A common example is contributing too much to a Roth IRA based on your income level; the ability to contribute to a Roth IRA begins to phase out at higher income levels. Contribution limits decrease once your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) rises above $105,000 for single filers and $167,000 for joint tax filers.
(A high rate of return, of course, will beat that, but you'll have to work for it.) Assume that inflation is an annual 3% and capital gains are 15%. If your target is a 15% return before inflation and taxes, you'll end up with 12.4% return. (If you pay 20% in capital gains taxes, you'll end up with 11.6% return.) A really good return on investment for an active investor is 15% annually. That's healthy.
gross rate of return. The total rate of return on an investment before deducting fees or commissions, as measured over a period of time (e.g. monthly, quarterly, or annually). Normally the quoted figure found in advertising, since the return after deducting expenses can be substantially lower than the gross return.