The price an investor must pay, or what the market demands, for buying a share or a unit in an investment fund.

A pension scheme arranged by an employer for the benefit of one or more employees. Membership is optional.

An individual who cannot be granted a policy under normal rates of premia.

These are also called "non-par policies" or "policies without participation in profits". These policies are not entitled for any share in surplus (profits) during the term of the policy

A clause whereby the insurers do not generally forfeit all the premia paid, in case of a lapse of policy. This benefit is accorded to policy holders because of higher premia paid during the early years and the interest earned on these premia by the insurance companies.

Insurance cover guaranteeing certain benefits but for which the policyholder bears no investment risk and does not gain or lose if returns differ from expectations. Pure risk business, such as term assurance, annuities, health insurance and disability cover, is normally written on a non-profit basis.

Someone nominated to act on your behalf. Insurers usually determine the insurable interest while nominating.

Return that does not take account of the effects of inflation.

The technical name given to an initial depletion of cash and/or erosion of shareholders' net assets at the moment an insurance contract is sold. This "strain" arises because, in addition to meeting costs associated with the sale of contracts, insurance companies must make actuarial provisions at the outset of a contract that are often significantly higher than the premiums received. To begin with, therefore, cash outflows exceed inflows, creating a strain.

Term used to describe the value of long-term savings policies sold to new and existing customers. Includes premium increases on existing business.