Each share of a company's common stock represents a partial ownership of the company's stockholders' equity. Equity is the financing provided by owners of a company rather than creditors. Equity dilution occurs when a company issues additional shares of its common stock to new or existing shareholde

A repurchase agreement is a type of secured loan. The first party purchases stocks, bonds or other securities and immediately sells them to the second party. The first party agrees to buy these securities back from the other party at a future date. The first party is agreeing to a normal repurchase

Millions of Americans have run into debt trouble in recent years. Many of them turn to consumer credit counseling organizations for assistance. In fact, attending a consumer credit program is a requirement for individuals filing for bankruptcy. However, not all consumer credit counseling organizatio

The Fair Credit Reporting Act allows consumers to check their credit reports once every year for free, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Those copies must be obtained from annualcreditreport.com. People can purchase additional copies as frequently as they wish from TransUnion, Experian and

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and other federal agencies provide home improvement grants to low-income families. These grants help low-income households make needed repairs to their property, or help to upgrade systems to make them more energy efficient. To qualify for a grant

The world of online banking has become a great deal more sophisticated in recent years. As more banking customers become comfortable with banking online, many banks allow customers to open, and even fund, their checking, savings and money market accounts right from their computers. This online acce

Congress created Individual Retirement Accounts in 1974 as a way for workers to fund retirement. As IRAs evolved and the needs of American investors changed, lawmakers tweaked the tax code as it pertains to IRAs, allowing for early IRA withdrawals to pay for things other than retirement, including c

Having a bad credit file can be worrisome. We all need access to a credit line of credit at some point. There are many reasons why your credit file is bad. It could simply be an error on your credit file. Maybe there was a late or missed credit card payment. It could be the bank didn't pay your regu

During the last two days I presented basic techniques for beginners who would like to learn technical analysis trading techniques. More specifically I focused on my favorite indicator the Exponential Moving Average or EMA for ...

Because Social Security benefits will usually only cover 40 percent of your preretirement income, many people wind up working well into their golden years. Not only can a part-time or full-time job provide you with extra income and social stimulation in retirement, but the longer you work, the highe

In 1974, Congress offered Americans a new way to save for retirement by creating the individual retirement account. Originally the plan allowed workers to deposit $1,500 per year into an IRA account, deducting the contribution from taxable income. Contribution limits have changed over the years and

Retiring individuals and couples often look for not only a beautiful or exciting place to spend their “Golden Years,” but an inexpensive location to live and enjoy life. When considering a place to retire, rural areas should be placed at the top of the affordability list.

Microlending is a segment of the financial services industry that offers very small business loans. These microloans typically are offered to residents of third-world or non-industrialized nations. Often the residents of these countries don't have access to modern banking systems or traditional so

Several national organizations dedicated to optometry award annual scholarships and grants. Some optometry scholarships may be limited to minority optometry students. In addition to national organizations, state organizations and schools of optometry are also lucrative sources of scholarship money f

According to a U.S. Department of Education funding status report, the Pell Grant is the largest source of grants for post-secondary education, with new awards for 2010 anticipated at more than 8 million. Since the Pell is a grant and not a loan, it does not have to be repaid. Pell grants are awarde

An exponential growth curve is a visual representation of a mathematical function that utilizes exponents. For example, if your savings account uses compound interest, then it is on an exponential growth curve because the amount in your account does not grow in a straight line. Exponential growth cu

Pensions are retirement benefits offered by your employer. These retirement benefits are often funded completely by your employer. The benefit is a defined benefit, which means your employer determined that you'll receive a set payment amount at your retirement. This income won't decrease over time.

Credit scores are a numerical indicator of a borrower's current and past credit history. The number gives a lender a quick indicator of a borrower's ability and willingness to repay debt. The higher the credit score, the more favorable interest rates and terms on new loans for a borrower. With a few

Individual retirement accounts can be funded by any person who meets the eligibility criteria. The list of criteria differs between traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs, but having a 403b annuity will not disqualify you from participating in either. However, your ability to contribute to a 403b plan may n

Refinancing a home can be just as involved as purchasing one. Before you begin the process, you must ensure that it's the right time for you to refinance. There are a few important aspects to consider that will lead you to your best answer.