WealthPulse.
11 terms

Dictionary — M

Maintenance, Marginal Tax Rate, Maximum Medical Improvement, Merchant Cash Advance and more. Each definition explains what the term means and why it changes a number.

M DICTIONARY

Maintenance

A daily allowance covering an injured seaman's living costs ashore during recovery.

Why it matters: It is payable regardless of fault, and the daily rate is often negotiable where no union contract fixes it.

Run the maritime & jones act →

Marginal Tax Rate

The rate applied to your next dollar of income, as opposed to your average rate.

Why it matters: Deductions save tax at the marginal rate, which is why the same donation is worth more to a higher earner.

Run the charitable donation tax →

Maximum Medical Improvement

The point at which a condition has stabilised and further recovery is not expected.

Why it matters: Settling before reaching it risks discovering the injury was worse than the settlement assumed.

Run the personal injury settlement →

Merchant Cash Advance

A lump sum repaid through a fixed percentage of daily card sales, priced with a factor rate.

Why it matters: Repaying faster does not reduce the cost, so the effective APR rises the quicker you pay.

Run the business loan & credit line true cost →

Mesothelioma

A cancer of the lining of the lungs or abdomen caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure.

Why it matters: Because causation is so specific, exposure history rather than diagnosis usually determines the value of a claim.

Run the mesothelioma claim →

Modified Adjusted Gross Income

AGI with certain deductions added back, used to test eligibility for credits and deductions.

Why it matters: Every one of the four new 2026 deductions phases out on MAGI, each at a different threshold.

Run the schedule 1-a total deduction →

Multiplier Method

Valuing pain and suffering by multiplying medical specials by a factor, typically between one and five.

Why it matters: It is the only genuinely negotiable part of most injury claims, which is why the factor is argued so hard.

Run the pain & suffering →

Means Test

The calculation determining eligibility to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Why it matters: Failing it does not end bankruptcy as an option; it redirects you toward Chapter 13.

Run the debt relief vs bankruptcy →

Mechanics Lien

A contractor's claim against a property for unpaid work.

Why it matters: It can be filed even where you paid a general contractor who failed to pay a subcontractor.

Run the home sale net proceeds →

Medical Payments Coverage

Auto coverage paying medical bills regardless of fault, up to a modest limit.

Why it matters: It often follows the person rather than the vehicle, so it applies even when walking or cycling.

Run the pedestrian accident claim →

Montreal Convention

The treaty governing liability for international carriage by air.

Why it matters: It imposes strict liability up to a set limit and shortens the window for bringing a claim.

Run the aviation accident claim →
Estimates, not advice. Every figure here is produced from the inputs you enter and the formula printed on the page. Rules differ by state, carrier, lender and contract, so use these numbers to prepare for a conversation with a qualified professional rather than to replace one. See our full disclaimer.