Borrow using the portfolio you already have without selling a single share.
Current rates are 4.10%.
SUPPORTING INVESTMENTS AT
WHY ALTERRA
Not a bank. Not a brokerage.
We’re financial advisors building modern lending the way it should work.
Traditional banks price loans as if you have no financial foundation. Alterra gives you access to the same portfolio-backed lending structures institutions use daily… without the layers of fees, delays, or friction. Your investments stay invested.
HOW IT WORKS
Loans are backed by your existing portfolio and priced by the market.
Home renovations or repairs without personal loans
Liquidity for large purchases without selling your investments
Auto financing that beats dealership terms
Mortgage at rates far below traditional lenders
How Alterra Uses Your Portfolio For Borrowing
ONE
Connect Your Investment Account
You securely link your existing brokerage account — Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard, or any major provider. Your assets stay exactly where they are.
TWO
We review your holdings to determine your available credit. Choose terms that work for you at market rates.
Review of Available Credit
THREE
Execute Trade and Receive Cash
You receive cash upfront (for example, $100k) and owe a fixed amount in the future (for example, $105k).
FOUR
Stay Fully Invested While You Borrow
No selling, no tax events, no disruption. Your portfolio continues growing while you access liquidity against it.
This structure is common in institutional finance
MORE DETAILS ON HOW IT WORKS
It’s just never been available to everyday consumers.
For decades, large institutions have used options-based lending structures to access predictable funding at transparent costs. These aren’t exotic trades—they’re standardized strategies with clear rules, long histories, and well-understood outcomes.
Our approach makes this same structure accessible in a simplified, consumer-friendly way. You don’t need to be a trader or understand every mechanic. You just benefit from a model that institutions have relied on for years to secure short-term liquidity with a defined repayment schedule.
What a Box Spread Actually Does
How a box spread creates predictable, upfront funding:
A box spread is an options structure that converts the value of future cash into a fixed amount of cash today. When the trade is opened, you receive a lump-sum payment upfront. At a predetermined future date, you pay back a known amount—no surprises, no variable interest.
Because the payoff is locked in, the structure behaves more like a short-term loan with a fixed cost than a speculative trade. There’s no dependency on market direction; the spread has a defined value from the start, which is why experienced traders and institutions use it for efficient financing.
The Tax Benefit
How this structure creates a tax benefit:
In most cases, the cost you pay back on a box spread is treated as a capital loss rather than interest. For many people, capital losses can offset capital gains, potentially lowering their overall tax burden.
The key advantage is that the structure’s cost is known upfront and its tax treatment is well established. We provide clear documentation, work alongside your tax professional, and make sure you understand exactly how the structure will be reported—so you can make informed decisions with confidence.
WHO WE ARE
Alterra is built by former traders and
portfolio managers who believe consumers deserve access to institutional-grade financing.
Traditional lenders rely on outdated risk models and high markups. We don’t.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Anything you want! We are just here to get you the best rates to borrow at. Our customers have used our products to buy a house, refinance their mortgage, pay off their credit debt, take out a small business loan, or just to get cash now! See our ‘Use Cases’ for more examples.
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You get the cash upfront and pay the principal back with interest at the end of the loan term as a single payment. There are no other payments made to us during the loan itself.
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Nothing! You are free to trade your portfolio normally. You and only you have access to your portfolio.
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It depends on the size of your portfolio. We currently offer lending solutions of up to 80% of the value of your fixed income holdings, 85% of stock/ETF holdings, and 90% of US Treasuries.
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Our total fee is 0.5% annualized.
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No, securities-backed loans do not impact credit scores or debt-to-income (DTI) calculations.
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You are able to deduct more interest in box spread loans (what we offer) than many traditional loans (mortgages, credit cards, personal loans). Please see tax section.
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Our product carries margin call risk, which occurs if your loan grows too large relative to the value of your portfolio. In that case, you would need to deposit additional cash or assets to bring your loan back within the allowed limit.
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No, we are an SEC-registered investment advisor that executes box spread strategies (explanation below) to get our clients access to efficient funding.