Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE)

AWOTE is a statistical series released by the Bureau of Statistics each quarter and measures the average wage paid in Australia (excluding overtime earnings). Changes in AWOTE are used to index a number of thresholds in superannuation regulations. Indexation by AWOTE is meant to help retain the "real value" of an amount (e.g. RBL thresholds).

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Balanced fund

A balanced fund invests in a mix of different asset classes including shares, property, bonds and cash.

Beneficiary

Either:

• an individual or company who, on the death of another individual, receives financial benefit; or
  
• a person entitled (as the real owner) to enjoy the benefit of property or goods of which the legal title may be vested in a trustee, eg. a superannuation trustee holds legal title to the assets of a fund but the fund members are the beneficiaries.

Binding nomination

The documentation of an individual's wishes regarding which of their dependants and/or other beneficiaries will receive their personal superannuation benefits in the event of their death.

Bonds

Bonds are issued by Governments and large corporations in return for cash. The bondholder receives interest for the fixed term of the bond, which can typically range from 2 to 20 years.

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Capital allowance

A tax deduction for the annual write-off of the shell of a building used to produce assessable income. The rate at which a building can be written-off depends on when it was first built.

Capital gains tax (CGT)

The tax payable on the disposal of an asset (e.g. shares and investment properties).

Cash Management Trust (CMT)

A pooled investment vehicle that invests in high-yielding money market investments normally only available to professional investors.

Compound interest

A method of interest calculation where, in each period, interest is calculated on both the principal and the interest previously accrued.

Consumer Price Index (CPI)

The CPI is a measure of inflation taken each quarter. It measures the price of a basket of typical household goods and services.

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Depreciation

For tax purposes, a deduction on the cost of income producing assets. (e.g. office partitions, hotel decor, canopies).

'Disposal' of an asset

This term relates to capital gains tax and refers to the sale or transfer in ownership of an asset.

Diversification

A concept aimed at reducing investment risks (i.e. 'not putting all your eggs in the one basket'). You can diversify by spreading your money across asset classes, sectors, markets and fund managers.

Dividend

Distribution of part of a company's profits to shareholders expressed as a number of cents per share. A dividend yield is the dividend expressed as a percentage of the last sale price for the share. Companies typically pay dividends twice yearly –an 'interim' dividend and a 'final' dividend.

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Eligible Termination Payment (ETP)

An Eligible Termination Payment (ETP) is a lump sum received by a person from a superannuation fund, other roll-over fund or certain payments from an employer. An ETP is concessionally taxed and may consist of a number of "components", which are taxed at different rates. If an ETP is taken as cash it will be taxed immediately. If it is "rolled over", some or all tax will be deferred until it is ultimately withdrawn.

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Franked dividends

Dividends paid by a company out of profits on which the company has already paid Australian tax, and which entitles shareholders to a tax credit.

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Gearing

Borrowing to invest. “Negative gearing” is when interest payable exceeds assessable income from the geared investment, resulting a deduction against other assessable income.

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Immediate Annuity

An annuity which commences payment immediately (as distinct from a deferred annuity). Immediate annuities may be purchased with either ETPs or with ordinary money. Many options are available, for example: Fixed payment period, e.g. 10 years; Lifetime payment; Indexed to CPI or a fixed amount, e.g. 5%; Frequency of payment - monthly, quarterly, yearly etc; Residual capital value - 0% to 100%; Reversion to surviving spouse at an agreed level, e.g. 85%.

Investment bond

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A type of managed investment, which provide investors with access to a range of underlying assets.
Tax is paid by the issuing life insurance company at a flat rate of 30%.

Liquidity

The ease with which an investment can be converted into cash with minimum loss.

Listed company

A company whose shares are listed on the stock exchange and which are available to be bought and sold.

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Managed investment

A managed investment (or 'managed fund') is the collective term given to investments that pool your money with the money of other investors to form a fund which is then invested into assets based on set investment objectives.

A 'specific sector' fund invests in only one asset class (e.g. global shares) while a 'multi-sector' (or 'diversified') fund invest in a number of asset classes.
Management expense ratio (MER)

The MER is the total annual fees and expenses of a fund divided by its average net assets.

Margin call

In a margin loan the lender is prepared to lend up to a maximum limit (expressed as a ratio of equity versus borrowings). When you exceed this limit, you will be required to make a 'margin call' which means you must either repay part of your loan or increase your loan limit by providing further security.

Margin lending

A means of borrowing money in order to increase your investment into growth assets such as shares. The geared asset (e.g. the shares) becomes the security for the loan.

Marginal tax rate

The stepped rate of tax that you pay on your 'taxable' income.

Market value

The price you would get if you sold your asset. The market value of a share would be the last price at which the share traded on the stock exchange.

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Portfolio

A 'basket' of investments. A managed investment contains a portfolio of investments, which is managed by a portfolio manager.

Property securities

Property securities, which include shares in listed property companies or units in property trusts, are an alternative to investing in property directly because of greater liquidity and diversification.

Prospectus

A document that describes the investment being offered (hence the general term 'offer document'). Prospectuses must be registered with ASIC. You must complete an application form attached to a current offer document in order to invest in shares, and managed investments.

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Real rate of return

The return from an investment after taking account of inflation. For example, if your investment pays 5% and inflation is 4%, your real rate of return is 1%.
Reasonable Benefit Limit (RBL)
A person's RBL is the amount of concessionally taxed superannuation and roll-over benefits that the person can receive. Most Eligible Termination Payments count towards a person's RBL. Amounts received over the RBL limit are called "excess benefits" and are taxed harshly. The standard lump sum RBL is $529,372 for 2001/2001. The Pension RBL is $1,058,742 for 2001/2002. Some people have higher RBL’s called transitional RBL’s. The pension RBL is available if at least half of the lesser of benefit or the pension RBL is taken in the form of a "complying pension/annuity".

Reinvestment

The process by which investors entitled to receive dividends from shares or distributions from managed investments automatically reinvest the amount to purchase additional shares or units.

Risk

Put simply, risk means the chance of losing money or not having your expectations met. Risk can mean different things to different people. An investment considered risk-free because the capital is protected (e.g. fixed term deposits) may still involve the risk of not keeping up with inflation.

Risk-averse

Someone who adopts a conservative approach with their money is considered 'risk-averse'.

Roll-over

Investment of an ETP into a roll-over fund. Instead of making a cash withdrawal,an ETP can be rolled over (subject to certain restrictions) to a roll-over fund. Tax on the ETP will then be deferred until final withdrawal from the roll-over fund.

Roll-over Fund

A roll-over fund is a concessionally taxed investment vehicle. By rolling over, lump sum tax payable on an ETP is deferred and the earnings on the ETP in the roll-over fund are taxed at the concessional rate of 15%. Types of roll-over funds include: - Approved Deposit Funds; - Deferred Annuities; - Rollover (or ETP) Annuities; - Superannuation Funds.

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Self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF)
A superannuation fund managed by one person or a small team of individuals. They are regulated by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and have to meet numerous regulatory criteria.

Stock

Another term for shares.

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Taxable income
Your total income (assessable income less deductions) that is subject to marginal tax, and the Medicare Levy.

Tax deduction

An amount that is deducted from your assessable income before tax is calculated. You can claim deductions in your annual tax return or, if your total deduction is significant, you can apply to the Tax Office for a variation of PAYG tax (section 221D) of the Income Tax Assessment Act.

Tax-effective

The term given to a strategy or investment that provides a return that may lead to a tax benefit, such as a tax deduction or tax rebate.

Tax rebate or tax offset

An amount deducted off the actual tax you have to pay. You can claim a tax rebate in your annual tax return.

Term deposit

An account that pays a fixed rate of interest over a fixed term, usually from one to three years. Funds are not 'at call' and a penalty can apply if the term is broken.

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Vesting age

Age at which ownership of an investment bond transfers under a “child’s advancement policy.”

Volatility

Refers to the fluctuating value of an investment. A share is said to be volatile if its price moves up and down frequently over a short space of time.

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Yield
T he annual return on an investment expressed as a percentage.

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