Money is an essential element in life. It is needed to fulfill various financial obligations and to achieve a comfortable lifestyle. The primary objective of having money is to purchase time. When an individual has money, they can afford to spend quality time with their loved ones, take solo trips, and pursue hobbies. It is crucial to understand that money can be lost in a matter of seconds. Therefore, it is essential to learn how to manage finances and educate oneself on financial literacy. In this article, we will explore the concepts of assets, liabilities, and investments in detail.
ASSETS
These are economic resources that have value and can be owned or controlled by an individual, organization, or business with the expectation that it will provide a future benefit. Companies report assets on their balance sheet. Assets can be classified into four categories, namely current, fixed, financial, and intangible assets. Assets are bought or created to enhance a firm’s value or benefit the firm’s operations.
An asset can be considered something that can generate cash flow, reduce expenses, or boost sales, regardless of whether it is manufacturing equipment or a patent. Moreover, an asset can represent access that other individuals or firms do not have. Additionally, a right or other type of access can be legally enforceable, which means economic resources can be used at a company’s discretion. However, their use can be precluded or limited by an owner.
When considering an asset definition, it is essential to note that it is something that provides a current, future, or potential economic benefit for an individual or company. An asset is, therefore, something that is owned by an individual or something that is owed to an individual. A $10 bill, a desktop computer, a chair, and a car are all assets. If an individual loaned money to someone, that loan would also be an asset because the individual is owed that amount. For the person who owes it, the loan is a liability.
In general, assets are classified into two main types:
Current and Non-current assets
Current assets are expected to be converted into cash or used up within one year or one operating cycle, whichever is longer. Examples of current assets include cash, accounts receivable, inventory, and various prepaid expenses. While cash is easy to value, accountants periodically reassess the recoverability of inventory and accounts receivable. If there is evidence that a receivable might be uncollectible, it will be classified as impaired. Or if inventory becomes obsolete, companies may write off these assets.
Non-current assets (or fixed assets), on the other hand, are expected to provide value over a more extended period, usually more than one year. Examples of non-current assets include real estate, machinery, and long-term investments. An accounting adjustment called depreciation is made for fixed assets as they age. It allocates the cost of the asset over time. Depreciation may or may not reflect the fixed asset’s loss of earning power.
LIABILITIES
Liabilities are financial obligations that an organization, business, or individual owes to external parties. These obligations are recorded on the right side of the balance sheet and include loans, accounts payable, mortgages, deferred revenues, bonds, warranties, and accrued expenses. Liabilities are primarily contrasted with assets, which are items that an individual or organization owns or is owed.
There are two main types of liabilities:
Current liabilities and Non-current liabilities.
Current liabilities refer to debts and obligations that are expected to be settled within one year or one operating cycle, whichever is longer. Examples include accounts payable, short-term loans, and accrued expenses. Moreover, wages payable and interest payable are also classified as current liabilities. The wages payable is the total amount of accrued income that employees have earned but not yet received. Since most companies pay their employees every two weeks, this liability changes frequently. On the other hand, interest payable represents the interest on short-term credit purchases that companies use to finance their operations over short periods.
Non-current liabilities, also known as long-term liabilities, are debts and obligations that extend beyond one year. Examples include long-term loans, bonds, and deferred tax liabilities. Companies issue bonds that are essentially loans from each party that purchases them to finance their ongoing long-term operations. This line item is in constant flux as bonds are issued, matured, or called back by the issuer. Analysts are interested in seeing if long-term liabilities can be paid with assets derived from future earnings or financing transactions. Companies can incur other liabilities, such as rent, deferred taxes, payroll, and pension obligations, which also fall under long-term liabilities.
In general, a liability is an obligation between one party and another that has not yet been completed or paid for. Financial liabilities, in the world of accounting, are obligations that arise from previous business transactions, events, sales, exchange of assets or services, or anything that would provide economic benefit at a later date. Current liabilities are usually considered short-term obligations that are expected to be concluded in 12 months or less, while non-current liabilities are long-term obligations that last for 12 months or more.
Liabilities are a crucial aspect of a company’s financial health because they are often used to finance their operations and pay for large expansions. They can also make transactions between businesses more efficient. For instance, in most cases, when a wine supplier sells a case of wine to a restaurant, it does not demand payment when it delivers the goods. Instead, it invoices the restaurant for the purchase to streamline the drop-off and make paying easier for the restaurant. The outstanding money that the restaurant owes to its wine supplier is considered a liability. In contrast, the wine supplier considers the money it is owed to be an asset.
It is essential to note that liability is not necessarily a bad thing. For instance, a company may take out debt (a liability) to expand and grow its business. Similarly, an individual may take out a mortgage to purchase a home. Like businesses, an individual’s or household’s net worth is calculated by balancing assets against liabilities. For most households, liabilities will include taxes due, bills that must be paid, rent or mortgage payments, loan interest and principal due, and so on. If you are pre-paid for performing work or service, the work owed may also be construed as a liability.
In all, liabilities are a vital component of financial accounting that helps us understand an organization’s financial health. Whether we are talking about businesses or individuals, liabilities play a significant role in financing operations, growth, and expansion.
INVESTMENTS
Investments are a crucial aspect of finance that entails acquiring assets with the expectation of generating future income or appreciation in value. Essentially, investments involve the outlay of a resource, whether it be time, effort, money, or an asset, in hopes of a greater payoff in the future than what was originally put in. For instance, an investor may purchase a monetary asset with the idea that the asset will provide income in the future or will later be sold at a higher price for a profit.
Investments come in various forms, the most common of which include financial investments, real estate investments, business investments, and other investments. Financial investments usually involve investments in securities such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and other financial instruments that are traded in financial markets. Real estate investments involve purchasing properties or real estate assets to generate rental income or capital appreciation. Business investments, on the other hand, refer to investments made in businesses, whether through ownership of shares in a company or by starting one’s own business. Finally, other investments may include commodities, collectibles, or alternative assets such as cryptocurrencies.
It is important to note that investing is always associated with a certain level of risk as there is no guarantee that an investment will generate any income or appreciate over time. An investment may lose value over time, or a company you invest in may go bankrupt. Alternatively, the degree you invest time and money to obtain may not result in a strong job market in that field. However, taking calculated risks is an inevitable aspect of investing and there are ways to minimize risks such as diversifying one’s portfolio of investments.
Investments can be classified as either short-term or long-term, depending on the individual’s or organization’s financial goals and investment strategy. Short-term investments usually have a maturity period of less than a year and are less risky than long-term investments. Long-term investments, on the other hand, require a longer investment horizon and are usually more volatile but offer higher potential returns.
In conclusion, understanding the distinctions between assets, liabilities, and investments is essential for effective financial planning and management. It helps individuals and businesses make informed decisions about their financial resources and obligations and identify the most suitable investment opportunities that align with their financial goals and risk tolerance.