Investment Terms to Know 
Asset Allocation
The process of dividing investments among several classes of assets to limit risk and increase opportunities.
Balanced Fund
A mutual fund that invests in a combination of securities (usually stocks and bonds).
Bond
The debt instrument (or “IOU”) of a corporation or government entity that promises to pay a specified rate of interest for a specified time period, with principal to be repaid when the bond matures.
CD (Certificate of Deposit)
Record of money deposited in a financial institution for a set period of time at a specified interest rate.
Common Stock
Securities that represent an ownership interest and give the investor voting rights in the issuing corporation.
Compound Interest
Interest earned not only on an original investment, but on its accrued earnings as well.
Diversification
Investing in different types of investments to spread risk.
Dividend
Payments made by a corporation to its shareholders from past and current earnings. The amount an investor receives is based on the number of shares owned.
Fixed-income Securities
Investments with specified payment dates and amounts, primarily bonds that pay interest.
Growth Stock
The stock of a firm whose earnings are generally growing faster than the economy or market norm.
Income Stock
A stock with a history of paying steady dividends.
Index Fund
A mutual fund with an investment mix that mimics a specific stock or bond market index, such as the S&P 500 Stock Index or the Lehman Brothers’ Government/Corporate Bond Index.
Inflation
The rate of change in the prices of consumer goods. Usually, inflation is measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, which is computed monthly by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Inflation Risk
The risk that an investment will not generate a higher rate of return than the rate of inflation, and that the investment will lose real purchasing power.
Money Market
The investment market in which large amounts of short-term funds are loaned and borrowed.
Mutual Fund
An investment company that enables its shareholders to pool their funds to be professionally managed as a single investment account.
Principal
The capital sum invested, as distinguished from interest or profit.
Prospectus
Printed material offering a security for sale that fully discloses legally required information about the security.
Return
The profit (or loss) earned through investing.
S&P 500 Stock Index
A composite index of 500 large company stocks compiled by Standard & Poor’s Corporation. The S&P 500 is used as a broad measure of stock market performance.
Total Return
The unrealized increase or decrease in an investment's value during a specific time period, plus any income or gains generated by the investment during that period.
Treasury Bills
Short-term U.S. government debt securities with maturities of less than one year. T-bills are sold at weekly auctions at a discount and are redeemed at face value.
Yield
The interest or dividend paid on a security. Yield is usually stated as a percentage of the security's price. Some investment advisors also include capital appreciation as part of the yield.
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Glossary of Estate Planning Terms
ADMINISTRATOR
Person appointed by a court to manage the estate of a person who dies without a Will.
BENEFICIARY
A person designated to receive the income, principal, or proceeds of a trust, estate, insurance policy, or retirement plan.
CHARITABLE TRUST
A trust having a charitable organization as a beneficiary.
CORPORATE FIDUCIARY
An institution which acts for the benefit of another. One example is a bank acting as trustee.
ESTATE TAX
The tax paid by the administrator or executor of a person's estate our of the estate's assets.
EXECUTOR (OR PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE)
Someone appointed by a person in a Will to carry out the Will's provisions. A “co-executor” acts as executor with another or others.
FIDUCIARY
A person in a position of trust or confidence. The fiduciary is bound by a duty to act in good faith. Examples: trustees, executors, and administrators.
FUTURE INTEREST
A property interest which cannot be currently possessed, used, or
enjoyed.
GIFT TAX
Tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient.
GIFT-TAX ANNUAL EXCLUSION
The provision in the tax law that exempts the first $11,000 (as adjusted for inflation) in present-interest gifts a person gives to each recipient during a year from federal gift taxes.
GROSS ESTATE
The total value of an individual's property for estate-tax purposes.
GUARDIAN
A person legally appointed to manage the rights and/or property of a person incapable of taking care of his or her own affairs. A “guardian ad litem” is appointed by the court to prosecute or defend an action for a minor. Also known as a “conservator.”
HEIR
A person entitled to inherit a portion of the estate of a person who has died without a Will.
INTEREST
Any right in property.
INTESTATE
Dying without a Will.
JOINT OWNERSHIP
The ownership of property by two or more persons, usually with the right of survivorship.
LIFE INSURANCE TRUST
A trust that has the proceeds of a person's life insurance policy as its principal.
LIVING TRUST
A trust that goes into effect while the trust creator is still living.
POWER OF APPOINTMENT
The authority given by one person to another under a trust agreement or Will to decide who will receive and enjoy an interest in property.
POWER OF ATTORNEY
A document which authorizes a person to act as another person's agent.
PROBATE
The proving of the validity of a Will.
PROBATE COURT
A court with the power to probate Wills and settle estates.
PROBATE ESTATE
Those estate assets which fall within the jurisdiction of the probate court before being transferred to another person. Life insurance proceeds, for example, are not generally part of the probate estate.
SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE OR EXECUTOR
An individual or institution which takes the place of a trustee or executor who can no longer hold office.
TESTATOR
A person who makes or has made a Will.
TESTAMENTARY TRUST
A trust established in a Will which begins after the testator's death.
TRUST
A legal relationship where property is transferred to and managed by another person or institution for the benefit of another person.
TRUST AGREEMENT
The document which creates a trust and established the rules which control the trust's management.
TRUSTEE
The person or institution entrusted with the duty of managing property placed in the trust. A “co-trustee” serves as trustee with another. A “contingent trustee” becomes trustee upon the occurrence of a specified future event.
WILL
A legally executed document which explains how and to whom a person would like his or her property distributed after death.
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