Variable Annuity
An annuity that allows you to invest your money in accounts offering variable rates of return, such as stock or bond portfolios. As a result, your premium dollars may be exposed to risk generally associated with investing in the markets.
Volatility
The day-to-day (or year-to-year) fluctuation in the value of publicly traded securities and, by extension, broad markets.
Volume
Number of shares traded in a security over a period of time. Chart volume is usually represented as vertical bars just below the price chart. The NYSE and NASDAQ measure volume differently. For every buyer, there is a seller: 1000 shares bought = 1000 shares sold. NYSE would count this as one trade and as 1000 shares of volume. NASDAQ would count this as two trades and as 2000 shares volume.