There are a few different levels of account balances when it comes to trading. It can be helpful to have three separate accounts: one for an IRA, one for trading/day trading, and another for swing positions. How you manage your accounts is up to you, but there are a few guidelines.

These guidelines may change based on the price of the stock you are trading. Accounts will be different between a $500 stock compared to a $20 stock. At $500,000+ you will buy more shares of a company trading at $1 per share and you might be able to move that stock heavily. If you purchase the same $1 stock with the $0 to $1,000 account, you will not move the stock.