Every scary-sounding money word, explained simply — no jargon, no judgment. Whenever you hit a term you don't know, come here. 💙
Asset
Anything you own that has value — cash, a house, a stock, or crypto. In investing, it usually means something you put money into hoping it grows.
Bear Market
A period when prices are falling and people feel pessimistic. Think of a bear swiping its paw downward.
Broker / Brokerage
A company that lets you buy and sell investments like stocks and ETFs. Your account where your investments live.
Bull Market
A period when prices are rising and people feel optimistic. Think of a bull charging upward with its horns.
Circuit Breaker
Minastany's feature that helps catch the moment when excitement or panic — not clear judgment — is steering your money decisions, so you can pause before acting.
Crypto (Cryptocurrency)
Digital money that exists only electronically and isn't backed by any government or bank. Bitcoin is the most famous example. Very volatile and heavily targeted by scammers.
Diversification
Spreading your money across many investments instead of one, so a single loss can't sink you. 'Don't put all your eggs in one basket.'
Dollar-Cost Averaging
Investing a fixed small amount on a regular schedule (say, monthly) instead of all at once. It smooths out the ups and downs over time.
Emergency Fund / Cushion
A small pot of savings set aside only for true emergencies, like a car repair or urgent bill. The foundation that comes before investing.
ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund)
A basket of many investments bundled into one, that you can buy and sell like a single stock. A beginner-friendly way to diversify.
Exchange
A marketplace where investments are bought and sold. Stock exchanges (like the Nasdaq) for stocks; crypto exchanges for cryptocurrency.
Fees
The costs charged to buy, sell, or hold an investment. Even small fees add up over years, so always know what you're paying.
Index Fund
A type of fund that aims to mirror a whole market group (like the 500 biggest U.S. companies) instead of picking individual winners.
Inflation
When prices rise over time, so the same dollar buys a little less. A reason people invest — to help money keep up.
IPO (Initial Public Offering)
When a private company sells shares to the public for the first time, so anyone can buy them.
Liquidity
How easily something can be turned into cash without losing value. A savings account is very liquid; a house is not.
Lock-Up Period
A set time after an IPO (often ~180 days) when company insiders can't sell their shares. When it ends, prices can dip as more shares become available.
Market Cap
The total value of a company's shares added together. A quick way to gauge a company's size.
Portfolio
All of your investments together, viewed as one collection.
Principal
The original amount of money you put in, before any gains or losses.
Risk
The chance that an investment loses value. The golden rule: higher potential return always comes with higher risk.
Signal
An alert based on market data suggesting possible activity. Minastany's signals are educational — information to understand, never a command to act.
Stock
A small piece of ownership in a single company. If the company does well, your share may rise in value.
Volatility
How much and how fast a price swings up and down. Crypto is highly volatile; a savings account is not.
Yield
The income an investment pays you, often shown as a yearly percentage.