Category: Financial Terms

Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is a scripting language built into Microsoft Office that lets users automate tasks, extend application functionality, and create custom forms, reports, and tools. It is not a standalone product — VBA runs inside Office apps such as Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint, and Visio. Key takeaways…

Vision care insurance helps cover routine eye care expenses such as eye exams, contact lens fittings, contact lenses, and eyeglass lenses and frames. Some plans also offer discounts on corrective procedures like LASIK. Coverage can be full, capped at a preset limit, or shared via copayments or percentage cost‑sharing. How it works Plans typically cover…

Visible Supply Visible supply is the quantity of a commodity or asset that is currently held in storage or en route and is available to be bought, sold, or delivered. It represents a concrete, countable stock — for example, the wheat stored in granaries and the wheat being transported from farms. Visible supply is an…

Visibility Definition Visibility describes how accurately a company’s management or market analysts can estimate future performance—typically sales or earnings. High visibility means management is confident in short- or long-term projections; low visibility means there is significant uncertainty. Explore More Resources › Read more Government Exam Guru › Free Thousands of Mock Test for Any Exam…

Visa Card — Definition and Overview A Visa card is a payment card that uses the Visa network to process transactions and bears the Visa logo. Visa itself operates the payment processing network; individual cards are issued by partner banks and financial institutions. Visa-branded cards can be credit, debit, prepaid, or gift cards and are…

Vis major What is vis major? Vis major is a Latin term meaning “superior force.” It refers to an irresistible event—natural or otherwise—that causes damage or disruption and cannot reasonably be prevented or controlled by human effort. Common synonyms include “act of God,” “force majeure,” and “natural disaster.” Typical examples * Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and…

Virtual Office: Definition, Costs, Benefits, Drawbacks What is a virtual office? A virtual office provides businesses with a physical mailing address and office-related services without the expense and commitment of a dedicated leased workspace. It enables employees to work remotely while offering professional features such as a mailing address, phone answering, meeting rooms, and videoconferencing…

Virtual Good: What It Is and How It Works What is a virtual good? A virtual good is an intangible item traded within a virtual economy — commonly inside online games and social platforms. It has no physical form; its value comes from what users are willing to pay and the utility or status it…

Virtual Data Rooms (VDRs): Definition, Uses, and Alternatives A virtual data room (VDR) is a secure, online repository for storing and sharing documents among multiple parties. VDRs are most often used during transactions and processes that require controlled, auditable access to large volumes of confidential information, such as mergers and acquisitions (M&A), audits, and initial…

Virtual currency — Overview Virtual currency is a digital representation of value that exists only electronically and is used as a medium of exchange, a unit of account, or a store of value in specific digital environments. It has no physical form and is typically created, stored, and transferred via software, platforms, or distributed ledgers….

Virtual Assistant What is a virtual assistant? A virtual assistant (VA) is a self-employed professional who provides administrative, creative, or technical services to clients remotely. VAs typically work from a home office and operate as independent contractors rather than employees. How virtual assistants work Contract-based: Hired for specific tasks, projects, or ongoing support without employee…

Viral Website: Meaning, Types, Pros and Cons Key takeaways A viral website experiences a sudden, large spike in traffic driven by sharing (social media, email, links). Virality can boost brand awareness, SEO, and short-term revenue, but it can be unpredictable and hard to sustain. Common paths to virality include organic sharing, paid promotion, influencer amplification,…

Viral Marketing Viral marketing is a strategy that aims to rapidly spread a brand’s message through social sharing and word-of-mouth. It leverages emotionally engaging content, social networks, and influential users to amplify reach at relatively low cost. While viral campaigns can deliver huge visibility, they are unpredictable and can bring both positive and negative outcomes….

Vintage Year: Definition and Importance What is a vintage year? A vintage year is the calendar year when a project or company receives its first significant infusion of investment capital. This initial commitment can come from venture capital, private equity, angel investors, crowdfunding, or a combination of sources. For private equity funds, the vintage year…

Vintage (in Mortgage-Backed Securities) Vintage is a colloquial term used by mortgage-backed security (MBS) traders and investors to describe the age or issuance year of an MBS. A “seasoned” or older vintage means the underlying mortgages have been in payment for some time, which changes the security’s risk profile and pricing dynamics. Key points Vintage…

Vienna Stock Exchange (WBAG): Overview and History The Vienna Stock Exchange (Wiener Börse AG, ticker WBAG) is Austria’s sole securities exchange and a market-data hub for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). It operates equity, bond and structured-product markets and runs related services including index development, market data provision, and financial training. The exchange also operates…

Video Conferencing: How It Works, How to Use It, and Where It’s Used What is video conferencing? Video conferencing is an online technology that lets people in different locations hold real‑time, face‑to‑face meetings without traveling. It’s used for business meetings, interviews, training, telehealth, remote education, and informal video calls or chats. Explore More Resources ›…

Vice Fund — Overview and How It Works The Vice Fund (formerly the Vitium Global Fund) is an open-end mutual fund managed by USA Mutuals that concentrates on companies in so-called “vice” industries—businesses often viewed as socially irresponsible. It has operated since 2002 and invests in both U.S. and international equities across market-cap ranges. What…

Vicarious Liability: What It Is, How It Works, and How to Avoid It Definition Vicarious liability (also called imputed liability) is legal responsibility placed on one person or entity for the wrongful acts of another. It most commonly arises when an employer is held liable for an employee’s negligent or unlawful conduct performed within the…

Viatical Settlement: What It Is and How It Works Overview A viatical settlement is an arrangement in which an owner of a life insurance policy who is terminally or chronically ill sells the policy to an investor for a lump-sum cash payment that is less than the policy’s death benefit. The buyer pays any remaining…

Viager: Real Estate Deals for Secure Lifetime Income What is a viager? A viager is a real estate contract, common in France, in which a buyer purchases property from a seller by paying: * an upfront lump sum (the “bouquet”), and * ongoing periodic payments for the remainder of the seller’s life. Under a typical…

Vetting What is vetting? Vetting is the process of thoroughly investigating a person, company, investment, or other entity to assess suitability, soundness, and integrity before making a decision. It aims to reduce risk by confirming facts, verifying claims, and uncovering material issues that could affect the outcome of a hire, partnership, investment, or other transaction….

Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) Key takeaways VGLI lets former service members continue the group life coverage they had under Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI). Veterans have one year and 120 days from separation to elect VGLI; enrolling within an earlier window avoids health review requirements. Coverage ranges from $10,000 to $400,000 (based on SGLI…

Veterans Administration The Veterans Administration (VA) was the former name of the U.S. federal agency that administers benefits and services for military veterans and their families. Established as a federal administration in 1930 and elevated to cabinet level in 1989, it is now the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The department continues to provide health…

Vesting: What It Is and How It Works Vesting is the process by which an employee earns non‑forfeitable ownership of certain employer‑provided benefits, such as retirement plan contributions, stock options, or restricted stock units (RSUs). Employers use vesting schedules to encourage retention by tying full ownership of those benefits to continued employment over time. Key…

Vested Interest What it means A vested interest is a legally enforceable right to receive or claim an asset—tangible or intangible—now or in the future. The owner has a present right to future ownership independent of other conditions, even if they do not yet possess the asset. Many financial arrangements include a vesting period, a…

Vested Benefit Obligation (VBO) Definition The vested benefit obligation (VBO) is the actuarial present value of the portion of a pension plan’s benefits that employees have earned and are entitled to receive even if they leave the employer. It represents only the benefits that have vested, not benefits that depend on continued service. How it…

Vested Benefit: What It Is and How It Works A vested benefit is a right to receive a full employer-provided benefit once an employee meets specified service or performance conditions. Employers use vesting to encourage retention by granting benefits gradually or all at once after a set period. Vesting Methods Graduated (graded) vesting: ownership of…

Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) A very small aperture terminal (VSAT) is a two‑way ground station that transmits and receives data via communications satellites. VSAT antennas are small (typically under three meters in diameter) and support narrowband and broadband links, enabling real‑time data exchange between remote terminals, hubs, and other network nodes. Key takeaways VSAT…

Vertical Well: Definition, How It Works, and Uses What is a vertical well? A vertical well is a borehole drilled straight down from the surface to access an underground oil or natural gas reservoir located directly beneath the well site. It is the traditional method of hydrocarbon extraction and contrasts with directional or horizontal drilling,…

Vertical Spread: Definition and Overview A vertical spread is an options strategy that involves simultaneously buying and selling two options of the same type (both calls or both puts), with the same expiration date but different strike prices. Traders use vertical spreads to express a directional view when they expect a moderate move in the…

Vertical Merger A vertical merger combines two or more companies that operate at different stages of the same supply chain—such as a supplier and a manufacturer—to create a single, integrated entity. The goal is typically to increase operational control, capture synergies, lower costs, and improve efficiency across production and distribution. Key takeaways Vertical mergers link…

Vertical Market A vertical market is a narrowly defined market made up of businesses and customers focused on a specific industry, niche, or demographic. Companies in a vertical market tailor products and services to that niche’s unique needs, regulations, terminology, and workflows rather than serving broad, cross-industry demand. Key takeaways Vertical markets target a specific…

What Is Vertical Integration? Vertical integration is a strategy in which a company gains ownership or direct control over multiple stages of its supply chain — from raw materials and production to distribution and retail. Instead of outsourcing those activities, the company brings them in-house to streamline operations, reduce dependency on external parties, and capture…

Vertical Equity: What It Is and How It Works Definition Vertical equity is the principle that taxpayers with greater ability to pay should contribute more in taxes. In practice, it means tax burdens rise as income rises, either through proportional or progressive tax structures. How Vertical Equity Works Vertical equity is grounded in the “ability-to-pay”…