Absolute Return
Most traditional equity and managed funds focus on beating a stock market index or other managed funds. This means they tend to go up and down in line with other funds in these sectors - their returns are judged relative to other investments. Absolute Return funds are, as the name suggests, not focused on beating other funds but on generating positive (or absolute) returns, typically over a 3-5 year period.
Actively Managed
An investment strategy where the fund manager buys and sells holdings with the intention of maximising gains and minimising losses. Typically, active management allows the fund manager flexibility to adapt to changing market conditions. This is the opposite of passive management.
Annuity (pension)
An annuity is a contract with a life assurance company that will pay you a promised, regular pension income for the rest of your life in return for you paying them a lump sum when you retire. The amount of pension income you get will depend on factors such as the size of the lump sum, annuity rates at the time, your age, gender and state of health.
Assets
Company shares (or equities), property, bonds, alternative assets, cash etc.
Asset Allocation
The proportion of each different asset class in an investment portfolio.
Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVC)
AVCs are extra contributions you pay in addition to the normal pension contributions you or your employer make (if you are a member of an employer pension plan). AVCs help to increase the value of your pension fund.
Benchmark
A standard by which something is measured. In actively managed funds, fund managers typically try to match, or beat, a particular target or benchmark.
Bid offer spread
This is an investment charge and refers to the difference between the buying (offer) and selling (bid) price of a unit in an investment or pension fund.
Bonds
In simple terms, bonds or fixed interest securities are loans to governments (gilts) and companies (corporate bonds). These bonds are designed to pay interest over a fixed term with the original loan being repaid at the end of the term. The level of risk depends on the credit worthiness of the government or company issuing the bond.
Capital Security
If you have an investment with capital security, typically this promises that an investor will get back a minimum of 100% of their capital at some point, e.g. in 5 years time, regardless of what happens in the stock market.
Cash
Cash is generally held on deposit at banks or building societies and earns interest. Your capital is generally secure and easily accessible; however, its value can be eroded in real terms due to inflation.
Central Bank of Ireland
This is the bank that is responsible for the supervision of most financial institutions in Ireland.
Commodities
A basic good like gold, oil and crops that is exchangeable with another product of the same type, and which investors buy or sell.
Derivatives Contract
An agreement or contract from which a gain or loss is derived from some underlying asset, share or commodity etc, without the underlying asset actually being owned by the parties to the agreement or contract.
Diversification
Spreading an investment across different asset classes, different funds or different types of investments within an asset class, with the aim of reducing risk.
Dividend
The proportion of a company's profits paid out to its shareholders.
European Central Bank (ECB)
The ECB is the central bank for Europe's single currency, the euro. Its main task is to maintain the purchasing power of the euro and price stability in the euro area. One of the functions of the bank is to set interest rates for the member countries in the euro zone.
Euribor
The Euribor (Euro Interbank Offered Rate) is the rate at which euro interbank term deposits are being offered by one prime bank to another within the EMU zone.
Euro-cost averaging
Euro-cost averaging refers to the investment of a fixed amount of money in a particular fund at regular intervals over a period of time. This process involves the purchase of extra shares during market downturns and fewer shares during market upturns. Euro-cost averaging is based on the belief that the market or a particular stock will rise in price over the long term and that it is not worthwhile (or even possible) to identify interim highs and lows.
Equities (also known as shares or stocks)
These are issued by companies usually listed and traded on a stock exchange. Each share represents ownership of part of the issuing company. Some shares also pay an income in the form of a dividend.
Exit Tax or Life Assurance tax
This is a life assurance tax that policyholders are liable for if their policy makes a profit. It is taken off the value of an investment on the happening of a chargeable event, including when monies are withdrawn.
Fund
A pool of money which invests in assets.
Fund manager
The fund manager runs the fund and decides what assets the fund should invest in.
Financial Services Ombudsman
The Financial Services Ombudsman is an independent statutory office who deals with complaints from consumers about financial services providers. The FSO only deals with complaints that have not been resolved through the provider.
Fund management charge
This is a charge, generally payable annually, for the management of a fund.
Gilts
See Bonds
Government Bonds
See Bonds
Index
A measurement tool that provides a representation of the prices which constitute it. Indices often serve as indicators for a given market or industry and benchmarks against which financial or economic performance is measured.
Inflation
The increase in the general level of prices of goods and services in the economy over a period of time. Consumers' buying power goes down as prices increase.
Investment Style
Investment style is the approach that investment managers take to investing.
Liquidity
This is the ease or speed with which an investment can be turned in to cash. Illiquid assets, such as property, cannot be converted to cash quickly.
Maturity
If an investment is for a fixed term, this refers to the date when the investment will reach the end of the fixed term.
Options
These give the holder the right but not the obligation to buy or sell an asset at a pre-determined price on a fixed date or within a certain time period in the future. The predetermined price is called the exercise or strike price.
Passive management
This is an investment strategy where the investment manager simply aims to match (as opposed to beat) the index or benchmark that is set for the fund.
Portfolio
The full spread of investments held by an individual or a fund.
Property
As an investment asset class, a property investment usually involves investing in commercial property such as offices, retail developments, leisure and industrial developments.
Put Options
A put option gives the holder (buyer) the right but not the obligation to sell an asset at a predetermined price (exercise price), on a fixed date or within a certain time frame in the future.
Risk (in particular investment risk)
The greater the potential return wanted from savings and investments, generally, the greater the risk that has to be undertaken. Most investments involve an element of risk:
Risk can vary from fund to fund and it is very important, before a decision is made that investors understand all the risks associated with any fund.
Shares
See equities
Stock Exchange
A marketplace where stocks, shares, commodities, derivatives and other financial instruments are traded.
Term of the investment
The length of time you hold your investment.
Valuation
This is when a fund manager measures and gives you an estimated value of your investment in the fund at a point in time.
The information and descriptions provided are of a general nature and are intended as a guide only. The information set out should not be relied on in relation to a specific issue without taking appropriate financial or other professional advice. The information may be condensed or incomplete and the terms set out may be capable of having other meanings. If you require clarification on any terms as they apply to your investment, please consult a Financial Adviser.
We provide a range of protection options including protection for your home, income, family and business.
Take control of your retirement and plan for the future with a pension from R&L Financial Services.
Investing money safely and professionally is a vital part of your financial security planning.
Income Protection financially safeguards you and your family against long-term illness or injury.
