A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Wallflower:

Stock that has fallen out of favor with investors; tends to have a low P/E ratio

Whole of Life:

A life insurance policy with investment content that remains in force until death, at which point it pays out. As the contract is capable of acquiring value, it is possible to surrender the policy.

Will:

A document drawn up by a testator appointing executors to administer the estate on death and laying out how the estate is to be dealt with after death.

Windfall Shares:

Shares distributed to members of a building society or mutual insurer when it floats on the Stock Exchange. Notable examples of societies which handed out windfall shares include Halifax, Alliance & Leicester and Bradford & Bingley.

Winding Up:

The termination of a pension scheme, where assets are used to purchase immediate and deferred annuities or are transferred to another pension scheme.

With Profits: A class of policy which smoothes investment returns by holding back some profits from the boom years to ease the impact of investment falls. Policyholders who exit a fund may be charged a hefty fee however.