Financial Glossary

Level up your understanding of common money terms and complex finance concepts with our glossary.

# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Adjusted Gross Income

Adjusted Gross Income is your total income minus specific deductions, determining tax liability and eligibility for credits.

B

Bank Failure

Bank failures occur when banks cannot meet their obligations to depositors and creditors, leading to closure by regulators.

Beneficiary

A beneficiary is an individual or entity entitled to receive benefits or assets from a will, trust, insurance policy, or retirement account.

C

Commercial Banking

Commercial banking refers to financial institutions offering services like loans, deposits, and payments to businesses and individuals.

Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency is digital currency secured by cryptography, operating on a decentralized network, typically utilizing blockchain technology.

D

Day Trading

Day trading involves buying and selling financial instruments within the same day to capitalize on short-term market fluctuations.

E

Equity

Equity represents ownership value in an asset or company, reflecting the residual interest after deducting liabilities from assets.

G

Gig Economy

A gig economy is a labor market characterized by flexible, short-term jobs as opposed to traditional, permanent roles.

H

Home Equity LIne of Credit

A home equity line of credit is a revolving loan where your home serves as collateral, allowing you to borrow against your home's equity.

I

Income-Driven Repayment

Learn about income-driven repayment (IDR) plans for federal student loans. Discover how these plans adjust payments to make student loans more manageable.

M

Marginal Tax Rate

The marginal tax rate is the percentage at which your next dollar of income is taxed, reflecting how income tiers affect your tax obligations.

P

Passive Income

Passive income is earnings derived from ventures requiring minimal active effort, allowing individuals to generate revenue with little ongoing work.

Pyramid Scheme

A pyramid scheme is a fraudulent system of making money based on recruiting an ever-increasing number of "investors".

R

Real Estate Investment Trust

A reverse mortgage is a loan allowing homeowners 62 or older to convert home equity into cash without selling their home or making payments.

S

Subsidized Loan

A subsidized loan is a financial aid where the interest is paid by the government during school and grace periods, reducing borrower costs.

W

Wire Transfer

A wire transfer is an electronic method of sending funds directly between banks or financial institutions, often used for same-day, secure transactions.

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