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Definition of Overconfidence Overconfidence (in finance) is a behavioral bias where investors believe they have better knowledge, sharper instincts, or more accurate predictions than they actually do. This confidence leads them to take bigger risks, ignore danger signs, and make decisions based on gut feelings instead of solid strategy.

Definition of Loss Aversion Loss aversion describes our natural tendency to hate losing money more than we enjoy gaining money. In fact, most people feel the pain of a loss about twice as strongly as the joy of a gain. That emotional imbalance leads many folks to make defensive, fearful, or flat-out irrational money decisions.

Definition of Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) The Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) says this: All publicly available information is already baked into current stock prices — instantly. In other words, you can’t consistently “out-smart” the market by finding hidden gems, secret tips, or under-the-radar opportunities… because the market has already priced those in. Like, immediately. According to EMH, the only way to beat the market is by taking more risk — not by being s

Definition of Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) Modern Portfolio Theory is the idea that you can improve your investment results not by picking perfect individual stocks, but by building a blend of different investments that work well together. The goal? Maximize your return while minimizing your risk. In other words: Don’t bet the farm on one horse. Build a team where each player brings something different to the field.

What Is Asset Allocation? Asset allocation is the strategy of dividing your investments across different “buckets” — typically stocks, bonds, and cash — based on your goals, your time horizon, and how much risk you can stomach without losing sleep or stress-eating Chips Ahoy at midnight. Think of it like building a balanced meal. Stocks = protein Bonds = veggies Cash = carbs

What Is Rebalancing? Rebalancing is the periodic process of adjusting your investment portfolio back to its original target mix. In plain English: the market shifts, your allocations drift, and you move things around to get everything back where it’s supposed to be. If your plan says 70% stocks and 30% bonds, but stocks had a monster year and now you’re sitting at 82/18, rebalancing is the reset button.

Definition of Buy and Hold Buy and Hold is a long-term investment strategy where an investor purchases assets—typically stocks, ETFs, or index funds—and holds them for an extended period, regardless of market fluctuations. The idea is simple: time in the market beats timing the market. Instead of jumping in and out based on daily trends or short-term news, the buy-and-hold investor focuses on the long-term growth of their investments.

Definition of Momentum Investing Momentum investing is an investment strategy where investors buy assets that have shown strong recent performance and sell those that have shown weak performance. It’s based on the idea that rising stocks often keep rising for a time, and falling stocks often keep falling, because of market psychology and herd behavior.

Definition of Income Investing Income investing is a strategy focused on generating steady, reliable income from your investments—usually through dividends, interest, or rental income. Instead of betting on stock prices shooting up over time, income investors look for assets that pay them regularly. The goal? To build a portfolio that produces consistent cash flow without needing to sell assets to make money.

Definition of Position Trading Position trading is a long-term investing strategy where traders hold assets—like stocks, ETFs, or commodities—for weeks, months, or even years. Instead of reacting to daily price swings, position traders focus on the big picture—economic trends, market cycles, and company fundamentals. They’re not trying to “time” the market day by day—they’re aiming to catch major price movements over time.

Definition of a Flag Pattern A Flag Pattern is a chart pattern in technical analysis that signals a short pause in a strong trend — like a pit stop before the market continues racing in the same direction. It looks just like it sounds: a small rectangular “flag” that forms after a sharp “flagpole” move up or down.

Definition of S&P 500 The S&P 500 (short for Standard & Poor’s 500) is one of the most well-known stock market indexes in the world. It tracks the performance of 500 of the largest publicly traded companies in the United States, covering industries like technology, healthcare, finance, energy, and consumer goods.

Definition of an Index An Index is a measurement tool that tracks the performance of a group of assets—usually stocks or bonds—so investors can see how a particular market or segment of the market is doing. Think of it as a financial scoreboard. The most famous indexes include the S&P 500, which follows 500 of the largest U.S. companies, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which tracks 30 major corporations.

Definition of Volume Volume is the number of shares (or contracts) traded in a security during a set time period (minute, day, week, etc.). It tells you how busy the market was for that ticker. More trades = higher volume.

Definition of Market Maker A market maker is a firm (or algorithm) that constantly offers to buy and sell a stock, ETF, or option—posting two prices (a bid and an ask)—so there’s always someone on the other side of your trade. They earn a small profit from the spread between those two prices and keep the market moving.

Definition of Good Till Canceled A Good ’Til Canceled (GTC) order is a standing instruction you place with your broker to buy or sell a security at a specific price that remains active until it’s executed or you cancel it. Depending on the broker, it can sit there for up to 30–90 days before auto-expiring (check your platform’s policy). In short: set it and don’t forget it.

Definition of Stop-Limit Order A stop-limit order combines two instructions: a stop price that triggers your order, and a limit price that sets the worst price you’re willing to accept. When the stop price is hit, your order becomes a limit order—and it will only fill at the limit price or better. That gives you price control, but no guarantee the trade actually executes.

Definition of Stop Order Want your investments to come with an “emergency brake”? That’s what a stop order does. It’s an instruction you place with your broker to buy or sell a security once it hits a specific stop price. When the stop price is reached, your order is activated—usually as a market order—to help you lock in gains or limit losses without staring at charts all day.

Definition of Stock Split A stock split is a corporate action in which a company increases the number of its outstanding shares by issuing more shares to existing shareholders. Although the number of shares increases, the overall value of the company (market capitalization) stays the same. Think of it like cutting a pizza into more slices—more pieces, same amount of pizza.

Definition of Dividend Stock A dividend stock is a share in a company that regularly pays out a portion of its profits to shareholders in the form of dividends—typically on a quarterly basis. These payments are usually made in cash, but can also come as additional shares of stock.