FINANCIAL PLANNING TERMS...Bonds

What is a bond?

Bonds are debt investments in which an investor loans money to an entity (corporate or governmental) which borrows the funds for a defined period of time at a fixed interest rate. Bonds are subject to certain risks including loss of principal, interest rate risk, credit risk, and inflation risk. The value of a bond will fluctuate relative to changes in interest rates; as interest rates rise, the overall price of a bond falls.

FINANCIAL PLANNING TERMS...Stock

What is stock?

A stock is a share in the ownership of a company. As an owner, investors have a claim on the assets and earnings of a company as well as voting rights with the shares. Compared to bonds, stock investors are subject to a greater risk of loss of principal. Stock prices will fluctuate, and there is no guarantee against losses. Stock investors may or may not receive dividends. Dividends and gains on an investment may be subject to federal, state or local income taxes.

Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index is an index consisting of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity and industry grouping, among other factors. The S&P 500 is designed to be a leading indicator of U.S. equities and is meant to reflect the risk/return characteristics of the large-cap universe.

The DFA Micro Cap Portfolio (formerly U.S. 9-10 Small Company Portfolio) is a mutual fund investing in the smallest 5% of the market universe or smaller than the 1,500th largest US company. The DFA U.S. 9-10 Small Company Portfolio targeted companies in the lowest 9th and 10th deciles ranked by market cap. Small company stocks tend to be less liquid and have greater price fluctuations compared to large company stocks.

FINANCIAL PLANNING TERMS...Corporate Bond

What is corporate bond?

A corporate bond is a debt security issued by a corporation. Corporate bonds are taxable and have more credit risk compared to Treasuries. The Citigroup Long-Term High Grade Corporate Bond index includes those issues from the Credit Index that have at least 10 years to maturity (long term) but exclude asset-backed securities and non-U.S. sovereign/provincial issues.

FINANCIAL PLANNING TERMS...Government Bonds aka Treasuries

What is a government bond?
What is a treasury bond?

Government bonds, or Treasuries, are negotiable debt obligations of the U.S. Government, secured by its full faith and credit and issued at various schedules and maturities. Income from Treasury securities is exempt from State and local, but not Federal, taxes. Treasury bill data is based on a one-bill portfolio containing, at the beginning of each month, the bill having the shortest maturity not less than one month. Intermediate government bond data is based on a one-bond portfolio with a maturity near five years. Long-term government bond data is based on a one-bond portfolio with a maturity near twenty years.