| mutual fund | A type of investment company that sells as many shares of interest in a pool of assets as the public demands and invests the proceeds of those sales in a wide variety of assets, particularly such financial assets as stocks and bonds.
|
 |
|
|
| investment companies | Financial intermediaries that sell shares to the public to raise funds and invest the proceeds in stocks, bonds, and other securities.
|
|
|
|
| pension funds | Financial-service firms selling retirement plans to their customers in which savings are set aside in accounts established in the customers' names and allowed to accumulate interest until those customers reach retirement age.
|
|
|
|
| life insurance companies | Financial-service firms selling contracts to customers that promise to reduce the financial loss to an individual or family associated with death, disability, or old age.
|
|
|
|
| property-casualty insurers | Financial-service firms selling contracts to protect their customers against losses to persons or property due to negligence, crime, adverse weather changes, fire, and other hazards.
|
|
|
|
| finance companies | Financial-service firms that provide both business and consumer credit.
|
|
|
|
| investment banks or bankers | Financial firms that assist their customers in raising funds by underwriting their security offerings.
|
|
|
|
| security brokers and dealers | Financial firms that provide a conduit for buyers and sellers to trade and adjust their asset portfolios.
|
|
|
|
| venture capital firms | Financial firms that gather funds from individual and institutional investors and direct this capital into new or expanding businesses.
|
|
|
|
| mortgage bank | A financial-service firm that works with property developers to provide real estate financing and then places the long-term loans with long-term lenders such as insurance companies and savings banks.
|
|
|
|
| real estate investment trusts (REITs) | Tax-exempt corporations that receive at least three-quarters of their gross income from real estate transactions and devote a high percentage of their assets to real property loans.
|
|
|
|
| leasing companies | Financial-service firms that provide businesses and consumers access to equipment, motor vehicles, and other assets for a stipulated period of time at an agreed-upon leasing rate.
|