Investment Basics and Strategies

Question 1

The return on investments after applicable income taxes are subtracted. An investment with a before-tax return of 8% would have an after-tax return of 6.08% for an individual in the 24% bracket. This is calculated by multiplying .08 by 1 minus the tax bracket of .24: [.08 (1 – .24)].

Answer 1

After-tax return

Question 2

A mutual fund that invests primarily in the stocks of companies that plow all or most of their earnings back into the company, producing little current income but growth in the value of the company and the stock.

Answer 2

Aggressive growth fund

Question 3

A mutual fund that invests in different types of assets to create a diversified portfolio of investments, including such items as foreign and U.S. stocks and bonds, real estate, precious metals, and currencies. The point of these funds is to minimize volatility in the overall portfolio while attaining favorable returns.

Answer 3

Asset allocation fund

Question 4

Pertains to investments. It is a strategy of diversification aimed at reducing variability of return from a portfolio of investments. The point of asset allocation is to invest in different types of assets that move in different ways from others in the portfolio

Answer 4

Asset allocation strategy

Question 5

A mutual fund that combines different types of assets, such as stocks and bonds, within one fund. Types of these funds include balanced funds, lifestyle funds, and lifecycle funds.

Answer 5

Asset combination fund.

Question 6

A mutual fund that invests in stocks, preferred stocks, and bonds. Investment objectives are security of principal, reasonable current income, and reasonable long-term capital appreciation.

Answer 6

Balanced mutual fund

Question 7

A measure of the volatility of an asset relative to the volatility of an index. Beta measures only systematic risk

Answer 7

Beta

Question 8

Stock that is issued by major, well-established companies. ______ stocks have long records of earnings growth and dividend payments in both good and poor economic conditions.

Answer 8

Blue-chip stock.

Question 9

A debt of the issuer that is a legal obligation to pay principal and interest when due.

Answer 9

Bond

Question 10

A mutual fund that invests in bonds. Funds of this type may invest in short-term, intermediate-term, or long-term maturity bonds. They may also specialize in bonds of a specific type of issuer; for example, they may invest only in corporate bonds, only in municipal bonds, or only in Treasury securities.

Answer 10

Bond mutual fund

Question 11

Investment risk that addresses the uncertainty of investment returns resulting from the nature of a business or the industry in which it operates. Examples include the uncertainty relating to future earnings, competition, and management of the business

Answer 11

Business risk

Question 12

If a bond is callable, the issuer has the right to redeem the bond before maturity at a predetermined amount.

Answer 12

Callable bond.

Question 13

An excess of the sale price of a capital asset—such as a stock, a bond, a personal automobile, or a home—over its basis (generally its purchase price).

Answer 13

Capital gain.

Question 14

An excess of the basis in a capital asset over its sale price. Some capital losses are tax deductible, but personal losses are typically not deductible (such as a loss on the sale of a personal automobile).

Answer 14

Capital loss

Question 15

A company that invests in diversified portfolios of investments on behalf of investors, but which has fixed capitalization. The company issues a fixed number of shares, and by purchasing shares of the company, an investor presumably will share in the gains or losses experienced by the underlying portfolio of investments. When the portfolio performs well, the investor’s shares in the company generally will increase in value; when the portfolio does poorly, the shares generally will decrease in value. The investor must buy or sell shares in the market; they are not purchasable or redeemable by the investment company. As a result, changes in the value of the portfolio are not the only determinant of changes in the price of the shares; share price is also determined by market conditions and investor sentiment.

Answer 15

Closed-end investment company

Question 16

Short-term promissory notes issued by major, well established corporations. Commercial paper is issued in large denominations.

Answer 16

Commercial Paper

Question 17

Pertains to investment strategies. It is the opposite of diversification; it involves investing in a single security, industry, or type of security.

Answer 17

Concentration.

Question 18

Pertains to bonds and preferred stock. The corporate issuer may include a provision enabling bond or preferred stockholders to exchange their securities for a certain number of common stock shares at a specified price.

Answer 18

Conversion privilege

Question 19

An asset allocation approach that divides a portfolio into two components: (1) a core for 70% to 80% of the portfolio that typically contains indexed mutual funds or broad-based exchange-traded funds, and (2) a satellite for the remainder of the portfolio to increase returns and/or provide additional diversification to the portfolio.

Answer 19

Core/satellite asset allocation

Question 20

A debt instrument issued by a business. Typical features include semiannual interest payments based on a stated coupon rate and payment of the face amount upon maturity.

Answer 20

Corporate bond

Question 21

The annual interest rate paid by a bond issuer

Answer 21

Credit Risk

Question 22

Also called exchange rate risk, it is the risk of diminishing both principal and return on a foreign investment because of unforeseen changes in the relative values of U.S. and foreign currencies. It is considered a type of nondiversifiable (i.e., systematic) risk.

Answer 22

Currency risk

Question 23

When a firm cannot meet its obligations, it is in danger of defaulting. Default risk tends to be highest among businesses without enough profitable sales, especially when they also have excessive debt.

Answer 23

Default risk

Question 24

A bond selling below its par value

Answer 24

Discount bond

Question 25

An investment strategy that involves investing in many different securities to reduce risk; the opposite of concentration

Answer 25

Diversification

Question 26

An investment strategy that involves purchasing the same dollar amount of a security at regular intervals. When the security’s price is low, more shares will be purchased. When it is high, fewer shares will be purchased.

Answer 26

Dollar cost averaging

Question 27

A measure of the sensitivity of a bond’s price to a 1% change in interest rates.

Answer 27

Duration

Question 28

Earnings per share is the company’s net income (profit) for the year divided by the number of shares outstanding

Answer 28

Earnings per share

Question 29

Equity represents ownership. As applied to stock, equity is stock ownership in a corporation. As it applies to real estate, it is the difference between the amount of any mortgage on the property and its market price

Answer 29

Equity

Question 30

A mutual fund that invests primarily in equity securities of companies that pay above-average dividends.

Answer 30

Equity income mutual fund

Question 31

The possibility that a security will be affected by an unanticipated and damaging event.

Answer 31

Event risk

Question 32

A basket of securities, usually stocks, that track indexes (both U.S. and international) or specific sectors of the stock or bond market (although some ETFs are tied to the price of commodities like gold, silver, or oil). They trade throughout each business day just like stocks and generally are low-cost and tax-efficient

Answer 32

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)

Question 33

Are unsecured debt securities usually issued by large commercial or investment banks. As with any debt issue, ETNs have a fixed maturity, with maturities of 30 years not being unusual. Like ETFs, they often track an index or benchmark, or a commodity, such as gold.

Answer 33

Exchange-traded notes (ETNs

Question 34

A fund’s annual expenses divided by its average net assets. Passive index funds and ETFs have lower expense ratios than actively managed funds.

Answer 34

Expense ratio

Question 35

A public corporation that issues mortgage-backed securities collateralized by a pool of mortgages made by lenders.

Answer 35

Fannie Mae

Question 36

Use of borrowed funds to enhance gain on an investment. It also increases the potential variability of return (investment risk)

Answer 36

Financial leverage

Question 37

The amount of debt a firm has (shown on its balance sheet). A firm that is highly leveraged (large amounts of debt) has greater financial risk than a firm with little or no debt.

Answer 37

Financial Risk

Question 38

An investment that promises a stated amount of income, either in the form of periodic payments (such as interest) or a stated ending payout (such as with deep discount bonds). Because payouts are fixed, these securities tend to be subject to interest rate risk and purchasing power risk

Answer 38

Fixed-income security

Question 39

A security sold by the Freddie Mac (formerly the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation or FHLMC), collateralized by pools of conventional residential mortgages. Freddie Mac guarantees the payment of principal and interest on these securities.

Answer 39

Freddie Mac

Question 40

An in-depth examination of many variables, unique to the issuer of the security and its industry and the overall economic factors, that impact the intrinsic value of a security.

Answer 40

Fundamental analysis.

Question 41

A bond issued by a municipality for which interest payments are secured by the general taxing power of the municipality

Answer 41

General obligation municipal bond (GO)

Question 42

security collateralized by a pool of primarily VA and FHA mortgages that are packaged according to interest and maturity by mortgage bankers, commercial banks, and other financial institutions

Answer 42

Ginnie Mae

Question 43

Also called a world mutual fund, it is a fund that invests in both U.S. and foreign securities.

Answer 43

Global Mutual Fund

Question 44

The stock of a company whose sales and earnings are expanding faster than those of most stocks and faster than the general economy. The company usually is aggressive, emphasizes research or innovation, and retains earnings for future expansion rather than paying them out to shareholders.

Answer 44

Growth Stock

Question 45

Limited partnerships with managers as the general partners and investors as limited partners (no more than a total of 99). Hedge funds are lightly regulated, generally available only to wealthy individuals, and have little transparency. They can use a variety of investment strategies so they can be conservative or very aggressive. Their fee is usually 1% or 2% of assets plus 20% of profits

Answer 45

Hedge Funds

Question 46

A fund that attempts to own securities that mimic an established index, such as the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, or Wilshire 5000. Using stock indexes has been common, but now use of bond indexing is also increasing.

Answer 46

Index Mutual Fund

Question 47

A general increase in the level of prices within the economy.

Answer 47

Inflation

Question 48

U.S. government securities that increase in value with | changes in inflation. See Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities.

Answer 48

Inflation-indexed bond.

Question 49

A type of nondiversifiable (systematic) investment risk. This is the risk that a bond’s price will fall if interest rates rise.

Answer 49

Interest rate risk.

Question 50

A fund that invests only in foreign securities

Answer 50

International mutual fund.

Question 51

The probability that actual investment returns will vary from expected returns.

Answer 51

Investment risk.

Question 52

The appropriateness of an investment for a specific investor, which is determined by considering the investor’s risk tolerance, time frame, sophistication, individual circumstances and preferences, and financial resources.

Answer 52

Investor suitability.

Question 53

The ability to convert an investment to cash quickly, without loss of principal.

Answer 53

Liquidity

Question 54

Related to the uncertainty of converting an investment to cash within a short period of time at, or near, the original principal invested. This is a type of unsystematic risk.

Answer 54

Liquidity risk.

Question 55

Pertains to mutual funds. A load is a sales charge sometimes incurred by the investor for executing a mutual fund transaction.

Answer 55

Load

Question 56

The variability of return caused by investors’ reactions to tangible and intangible events. It is considered a type of nondiversifiable (systematic) risk.

Answer 56

Market risk.

Question 57

The degree to which there is an active market in which an investment may be traded. For example, stocks that are actively traded on an exchange have higher levels of marketability than real estate (under most conditions).

Answer 57

Marketability.

Question 58

The date when principal must be repaid to a bondholder.

Answer 58

Maturity date.

Question 59

An approach to strategic asset allocation that | strives for the highest return for a given level of risk or the lowest risk for a given level of return.

Answer 59

Modern portfolio theory (MPT).

Question 60

Available through savings and loan associations and banks. Earnings rates are determined by the institution, and they tend to be lower than rates for money market funds. Money market deposit accounts are FDIC insured, up to $250,000 per ownership category. Check writing privileges are typically available, although they may be restricted.

Answer 60

Money market deposit account.

Question 61

A mutual fund consisting of short-term money market instruments, such as Treasury bills, negotiable certificates of deposit, and commercial paper. Some specialize in tax-free securities. Such funds are highly liquid and offer a high degree of safety of principal. Check writing privileges are typically available, although they may require checks to be of a minimum amount such as $250.

Answer 61

Money market mutual fund.

Question 62

Debt instruments secured by a pool of mortgages.

Answer 62

Mortgage-backed securities (MBS).

Question 63

A bond issued by a municipality, usually to finance a new project such as a library, hospital, or airport. The advantage is that interest received by investors generally is free from federal taxation, and sometimes it is free of state and local income taxes as well. The two main types of municipal bonds are general obligations (GOs) and revenue bonds.

Answer 63

Municipal bond.

Question 64

A nonprofit insurer that has no capital stock. It is | generally owned by policyholders.

Answer 64

Mutual insurance company.

Question 65

Pertaining to mutual fund pricing, it is the fund’s net | assets divided by the number of shares outstanding.

Answer 65

Net asset value per share.

Question 66

Pertains to mutual funds. A no-load fund does not have a “load” or “sales charge” assessed.

Answer 66

No-load.

Question 67

An investment company that pools the money of many investors, hires an investment adviser to manage the pool, and invests to achieve one or more financial objectives. Commonly referred to as a mutual fund. It is a fund that continues to offer shares to the public (i.e., “open-end”). Shares are purchased and redeemed through the fund, with purchase prices based on net asset value of the shares and any sales charge assessed.

Answer 67

Open-end investment company.

Question 68

Bonds: The value that will be paid to investors when the bond is redeemed at maturity. Preferred Stocks: The stated value of the stock and the price at which the stock was initially sold. Common Stocks: The dollar amount assigned to the stock upon issue.

Answer 68

Par value.

Question 69

An equity investment in which dividends are fixed at the stock’s issue. However, a corporation can pass on dividends (not pay them) without becoming insolvent. Preferred stockholders have a higher claim on the corporation than common stockholders, but a lesser claim than bondholders

Answer 69

Preferred stock.

Question 70

A bond selling above par value.

Answer 70

Premium Bond

Question 71

The official booklet that describes a security and offers the sale of its shares. Its purpose is to provide full and fair disclosure of relevant investment information.

Answer 71

Prospectus

Question 72

systematic risk, it is the impact of inflation or deflation upon the value of an investment’s returns. For example, when an individual purchases a bond, he or she may reasonably expect to receive the face amount of the bond at maturity, which is usually $1,000. Given the impact of inflation, however, the purchasing power of $1,000 will have been significantly reduced over time. Fixed-income investments tend to be highly subject to ________.

Answer 72

Purchasing power risk.

Question 73

Similar to a closed-end investment company, but organized to invest in real estate. It provides centralized management, limited liability, continuity of interest, and transferability of ownership. They generally avoid corporate tax by distributing at least 90% of its taxable income to shareholders. These distributions are then taxed as ordinary income.

Answer 73

Real estate investment trust (REIT).

Question 74

Also known as reinvestment risk, the risk that interest rates have decreased at the time payments from an investment are received so that reinvestment of those payments is at a lower rate than that previously earned.

Answer 74

Reinvestment rate risk.

Question 75

A bond used to finance municipal projects in which | principal and interest are payable solely from revenues produced by the project.

Answer 75

Revenue municipal bond.

Question 76

The possibility of loss or the possibility that the actual result will vary from the expected result.

Answer 76

Risk

Question 77

An investment principle that increased levels of risk must be assumed if the investor hopes to earn higher return. Likewise, lower risk assumption generally leads to lower returns

Answer 77

Risk-return trade-off.

Question 78

The level of risk that an individual is willing to assume in investing, based upon his or her emotional temperament, investment experience, and financial constraints.

Answer 78

Risk tolerance.

Question 79

Bonds issued by the U.S. government through its TreasuryDirect.gov website that earn a fixed rate of interest semiannually (EE bonds) or earn a fixed rate plus a rate tied to inflation (I bonds).

Answer 79

Savings Bond

Question 80

Fund investing in the stocks of one industry or specializing in a theme, such as leisure.

Answer 80

Sector mutual fund.

Question 81

A registered savings bond that is a U.S. government obligation. These bonds are issued at face value and earned a fixed rate over its lifetime. They make no current interest payments.

Answer 81

Series EE bond.

Question 82

A registered savings bond that is issued at face value, the principal of which increases with inflation.

Answer 82

Series I bond.

Question 83

Pertains to bonds. Bond indentures sometimes contain a sinking fund provision, which is a plan for the early retirement of some bonds in the issue at fixed intervals. This is generally considered beneficial to bondholders since the corporation’s full obligation to repay does not come at a single time.

Answer 83

Sinking fund provision.

Question 84

A measure of risk that indicates the degree to which an investment’s returns deviate from its average return over a period of time. The greater the _________ of an investment, the greater the risk. It measures total risk (both systematic and unsystematic risk).

Answer 84

Standard Deviation

Question 85

An informational brochure on a mutual fund, which is available upon request. The statement contains information that is classified as useful but nonessential by the Securities and Exchange Commission and therefore typically is not included in the prospectus.

Answer 85

Statement of additional information.

Question 86

A fund in which the underlying investments are stocks.

Answer 86

Stock mutual fund.

Question 87

An approach to asset allocation that focuses on long-range objectives to set a portfolio’s asset mix.

Answer 87

Strategic asset allocation.

Question 88

An abbreviated mutual fund prospectus that contains some of the most important information about a fund, such as investment objective, investment strategies, risks, performance, fees and expenses, and fund management.

Answer 88

Summary prospectus.

Question 89

The variability of return that is caused by factors affecting all comparable investments; also referred to as nondiversifiable risk.

Answer 89

Systematic risk.

Question 90

A method of an analyzing securities or market movement based on supply and demand factors reflected in volume and/or price behavior.

Answer 90

Technical analysis.

Question 91

The sum of an investment’s current income (dividends or interest) gains or losses.

Answer 91

Total return.

Question 92

A short-term obligation of the U.S. government that is issued at a discount and redeemed at face value upon maturity. Income, which is received upon maturity, is not taxed at a state or local level.

Answer 92

Treasury bill.

Question 93

A long-term obligation of the U.S. government that is issued at or near par. Interest is paid semiannually and is not taxed at a state or local level.

Answer 93

Treasury bond.

Question 94

A U.S. government obligation issued at or near par, with maturities of 5, 10, and 30 years whose principal increases with inflation. Interest is paid at a fixed rate of principal semiannually and is not taxed at a state or local level.

Answer 94

Treasury inflation-protected securities (TIPS).

Question 95

An intermediate-term obligation of the U.S. government that is issued at or near par. Interest is paid semiannually and is not taxed at a state or local level.

Answer 95

Treasury note.

Question 96

Pools of securities sponsored by brokerage houses and sold to investors in units. The portfolio is generally selected and then fixed, unlike a mutual fund, which is either actively managed or mirroring a benchmark.

Answer 96

Unit investment trust.

Question 97

The variability of return that is caused by factors that are | unique to a given company, industry, or property. It is risk that can be reduced through diversification.

Answer 97

Unsystematic risk.

Question 98

A return earned from an investment, typically expressed as a percentage. There are several methods of measuring yield, such as nominal yield, current yield, and yield to maturity.

Answer 98

Yield

Question 99

A measure of yield that factors in both interest income and any change between the price at the purchase date and the call price at the earliest date the bond can be called.

Answer 99

Yield to call

Question 100

A measure of yield that considers both current income generated and any change in a bond’s value between the purchase price and the maturity value. It assumes reinvestment of income streams received at the same rate of return.

Answer 100

Yield to maturity.

Question 101

An original issue discount bond that matures at par value, the difference being interest earned. While interest is earned over the life of the bond, there are no cash interest payments made. However, the investor is taxed upon accrued interest annually. The bond increases in value as interest is earned, and therefore interest is received when the bond is sold or matures.

Answer 101

Zero Coupon Bond