liquid asset (2024)

Liquid assets refer to cash on hand, cash on bank deposit, and assets that can be quickly and easily converted to cash. The common liquid assets are stock, bonds, certificates of deposit, or shares.

Liquid assets are different from non-liquid assets, such as property, vehicles, or jewelry, which can take longer to sell and may lose value in the sale. Liquid assets are perceived as being the most basic type of asset available.

A company usually needs to keep a certain amount of liquid assets to meet short-term obligations. A company can measure its liquidity by comparing the amount of liquid assets with the amount of current liabilities.

[Last updated in July of 2020 by the Wex Definitions Team]

liquid asset (2024)

FAQs

Liquid asset? ›

Liquid assets refer to cash on hand, cash on bank deposit, and assets that can be quickly and easily converted to cash. The common liquid assets are stock, bonds, certificates of deposit, or shares.

Is a house a liquid asset? ›

Is a house a liquid asset? Homes and other real estate are nonliquid assets. It takes months to complete the sale of a home or other property and realize the cash that might come with that.

Is a 401k considered a liquid asset? ›

Stocks and other readily salable securities are considered liquid assets, unless they are restricted by IRA, 401(k) or other similar requirements. IRAs, 401(k) plans and other similarity qualified retirement accounts are not considered to be liquid assets.

Is a car a liquid asset? ›

The most common examples of non-liquid assets are equipment, real estate, vehicles, art, and collectibles. Ownership in non-publicly traded businesses could also be considered non-liquid.

Is a Roth IRA a liquid asset? ›

Retirement accounts: A retirement account can include a 401(k), an IRA and/or other accounts. They are only considered liquid when the owner has reached retirement age.

What are high quality liquid assets? ›

The high-quality liquid assets (HQLA) include only those with a high potential to be converted easily and quickly into cash (in times of distress). HQLA are cash or assets that can be converted into cash quickly through sales (or by being pledged as collateral) with no significant loss of value.

Is a CD considered liquid? ›

“The main drawback of a CD is that it's an illiquid asset unless you're willing to pay the early withdrawal penalty," said McHugh. “On the other hand, the funds are FDIC insured and you're guaranteed a specific rate of return." Some CDs are offered with a one-time penalty-free withdrawal to entice savers.

Which asset is the most liquid? ›

Cash is the most liquid asset possible as it is already in the form of money. This includes physical cash, savings account balances, and checking account balances.

Is a 401k liquid net worth? ›

Non-liquid assets include anything that cannot be converted to cash quickly or for their full value, such as: Retirement accounts, such as 401(k)s and IRAs. A house or other real estate holding (which could take a while to sell and the actual sales price is not known).

What is not considered a liquid asset? ›

Liquid assets like cash, stocks, and most bonds can be quickly converted to cash with minimal impact to their value, while non-liquid assets like real estate, collectibles, and equipment cannot be readily converted to cash without a significant loss in value.

Is Social Security a liquid asset? ›

They are assets, even if they are not liquid. And yes, Social Security is a fixed-income asset.

Is my bank account a liquid asset? ›

The money in your checking account, savings account, or money market account is considered liquid because it can be withdrawn easily to settle liabilities.

Is life insurance a liquid asset? ›

Any life insurance policy with cash value can be considered a liquid asset, which includes all permanent life insurance policies like final expense and universal life in addition to whole life.

What items are liquid assets? ›

Liquid assets refer to cash on hand, cash on bank deposit, and assets that can be quickly and easily converted to cash. The common liquid assets are stock, bonds, certificates of deposit, or shares.

Is it better to have liquid assets? ›

Liquid assets, such as cash and marketable securities, can be converted into cash quickly, providing immediate funds to cover short-term financial needs. Conversely, fixed assets like buildings and machinery are designed for long-term use in a business's operations and are not easily converted into cash.

What qualifies for liquid assets? ›

Liquid assets refer to cash on hand, cash on bank deposit, and assets that can be quickly and easily converted to cash. The common liquid assets are stock, bonds, certificates of deposit, or shares.

What is your most liquid asset? ›

Cash is the most liquid asset possible as it is already in the form of money. This includes physical cash, savings account balances, and checking account balances.

Is a savings account a liquid asset? ›

Cash on hand is considered to be a liquid asset because it can be readily accessed. Cash is a legal tender that a company can use to settle its current liabilities. The money in your checking account, savings account, or money market account is considered liquid because it can be withdrawn easily to settle liabilities.

Is goodwill a liquid asset? ›

The Correct Answer is an intangible asset. In finance, Goodwill is an intangible asset that is associated with the purchase of one company by another.

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