Final answer:
Derrick using his savings to buy bonds from a private company is engaging in debt finance, which makes him a creditor. If the company faces financial trouble, bondholders are prioritized for repayment.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Derrick decides to use $5,500 currently held as savings to make a financial investment by purchasing bonds from a private company like Arcadia, a biomedical research firm, this practice is called debt finance. Buying a bond issued by Arcadia would give Derrick a creditor's stake in the firm. In the event that Arcadia runs into financial difficulty, bondholders will be paid first, before shareholders, as they have a fixed claim on the company's assets.