What is Panic Buying? Panic buying is a phenomenon of mass purchasing that typically occurs either just before or just after some sort of disaster – whether the disaster is real or only predicted. It often happens related to severe weather incidents, such as an impending major snowstorm or hurricane. Consumers fear not being to…
What is Racketeering? Racketeering is a legal term that refers to acts committed that are part of an ongoing criminal enterprise. The term is most commonly associated with the activities of organized crime organizations – such as the Mafia – but in recent years, it’s been applied to any sort of ongoing illegal practice or…
What is Mortgage Fraud? Mortgage fraud refers to any intentional deception or misrepresentation used to obtain a mortgage loan. Typically, mortgage fraud occurs when a prospective homebuyer either gives false information or omits significant information in the process of applying for a mortgage loan to purchase a property. Understanding Mortgage Fraud While mortgage fraud is…
What is a Money Manager? A money manager is a person or entity that manages the financial assets of a portfolio for individuals or institutional investors. Money managers may also track expenses and investments, create budgets, and evaluate taxes. Money managers can adopt varying goals for their clients, including ensuring the safety of the principal,…
What is a Stock Market Index? A stock market index, also known as a stock index, measures a section of the stock market. In other words, the index measures the change in the share prices of different companies. The stock index is determined by calculating the prices of certain stocks (generally a weighted average). It…
What is Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)? Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is a designation used by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to refer to a delineation consisting of multi-county clusters with a population density of at least 50,000. An MSA broadly consists of a city with communities closely linked and exhibits a high degree…
What is Measuring Natural Gas (MCF)? MCF is an acronym equivalent to one thousand cubic feet that are derived from the Roman numeral M for 1,000, combined with cubic feet (CF) for volumetric determination of natural gas. Consider a well with the capacity to produce 500 MCF per day. The natural gas well’s daily production rate…
What is Merchandising? Merchandising is the practice of promoting products that are available for retail. It entails selecting promotional tools available to both the manufacturer and the retailer – dubbed as a promotional mix. Merchandising strategies include personal selling, sale promotion, marketing strategies, creating coupons, and discounts. More broadly, merchandising may refer to in-store or…
What is Microcredit? Microcredit is an extremely small loan given to those who lack a steady source of income, collateral, or any credit history. It aims to support and kickstart entrepreneurs who are unable to obtain the financial backing needed to start a small business or capitalize on an idea. It is also more common…
What is Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI)? The Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) is a measure used by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to determine if a taxpayer is eligible for certain deductions or contributions to a Roth IRA. The IRA also uses MAGI to determine if a taxpayer is eligible for certain educational tax…
