define installment plan, speculation and buying on margin.

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Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
- Installment plan: A method of buying goods or services by paying the total price over time in a series of regular payments (installments). Often includes a down payment and may carry interest or finance charges. Example: buying a $1,200 appliance with $200 down and 12 monthly payments of $86 plus interest.

- Speculation: The practice of buying assets (stocks, commodities, real estate, etc.) primarily to profit from expected short-term price changes rather than from the asset’s fundamental value or income. Speculation typically involves higher risk and greater sensitivity to market volatility than long-term investing.

- Buying on margin: Purchasing securities with borrowed money from a broker, using the purchased securities (and other account holdings) as collateral. This creates leverage—gains and losses are magnified—and requires meeting initial and maintenance margin requirements; if the account equity falls below maintenance level, the broker issues a margin call requiring more funds or selling securities.