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Reference

Reference

Plain-English definitions for the terms you'll encounter on your financial journey.

A
Adjustable-Rate Mortgage🏠 Real Estate

A mortgage with an interest rate that can change periodically based on the performance of a specific benchmark.

Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM)💰 Personal Finance

A home loan with an interest rate that can change periodically based on the performance of a specific benchmark.

Advance Directive📜 Estate Planning

Legal instructions regarding your healthcare preferences for future medical situations.

Advanced Healthcare Directive📜 Estate Planning

A legal document that specifies a person's preferences for medical treatment if they become unable to communicate their wishes.

Amortization Schedule💰 Personal Finance

A detailed table of periodic loan payments, showing the amount of principal and the amount of interest that comprise each payment.

B
Balloon Payment💰 Personal Finance

A large, lump-sum payment that is due at the end of a loan's term after smaller periodic payments have been made.

Bank Statement💰 Personal Finance

A periodic summary of account activity issued by a bank to the account holder showing deposits, withdrawals, and balances.

Base Year🏛️ Macroeconomics

The specific year used as a benchmark for comparison when calculating economic indices like the CPI or Real GDP.

Business Credit Score🏪 Small Business

A numerical indicator of a company's creditworthiness, used by lenders and vendors to evaluate risk.

C
CHIP📋 Government Programs

Children's Health Insurance Program is a government-funded initiative that provides low-cost health coverage for children in families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance.

Co-insurance🛡️ Insurance

The percentage of medical costs that the insured person pays after their deductible has been fully met.

Co-payment🛡️ Insurance

A predetermined fixed fee that a health insurance member pays for a specific medical service, such as a doctor visit or prescription.

Codicil📜 Estate Planning

A legal addition or amendment to an existing will.

Coincident Indicators🏛️ Macroeconomics

Economic indicators that happen at the same time as the changes they signal. They provide information about the current state of the economy, such as industrial production.

Crawling Peg🌍 International Finance

An exchange rate regime where a currency is allowed to fluctuate within a range that is adjusted periodically by the central bank.

Crossover📈 Investing

A point on a chart where a stock's price and a technical indicator, like a moving average, intersect, signaling a potential trend change.

D
Debt-to-GDP Ratio🏛️ Macroeconomics

A metric that compares a country's public debt to its gross domestic product. It indicates the country's ability to pay back its debt based on its total economic output.

DIC📋 Government Programs

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation is a tax-free benefit paid to eligible surviving spouses or children of military service members who died in the line of duty. It acts as a financial safety net to support the families left behind by those who served our country.

Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA)📈 Investing

An investment strategy in which an investor divides up the total amount to be invested across periodic purchases.

Dual Eligibility📋 Government Programs

The status of an individual who qualifies for benefits from both the Medicare and Medicaid programs at the same time.

E
Emergency Fund💰 Personal Finance

A dedicated savings account containing three to six months of living expenses to cover unexpected financial crises.

EPO🛡️ Insurance

An Exclusive Provider Organization is a type of health insurance plan where you generally only get coverage if you use doctors, specialists, or hospitals in the plan's network. It is like being in a specific club where the insurance company only pays for your care if you visit the club's approved list of providers, unless it is a true medical emergency.

Estimated Tax🧾 Taxes

Periodic payments of income tax required from individuals whose income is not subject to withholding, such as the self-employed.

F
FDIC🏦 Banking

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is a government agency that protects your money if your bank happens to go out of business. It is essentially an insurance policy for your bank account that guarantees your deposits are safe up to a certain amount, so you do not have to worry about losing your life savings.

FDIC Insurance🏦 Banking

Protection provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation that guarantees the safety of deposits in member banks up to a certain limit.

FICA🧾 Taxes

FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act, which is the tax taken out of your paycheck to fund Social Security and Medicare. Think of it as a mandatory community pot that everyone contributes to so that seniors and the disabled have a guaranteed safety net for income and healthcare.

FICA Tax🧾 Taxes

A United States federal payroll tax that is used to fund Social Security and Medicare programs.

Fixed Annuity🏖️ Retirement

A contract with an insurance company that guarantees a minimum interest rate and a fixed, predictable payment amount.

Fixed-Rate Loan💳 Debt & Credit

A loan where the interest rate remains constant throughout the entire term, ensuring predictable monthly payments for the borrower.

Floating Rate Note📈 Investing

A bond or debt instrument with a variable interest rate that adjusts periodically based on a benchmark index.

FSA💰 Personal Finance

A Flexible Spending Account is a special account where you put pre-tax money from your paycheck to pay for medical or dependent care expenses. It is like a tax-advantaged debit card for your doctor visits or prescription costs, which helps you save money by lowering your total tax bill.

G
Glide Path🏖️ Retirement

The predetermined formula that dictates how the investment mix in a target date fund changes over time.

Gross Domestic Product🏛️ Macroeconomics

The total market value of all finished goods and services produced within a country's borders during a specific period. It is the primary indicator used to gauge the health of a nation's economy.

H
Hardship Distribution🏖️ Retirement

A distribution from a 401(k) or similar plan due to an immediate and heavy financial need, such as medical bills or preventing eviction.

Hardship Withdrawal🏖️ Retirement

An emergency distribution from a retirement plan allowed for an immediate and heavy financial need, such as medical bills or preventing eviction.

HDHP🛡️ Insurance

High Deductible Health Plan is a health insurance policy where you pay lower monthly premiums but must pay a larger portion of your medical costs out-of-pocket before the insurance kicks in. It is like having a car insurance policy that only covers major accidents, requiring you to pay for routine repairs yourself.

Health Care Agent📜 Estate Planning

A person legally authorized to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are incapacitated.

Healthcare Proxy📜 Estate Planning

An individual chosen to make medical decisions on your behalf if you cannot.

HSA💰 Personal Finance

Health Savings Account is a personal bank account for people with high-deductible insurance plans that lets you set aside tax-free money to pay for medical expenses. It is like a dedicated piggy bank for your health costs that saves you money on taxes every time you put funds in or take them out for a doctor's visit.

I
Inflation Adjustment🏖️ Retirement

A periodic increase in retirement benefits, like Social Security, intended to help the recipient keep up with rising prices.

Insurance Premium💰 Personal Finance

The amount of money an individual or business pays for an insurance policy periodically.

Investment Grade📈 Investing

A rating indicating that a bond or issuer has a relatively low risk of defaulting on its debt obligations.

Itemized Deduction🧾 Taxes

Specific expenses such as medical bills or mortgage interest that you list individually to reduce your total taxable income.

L
Lagging Economic Indicators🏛️ Macroeconomics

Economic factors that change only after an economy has already begun to follow a particular trend or pattern.

Lagging Indicators🏛️ Macroeconomics

Economic data points that change only after the economy as a whole has changed. Examples include the unemployment rate and corporate profits.

Leading Economic Indicators🏛️ Macroeconomics

Measurable economic factors that change before the economy starts to follow a particular pattern or trend.

Leading Indicators🏛️ Macroeconomics

Economic data points that tend to change before the rest of the economy starts to follow a particular trend. They are used to predict future economic activity.

Living Trust📜 Estate Planning

A legal arrangement created during an individual's lifetime that holds assets for their benefit and dictates their distribution after death.

Lump Sum Distribution🏖️ Retirement

A one-time payment of the entire balance of a retirement account or pension instead of receiving periodic payments.

M
M2 Money Supply🏛️ Macroeconomics

A broad measure of the money supply that includes M1 plus 'near money' such as savings deposits, money market funds, and certificates of deposit. It is a key indicator of potential future inflation.

Medicaid📋 Government Programs

A joint federal and state program that provides health coverage to people with low income, including families, seniors, and people with disabilities.

Medicaid Estate Recovery📋 Government Programs

A process where a state Medicaid program seeks to be paid back from the assets of a deceased recipient for certain long-term care costs paid on their behalf.

Medical Payments Coverage🛡️ Insurance

A small amount of coverage within auto or home insurance that pays for medical bills for guests injured on your property or in your vehicle.

Medical Proxy📜 Estate Planning

A person chosen to make healthcare decisions for you if you are unable to communicate your wishes due to illness or injury.

Medicare📋 Government Programs

A federal health insurance program primarily for people aged 65 or older and younger people with certain specific disabilities or conditions.

Medicare Advantage📋 Government Programs

An alternative to Original Medicare offered by private companies that provides all Part A and Part B benefits, often including extra services like dental or vision.

Medicare Part A🏖️ Retirement

The portion of the federal health insurance program for seniors that covers hospital stays, hospice, and some home health care.

Medicare Part B🏖️ Retirement

The portion of the federal health insurance program for seniors that covers doctor visits, outpatient care, and medical supplies.

Medicare Part D🏖️ Retirement

A federal program that provides optional prescription drug coverage for individuals enrolled in Medicare.

Medicare Tax🧾 Taxes

A payroll tax that funds the Medicare program, providing health insurance for people aged 65 and older or those with disabilities.

Medigap🏖️ Retirement

Private health insurance policies designed to pay for healthcare costs not covered by original Medicare, such as copayments and deductibles.

Mobile Banking🏦 Banking

A system that allows customers of a financial institution to conduct financial transactions remotely using a mobile device like a smartphone. It typically involves the use of a dedicated app provided by the bank.

N
NCUA Insurance🏦 Banking

Protection provided by the National Credit Union Administration that covers deposits in credit unions similarly to FDIC insurance.

No-Fault Insurance🛡️ Insurance

A type of auto insurance system where each driver's insurance pays for their own medical expenses regardless of who caused the accident.

Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF)💰 Personal Finance

A status indicating that a bank account does not have enough money to cover a check or electronic transaction.

O
Operating Cash Flow📈 Investing

The amount of cash generated by a company's normal business operations, indicating its ability to maintain and grow its business.

Out-of-Pocket Max💰 Personal Finance

The most you will have to pay for covered medical services in a plan year before your insurance pays 100%.

P
Periodic Interest Rate💳 Debt & Credit

The interest rate charged on a loan or credit account over a specific period, such as daily or monthly.

PITI🏠 Real Estate

An acronym for Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance, which are the four main components of a monthly mortgage payment. It represents the total periodic cost of owning a home under a mortgage.

Pre-existing Condition🛡️ Insurance

A health problem or medical issue that an individual had before their new health insurance coverage started.

Public Debt-to-GDP Ratio🏛️ Macroeconomics

A metric comparing a country's public debt to its gross domestic product to indicate its ability to pay back debts.

Q
Quick Ratio📈 Investing

An indicator of a company’s liquidity that measures its ability to meet short-term obligations with very liquid assets.

S
SAI📋 Government Programs

Student Aid Index is a number calculated by the government based on your family’s financial situation that determines how much federal college aid you might be eligible for. A lower number indicates that your family may need more financial help, while a higher number means you are expected to pay more toward costs.

Self-Employment Tax🧾 Taxes

A tax consisting of Social Security and Medicare contributions for individuals who work for themselves rather than an employer.

SEPP🏖️ Retirement

Substantially Equal Periodic Payments is a way to take money out of your retirement account before you are 59 and a half without paying an early withdrawal penalty, provided you commit to taking out a set amount consistently for at least five years.

Social Security Disability Insurance📋 Government Programs

A federal program that provides monthly income to individuals who are unable to work due to a significant medical impairment that is expected to last at least one year or result in death.

SSDI📋 Government Programs

Social Security Disability Insurance is a federal program that pays monthly benefits to people who have worked long enough to earn coverage but are now unable to work due to a significant, long-term medical condition.

T
Tax Haven🧾 Taxes

A country or jurisdiction that offers foreign individuals and businesses little or no tax liability in a politically and economically stable environment.

Tax Nexus🧾 Taxes

The sufficient physical or economic presence a business has in a specific state or jurisdiction that requires it to collect and pay taxes there. It determines whether a company is legally obligated to comply with a particular region's tax laws.

Trade Surplus🏛️ Macroeconomics

An economic measure of a positive balance of trade where a country's exports exceed its imports. It indicates that the country is a net seller on the global market.

U
Unemployment Rate🏛️ Macroeconomics

The percentage of the total labor force that is jobless and actively seeking employment. It is a key indicator of the health of the labor market and the broader economy.

W
Working Capital🏪 Small Business

The difference between a company's current assets and its current liabilities, indicating its short-term financial health.

Z
Zero-Coupon Bond📈 Investing

A debt security that does not pay periodic interest but is traded at a deep discount.