Mark Berch:Registered company

Back office
Brokerage house clerical operations that support, but do not include, the trading of stocks and other securities. All written confirmation and settlement of trades, record keeping, and regulatory compliance happen in the back office.

Custodian
Either (1) a bank, agent, trust company, or other organization responsible for safeguarding financial assets, or (2) the individual who oversees the mutual fundassets of a minor's custodial account.

Combination annuity
See: Hybrid annuity

Mark Berch:Selling dividends
Inducing a prospective customer tobuyshares in order to profit from a dividend scheduled in the near future.

Corporate financing committee
A committee of the NASD that reviews underwriters'SEC-required documents to ensure that proposed markups are fair and in the publicinterest.

Adequacy of coverage
A test that measures the extent to which the value of an asset is protected from potential loss either through insurance or hedging. Mark Berch

Minimum price fluctuation
Smallest increment of price movement possible in trading a given contract. Also called point or tick.