The real cost of taking out a loan. True interest cost includes all ancillary fees and costs, such as finance charges, possible late fees, discount points and prepaid interest, along with factors related to the time value of money. It can also refer to the actual cost of issuing a bond. |||The federal Truth in Lending Act requires lenders to disclose the true cost of credit to their borrowers and prospective borrowers in the consumer-loan agreement. This cost must be computed by a standard formula that incorporates interest, fees and other costs. This prevents lenders from making misleading statements about the real cost of borrowing from them.
A public limited company that coordinates the distribution and management of unit trusts amongst countries within the European Union. |||These funds can be marketed within all countries that are a part of the European Union, provided that the fund and fund managers are registered within the domestic country. The regulation recognizes that each country within the European Union may differ on their specific disclosure requirements.
An extension of the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act that allows items other than cash or securities to be considered gifts. |||Other gifts that minors can receive include real estate, art, patents and royalties.
A set of rules developed by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and adopted in 1992. URDG provides a framework for harmonizing international trading practices and establishes agreed-upon rules for independent guarantees and counter-guarantees among trading partners. The guarantees specify uniform practices for securing payment and performance in worldwide commercial contracts. |||The World Bank and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) have adopted the URDG into their standards for financing international trade. The ICC's publication, Uniform Rules for Demand Guarantees, is considered an authoritative guide and reflects international practice in the use of demand guarantees, while preserving the goal of the original rules – to balance the interests of the trading parties and curb abuse in the development of international trade guarantees.
An act that allows minors to own property such as securities. The IRS allows persons to give so many thousands of dollars to another person without any tax consequences. If this recipient person is a minor, the UGMA allows the minor to own the assets without an attorney setting up a special trust fund. Under the UGMA, the ownership of the funds works like it does with any other trust except that the donor must appoint a custodian (the trustee) to look after the account. |||The donor can appoint him/herself or another person to be custodian. The custodian, who has a fiduciary duty to manage the minor's assets wisely, can use the funds to buy securities on behalf of the minor. Access to the gift must be given to the minor when he or she reaches the age of majority, either 18 or 21 (sometimes even 25), depending on UGMA state law. Should a donor acting as the custodian die before the custodial property is transferred to the minor, the entire custodial property is included in the donor's taxable estate.
A code of conduct that governs consumer credit transactions. The Uniform Consumer Credit Code (UCCC) provides guidelines for the purchase and use of all types of credit products. It is intended to protect consumers who use various types of credit from fraud and misinformation. |||The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws originally approved the UCCC in 1968. The Code has been adopted in a limited number states, and many others have incorporated at least some of its provisions into their own laws. One of its key provisions is the limitation of rates charged to consumers by lenders.
A type of unified managed account that will allow not only for the investing of any form of security by an individual investor, but also will allow any member of the immediate family the same investing access under the same account. This type of account will allow for the ease of administration on behalf of the financial institution and greater transparency for the investing family. |||The UMHA is currently a theoretical account as no unified managed accounts exist - as defined in its purest form. This type of account would allow a family, defined by a parenting couple and their children, to make all types of investments under one account, and most likely, one financial planner. However, there may be many kinks to work out in this account concept in regards to tax implications and account insurance.
A corporate structure that permits a company to be incorporated and flow all profits and losses to shareholders. An unlimited liability corporation (ULC) shelters shareholders from liability in most circumstances except upon liquidation of the company. Shareholders or past shareholders that disposed of their shares less than one year before liquidation become liable for the debts of the company. |||The ULC has become a useful vehicle for the acquisition of a Canadian business by a U.S. investor, due to preferential tax treatment. The U.S. Internal Revenue Code states that the ULC is disregarded for U.S. tax purposes, as profits and losses flow through to shareholders.