| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Gadfly | A person who provokes people into action or thought |
| GAFAM Stocks | Stocks of Google (Alphabet), Apple, Facebook (Meta), Amazon, and Microsoft |
| Gain | An increase in value |
| Gambler’s Fallacy | The mistaken belief that past outcomes can influence future outcomes |
| Game Changer | A new development that significantly alters the way things are done |
| Game Theory | The study of strategic decision-making |
| Gamification | The application of game-design elements in non-game contexts |
| Gamma | A measure of the rate of change of an option’s delta |
| Gamma Hedging | An options trading strategy that aims to maintain a delta-neutral portfolio |
| Gamma Neutral | A portfolio with a gamma of zero |
| Gann Angles | A technical analysis tool |
| Gann Fans | A technical analysis tool |
| Gantt Chart | A type of bar chart that illustrates a project schedule |
| Gap | A price movement where there is no trading between two price levels |
| Gap Analysis | A comparison of actual performance with desired performance |
| Gap Insurance | Insurance that covers the difference between the value of a car and the amount owed on the loan |
| Gapping | The occurrence of a price gap |
| Garage Liability Insurance | Insurance that covers liability arising from the use of a garage |
| GARCH Process | A statistical model used to analyze time series data |
| Gardening Leave | A period of paid leave during which an employee is not allowed to work for the employer |
| Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act | A U.S. law that deregulated the banking industry |
| Garnishment | A legal process to seize assets to satisfy a debt |
| Gartley Pattern | A harmonic chart pattern used in technical analysis |
| Gas (Ethereum) | A fee paid for transactions on the Ethereum network |
| Gas Guzzler Tax | A tax on cars with low fuel efficiency |
| Gate Provision | A restriction on withdrawals from a hedge fund |
| Gatekeeper | A person who controls access to something |
| Gazelle Company | A company with high growth potential |
| GBP | British Pound |
| GDAX | A former cryptocurrency exchange |
| GDP Gap | The difference between actual GDP and potential GDP |
| GDP Price Deflator | A measure of the price level of all goods and services produced in an economy |
| Gearing | The ratio of debt to equity |
| Gearing Ratio | Same as Gearing |
| Gemini Exchange | A cryptocurrency exchange |
| Gemology | The study of gemstones |
| General Account | A bank account used for general business purposes |
| General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) | A treaty that promotes free trade |
| General Agreements to Borrow (GAB) | An agreement between countries to lend money to the IMF |
| General and Administrative Expense (G&A) | Costs associated with the general management of a business |
| General Business Tax Credit | A tax credit for certain business expenses |
| General Collateral Financing Trades (GCF) | Repurchase agreements used to finance securities |
| General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) | A European Union regulation on data privacy |
| General Equilibrium Theory | A theory that explains how all markets in an economy interact |
| General Depreciation System (GDS) | A method of depreciation used for tax purposes |
| General Ledger | A record of all financial transactions |
| General Manager (GM) | A person responsible for the overall management of a business unit |
| General Obligation Bond (GO) | A municipal bond backed by the full faith and credit of the issuer |
| General Order (GO) | A customs term |
| General Partner | A partner in a partnership who has unlimited liability |
| General Partnership | A type of business organization with two or more owners |
| General Provisions | Accounting reserves for potential losses |
| General Public Distribution | The sale of securities to the general public |
| Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) | A set of accounting standards |
| Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS) | A set of auditing standards |
| Generally Accepted Principles And Practices (GAPP) | Similar to GAAP |
| Generation Gap | Differences in values and attitudes between generations |
| Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax (GSTT) | A tax on transfers of property to grandchildren or more remote descendants |
| Generation-Skipping Trust | A trust that benefits multiple generations |
| Generation X (Gen X) | The generation born between 1965 and 1980 |
| Generic Brand | A brand that is not associated with a specific manufacturer |
| Genesis Block | The first block in a blockchain |
| Genetic Engineering | The manipulation of genes |
| Genetically Modified Food (GMF) | Food produced using genetic engineering |
| Gentlemen’s Agreements | Informal agreements |
| Gentrification | The process of wealthier people moving into a poorer neighborhood |
| Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) | A measure of economic progress that takes into account environmental and social factors |
| Geographical Diversification | Diversification across different geographic regions |
| Geographical Labor Mobility | The ease with which workers can move to different areas for work |
| Geographical Pricing | Pricing that varies by location |
| Geolocation | The process of determining the location of something |
| Geometric Mean | A type of average |
| George Soros | A billionaire investor and philanthropist |
| Gharar | Islamic finance term for excessive uncertainty |
| Ghetto | A poor urban area |
| G.I. Bill | A U.S. law that provided benefits to veterans |
| Giffen Good | A good for which demand increases as price increases |
| Gift Card | A card that can be used to purchase goods or services |
| Gift Causa Mortis | A gift made in anticipation of death |
| Gift Letter | A letter confirming a gift |
| Gift in Trust | A gift given to a trust |
| Gift Inter Vivos | A gift made during the donor’s lifetime |
| Gift of Equity | A gift made by transferring equity |
| Gift Splitting | A tax strategy that allows a married couple to double the amount of a gift |
| Gift Tax | A tax on gifts |
| Gift Tax Return | A tax return for gifts |
| Gig Economy | A labor market characterized by short-term contracts or freelance work |
| Gilt-Edged Bond | A high-quality bond issued by the UK government |
| Gilt-Edged Securities | Same as Gilt-Edged Bond |
| Gilts | Same as Gilt-Edged Bond |
| Gini Index | A measure of income inequality |
| Gibraltar Pound (GIP) | The currency of Gibraltar |
| Give Up | To stop trying |
| Glass Ceiling | An invisible barrier that prevents women and minorities from reaching top positions |
| Glass Cliff | A situation where women and minorities are more likely to be appointed to leadership positions in failing companies |
| Glass-Steagall Act | A former U.S. law that separated commercial and investment banking |
| Glide Path | The planned reduction in asset allocation to equities as retirement approaches |
| Global Bond | A bond issued in multiple currencies |
| Global Depositary Receipt (GDR) | A security that represents ownership in shares of a foreign company |
| Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR) | A report published by the IMF |
| Global Fund | A fund that fights AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria |
| Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) | A standard for classifying companies by industry |
| Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS) | A set of standards for calculating and presenting investment performance |
| Global Macro | An investment strategy that focuses on macroeconomic trends |
| Global Macro Hedge Fund | A hedge fund that uses a global macro strategy |
| Global Recession | A worldwide economic downturn |
| Global Registered Share (GRS) | A share that can be traded in multiple markets |
| Globalization | The increasing interconnectedness of economies |
| Globex | An electronic trading platform |
| Glocalization | The adaptation of global products to local markets |
| GmbH | A German term for a limited liability company |
| Go-Go Fund | A high-risk, high-reward investment fund |
| Go-Shop Period | A period during which a company can solicit other offers after accepting a buyout offer |
| Goal-Based Investing | An investment strategy that focuses on achieving specific goals |
| Goal Seeking | A problem-solving technique |
| Godfather Offer | An offer that is too good to refuse |
| Going Concern | A business that is expected to continue operating |
| Going-Concern Value | The value of a business assuming it will continue to operate |
| Going Private | A company’s repurchase of its own shares to become privately held |
| Going Public | A company’s initial public offering (IPO) |
| Gold Bug | An investor who is bullish on gold |
| Gold Certificate | A type of paper money formerly used in the U.S. |
| Gold Option | An option contract on gold |
| Gold Standard | A monetary system where a country’s currency is backed by gold |
| Golden Cross | A bullish technical indicator |
| Golden Handcuffs | Incentives that encourage employees to stay with a company |
| Golden Handshake | A generous severance package |
| Golden Parachute | A lucrative severance package for executives |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Golden Rule | The principle of treating others as you would like to be treated |
| Golden Share | A special share that gives its holder certain rights |
| Goldilocks Economy | An economy that is not too hot and not too cold |
| Good Credit | A good credit history |
| Good Delivery | A standard for the delivery of physical commodities |
| Good Faith Estimate (GFE) | A document that provides an estimate of closing costs |
| Good Faith Money | A deposit made to show good faith intention to purchase |
| Good This Week (GTW) | An order to buy or sell a security that is only good for the current week |
| Good ‘Til Canceled (GTC) | An order to buy or sell a security that remains in effect until it is executed or canceled |
| Goodness-of-Fit | A measure of how well a statistical model fits the data |
| Goods and Services Tax (GST) | A value-added tax |
| Goodwill | An intangible asset |
| Goodwill Impairment | A reduction in the value of goodwill |
| Google Blogger | A blogging platform |
| Google Tax | A tax on multinational companies |
| Gordon Gekko | A fictional character from the movie “Wall Street” |
| Gordon Growth Model | A model used to value a stock based on its future dividends |
| Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance (GRC) | A framework for managing an organization’s governance, risk, and compliance |
| Government Accountability Office (GAO) | A U.S. government agency that audits government programs |
| Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) | A body that sets accounting standards for state and local governments |
| Government Bond | A debt security issued by a government |
| Government Grant | Financial assistance provided by a government |
| Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) | A U.S. government agency that guarantees mortgage-backed securities |
| Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) | A sovereign wealth fund |
| Government Pension Fund of Norway | A sovereign wealth fund |
| Government Purchase | Government spending on goods and services |
| Government Securities Clearing Corporation (GSCC) | A clearinghouse for government securities |
| Government Security | A debt security issued by a government |
| Government Shutdown | A situation where government agencies are forced to close due to a lack of funding |
| Government-Sponsored Enterprise | A financial institution created by the U.S. government |
| Government-Sponsored Retirement Arrangement (GSRA) | A retirement savings plan sponsored by a government |
| Government-Wide Acquisition Contract | A type of government contract |
| Grace Period | A period of time after a due date during which payment can be made without penalty |
| Graded Vesting | A vesting schedule that gradually gives employees ownership rights to benefits |
| Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) | A standardized test used for admission to graduate business programs |
| Graduated Lease | A lease with increasing rent payments |
| Graduated Payment Mortgage (GPM) | A mortgage with increasing payments |
| Graham Number | A metric used to value stocks |
| Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (GLBA) | A U.S. law that deregulated the financial industry |
| Grandfather Clause | A provision that exempts existing activities from new regulations |
| Grant | A financial award |
| Grant Deed | A type of deed used to transfer real estate |
| Grant-in-Aid | Financial assistance provided by a government to a lower level of government |
| Grantee | The recipient of a grant |
| Grantor | The person who makes a grant |
| Grantor Trust Rules | Rules that determine how a trust is taxed |
| Granular Portfolio | A highly diversified portfolio |
| Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) | A processor that handles graphics and video |
| Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT) | A type of trust used for estate planning |
| Gravestone Doji | A candlestick pattern |
| Gray Box | A system where some internal workings are known |
| Gray List | A list of countries with weak anti-money laundering regimes |
| Gray Market | A market where goods are sold outside of authorized channels |
| Graduate Record Examination (GRE) | A standardized test used for admission to graduate programs |
| Great Depression | A severe economic downturn in the 1930s |
| Great Leap Forward | An economic and social campaign in China |
| Great Moderation | A period of low macroeconomic volatility |
| Great Recession | A severe economic downturn in the late 2000s |
| Great Society | A set of domestic programs in the U.S. |
| Greater Fool Theory | The belief that one can profit from buying overvalued assets because someone else will be willing to pay even more |
| Greek Drachma | The former currency of Greece |
| Greeks | Measures of the sensitivity of an option’s price to changes in various factors |
| Green Bond | A bond issued to finance environmentally friendly projects |
| Green Card | A permit allowing a foreign national to live and work in the U.S. |
| Green Chip Stocks | Stocks of companies that are environmentally friendly |
| Green-Field Investment | A type of foreign direct investment |
| Green Fund | A fund that invests in environmentally friendly projects |
| Green Investing | Investing based on environmental considerations |
| Green Marketing | Marketing of environmentally friendly products |
| Green Monday | The Monday after Thanksgiving, a big online shopping day |
| Green Tech | Technology used to create environmentally friendly products |
| Greenback | A type of U.S. currency |
| Greenmail | The practice of buying a large block of stock and threatening a takeover |
| Greensheet | A report on upcoming IPOs |
| Greenshoe Option | An option that allows underwriters to sell additional shares in an IPO |
| Greenspan Put | The belief that the Federal Reserve will intervene to support the stock market |
| Greenwashing | The practice of making misleading claims about the environmental benefits of a product or company |
| Gresham’s Law | The principle that bad money drives out good money |
| Grexit | The potential exit of Greece from the Eurozone |
| Grey Market | Same as Gray Market |
| Grid Trading | A trading strategy that involves placing buy and sell orders at different price levels |
| Grinder | A stock that steadily increases in value |
| Gross Debt Service Ratio (GDS) | A measure of a borrower’s ability to repay debt |
| Gross Dividends | Dividends before taxes are deducted |
| Gross Domestic Income (GDI) | The total income earned in an economy |
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | The total value of goods and services produced in an economy |
| Gross Earnings | Earnings before deductions |
| Gross Estate | The total value of a person’s assets at death |
| Gross Expense Ratio (GER) | The total expenses of a mutual fund divided by its assets |
| Gross Exposure | The total value of a portfolio’s assets |
| Gross Income | Income before deductions |
| Gross Income Multiplier | A valuation metric used in real estate |
| Gross Income Test | A test used to determine dependency for tax purposes |
| Gross Interest | Interest before taxes are deducted |
| Gross Lease | A lease where the tenant pays a fixed rent and the landlord pays all other expenses |
| Gross Leverage Ratio | A measure of a company’s leverage |
| Gross Margin | Revenue minus cost of goods sold |
| Gross Margin Return on Investment (GMROI) | A measure of profitability |
| Gross Merchandise Value | The total value of merchandise sold through a platform |
| Gross National Happiness (GNH) | A measure of a country’s well-being |
| Gross National Income (GNI) | The total income earned by a nation’s residents |
| Gross National Product (GNP) | The total value of goods and services produced by a nation’s residents |
| Gross National Product (GNP) Deflator | A measure of the price level of all goods and services produced by a nation’s residents |
| Gross Net Written Premium Income | A measure of an insurance company’s revenue |
| Gross Processing Margin (GPM) | A measure of a company’s profitability |
| Gross Profit | Revenue minus cost of goods sold |
| Gross Profit Margin | Gross profit divided by revenue |
| Gross Rate of Return | The total return on an investment before expenses are deducted |
| Gross Receipts | Total revenue |
| Gross Sales | Total sales before returns and allowances |
| Gross Spread | The difference between the bid and ask price |
| Gross Working Capital | Current assets |
| Gross-Up | To increase an amount to account for taxes |
| Gross Value Added | The value added to a product or service at each stage of production |
| Gross Yield | The total income from an investment before expenses are deducted |
| Ground Lease | A lease for the land only |
| Group of 3 (G-3) | The U.S., Japan, and Germany |
| Group of 7 (G-7) | The U.S., Japan, Germany, France, the U.K., Italy, and Canada |
| Group of 8 (G-8) | The G-7 plus Russia |
| Group of 10 (G-10) | A group of countries that participate in the IMF’s General Arrangements to Borrow |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Group of 11 (G-11) | A group of countries that consult on economic issues |
| Group of 20 (G-20) | A group of major economies |
| Group of 30 (G-30) | A group of international financiers and academics |
| Group Health Insurance | Health insurance provided through an employer or other group |
| Group Life Insurance | Life insurance provided through an employer or other group |
| Group Term Life Insurance | A type of group life insurance that provides coverage for a specific term |
| Group Universal Life Policy (GULP) | A type of group life insurance with a cash value component |
| Groupon | A daily deal website |
| Groupthink | The practice of thinking or making decisions as a group in a way that discourages creativity or individual responsibility1 |
| Growing-Equity Mortgage | A mortgage with increasing payments |
| Growth and Income Fund | A mutual fund that invests in both growth and income stocks |
| Growth at a Reasonable Price (GARP) | An investment strategy that combines growth and value investing |
| Growth Company | A company with high growth potential |
| Growth Curve | A graph showing the growth of something over time |
| Growth Fund | A mutual fund that invests in growth stocks |
| Growth Industry | An industry that is experiencing rapid growth |
| Growth Investing | An investment strategy that focuses on companies with high growth potential |
| Growth Rates | The percentage change in something over time |
| Growth Stock | A stock of a company with high growth potential |
| Grunt Work | Unpleasant or tedious work |
| GSCI (S&P) | A commodity index |
| Guanxi | A Chinese term for relationships or connections |
| Guarantee Company | A company that provides guarantees |
| Guarantee Fees | Fees paid for providing a guarantee |
| Guaranteed Bond | A bond that is guaranteed by another entity |
| Guaranteed Death Benefit | A minimum death benefit guaranteed by a life insurance policy |
| Guaranteed Investment (Interest) Certificate (GIC) | A type of deposit offered by Canadian banks |
| Guaranteed Investment Contract (GIC) | A type of investment offered by insurance companies |
| Guaranteed Investment Fund (GIF) | A type of mutual fund offered by insurance companies |
| Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance | Life insurance that is guaranteed to be issued |
| Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Benefit (GLWB) | An optional feature of some annuities |
| Guaranteed Loan | A loan that is guaranteed by another party |
| Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Benefit (GMAB) | A feature of variable annuities that guarantees a minimum account value |
| Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit (GMIB) | A feature of some annuities that guarantees a minimum income stream |
| Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit (GMWB) | A feature of some annuities that guarantees a minimum withdrawal amount |
| Guaranteed Payments to Partners | Payments made to partners in a partnership regardless of profits |
| Guaranteed Renewable Policy | An insurance policy that can be renewed at the policyholder’s option |
| Guaranteed Stock | A stock whose dividends are guaranteed by another company |
| Guarantor | A person who guarantees a loan |
| Guerrilla Marketing | Unconventional marketing tactics |
| Guidance | Information provided by a company about its future performance |
| Guideline Premium and Corridor Test (GPT) | A test used to determine if a life insurance policy is considered life insurance for tax purposes |
| Guilder Share (New York Share) | A type of share traded on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange |
| Guinea Franc (GNF) | The currency of Guinea |
| Gun Jumping | Offering to sell securities before registration is effective |
| Gunnar Myrdal | A Swedish economist |
| Guns-and-Butter Curve | A graph showing the trade-off between military spending and social spending |
| Gunslinger | A high-risk, high-reward investor |
| Guppy Multiple Moving Average (GMMA) | A technical indicator |
| Gwei | A unit of ether |