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Personal Finance FAQs

  1.

    Why is Frank Quattrone credited with contributing to the growth of the dotcom bubble?

  2. What is cliff vesting?

  3. Which credit card company holds the honor of most profitable IPO?

  4. What is a "force majeure"?

  5. Why is a "hockey stick bid" considered fraudulent?

  6. What does it mean when advertisers say that "financing is available"? Should I trust them to give me a good deal?

  7. A customer has the following in his long margin account. Market value: $18,000, debit balance: $10,000 and SMA: $2,000. How much of the SMA may be used to purchase additional securities?

  8. What is the history behind today's bankruptcy laws?

  9. What are the penalties for withdrawing from my Traditional IRA less than a year after acquisition?

  10. How did currency trader John Rusnak hide $691 million in losses before being caught for bank fraud?

  11. What is the difference between term and universal life insurance?

  12. What are the differences between chapter 7 and chapter 11 bankruptcy?

  13. What's the difference between book and market value?

  14. What are leading, lagging and coincident indicators? What are they for?

  15. What's the difference between a mutual fund and a hedge fund?

  16. I'm a teacher. Which is better for me, a 401(k) or 403(b)? What is the difference? From whom do I get these plans?

  17. Who qualifies as "single" for tax or retirement purposes when spouses do not live together?

  18. What are the income limits for Roth IRA contributions?

  19. Are long-term U.S. government bonds risk-free?

  20. When you buy a stock in a company, does it necessarily mean that one of the shareholders is selling it to you?

  21. What qualifies a person as a day trader?

  22. What are some of the features and benefits of SEP IRAs and Roth IRAs?

  23. I work for a university, and I have a 403(b) with TIAA-CREF. But TIAA-CREF says I cannot transfer money to another provider. Can they prevent me from transferring my money to a better investment?

  24. Why do some closed-end mutual funds trade above or below their net asset values?

  25. What number of shares determines adequate liquidity for a stock?

  26. What is a company's worth, and who determines its stock price?

  27. How rapidly can expanding sales reduce a firm's earnings?

  28. What's the difference between pre-money and post-money?

  29. I'm about to retire. If I pay off my mortgage with after-tax money I have saved, I can save 6.5%. Should I do this?

  30. What's the difference between macroeconomics and microeconomics?

  31. I'm new to this. Can I sell or buy stock by myself?

  32. Why would a stock have no par value?

  33. What is a wrap account and what are the advantages of using one?

  34. Are my investments insured?

  35. If everyone is selling in a bear market, does your broker have to buy your shares from you? If so, won't he be losing his shirt?

  36. Can I, without tax penalties, use the IRA I inherited from my father to buy a home that I will live in? He was 72 and had started taking small payouts on it.

  37. My Traditional IRA has been converted to a Roth IRA. Can I still make a qualified withdrawal as a first-time home buyer?

  38. Is my 403(b) account owned by me or by the institution?

  39. I know there is a form of deposit insurance where a portion of my bank account deposits is protected. Is there anything like this for my investments?

  40. Can I contribute to both a 529 plan and a Coverdell education savings account?

  41. My recently deceased spouse's IRA has been rolled over into mine. Does the cost basis change for me?

  42. Can my spouse and I convert our IRAs to Roth IRAs regardless of earned income?

  43. I am a teacher in a public school system and I don't presently have a 403(b) plan, but I do have some money in a Roth IRA and also a self-directed IRA. Can I roll my IRA funds into a newly opened 403(b) plan, since I am presently employed by the school sy

  44. What are the requirements that a trust needs to meet to be qualified?

  45. Why can you short sell an ETF but not an index fund?

  46. I've heard some "market gurus" claim returns of up to 400% annually. Is this possible?

  47. Can a stock lose all its value? How would this affect a long or short position?

  48. What is a Ginnie Mae security?

  49. What is the difference between a buy-side analyst and a sell-side analyst?

  50. What is a CUSIP number?

  51. What does 'going public' mean?

  52. What exactly is a company's float?

  53. How can I find an investment club in my area?

  54. Is it possible for a company to have a positive cash flow and a negative net income?

  55. What is the full phrase for 'GmbH', and what do the words in this acronym mean in English?

  56. What's the difference between a bank guarantee and a letter of credit?

  57. I've come into a large amount of money. Should I invest it or pay off my mortgage?

  58. Are IPOs available to short sell immediately upon trading, or is there a time limit that must pass before short sales are accepted?

  59. I am a first-time home buyer. If I take a distribution from my 401(k) to purchase land and a house, will I have to pay a penalty on this distribution? Also, what kind of form will I need to file with my taxes, showing the IRS that $10,000 went toward a ho

  60. My husband has a 401(k) account which is 100% vested with an $8,000 balance. We are in foreclosure and need a hardship withdrawal. The investment management company which handles my husband's account says we can't withdraw anything because we have not con

  61. What is the best way to save for private school expenses? A 529 plan, a Coverdell ESA or a mutual fund?

  62. Can 529 plans be used to transfer wealth to other family members if the original beneficiary does not use the money?

  63. I am 52 years old and wish to make a withdrawal from my 401(k) plan. Is there any way I can avoid having to pay additional tax on the grounds of hardship - e.g. unemployment?

  64. I made involuntary contributions to a retirement plan while temporarily employed. Can I withdraw these funds without penalty?

  65. After an initial public offering, does a company profit from increases in its share price?

  66. What are some common and useful retirement planner designations? Are they expensive or difficult to obtain?

  67. I have a small business, and I'm considering setting up an SEP IRA. What are leased employees? Does this term refer to outside contractors who receive 1099-Rs? If so, how would the 5305-SEP need to be worded to make it acceptable to the IRS?

  68. What's the difference between net present value and internal rate of return? How are they used?

  69. What is the difference between investment banks and merchant banks?

  70. I am starting a limited liability company (LLC). I will be the sole member. Can I open an SEP IRA? How much tax-deferred money would I be able to contribute each year?

  71. What does the 'FIG' at an investment bank refer to?

  72. Which is a better measure for capital budgeting, IRR or NPV?

  73. What does the term "stock-for-stock" mean?

  74. In an IPO, who is a greensheet distributed to and for what purpose?

  75. What is the difference between an industry and a sector?

  76. What is an assumable mortgage?

  77. How is my credit score calculated?

  78. How does an IPO get valued? What are some good methods for analyzing IPOs?

  79. Is a Canadian resident allowed to participate in a direct stock purchase plan from a U.S. company such as Pfizer?

  80. What's the difference between institutional and non-institutional investors?

  81. How can I purchase stocks directly from a company?

  82. I own a small business. Can the SBO-401(k) work for me?

  83. My company has three partners but plans to hire more this year. Would we be better off with an SBO-401(k) or a SIMPLE IRA?

  84. Are the deferred earnings in a SIMPLE IRA subject to FICA taxes?

  85. If I pay for a course to learn about trading can I write some of it off?

  86. What is a stock-for-stock merger and how does this corporate action affect existing shareholders?

  87. How do restricted stocks, treasury stocks and stock appreciation rights benefit employees?

  88. Are credit cards and debit cards considered debt instruments?

  89. Can a bond be traded over-the-counter?

  90. How do university endowments work?

  91. How does the 80% rule for home insurance work, and how do capital improvements affect it?

  92. What are the steps to get a company listed on the OTCBB?

  93. What are the advantages and disadvantages to dealing with internet-only banks?

  94. Does marrying someone with bad credit affect my credit score?

  95. What risks do organizations face when engaging in international finance activities?

  96. What methods can be used to fund a forex account?

  97. What is political risk and what can a multinational company do to minimize exposure?

  98. What are the three phases of a completed initial public offering (IPO) transformation process?

  99. Can someone who is not yet of legal age open a brokerage account?

  100. How do segregated funds differ from mutual funds?

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Last Questions Asked:
  1.

    If I want to have some cash in a liquid account for unexpected emergencies, what is best? A savings account or another type?

  2. What is pay-as-you-drive auto insurance?

  3. What is the difference between a credit report and a credit score?

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