12b-1 Fees - The annual charge (expressed as a percentage) deducted from a mutual fund's assets to pay marketing and distribution expenses. The amount of the fee is stated in the fund's prospectus. Most mutual funds with 12b-1 fees larger than 0.25% are classified as a load fund. A fund is allowed to claim it is a "no-load fund" as long as its 12b-1 fee is 0.25% or less per year. A true no load fund has neither a sales charge nor a 12b-1 fee.

401(k) Plan - the most common defined-contribution retirement plan. Employees make contributions on a pre-tax basis (before taxes are deducted from paychecks). Employers often encourage participation by contributing money to the plans by matching employee contributions. Employer contributions are not taxed as salary. All contributions and earnings grow tax-free until funds are withdrawn. Then, 100% of each withdrawal is taxed as ordinary income, unless it qualifies for and is rolled over into an eligible IRA plan.

Safe Harbor 401(k) - A safe harbor 401(k) is similar to a traditional 401(k) plan, but the employer is required to make contributions for each employee. The employer contributions in Safe Harbor 401(k) plans are immediately 100 percent vested. The Safe Harbor 401(k) eases administrative burdens on employers by eliminating some of the complex tax rules ordinarily applied to traditional 401(k) plans.

403(b) Plan - the retirement plan for employees of public schools, universities, and nonprofit organizations such as hospitals, churches, and charitable institutions. As with its cousin, the 401(k) plan, a 403(b) plan allows employees to make pretax contributions to their plan. All contributions and earnings grow tax-free until funds are withdrawn. Then, 100% of each withdrawal is taxed as ordinary income, unless it qualifies for and is rolled over into an eligible IRA plan.

412(i) Plan -  A defined-benefit pension plan designed for small business owners in the United States. This is a tax-qualified benefit plan, so any amount that the owner contributes to the plan becomes available immediately as a tax deduction to the company. The plan must be funded solely by guaranteed annuities, or a combination of annuities and life insurance.

These plans have been developed for small business owners who find it difficult to invest in their company, while also trying to save for retirement. This plan is unique in that it provides fully guaranteed retirement benefits, it must be funded by an insurance company and it provides the largest tax-deduction possible.

Due to the large premiums that must be paid each year, this plan may not be ideal for all small business owners. This plan would tend to benefit small businesses that are established and quite profitable.

457(b) Plan - this plan helps government employees add to their retirement savings in much the same way as 401(k) plans offer retirement help to private-sector employees.

5-Year Rule - If a retirement account owner dies before the required beginning date for receiving distributions, the beneficiary may distribute the inherited assets over his/her (the beneficiary's) life expectancy or distribute the assets under the five-year rule. Under the five-year rule, the assets must be distributed by December 31 of the fifth year since the retirement account owner's death.

529 Plan - A plan that allows for the prepayment of qualified higher education expenses at eligible educational institutions.

Also known as a "qualified tuition program", or more fully as a "section 529 plan".

The prepayment may be in the form of a contribution to an account established specifically for paying higher educational expenses. There is no income restriction for individuals who want to contribute to a 529 plan; however, because contributions cannot exceed the amount that sufficiently covers the expenses of the beneficiary's qualified higher education, individuals should take care not to over-fund the 529 plan.

60-Plus Delinquencies - Home loans that are more than 60 days past due on their monthly mortgage payments. 60-plus delinquency rates are typically expressed as a percentage of a group of loans written within a specified time period, such as a given calendar year. Another common grouping method are the interest rates for the pool of loans that make up a mortgage-backed security (MBS) or other securitized mortgage product.
60-plus delinquencies are less than 90 days past due, and have not yet entered the foreclosure process - loan in the latter status are expressed separately. The 60-plus rate may be split into one for prime loans and subprime loans. The 60-plus rate on subprime loans can be expected to be higher than for prime. Also, 60-Plus rates are often published separately for fixed-rate versus adjustable-rate loans.