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GAAP
Acronym for Generally Accepted Accounting Principles which are conventions, procedures and guidelines for accounting practices.

Good Delivery Form
When a security is sold it must be delivered to the broker properly endorsed, not mutilated and with (if any) coupons attached. To avoid these difficulties and as a general practice most securities are held in street form with the broker.

Good Faith Money
A deposit of money by the buyer or seller of a futures product which acts as a financial guarantee as to the fulfilment of the contractual obligations of the futures contract. Also called a performance bond or margin.

Good Through Order
An order to buy or sell that is good for a specified number of days and then is automatically cancelled if it has not been filled.

Good Till Cancelled Order
An order that is valid from the date entered until the close of business on the date specified in the order. If the order has not been filled by the close of the market on that date, it is cancelled. This type of order can be cancelled or changed at any time.

Goodwill
Generally understood to represent the value of a well-respected business – its name, customer relations, employee relations, among others. Considered an intangible asset on the balance sheet.

Government Securities Distributors
Typically an investment dealer or bank that is authorized to bid at Government of Canada debt auctions.

Greensheet
Highlights for the firm's sales representatives the salient features of a new issue, both pro and con in order to successfully solicit interest to the general public. Dealers prepare this information circular for in-house use only.

Grey Market
A colloquialism used to describe the unlisted if, as, and when market for newly issued but as of yet, unlisted securities. It is an over-the-counter market.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
The value of all goods and services produced in a country in a year.

Gross Profit Margin
A profitability ratio that shows the company's rate of profit after allowing for cost of goods sold.

Growth Stock
Common stock of a company with excellent prospects for above-average growth; a company which over a period of time seems destined for above-average expansion.

Guaranteed Amount
The minimum amount payable under death benefits or maturity guarantees provided for under the terms of the segregate fund contract.

Guaranteed Bonds
Bonds issued by a crown corporation but guaranteed by the applicable government as to interest and principal payments.

Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
A pension payable to OAS recipients with no other or limited income.

Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC)
A deposit instrument most commonly available from trust companies, requiring a minimum investment at a predetermined rate of interest for a stated term. Generally nonredeemable prior to maturity but there can be exceptions.

Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit Plans (GMWB)
A GMWB plan is similar to a variable annuity. With a GMWB, the client purchases the plan, and the GMWB option gives the planholder the right to withdraw a certain fixed percentage (7% is typical) of the initial deposit every year until the entire principal is returned, no matter how the fund performs.