Investing can be complicated.

Let's make it simple.

10 terms every entrepreneur and investor should know:

1/ Internal Rate of Return (IRR)

IRR tells you what your average return is when time value of money is factored in.

Let's say you have an option to get 100K today or 100K in 5 years.

You would obviously prefer to get paid today so you can reinvest.

This also prevents future inflation from eating your purchasing power.

An investment that realises returns sooner than later will have a higher IRR.

2/ Multiple of Money (MoM)

Also known as cash-on-cash return or multiple of invested capital (MOIC).

Example:

Total cash inflows (proceeds from sale of a company) = $100M
Total cash outflows (initial investment) = $10M

MoM would be 10.0x.

3/ Rule of 72

A “back-of-the-envelope” method to calculate how long it would take your investment to double (2x).

Example:

How long would it take to double my money if I invest in the S&P 500?

S&P 500 average return = 8%

= 72 / 8

= 9 years