What Is a Credit Rating?

A credit rating is a quantified assessment of the creditworthiness of a borrower in general terms or with respect to a particular debt or financial obligation. A credit rating not only determines whether or not a borrower will be approved for a loan or debt issue but also determines the interest rate at which the loan will need to be repaid. A credit rating or score can be assigned to any entity that seeks to borrow money—an individual, corporation, state or provincial authority, or sovereign government.

Credit ratings apply to businesses and government, while credit scores apply only to individuals. An individual’s credit score is reported as a number, generally ranging from 300 to 850.

What Is a Hedge Fund?

Hedge funds are alternative investments using pooled funds that employ different strategies to earn active return for their investors. It is important to note that hedge funds are generally only accessible to accredited investors. One aspect that has set the hedge fund industry apart is the fact that hedge funds face less regulation than mutual funds and other investment vehicles.

Key Characteristics:

-They’re only open to “accredited” or qualified investors

-They offer wider investment latitude than other funds

-Fee structure

What Is a Budget?

A budget is an estimation of revenue and expenses over a specified future period of time and is utilized by governments, businesses, and individuals. A budget is basically a financial plan for a defined period, normally a year. It greatly enhances the success of any undertaking. A budget can also aid in setting goals, measuring outcomes and planning for contingencies. Personal budgets are extremely useful in managing an individual’s or family’s finances over both the short and long term horizon.