A defined contribution plan offered by a business organization to its employees, which allows employees to set aside pre-tax income for retirement purposes. In some cases, employers match employee con [..]

A defined contribution plan similar to a 401(k), but offered by non-profit organizations rather than businesses. Employee contributions can grow tax-deferred until withdrawal, at which time the money [..]

A contract by which an insurance company promises to make periodic payments to the annuitant, based on the assets in the annuity. An immediate annuity commences payments immediately upon establishment [..]

is a strategy to manage short-term risk by combining investments from different asset classes (stocks, bonds, cash) that tend to move in opposite directions during market ups and downs. This combinati [..]

on the sale of an investment are incurred on the amount by which the investment’s selling price exceeds its initial purchase price. A capital gain may be short-term (one year or less) or long-term (mo [..]

An FDIC-insured bank product for which a specified amount of money is deposited for a specified period of time (anywhere from a few months to several years) at a set interest rate. CDs typically offer [..]

Interest that is calculated on both the principal sum of money and interest previously accrued. Because compound interest can be applied to savings as well as debt, it can work in one’s favor or again [..]

An account typically established in a bank, brokerage firm or mutual fund company that is administered by one person or entity (the custodian) for the benefit of another person. Custodial accounts are [..]

A type of loan designed to consolidate multiple debts, typically at a lower interest rate, enabling the borrower to reduce monthly payments or accelerate payoff of debt.

A company retirement plan, such as a pension plan, in which a retired employee receives a specific amount based on salary history and years of service, and in which the employer bears the investment r [..]