Terms starting with: A
Accumulation Phase
The period during which a super fund member's account balance is increasing with accumulated contributions and earnings. The opposite of the pension or drawdown phase.
All Ordinaries Price Index
A share price index that measures the market price of publicly listed companies in Australia.
Asset Allocation
The apportionment of an investment portfolio among different asset classes (shares, bonds, property, cash and overseas investments) from time to time in accordance with the investment outlook of the investor or investment manager.
Asset
Item of value, such as cash, investments or property.
Asset Class
A broadly defined category of financial assets (e.g. domestic shares, overseas bonds, cash, etc).
Asset Value
The value of the assets underpinning a security. These may not be fully reflected in the price of a security.
ASX
ASX Limited, which is the primary Australian exchange for equities, derivatives and fixed-interest securities.
AFSL
The Australian Financial Services License (AFSL) number issued to all financial planners and financial services industry corporations by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission.
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
The Australian Government regulating body that enforces and regulates company and financial services laws to protect consumers, investors and creditors.
Audit
An examination and verification of a company's financial and accounting records and supporting documents by a professional.
Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
The ATO is the Government’s principal revenue collection agency, and is part of the Treasurer’s portfolio. Our role is to manage and shape tax, excise and superannuation systems that fund services for Australians.