Account number
Banking & SafetyA sensitive identifier assigned to a particular financial account.
Reference
Money Glossary
Search beginner financial terms and follow links to related lessons, tools, and games.
Definitions are simplified for education and may not capture every legal, tax, contractual, or financial detail.
Use the glossary while reading a lesson or interpreting a tool result. For clue-based vocabulary practice, open Money Mystery.
141 terms shown
Account statement
Banking & SafetyA periodic record of account balances, transactions, fees, and other activity.
Account structure
Banking & SafetyThe way accounts or internal categories are arranged for selected transaction and savings purposes.
Account takeover
Banking & SafetyUnauthorized control of an account by someone other than the account owner.
ACH transfer
Banking & SafetyAn electronic transfer processed through the Automated Clearing House network.
Amount owed
Paychecks & TaxesAn amount remaining under a final tax calculation after applicable payments and credits are considered.
Annual fee
BorrowingA recurring yearly charge associated with some financial products or services.
APR
BorrowingAnnual percentage rate is a standardized yearly measure of borrowing cost that may include interest and certain fees, depending on the product.
Asset
Inflation & InvestingSomething with economic value that a person, business, or organization owns or controls.
Automatic transfer
Budgeting & SavingA scheduled movement of money from one account to another.
Available balance
Banking & SafetyAn institution's estimate of money currently available for transactions after selected holds or pending activity.
Bank
Banking & SafetyA financial institution that may accept deposits and provide other services under applicable rules.
Bank statement
Banking & SafetyA statement summarizing posted activity and balances for a bank account over a period.
Bills account
Banking & SafetyAn optional account used to separate recurring bills from other transactions.
Bond
Inflation & InvestingA type of debt investment in which an investor lends money to an issuer under stated terms.
Borrower
BorrowingA person or organization receiving money with an obligation to repay it under agreed terms.
Budget
Budgeting & SavingA plan or model for organizing income, expenses, and financial priorities over a period of time.
Cash flow
Budgeting & SavingMoney moving into and out of a household, business, or account over time.
Checking account
Banking & SafetyA deposit account commonly used for frequent payments, withdrawals, and transfers.
Co-signer
BorrowingA person who agrees to share responsibility for repaying an obligation if required by the agreement.
Coinsurance
Insurance & RiskA percentage of an allowed covered-service cost paid under an insurance plan's terms.
Compound growth
Inflation & InvestingGrowth calculated on both an original amount and previous accumulated growth in a simplified model.
Contribution
Inflation & InvestingMoney added to a savings, investment, or retirement account.
Copayment
Insurance & RiskA fixed amount connected to a covered service under an insurance plan's terms.
Credit freeze
Banking & SafetyA restriction on access to a credit file under current official rules.
Credit limit
BorrowingThe maximum outstanding balance a lender allows on a revolving credit account.
Credit report
BorrowingA record containing information about borrowing and repayment history collected by a credit-reporting company.
Credit score
BorrowingA numerical model based on information in a credit report and used by some organizations when evaluating credit risk.
Credit union
Banking & SafetyA member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative operating under applicable rules and membership terms.
Credit utilization
BorrowingA comparison between a revolving credit balance and the available credit limit.
Current balance
BorrowingThe amount currently shown on an account, which may include activity after the last statement closed.
Current period
Paychecks & TaxesThe values connected to the single pay period shown on a payroll statement.
Debit card
Banking & SafetyA card generally used to access money in a linked deposit account.
Deductible
Insurance & RiskAn amount a person may pay for covered services before a health plan begins paying under its terms; some services may be handled differently.
Deduction
Paychecks & TaxesAn amount removed from gross pay or, in another context, an amount that may reduce taxable income under applicable rules.
Deferment
BorrowingA temporary period during which certain loan payments may be postponed under specific eligibility rules.
Deposit insurance
Banking & SafetyProtection for eligible deposits at an insured institution under official rules and limits.
Depreciation
Housing & TransportationA decrease in an asset's modeled value over time.
Direct deposit
Banking & SafetyElectronic delivery of money, such as pay, directly into an account.
Diversification
Inflation & InvestingSpreading exposure across different assets or categories rather than concentrating everything in one area.
Drawdown
Inflation & InvestingA decline from a previous high value over a selected period.
Emergency fund
Budgeting & SavingMoney set aside as a cash buffer for unexpected expenses or income disruptions.
Employee contribution
Paychecks & TaxesMoney an employee adds to a workplace benefit or retirement plan under the plan's terms.
Employer contribution
Paychecks & TaxesMoney an employer adds to an employee benefit or retirement plan under plan rules.
Employer match
Paychecks & TaxesAn employer contribution connected to an employee contribution under a stated plan formula.
Expense
Budgeting & SavingMoney spent or owed for goods, services, obligations, or operating costs.
First-year compensation
Paychecks & TaxesCompensation modeled for the first year, which may include one-time entered amounts that do not repeat later.
Fixed expense
Budgeting & SavingAn expense that usually stays relatively consistent over a selected period.
Fraud alert
Banking & SafetyA notice on a credit file asking users of the file to take additional identity-verification steps.
Grace period
BorrowingA period when interest may not apply to certain purchases if account terms are met.
Gross pay
Paychecks & TaxesEarnings before taxes and other payroll deductions are removed.
Hard inquiry
BorrowingA credit-report inquiry commonly connected to an application for credit and visible to others who access the report.
High-cost revolving debt
BorrowingRevolving borrowing with contractual interest or fees described as costly in a selected educational context; no universal threshold is implied.
HSA eligibility
Insurance & RiskThe current requirements a person must meet to contribute to a health savings account.
Identity theft
Banking & SafetyUse of another person's identifying information without authorization.
Impersonation scam
Banking & SafetyA scam in which someone pretends to be a trusted person, organization, employer, or government agency.
In-network
Insurance & RiskA provider or service connected to a health plan's network under agreed terms.
Independent contractor
Paychecks & TaxesA person or business providing services outside an employee relationship under applicable classification rules.
Individual retirement account
Inflation & InvestingA retirement account established for an individual under federal tax rules.
Inflation
Inflation & InvestingA general increase in prices over time that can reduce purchasing power.
Interest
BorrowingThe cost of borrowing money or the amount earned for lending or depositing money, depending on context.
IRA
Inflation & InvestingAn individual retirement arrangement established under current tax rules; account eligibility, limits, and treatment can change.
Lease
Housing & TransportationA contract that sets terms for using property or another asset for a defined period.
Lender
BorrowingA person or organization providing money under an agreement that it will be repaid.
Liquidity
Budgeting & SavingHow easily an asset can be converted to usable money without a large delay or loss in value.
Loan term
BorrowingThe period over which a loan is scheduled to be repaid.
Maintenance reserve
Housing & TransportationA planning amount set aside in a model for future maintenance costs; it is not a forecast of an exact bill.
Marginal tax rate
Paychecks & TaxesThe tax rate applied to the next portion of taxable income under a graduated tax system.
Match limit
Paychecks & TaxesThe maximum employee contribution amount eligible for an employer match under a plan formula.
Mileage
Housing & TransportationA measure of distance traveled, often expressed in miles over a selected period.
Minimum balance
Banking & SafetyAn account balance level connected to selected terms, fees, or features.
Minimum payment
BorrowingThe smallest payment required for a billing period under an account's terms.
Money-priorities framework
Budgeting & SavingAn educational sequence used to organize competing financial priorities. It does not create a personalized financial plan.
Monthly account fee
Banking & SafetyA recurring monthly charge under an account's terms.
Move-in cost
Housing & TransportationA one-time or upfront cost connected to starting a housing arrangement.
NCUA
Banking & SafetyThe National Credit Union Administration, a federal agency that regulates federal credit unions and administers federal share insurance.
Net pay
Paychecks & TaxesThe amount remaining from gross pay after payroll deductions.
Network
Insurance & RiskA group of providers, facilities, and suppliers connected to a health plan under contracted terms.
Nominal return
Inflation & InvestingGrowth or loss measured without adjusting for inflation.
Ongoing compensation
Paychecks & TaxesCompensation modeled for a continuing year without one-time first-year amounts.
Open enrollment
Insurance & RiskA scheduled period when eligible people may select or change coverage under a program or plan's rules.
Out-of-network
Insurance & RiskA provider or service outside a health plan's network, which may use different coverage and cost-sharing rules.
Out-of-pocket maximum
Insurance & RiskA plan-year limit on certain covered cost sharing under a health plan's rules.
Overdraft
Banking & SafetyAn account condition in which a transaction exceeds available money under the institution's processing rules.
Overtime
Paychecks & TaxesWork performed beyond a standard threshold under applicable employment rules or employer policy.
Pay period
Paychecks & TaxesThe span of work covered by a paycheck or payroll statement.
Payment history
BorrowingA record of whether reported account payments were made according to the account terms.
Payroll tax
Paychecks & TaxesA tax connected to wages or payroll and generally collected through the payroll system.
Pending transaction
Banking & SafetyA transaction recognized by an institution but not yet fully posted.
Periodic expense
Budgeting & SavingAn expense that occurs less often than the model's main period, such as an annual or seasonal cost.
Periodic interest rate
BorrowingAn interest rate applied for a selected period, such as a month or day, under a calculation method.
Phishing
Banking & SafetyA deceptive message or site designed to obtain information or prompt an action.
Post-tax deduction
Paychecks & TaxesA payroll deduction removed after applicable taxes in the payroll calculation.
Posted transaction
Banking & SafetyA transaction recorded to an account after the institution completes its posting process.
Pre-tax deduction
Paychecks & TaxesA payroll deduction treated before certain taxes in a payroll calculation; exact treatment depends on the deduction and current rules.
Premium
Insurance & RiskAn amount paid for insurance coverage, usually monthly, quarterly, or annually.
Principal
BorrowingThe original amount borrowed or the remaining amount of that original balance, depending on context.
Purchasing power
Inflation & InvestingThe quantity of goods or services that an amount of money can buy.
Real return
Inflation & InvestingGrowth or loss after accounting for inflation in a simplified calculation.
Recurring cost
Budgeting & SavingA charge that repeats on a regular schedule.
Recurring housing cost
Housing & TransportationA housing-related cost that repeats on a schedule, such as rent or a monthly service.
Refund
Paychecks & TaxesMoney returned when a final calculation shows that amounts already paid exceed the calculated amount, depending on applicable rules.
Rent
Housing & TransportationA payment made for the right to use property under an agreement.
Renters insurance
Insurance & RiskInsurance designed to cover certain personal-property losses and liability risks under a policy's terms.
Required minimum payment
BorrowingThe minimum amount contractually due for a payment period under an account or loan's terms.
Return
Inflation & InvestingThe gain or loss on an amount over a period of time.
Revolving balance
BorrowingA balance carried from one billing cycle into another under an account's terms.
Risk
Insurance & RiskUncertainty about future outcomes, including the possibility of loss.
Roommate split
Housing & TransportationA modeled division of shared household costs among people; legal responsibility still depends on agreements and applicable rules.
Roth
Inflation & InvestingA retirement-account tax-treatment label generally associated with after-tax contributions and qualified distributions under current rules.
Routing number
Banking & SafetyA sensitive number used to identify a financial institution or payment-processing route.
Salary
Paychecks & TaxesA stated amount of compensation typically expressed as an annual figure, subject to employment terms.
Salary account
Banking & SafetyAn informal term sometimes used for the account selected to receive payroll deposits; it is not necessarily a distinct account type.
Savings account
Banking & SafetyA deposit account commonly used to hold money under the institution's withdrawal, transfer, fee, and interest terms.
Savings bucket
Banking & SafetyA label or subcategory used to organize money for a selected goal within an account or account system.
Savings goal
Budgeting & SavingA target amount connected to a future use or purpose.
Security deposit
Housing & TransportationMoney provided under a rental agreement and handled according to the lease and applicable rules.
Sinking fund
Budgeting & SavingMoney set aside gradually for a known future cost.
Soft inquiry
BorrowingA credit-file review such as checking one's own report or certain account reviews that does not affect credit scores under cited official guidance.
Spending account
Banking & SafetyAn optional transaction account used to separate selected everyday spending from other money.
Starter cash buffer
Budgeting & SavingA smaller accessible reserve used in some educational frameworks for near-term unexpected costs.
Statement balance
BorrowingThe amount shown at the end of a billing cycle on an account statement.
Stock
Inflation & InvestingAn ownership interest in a company.
Subscription
Budgeting & SavingAn arrangement in which access to a product or service continues through recurring payments.
Tax return
Paychecks & TaxesA document that reports information and applies current tax rules for a tax period.
Tax-advantaged account
Inflation & InvestingAn account receiving tax treatment defined by current rules, often with eligibility, contribution, or access limits.
Tax withholding
Paychecks & TaxesMoney removed from pay and sent toward taxes before net pay is delivered.
Tax-deferred
Inflation & InvestingA tax treatment in which taxation is generally postponed until a later taxable event under current rules; it does not necessarily mean tax-free.
Time horizon
Inflation & InvestingThe period over which a saving, investing, or other financial scenario is considered.
Toll
Housing & TransportationA charge for using a selected road, bridge, tunnel, or transportation facility.
Total compensation
Paychecks & TaxesA broad view of pay plus selected workplace benefits and employer contributions.
Total cost of ownership
Housing & TransportationA combined view of purchase-related, operating, maintenance, fee, and value-loss assumptions over a selected period.
Transit pass
Housing & TransportationA pass that provides transit access under the provider's terms for a selected period.
Utility
Housing & TransportationA service such as electricity, water, gas, or another essential property service.
Variable expense
Budgeting & SavingAn expense that can change from one period to another.
Vesting
Paychecks & TaxesThe process by which ownership rights in certain employer-provided benefits become nonforfeitable over time.
Volatility
Inflation & InvestingThe degree to which a value moves up and down over time.
W-2
Paychecks & TaxesAn annual wage and tax statement that generally summarizes employee wages and certain withholding information.
W-4
Paychecks & TaxesA U.S. federal form employees generally use to provide withholding information to an employer.
Workplace retirement plan
Inflation & InvestingA retirement plan established through an employer under plan documents and current rules.
Year to date
Paychecks & TaxesA cumulative total from the start of the year through the current statement date.
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Sources
Official agency and regulator sources listed on the Sources page support the stable concepts. Date-sensitive definitions require closer review.
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Financial Intelligence Lab provides simplified educational information, calculators, and games. This page does not provide individualized financial, investment, tax, legal, credit, student-loan, insurance, housing, retirement, career, business, or budgeting advice. Examples and formulas use simplified assumptions. Actual costs, taxes, rates, benefits, laws, eligibility rules, and personal circumstances vary.