What is a SEP IRA? A SEP IRA (Simplified Employee Pension Individual Retirement Arrangement) is a variation on traditional or Roth IRAs that are used by businesses for themselves and their employees. Most commonly, SEP retirement plans are used by individuals who are self-employed; employees working for the individual must all receive the same benefits…
What is the 457 Plan? The 457 Plan is a type of tax-advantaged retirement plan with deferred compensation. The plan is non-qualified – it doesn’t meet the guidelines of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). 457 plans are offered by state and local government employers, as well as certain non-profit employers. How 457 Plans…
What is a 529 Plan? A 529 plan is a savings plan that offers tax advantages and supports the idea of saving for higher education expenses in the future. States, state agencies, or educational institutions sponsor 529 plans, also called “qualified tuition plans.” A designated beneficiary must be attached to the plan. The savings plan…
What is Unconditional Probability? Unconditional probability, also known as marginal probability, refers to a probability that is unaffected by previous or future events. In other words, unconditional probability is the probability of an event regardless of the preceding or future occurrence of other events. In simplest terms, unconditional probability is simply the probability of an…
What is Corporate Governance? Corporate governance is a system that guides the conduct of the people within an organization, as well as the direction of the organization itself. Corporate governance is altogether different from the daily operational decisions and activities that are executed by the management of an organization. Corporate governance is the domain of…
What is the Addition Rule for Probabilities? Given multiple events, the addition rule for probabilities is used to compute the probability that at least one of the events happens. Probability can be defined as the branch of mathematics that quantifies the certainty or uncertainty of an event or a set of events. Related Concepts Before…
What is Anchoring and Adjustment? Anchoring and adjustment refers to a cognitive heuristic that influences how people assess probabilities in an intuitive manner. According to the anchoring and adjustment heuristic, people employ a certain starting point (“the anchor”) and make adjustments until they reach an acceptable value over time. The heuristic was first hypothesized by…
What is Physical Deterioration? Physical deterioration refers to the loss in value of a real estate property due to the physical wearing out of a building. It can also describe the normal wear and tear that buildings experience as they age. For example, the heating and cooling systems wear out at some point in the…
What is Applied Economics? Applied economics is generally considered to be the study of economic principles when they are applied to specific scenarios or situations. In the study and research of economics, there exist two fundamental areas of distinction. The first being “core,” and the second being “applied.” When something is a part of applied…
What is Advanced Internal Rating-Based (AIRB)? The Advanced Internal Rating-Based (AIRB) approach is a risk measurement tool for banking and financial institutions that helps in the measurement of credit risk. It is done under the Basel II Capital Rules for institutions and companies that specialize in banking globally. Risks of Default The advanced internal rating-based…
