| Term | Definition |
|---|
| W-2 Form | A form that reports an employee’s annual wages and taxes withheld |
| W-4 Form | A form that employees complete to indicate how much tax should be withheld from their paychecks |
| W-8 Form | A form used by foreign individuals and entities to certify their tax status |
| W-9 Form | A form used by independent contractors to provide their tax identification number |
| W-Shaped Recovery | A recession and recovery with a second dip before final recovery |
| Wage Assignment | A legal agreement to transfer a portion of one’s wages to pay a debt |
| Wage Earner Plan (Chapter 13 Bankruptcy) | A type of bankruptcy that allows individuals with regular income to repay debts over time |
| Wage Expense | The cost of employee wages |
| Wage-Price Spiral | A cycle of rising wages and prices |
| Wage Push Inflation | Inflation caused by rising labor costs |
| Waiting Period | The time one must wait before receiving certain benefits |
| Waiver | The voluntary relinquishment of a known right |
| Waiver of Demand | Giving up the right to demand payment |
| Waiver of Coinsurance Clause | An agreement to waive the coinsurance requirement |
| Waiver of Exemption | Giving up a legal exemption |
| Waiver of Notice | Giving up the right to receive notice |
| Waiver of Premium for Disability | A provision that waives insurance premiums if the insured becomes disabled |
| Waiver of Premium for Payer Benefit | A provision that waives insurance premiums if the payer dies or becomes disabled |
| Waiver of Premium Rider | An optional provision in an insurance policy |
| Waiver of Restoration Premium | Waiving the premium to reinstate a lapsed policy |
| Waiver of Subrogation | Giving up the right to subrogation |
| Walk-Away Lease | A lease where the lessee can return the asset at the end of the term |
| Walk-Through Test | A test to ensure a system works as intended |
| Wall of Worry | Market sentiment reflecting various concerns |
| Wall Street | The financial center of the U.S. |
| Wall Street Journal Prime Rate | The prime interest rate published by the Wall Street Journal |
| Wallflower | An investment that is not actively traded |
| Wallpaper | Worthless stock certificates |
| Walmart Effect | The impact of large retailers on prices and competition |
| Walras’ Law | A theory about general equilibrium in a market |
| Walrasian Market | A market with a central auctioneer |
| Wanton Disregard | Reckless disregard for the consequences |
| War Bond | A bond issued to finance a war |
| War Chest | Funds accumulated for a specific purpose |
| War Damage Insurance | Insurance covering damage from war |
| War Economy | An economy geared towards war production |
| War Exclusion Clause | A clause in an insurance contract that excludes coverage for losses due to war |
| War Risk Insurance | Insurance covering risks related to war |
| Warehouse Bond | A bond secured by goods stored in a warehouse |
| Warehouse Financing | Financing secured by inventory stored in a warehouse |
| Warehouse Lending | Lending to mortgage companies secured by mortgage loans |
| Warehouse Receipt | A receipt for goods stored in a warehouse |
| Warehouse-to-Warehouse Clause | A clause in a marine insurance policy |
| Warehouser’s Liability Form | A form used to document a warehouser’s liability |
| Warehousing | Storing goods in a warehouse |
| Warm Calling | Contacting potential customers with prior contact |
| Warm Card | A lead from a known contact |
| Warning Bulletin | A notice of potential problems |
| Warrant | A security that gives the holder the right to buy a stock at a certain price |
| Warrant Coverage | The number of shares that can be purchased with a warrant |
| Warrant Premium | The difference between the market price of a warrant and its exercise price |
| Warranty | A guarantee of quality |
| Warranty Deed | A deed that guarantees clear title |
| Warranty of Title | A guarantee of ownership |
| Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) | A stock exchange in Poland |
| Wash | A series of fictitious transactions |
| Wash-Out Round | A round of financing that dilutes existing shareholders’ ownership |
| Wash Sale | A sale and repurchase of the same security to create a tax loss |
| Wash-Sale Rule | A tax rule that disallows losses from wash sales |
| Wash Trading | A type of market manipulation |
| Wassily Leontief | An economist |
| Wasting Asset | An asset that depreciates over time |
| Wasting Trust | A trust that distributes its assets over time |
| Watchlist | A list of securities being monitored |
| Water Damage Insurance | Insurance that covers damage from water |
| Water Damage Legal Liability Insurance | Insurance that covers liability for water damage |
| Water ETF | An exchange-traded fund that invests in water-related companies |
| Water Exclusion Clause | A clause in an insurance policy that excludes coverage for water damage |
| Water Quality Improvement Act of 1970 | A U.S. law related to water quality |
| Water Rights | Legal rights to use water |
| Watercraft Insurance | Insurance that covers boats and other watercraft |
| Watered Stock | Stock issued with inflated value |
| Waterfall Concept | A method of distributing funds |
| Waterfall Payment | Same as Waterfall Concept |
| Wave | A pattern in technical analysis |
| Weak AI | Artificial intelligence that performs narrow tasks |
| Weak Dollar | A dollar that is depreciating in value |
| Weak Form Efficiency | A market where prices reflect all past trading data |
| Weak Hands | Investors who are easily swayed by market sentiment |
| Weak Longs | Investors with long positions who are likely to sell |
| Weak Shorts | Investors with short positions who are likely to cover |
| Weak Sister | A stock that is underperforming |
| Wealth | The total value of assets owned |
| Wealth Added Index (WAI) | A measure of economic performance |
| Wealth Effect | The impact of changes in wealth on spending |
| Wealth Management | Financial planning and investment management for wealthy individuals |
| Wealth Psychologist | A psychologist who specializes in the psychology of wealth |
| Wealth Tax | A tax on wealth |
| Wear and Tear Exclusion | A clause in an insurance policy that excludes coverage for wear and tear |
| Wearable Technology | Electronic devices that can be worn |
| Weather Derivative | A financial instrument that is based on weather conditions |
| Weather Future | A futures contract on weather conditions |
| Weather Insurance | Insurance that covers losses due to weather |
| Web 2.0 | The second generation of the internet |
| Web Syndication | Distributing web content to other websites |
| Wedge | A chart pattern |
| Wednesday Scramble | A type of market manipulation |
| Weekend Effect | The tendency for stock prices to be higher on Mondays |
| Weekly Chart | A chart that shows price movements over a week |
| Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey | A survey of mortgage applications |
| Weekly Premium Insurance | Insurance with premiums paid weekly |
| Wei | A unit of measurement for gold |
| Weighted | Taking into account different factors |
| Weighted Alpha | A measure of risk-adjusted return |
| Weighted Average | An average that takes into account different weights |
| Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) | The average cost of a company’s financing |
| Weighted Average Cost of Equity (WACE) | The cost of equity weighted by the proportion of equity |
| Weighted Average Coupon (WAC) | The average coupon rate on a pool of mortgages |
| Weighted Average Credit Rating | The average credit rating of a portfolio |
| Weighted Average Life (WAL) | The average time until a bond’s principal is repaid |
| Weighted Average Loan Age (WALA) | The average age of loans in a portfolio |
| Weighted Average Market Capitalization | The market capitalization of a portfolio weighted by the market capitalization of each holding |
| Weighted Average Maturity (WAM) | The average time until the maturity of bonds in a portfolio |
| Weighted Average Rating Factor (WARF) | A measure of the credit risk of a portfolio |
| Weighted Average Remaining Term (WART) | The average time until the maturity of loans in a portfolio |
| Weightless Economy | An economy based on intangible assets |
| Welfare | Government assistance programs |
| Welfare and Pension Plans Disclosure Act (WPPDA) | A U.S. law related to employee benefit plans |
| Welfare Economics | The study of how economic policies affect well-being |
| Welfare Loss Of Taxation | The reduction in well-being due to taxes |
| Welfare State | A country with a comprehensive system of social welfare programs |
| Wellbore | The hole drilled for an oil or gas well |
| Wellness Program | A program that promotes employee health |
| Wells Notice | A notice from the SEC of potential enforcement action |
| West African CFA Franc (XOF) | The currency of several West African countries |
| West Texas Intermediate (WTI) | A benchmark for crude oil prices |
| Western Account | A type of underwriting account |
| Westpac Consumer Confidence Index | A measure of consumer confidence in Australia |
| Wet Loan | A loan that has not yet been funded |
| Wharton School | A business school at the University of Pennsylvania |
| Whartonite | A graduate of the Wharton School |
| When Issued (WI) | A security that is traded before it is issued |