cookies to your mailing address. We then use another company to send special offers through the mail on our behalf.

© 2024 Basic Capital. All rights reserved.