Personal Finance Vocabulary

Do you read articles about personal finance in the Financial Times? If so, then here are some common terms you might find useful. Considering that how you manage your money will have a big impact on your quality of life, it’s a pity that some native speakers don’t care much for this topic.

Which letters are missing?

Level: Suitable for those familiar with finance or B2/Upper Intermediate+

1. The total money you make in a year is called your i_c_m_. The money you have left to spend after you have covered your bills is called   d_s_osa_le     i_c_m_
2. If you make money in some way, you are required by law to file a   t_x     r_t_r_  at the end of each financial year.
3. One way to invest your money is to buy s_a_es in a company. Once you have invested in these, you will want to have a nice  r_t_r_ on investment,  either in the form of  capital     g_o_t_  or by getting a  d_v_d_n_   once or twice a year. The person who can help you buy these s_a_es is called a b_o_e_.
4. If you’d like the help of a bank in order to buy a house, you might   a_p_y    f_r   a  m_r_g_g_.
5. If you go to the bank, you can open up a regular s_v_n_s     account   or you can put some of your money in a  t_r_   d_p_s_t, which allows you to get a higher    r_ _ e  o_   _nt_r_s_. 
6. Another way to make money is to invest in a p_o_e_ty, such as a house, and receive   r_n_a_    i_c_m_  from your  tenants.
7. Most banks these days offer m_b_l_   b_n_i_g, which allows you to manage your  account from your smart phone or iPad.
8. You can choose to invest in  b_n_s, which is where a government or corporation loans the money from you in order to  f_n_n_e  a variety of projects.
9. If you sell an  a_s_t, such as a house, and you make more money than what you paid for it, you have made a capital   g_in. The opposite is where you make a capital   l_s_. 
10. Financial experts often advise investors to have a range of investments, called a   p_r_f_l_o.

Check below for the answers!

1. The total money you make in a year is called your income. The money you have left to spend after you have covered your bills is called disposable income.
   nb the money you earn from your job is called a salary or wage, whereas income includes money from other sources. 
2. If you make money in some way, you are required by law to file a tax return at the end of each financial year.
3. One way to invest your money is to buy shares in a company. Once you have invested in these, you will want to have a nice return on investment, either in the form of capital growth or by getting a dividend once or twice a year. The person who can help you buy these shares is called a broker.
   nb Some people refer to shares as stocks. For most people they mean the same, but experts say there’s a small difference.
4. If you’d like the help of a bank in order to buy a house, you might apply for a mortgage.
5. If you go to the bank, you can open up a regular savings account or you can put some of your money in a term deposit, which allows you to get a higher rate of interest.
6. Another way to make money is to invest in a property, such as a house, and receive rental income from your tenants.
7. Most banks these days offer mobile banking, which allows you to manage your account from your smart phone or iPad.
8. You can choose to invest in bonds, which is where a government or corporation loans the money from you in order to finance a variety of projects.
9. If you sell an asset, such as a house, and you make more money than what you paid for it, you have made a capital gain. The opposite is where you make a capital loss.
10. Financial experts often advise investors to have a range of investments, called a portfolio.