The Treasury Department is planning to roll out a floating-rate note program in about a year. But what is a floating-rate note and why do we need one? Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains with a boat analogy.

What exactly is a Eurobond and why are so many people interested in having them? Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains with a little help from the three little pigs.

The Federal Reserve's most recent policy move is simply a way of driving down interest rates. But how does it work? Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains Operation Twist with a simple analogy.

A bank run occurs when customers run down to the bank and demand their money back. So, why can't the bank just return the cash? Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains using a human heart analogy.

Big bets on an obscure index lay at the heart of JPMorgan's losses this week. Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains how an index of CDS works.

Surely you've heard the term assets -- they can be toxic, liquid, or tangible. Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains what the word “assets” really means.

Seventeen banks have failed so far this year, but their customers can rest easy -- thanks to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, as Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains.

Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains the responsibilities of a fiduciary with a taxi metaphor.

Lawmakers are considering yet another bill to ban insider trading. But the term "insider trading" seems open to interpretation. Senior Producer Paddy Hirsch helps us understand what it is and why it's a big deal.

Prop trading, as it’s called on Wall Street, is the target of the Volcker Rule, a centerpiece of the Dodd-Frank financial reform act. Marketplace’s Paddy Hirsch explains what proprietary trading is, and why it’s potentially dangerous for our savings...