Which of the following is not a reason investors use leverage?

• A. Increase Potential Returns
• B. Tax Advantages
• C. Access to Larger Assets
• D. Reduce Investment Returns

Answer: (D)

The main idea is to understand why investors use leverage: it’s about amplifying potential upside and expanding what you can buy, not lowering your returns. Borrowed funds let you chase bigger gains when investments perform well, which is why increasing potential returns is a primary motivation. They also enable purchasing larger assets you couldn’t afford with cash alone, expanding the scope of opportunities. Tax advantages can come from the deductibility of interest in many tax systems, reducing the after-tax cost of borrowing.

The option about reducing investment returns is not a reason investors choose leverage. Using debt does not aim to shrink returns; it aims to magnify them. In reality, leverage can worsen outcomes if investments perform poorly or costs eat into profits, but that’s a risk, not a deliberate purpose.