A margin call on your Slay Markets account happens when your account's net liquidation value (NLV) falls below the maintenance margin required to hold your open positions. When this occurs, your account enters liquidate-only mode and NinjaTrader Clearing, LLC may automatically close your positions to bring the account back above the required level. A $50 per occurrence fee is charged each time a margin call is triggered. If you are in a margin call right now, reduce your position size or deposit cleared funds immediately, because auto-liquidation can begin without further notice.
Important: Auto-liquidation can begin without warning once your NLV is below the maintenance margin. Slay Markets does not send email or other notifications about margin violations, so do not rely on advance notice before a position is closed. Monitor your NLV and margin requirement in your Account Dashboard. ACH deposits take 1-3 business days to clear and will not resolve an active margin call in real time, so reducing your position size is usually the fastest way to recover. To dispute an auto-liquidation, email support@slaymarkets.com within 2 business days of the event.
What triggers a margin call on Slay Markets
A margin call on your Slay Markets account is triggered when your net liquidation value (NLV) falls below the maintenance margin required for your open positions. Your account can also enter liquidate-only mode if you reach the daily loss limit you set yourself in your Account Dashboard, but that is a separate, self-set control rather than a maintenance margin event. The two triggers are:
Your NLV falls below the maintenance margin required for your open positions. This is driven by market moves and is the true margin call.
You reach your daily loss limit — the optional self-set control in Account Dashboard > Risk Settings, not a maintenance margin event. See Daily Loss Limits.
Maintenance (intraday) margin requirements on Slay Markets are set by NinjaTrader Clearing, LLC and the exchanges and cannot be changed by the trader. As reference points, the E-mini S&P 500 (ES) intraday margin is $500 and the Micro E-mini S&P 500 (MES) is $50; the E-mini Nasdaq-100 (NQ) is $1,000 and the Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 (MNQ) is $100. Current rates for all products are published at ninjatrader.com/pricing/margins-position-management.
What happens during a Slay Markets margin call, step by step
When a margin call triggers on your Slay Markets account, four things happen in sequence: your account enters liquidate-only mode, a $50 margin call fee is charged, auto-liquidation begins if you do not resolve it, and the restriction lifts once your account is back in good standing.
Step 1 — Your Slay Markets account enters liquidate-only mode
When a margin call triggers, your Slay Markets account is immediately restricted to liquidate-only mode. You can close existing positions but cannot open new ones until the restriction is lifted.
Step 2 — A $50 margin call fee is charged
A margin call fee of $50 per occurrence is charged to your Slay Markets account each time a margin call event is triggered. This fee is separate from any liquidation fees that apply if your positions are auto-closed.
Step 3 — Auto-liquidation begins if you do not resolve the margin call
If you do not resolve the margin call, NinjaTrader Clearing, LLC's risk system automatically closes your Slay Markets positions — largest first by size. The entire open position may be liquidated and closed, not just the amount needed to bring your account back to the margin threshold. A liquidation fee of $25 applies for the first liquidation event and $50 for each subsequent liquidation event. The liquidation order is not configurable.
Step 4 — The restriction lifts once your account is back in good standing
If your Slay Markets account was restricted because your NLV fell below the maintenance margin, the restriction lifts as soon as auto-liquidation or your own action brings your NLV back above the required level. If your account was instead restricted because you reached your self-set daily loss limit, that restriction lifts automatically at 6:00 PM ET, when the new trading session begins. Email support@slaymarkets.com if the restriction was unexpected or you need the lift time confirmed; submissions are accepted 24/7 and receive a response within 1 business day.
On Slay Markets, the balance displayed on your platform may lag the server-side NLV calculation by a few seconds. In fast-moving markets, your account can fall below the maintenance margin before the platform display updates, which is why a margin call can appear sudden.
What are the Slay Markets margin call and liquidation fees
Slay Markets charges a $50 per occurrence margin call fee each time a margin call is triggered. Separately, if your positions are auto-closed, a liquidation fee of $25 applies for the first liquidation event and $50 for each subsequent liquidation event. The table below summarizes these fees.
Event | Fee |
Margin call triggered | $50 per occurrence |
Position liquidated — first liquidation event | $25 |
Position liquidated — subsequent liquidation events | $50 |
What should I do if I am in a Slay Markets margin call
If you are in a margin call on your Slay Markets account, act immediately to avoid auto-liquidation. Take these steps:
Check your NLV and open positions immediately in your Account Dashboard.
Reduce your position size to lower your margin requirement and potentially resolve the margin call before auto-liquidation runs. This is usually the fastest fix.
Deposit cleared funds if needed. Note: ACH deposits take 1 to 3 business days to clear and will not resolve an active margin call in real time; wire transfers are faster, posting same day if received before 4:00 PM ET.
Email support at support@slaymarkets.com if you need help or the restriction was unexpected. Submissions are accepted 24/7 and receive a response within 1 business day.
For help, email support@slaymarkets.com — replies within 1 business day. For full contact details and hours, see How to Contact Slay Markets Support.
How to avoid margin calls on Slay Markets
To avoid margin calls on your Slay Markets account, keep enough cleared cash above your maintenance margin and manage your position size carefully. Slay Markets recommends the following:
Keep a cash buffer of at least 25% to 50% above the required maintenance margin at all times.
Set a daily loss limit in Account Dashboard > Risk Settings before you begin trading.
Monitor your NLV during active sessions — especially around economic data releases and market open.
Start with micro contracts (MES, MNQ, MYM, M2K), which have much lower margin requirements than full-size contracts — for example, MES intraday margin is $50 versus $500 for full-size ES.
Frequently asked questions about Slay Markets margin calls
Q: Is there a fee every time a margin call occurs on Slay Markets?
A: Yes. A $50 per occurrence margin call fee is charged each time a margin call event is triggered on your Slay Markets account. This fee is separate from any liquidation fees, which are $25 for the first liquidation event and $50 for each subsequent liquidation event if your positions are auto-closed.
Q: Can I dispute a Slay Markets auto-liquidation?
A: Yes — email support@slaymarkets.com within 2 business days of the event. See Auto-Liquidation Rules for the full dispute process.
Q: Does a Slay Markets margin call affect my credit score?
A: No. Futures margin calls on Slay Markets are not credit events and are not reported to credit bureaus.
Q: What is the difference between a margin call and a daily loss limit on Slay Markets?
A: A margin call is triggered by your NLV falling below the maintenance margin required for your positions — it is driven by market moves, and the margin requirement is set by NinjaTrader Clearing, LLC and the exchanges. A daily loss limit is an optional control you set yourself in Account Dashboard > Risk Settings — see Daily Loss Limits for how it works. Both put the account into liquidate-only mode, but they are separate controls.
Q: How long does a margin call restriction last on Slay Markets?
A: If the restriction was caused by your NLV falling below the maintenance margin, it lifts as soon as your NLV returns above the required level, whether through auto-liquidation or your own action. If the restriction was caused by reaching your self-set daily loss limit, it lifts automatically at 6:00 PM ET when the new trading session begins.
Slay Markets margin calls: key facts to remember
A margin call on Slay Markets means your NLV has fallen below the required maintenance margin, putting the account into liquidate-only mode. A $50 per occurrence fee is charged per margin call. Liquidation fees of $25 (first liquidation event) and $50 (subsequent liquidation events) apply if positions are auto-closed by NinjaTrader Clearing, LLC. Act immediately — reduce your position size (usually the fastest fix) or deposit cleared funds. To dispute an auto-liquidation, email support@slaymarkets.com within 2 business days.
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Tradeify Brokerage LLC d/b/a Slay Markets is an Introducing Broker registered with the CFTC and an NFA Member (NFA ID: 0575972), guaranteed by NinjaTrader Clearing, LLC d/b/a NinjaTrader ("NTC"). Tradeify Brokerage LLC d/b/a Slay Markets does not accept or hold customer funds. All customer accounts are carried and maintained by NTC, a CFTC-registered FCM and NFA Member (NFA ID: 0309379).