what are assets?

Answer 1

Assets are anything that can generate income or not incur costs. For example, cash is an asset, a bond is an asset, stocks are assets because you may earn interest on bonds and cash and stocks don't cost you anything to own them. Your house is actually a liability until you sell it. You have to pay taxes and upkeep even if you have paid it off. (Thanks to Robert Kiosaki for that perspective.)

Answer 2

From an accounting business point of view an asset is anything that is tangible and has monetary value. There are two types of assets, fixed and current. fixed assets are defined as anything that will not be exhausted within 1 year, such as: Property, vehicles, plant, machinery etc. Current assets are anything under 1 year such as cash, stock (unless shipbuilding/aeroplanes partsetc.) and Debtors.

In a personal finance/investing point of view an asset is part of an investment scheme. In investments an asset is usually composes part of an investment portfolio, which is created by obtaining different "assets" such as shares, bonds, annuties etc. So one person would try to obtain a diverse portfolio of these assets in order to reduce risk.

Answer 3

Assets are things you have that have tangible value, like a bank account, car, 401(k), bonds, stocks, etc. Other things you have may also have value but aren't assets, like clothes and TV's and furniture.

Answer 4

An asset is defined as "anything of value". Value usually refers to monetary value. Something with which you attach sentimental value may or may not have value to others.

Answer 5

Things that one possesses, that have a value.

Answer 6

things you own that are of monetary value.