A  B  C  D  E  F  GHI  JKL  MNO  PQR  STUV  WXYZ

G

Gilt - (Gilt Edged Security)
A fixed-interest bond or security issued by the British Government.

GPP - (Group Personal Pension)
An arrangement made for employees of a particular employer to participate in a personal pension scheme on a group basis.

H

Hedging - A strategy designed to offset investment risk.

I

IDD - (Initial Disclosure Document)
This will explain the type of service the adviser is allowed to give and the range of products on offer. This will enable consumers to decide whether the services offered are appropriate to them. It is industry jargon for the Key Facts about our Services document.

IFA - (Independent Financial Adviser)
A professional financial expert who must by law give impartial "best advice" on financial companies, markets and products. IFAs are a type of financial advisers who are able to select from all the products available in the marketplace. IFAs are bound to the Financial Services Authority rules, which oblige them to provide advice most suited to your personal requirements. In addition, when making recommendations they have to provide written reasons why they think that it is right for you - again to make sure that you are fully informed before committing yourself to anything. An advisor is not independent if they do not offer a fee only option.

IMRO - Investment Management Regulatory Organisation
Tthe body that regulates the management of unit trusts. Now taken over by the FSA.

Income Drawdown
Facility by which you can draw an income from your pension fund while keeping the rest fully invested until the age of 75 at the latest.

Income Tax
Tax payable if you have income above the minimum level taxable in the UK.

Index
The means of measuring movement of statistics over a period of time used as a benchmark by unit trust managers.

Index-linked
Payments protected against the effects of inflation by increasing in line with the changes in the index of retail prices.

Inflation
The amount in percentage terms by which prices rise or fall year on year.

Inheritance Tax
Tax payable after you die on the value of your assets in excess of a certain threshold value although gifts between husband and wife are exempt.It is also chargeable in certain circumstances while you are still alive.

Initial Charge
A charge levied by your investment manager to cover administration and sales commission when you invest in a fund.

Interest-only Mortgage
A mortgage product where you only make a monthly payment of interest and do not repay any capital during the term of the loan. At the end of the term you have to repay the capital borrowed in full. Customers usually rely on a savings plan or other monies to pay off the capital at the end of the mortgage term.

Investment Trust
A company, quoted on the Stock Exchange which invests in other companies' shares.

ISA (Individual Savings Account)
Tax-efficient savings plans which can hold cash or investments, or a combination of the two, which were introduced in 1999 to replace TESSAs and PEPs.