Glossary

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17. Q
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24. X
25. Y
26. Z

Active Management

The trading of securities to take advantage of market opportunities as they occur, in contrast to passive management. Active managers rely on research, market forecasts, and their own judgment and experience in selecting securities to buy and sell.

Aggressive

An investment approach that accepts above-average risk of loss in return for potentially above-average investment returns.

Aggressive Growth Fund

An investment fund that takes higher risk of loss in return for potentially higher returns or gains

AMEX Major Market Index (XMI)

An index that is an average of 20 Blue Chip Industrial Stocks.

Annual Rate of Return

The annual rate of gain or loss on an investment expressed as a percentage.

Annual Report

A yearly report or record of an investment’s (e.g., a mutual fund’s or company’s) financial position and operations.

Appreciation

An increase in the value of an investment.

Asset

Anything with commercial or exchange value owned by a business, institution or individual. Examples include cash, real estate and investments.

Asset Allocation

A method of investing by which investors include a range of different investment classes – such as stocks, bonds, and cash alternatives or equivalents – in their portfolios. See Diversification.

Asset Class

A group of securities or investments that have similar characteristics and behave similarly in the marketplace. Three common asset classes are equities (e.g., stocks), fixed income (e.g., bonds), and cash alternatives or equivalents (e.g., money market funds).

Average Annual Total Return

The yearly average percentage increase or decrease in an investment’s value that includes dividends, gains, and changes in share price.