Investors should always keep good records of their securities transactions, including copies of account statements, trade confirmations, and canceled checks. Although the federal securities laws require brokers to keep particular records for specified periods of time, your broker is not required to keep records indefinitely. You may have a difficult time obtaining copies of records from your… Continue reading BROKER-DEALERS: RECORD-KEEPING REQUIREMENTS
BROKER VOTE
For certain routine matters to be voted upon at shareholder meetings, if you don’t vote by proxy or at the meeting in person, brokers may vote on your behalf at their discretion. These votes may also be called uninstructed or discretionary broker votes. There are stock exchange rules regarding which routine matters brokers may vote… Continue reading BROKER VOTE
BROKER
An individual who acts as an intermediary between a buyer and seller, usually charging a commission to execute trades. Brokers are required to seek the best execution of trades they make for clients, and if they recommend investments to clients, those investments must be suitable for the client.
BREAKPOINT DISCOUNTS
Some mutual funds that charge front-end sales loads will charge lower sales loads for larger investments. For example, a fund might charge a 5% front-end sales load for investments up to $25,000, but reduce that to a 4% load for investments between $25,000 and $50,000 and 3% for investments exceeding $50,000. The investment levels required to obtain… Continue reading BREAKPOINT DISCOUNTS
BONUS CREDITS FOR ANNUITIES
In an attempt to attract purchasers, some insurance companies offer variable annuity contracts with “bonus credits.” A bonus credit is the extra amount an insurance company agrees to add to the value of your contract-usually a specified percentage (typically ranging from 1% to 5%) of the payments you make during a certain time period. While… Continue reading BONUS CREDITS FOR ANNUITIES
BONDS, SELLING BEFORE MATURITY
Investors who hold a bond to maturity (when it becomes due) get back the face value or “par value” of the bond. But investors who sell a bond before it matures may get a far different amount. For example, if interest rates have risen since the bond was purchased, the bondholder may have to sell… Continue reading BONDS, SELLING BEFORE MATURITY
BONDS, CORPORATE
Corporate bonds are bonds issued by companies. Companies issue corporate bonds to raise money for a variety of purposes, such as building a new plant, purchasing equipment, or growing the business. Corporate bonds are debt obligations of the issuer—the company that issued the bond. With a bond, the company promises to return the face value of the… Continue reading BONDS, CORPORATE
BONDS
A bond is a debt security, similar to an IOU. Borrowers issue bonds to raise money from investors willing to lend them money for a certain amount of time. When you buy a bond, you are lending to the issuer, which may be a government, municipality, or corporation. In return, the issuer promises to pay… Continue reading BONDS
BOND SWAP
The investor sells one bond and uses the proceeds to buy another bond, often at the same price.
BOND FUNDS AND INCOME FUNDS
What is a bond fund? “Bond funds” and “income funds” are terms used to describe a type of investment company (mutual fund, ETF, closed-end fund or unit investment trust (UIT)) that invests primarily in bonds or other types of debt securities. Depending on its investment objectives and policies, a bond fund may concentrate its investments in a particular type of bond or debt… Continue reading BOND FUNDS AND INCOME FUNDS