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Collar Advance

Borrow against your concentrated stocks. 
No margin calls.

Keep your shares. Access liquidity.

Access up to 90% of your stock’s value to buy a home or fund investments. Lock in a lower fixed rate, defer your taxes, and eliminate liquidation risk.

Rates as low as 3.7% annually
See if you’re a match

"Cache has built THE PERFECT PRODUCT for tech professionals with concentrated stock positions — and their client service is second to none."

Anonymous (Client)

Former Director and GM, Amazon

"The transparency in pricing and simplicity in design makes sophisticated investing straightforward and user-friendly."

Kintan Brahmbhatt (Client)

CEO and Co-Founder, Olto.com

"Cache has put together an experienced, professional team that brings the tax efficient strategies of the ultra-wealthy to the masses."

R Singh (Client)

Ex-Google

Cache does not pay for testimonials or endorsements

Testimonials provided by clients are from investors in the Cache Exchange Fund and may not be representative of the experiences of other customers. Endorsements are provided by Advisors who utilize Cache for their clients and may not be representative of the knowledge of other advisors. Testimonials or endorsements are no guarantee of future performance or success. No individuals were compensated for sharing their testimonials and endorsements with Cache. A conflict of interest exists in that the individuals have a business relationship with Cache.
CASE STUDY

How a $4M position turns into $3.2M in cash.

The scenario
Your wealth is tied up in a $4M stock position

Lets say you hold $4M in a single stock (though our minimums start at ~$1M). You want to bridge to a new opportunity today. A Collar Advance turns that position into liquidity without a huge tax bill.

Unlock up to 90% cash
You receive $3.2M in liquidity today.

How? We place a synthetic "collar" on your stock (a floor and a cap), ensuring the value never falls below the floor. This defined risk profile allows the bank to lend a higher amount against your asset safely.

Smart financing
Lock in a fixed rate as low as 3.7% annually.

Because the bank’s risk is contained, you can lock in a fixed rate for the term. The rates can be as low as 3.7%, which is significantly lower than traditional margin loans, and comes without the risk of margin calls.

Tax-smart borrowing
Defer taxes for 2–5 years.

Instead of paying taxes today, you defer them until the contract matures. At the end of the term, you can settle the advance using your stock or cash, effectively bridging you to a future liquidity event.

Borrow at rates lower than the alternatives

Collar Advance
Collar Advance
3.7%-4.2%
Margin loans
Fidelity, Schwab, Ally, ETrade
6.7-8.0%
Stock-based line of credit
Schwab
6.9%
30-year mortgage rate
Traditional banks
6.2%

Rates Disclosure – Information is current as of 12/10/25

Stock-based line of credit rates assume a $1,000,000 securities-backed loan and are tied to an underlying reference rate. Rates are variable and subject to change; other brokerages may offer higher or lower borrowing rates. Margin rates are based on a $1,000,000 borrow amount using publicly available information and are subject to change. Thirty-year mortgage rates are based on prevailing Freddie Mac mortgage rates and may vary based on borrower creditworthiness and other factors.

Rates shown are illustrative, may not be available to all clients, and depend on collateral quality, loan term, issuer concentration, and market conditions. Examples were sourced from select industry participants, do not represent a comprehensive survey of the market, and will not be updated.

Stock-based lines of credit and margin loans are generally liquid, while collar advances are illiquid and typically have terms of two to five years. A collar advance involves derivative contracts that limit both downside risk and upside participation. Investors may forgo gains above the cap and may be required to deliver shares or cash at maturity depending on market performance. Margin loans and stock-based lines of credit do not limit upside participation; however, rates are variable and positions are subject to margin calls.
Find my rate
Fixed rates

Your rate is locked for the entire term. Unlike margin loans that float with market rates, your cost never increases—even if the Fed hikes
rates.

No monthly payments

There are no monthly bills to pay. Interest is capitalized at the beginning of term, and you receive a lump-sum payment post interest and execution expenses.

Accessible minimums

This structure was only available for clients with tens of millions in a single stock. We’ve brought the entry point down to ~$1M, giving you the same tools used by the ultra-wealthy.

How Collar Advance works

Collar Advance is a way to get upfront cash in exchange for a contract to sell your stock at a later date. The contract can be structured for 2–5 years, and you may be able to roll it forward until you’re ready to sell.

Example of a 2-year collar with 80% floor and 160% cap

CAP
160%

CURRENT
PRICE

FLOOR
80%

Today

2 YEARS FROM
TODAY

Example of a 2-year collar with 80% floor and 160% cap

Define your protection

You select a downside "floor" to define how much protection you want. Based on market conditions, a corresponding upside "cap" is set. This creates a safe range for your stock value. Because the floor protects the collateral, you will never face a margin call, even if the stock crashes.

For example: With a 2-year 80% – 160% collar, you are protected against any drop below 80% (limiting your max loss to 20%). In exchange, you participate in all upside growth up to 160% for the next two years.

If your holding goes down in value, you won’t face a margin call.

Unlock maximum liquidity

Because your position is protected, we can advance significantly more cash than a standard bank loan. In this case, up to 80% of the stock value, minus interest fees and expenses.

Through our strategic partners, a blind auction is run across multiple banks to help ensure you get the most competitive fixed rate.

Settle on your terms

At the end of the term (typically 2–5 years), the contract settles. You can repay the advance in cash (keeping your shares) or deliver shares to satisfy the loan.

The advantage? You accessed capital when you needed it and pushed the tax event to a timeline that suits you.

Why choose Cache

  • Specialists in concentrated equity

    Our entire platform is engineered specifically for the unique needs of people holding concentrated stock.

  • Trusted with $1B+ in platform assets

    We help hundreds of founders, executives, and employees manage their wealth. We bring the operational maturity required to handle large, complex positions reliably.

  • The "Blind Auction" Advantage

    Through our strategic relationships, we make banks compete for your business. Our blind auction model collects submissions from multiple banks to get you competitive rates.

  • Accessible minimums

    Historically, these structures were often reserved for clients with $10M+ positions. Our platform brings the entry point down to ~$1M, making the strategy accessible to more investors.

Common questions

The Basics

(X)

  • What is a Collar Advance and how does it work?

  • Who is this for, and what are the minimums?

  • How much can I borrow?

  • How safe is it? Do I face margin calls?

  • What does it cost, and how does it compare to margin or a mortgage?

  • How long does a Collar Advance last, and what happens at the end?

  • What can I use the money for?

  • How does this compare to selling my stock?

  • How does this compare to a margin loan?

  • What is the timeline? How long does it take?

  • Which stocks are supported?

  • Will this trigger taxes right now?

QUESTION

Category

01/04

What is a Collar Advance and how does it work?

A Collar Advance is a way to borrow against your stock for those with a long term time horizon, while keeping some of the economic exposure to it—without the risk of margin calls.

It combines two components:

  1. A “collar” on your stock

    This defines the range of outcomes you care about over the next 1-5 years:
    • A floor that limits how much you can lose if the stock declines.
    • A cap that defines how much upside you participate in if the stock rises.
  2. An advance of cash

    You receive immediate liquidity based on the value of that position.

You continue to own your shares throughout the term.

The collar provides hedging for the bank, allowing them to lend against it at typically a lower cost, and a fixed duration normally has a lower risk than a standard margin loan.

Collar Advances are also known as:

  • Variable Prepaid Forward Contracts (VPFC)
  • Prepaid Variable Forward Contracts (PVFC)

These structures have been used for decades—mainly by ultra-high-net-worth clients and founders with large concentrated positions—to access liquidity without selling and without exposing themselves to margin-call risk.

Who is this for, and what are the minimums?

Collar Advance is designed for people who:

  • Hold at least $1M–$2M in a single stock,
  • Want liquidity without selling,
  • Are sensitive to taxes, and
  • Prefer to avoid the forced-selling risk of margin loans.
  • Do not need short-term access to liquidity (Collar Advances cannot be exited early)

It is most commonly used by:

  • Senior employees at public companies with large vested positions,
  • Founders and early employees with concentrated equity,
  • High-net-worth investors and small family offices holding single-stock exposure.

How much can I borrow?

Typical advance rates range from 70% to 90% of the current stock value, minus the interest and transaction expenses.

Your exact borrowing power depends on:

  • Volatility of the stock
  • Liquidity of the options market
  • The specific floor and cap you select
  • Overall market conditions on the day of execution

Example:

On a $1.35M position, clients have accessed north of $1M in liquidity — a level of financing that is not available through traditional margin lending or traditional banks.

How safe is it? Do I face margin calls?

A Collar Advance is designed so margin calls cannot occur.

Traditional margin loans force you to add cash or sell shares if your stock drops below a maintenance threshold. This is precisely the risk that can create financial disasters for people using margin to fund real-estate or long-term investments.

A Collar Advance avoids this because:

  • The floor (put option) prevents the value from dropping below an agreed level.
  • The bank underwrites the collared package.
  • There is no daily mark-to-market exposure that can trigger forced liquidations.

Your downside is defined at the start of the contract and cannot worsen.

What does it cost, and how does it compare to margin or a mortgage?

Costs are expressed as a single fixed all-in rate for the entire term.

In recent examples, this has been in the 3.8%–4.0% implied annualized interest rate.

That rate already includes:

  • The embedded pricing of the put and call
  • Custody and administration fees
  • Structuring and execution costs

Compared to alternatives:

  • Margin borrowing: Often secure overnight finance rate (SOFR) is + 2.5–4% at major brokerages. Rates float, so your cost can decrease with favorable rates but can also increase unexpectedly.
  • Mortgages: Recent jumbo mortgage rates have been ~6–7%, often significantly higher.
  • Selling stock: The “cost” is the immediate tax bill, which can remove 20-30%+ of the proceeds upfront.

The Collar Advance rate is fixed, predictable, and often lower than most alternatives.

How long does a Collar Advance last, and what happens at the end?

Most Collar Advances run for approximately 2-3 years. Longer or shorter terms may be available depending on the stock and conditions.

At maturity:

  1. The stock’s final value is compared to the floor and cap.
  2. You receive the economic value of the position:
    • If the stock ends below the floor, the protection absorbs the loss beyond that point.
    • If it ends between the floor and the cap, you participate in the stock’s performance within that band.
    • If it ends above the cap, you receive value up to the cap.
  3. Settlement can occur:
    • In shares, or
    • In cash, depending on the structure and your preference
  4. You may be able to enter a new Collar Advance if you want to maintain the strategy.

Collar Advances are subject to underwriting at the time of issue, so there is no guarantee that you will be able to enter a new Collar Advance and roll forward a contract and that rates would remain competitive additionally it is important to work closely with your tax advisor regarding tax treatment of your specific transaction.

What can I use the money for?

Proceeds can be used for virtually any purpose, including:

  • Creating a diversified investment portfolio (e.g. direct indexing or long/short)
  • Financing a down payment
  • Funding a business or startup investment
  • Paying taxes, education costs, or major expenses
  • Purchasing property for family members

Investors may choose to finance real-estate purchases via a Collar Advance because:

  • Rates are typically lower than mortgage rates,
  • There is no margin-call risk

*Collar Advances are fixed duration loans typically issued for a 1-5 year duration and have to be paid off after that period of time so please consider your ability to repay prior to entering into the transaction.

How does this compare to selling my stock?

Selling triggers an immediate capital gains tax, which can consume a substantial portion of your proceeds — often 20% to 37% depending on your state and income bracket.

By contrast, a Collar Advance lets you:

  • Access liquidity without triggering a taxable sale
  • Maintain economic exposure to the stock within the collar’s defined range
  • Defer taxes until the end of the term (or later, if you continue to roll the strategy)
  • Capture potential upside up to the cap

For investors with appreciated stock and a long-term view, this economic profile is often materially superior to selling.

How does this compare to a margin loan?

Margin loans are simpler but are structurally risky:

  • If the stock drops, you may be forced to add more collateral immediately.
  • If you cannot, the broker sells your shares at the worst time.
  • Rates are higher and floating; you take interest-rate risk.
  • Loan To Value (or the percentage of securities that will be lent) is usually limited to 50%, depending on the stock.

A Collar Advance offers:

  • No margin calls
  • Fixed rates for the entire term
  • Higher borrowing power (typically 70–85%+ of the value of your securities)
  • Defined downside protection*
  • Tax deferral

*Downside protection is provided by the Collar product itself, which, while unlikely, is subject to issuer credit risk of the bank issuing the product.

What is the timeline? How long does it take?

The full process typically takes 3–4 weeks.

The timeline includes:

  1. Indicative term sheet (1–3 days)
  2. Review with Financial Partners for your situations
  3. Documentation and counterparty approval (1–2 weeks)
  4. Execution and settlement (5–7 days)
  5. Funding occurs promptly after execution

The majority of time is driven by bank underwriting and legal documentation.*

Which stocks are supported?

Eligible stocks typically include:

  • Large-cap, U.S.-listed equities
  • Stocks with deep, liquid options markets
  • Many of the same stocks accepted in Exchange Funds

We work with our partners to evaluate eligibility based on:

  • Market capitalization
  • Daily trading volume
  • Options liquidity
  • Volatility profile
  • Position size

Will this trigger taxes right now?

In most cases, no.

A Collar Advance is structured as a financing arrangement and an open transaction, not a sale.

That means:

  • You continue to own the shares,
  • You retain economic exposure (within the floor and cap),
  • And capital gains tax is typically deferred until the end of the term.

Two important tax notes:

  • Interest expense is generally not deductible due to IRS “straddle rules” (IRC Section 1092). Instead, you add the interest to your stock’s cost basis, which can reduce future gains.
  • Settlement mechanics (cash vs. shares) can affect tax timing, so investors should consult a tax advisor for personalized guidance.

The broad principle:

You get liquidity today without triggering immediate capital gains tax.

Note Collar Advances are complicated products, and you should work closely with your tax advisor if you have questions for your specific situation.

Cap 160%

In this example, investors will forego upside beyond 160%. The maximum gain is capped at 160% of the initial stock value.

Floor 80%

In this example, investors will maintain at least 80% of holdings value. The maximum loss incurred is 20%.

Collar Term

Length of the contract under which your loan is protected.

End of Collar term.

If the stock is above the floor price, you can usually roll forward on favorable terms. You can also end the contract by settling with cash or stocks.

Collar Advance relies on a fixed-term options contract that may be difficult to unwind in volatile markets. Investors may face potential losses when trying to prematurely exit contracts, particular during challenging or unfavorable market conditions. Although Collar Advance offers certain downside protections, investors may still face absolute losses if share prices decline over time. In addition, investors risk foregoing gains beyond the cap levels set in the contracts.

Illustration assumes a tax status of married filing jointly in California, with a combined annual income of $600,000+. Effective capital gains tax rate: 38%, taking into account Federal and State Income Taxes, current as of 12/10/25. This illustration assumes California state income tax and applies only to California residents; it does not apply to investors in other states. There is a risk associated with considering the assumed rate of return when performing this calculation, as a lower return would reduce the impact on the tax benefit, and the rate of return is not guaranteed. The potential for investment loss could negate the tax savings received. An investor should consider their anticipated investment horizon and income tax bracket when making an investment decision, as the illustration may not reflect these factors. Diversification does not guarantee profit or protection from loss.

After the initial term, you may be able to roll over to a new contract based on where the stock price ends up, however you should work with a qualified tax professional regarding tax treatment and eligibility. Additionally, each rollover transaction is subject to underwriting and may not always be available depending on the security and underlying market conditions.

Unlike margin loans which are liquid and securities can be accessed if needed, Collar Advance contracts are custom-built, fixed-term option transactions. Investors are generally expected to remain in their contracts until agreed-upon expiration dates. Investors may request early termination, which entails premature liquidation of option positions, and subjects investors to unpredictable and potentially unfavorable pricing conditions. Investors may face losses in volatile markets with drastic swings in option premiums. Although Collar Advance offers certain downside protections, investors may still face absolute losses if share prices decline over time. In addition, investors risk foregoing gains beyond the cap levels set in the contracts.

For more information, please speak to a member of the Cache team or consult a financial advisor.

Dividends received on stocks pledged under Collar Advance contracts are not considered qualified dividends and may not receive preferential tax treatment.

Total assets refer to the gross assets under management across all Exchange Funds managed by Cache Advisors, LLC, as well as assets pending future contribution into an Exchange Fund, assets on the Cache investing platform, and assets that Cache introduced to third parties for purposes of utilizing a Collar Advance that was successfully completed. Assets pending contribution on the platform may be withdrawn at any time and are not managed by Cache. Collar Advance assets are also not managed by Cache. All data is as of December 10, 2025, and will not be updated.

SOFR refers to Secured Overnight Financing Rate the rate that banks lend money to each other at and is the rate that  Margin loans are benchmarked against.

Cache Securities LLC offers Collar Advance in partnership with Fort Point Capital Partners LLC (“Fort Point”) and Uhlmann Price Securities, for which Cache Securities receives a referral fee. Clients do not incur any additional costs by working with Cache Securities LLC.  Any recommendations to purchase a Collar Advance would be made through For Point or its affiliates.