What Are Cash Equivalents and Are They Considered Liquid?

Cash equivalents can be converted to cash in a short amount of waiting time (for example, 90 days). They are still considered liquid even though they take a bit longer to liquify.

Terminology Archives | Page 12 of 75

Q: What Assets Are Considered Non-Liquid?

These are assets that are not so easy to liquidate quickly. For instance, land and real estate investments, which can take a long time to settle up or for the deal to close. You’ll get your money, but most likely, not right away. That’s why assets like these are considered non-liquid.

Q: Are Retirement Accounts like IRAs and 401(k)s Liquid Assets?

It depends on what’s in them. For instance, if you put a money market fund into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), then that would be considered a liquid asset, since money-market funds are considered liquid. You’ll also most likely pay a penalty if you withdraw the funds before age 59 ½. If you fund your retirement account with real estate assets, then that would not be considered a liquid asset, since real estate is considered non-liquid.

Q: Are All Liquid Assets Taxable?

Pretty much. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers taxable income to include gains from stocks and interest gained from bank accounts, among other investments.

Q: Is It Smart To Keep Cashing In Liquid Assets?

It may be worth considering a mix of both liquid and non-liquid assets to help you reach your financial goals. There is no set formula for every investor’s situation, but beginning investors may want to focus on gathering a few months of liquid assets for the sole purpose of emergencies and unexpected expenses.

Q: How Liquid Are You?

Often, people without a lot of loot for emergencies are labeled as “cash poor.” Liquidity is something that people might not think about until they need to. How to figure out how liquid you are—make a list of all your monthly expenses, from rent/mortgage on down, even your streaming service subscription. Total all your monthly expenses, and compare that sum to the amount of money you have socked away.

Aug

2024

What Are Liquid Assets and How Do They Work?

By Austin Kilham | Budgeting & Goals, invest, Terminology | No Comments

Liquid assets are any assets that can be easily and quickly converted into cash. In fact, people often refer to liquid assets as cash or cash equivalents, because they know that the asset can be exchanged for actual cash without losing value.

Here’s a closer look at the topic and how liquid assets can contribute to your financial wellbeing.

Key Points

• Liquid assets are easily convertible to cash, allowing quick access to funds without significant loss in value, essential for financial flexibility during emergencies.

• Common examples of liquid assets include cash in bank accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and money market funds, which can be readily sold for cash.

• Non-liquid assets, such as real estate and collectibles, require more time and effort to convert into cash, often leading to potential value loss during the process.

• Maintaining liquid assets is important for calculating net worth, applying for loans, and ensuring a business can handle emergencies or market fluctuations effectively.

• Building liquid assets involves creating an emergency fund with three to six months’ worth of expenses, allowing for better financial security and investment opportunities.

What Makes an Asset Liquid?

Liquidity means that you can readily access an asset as cash. While you might own any number of valuable assets (e.g., your home, retirement accounts, collectibles) and these can be considered part of your overall net worth, only liquid assets can generate cash quickly, when circumstances demand it. If you needed cash quickly, you likely would not be able to sell your home overnight to get money.

For an asset to be considered liquid, it must be traded on a well-established market with a large number of buyers and sellers. It also must be relatively easy to transfer ownership. Think: stocks, bonds, mutual funds and other marketable securities.

Generally, you can sell stocks and obtain cash readily. By contrast, you probably couldn’t sell your vintage watch collection that fast, and even if you could, there are a number of factors that might influence how much cash value you might obtain from the sale.

Worth noting: Although liquid assets (aka cash and cash equivalents) pose very little risk of loss, they also have little or no capacity for growth.

What Investments Are Considered Liquid Assets?

As you can see, the primary advantage of liquid assets is that they can be converted to cash in a short period of time. For example, stock trades must be settled within two days, according to Securities and Exchange Commission rules. Here, you’ll learn more about what are considered liquid assets.

Examples of Liquid Assets

Here are some specifics about what a liquid asset is.

• Money in the bank. Cash in a checking and savings account is a liquid asset.

• Stocks. Stocks are often considered liquid assets because they can be converted into cash when you sell them. Keep in mind, though, that the most liquid stocks might be the ones that many people want to buy and sell. You may have a more difficult time liquidating stocks that are in lower demand.

• U.S. Treasuries and bonds. These instruments are relatively easy to buy and sell, and these processes are usually done in high volume. They have a wide range of maturity dates, which helps you to figure out when you want to liquidate them. Because U.S. Treasuries are often considered relatively safe and dependable, the interest rates are somewhat lower and could be a good fit for investors who are looking to mitigate risk.

• Mutual funds. Mutual funds are pooled investment vehicles that hold a diversified basket of stocks, bonds, or other investments.

◦ Open-end mutual funds are considered more liquid than closed-end funds because they have no limit on the number of shares they can generate. Also, investors can sell their shares back to the fund at any time.

◦ Closed-end mutual funds, on the other hand, are less common. These funds raise capital from investors via an IPO; after that, the number of shares are fixed, and no new shares are created. Instead, closed-end funds shares can only be bought and sold on an exchange, and thus are considered less liquid than open-end fund shares because they’re more subject to market demand.

• Exchange-traded funds and index funds. Like mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and index funds allow individuals to invest in a diversified basket of investments. ETFs are traded like stocks, throughout the day on the open market, which makes them somewhat more liquid than index funds, which only trade at the end of the day.

• Money market assets. There are two main types of money market assets:

◦ A money market fund is a type of mutual fund that invests in high-quality short-term debt, cash, and cash equivalents. It’s considered low-risk and offers low yields. It is therefore thought of as a relatively safe vs. risky investment. You can cash in your chips at any time, making money-market funds a liquid investment.

◦ Money market funds are different from money market accounts, which are a type of savings account that’s insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

• Certificates of deposit. If you have money in a certificate of deposit or CD, this might be considered semi-liquid because your money isn’t available until the official withdrawal date. You can withdraw money if you need it, but if you’re doing so before the maturity date, you’ll likely pay a penalty.

What Assets Are Considered Non-Liquid?

There are, of course, many assets that are not easy to liquidate quickly. These assets typically take a relatively long time to sell or for the deal to close. You’ll get your money, but most likely not right away, and there may be time or costs associated with the conversion to cash that could impact the final amount. That’s why assets like these are considered illiquid or non-liquid assets.

Examples of Non-Liquid Assets

• Collectibles. Items like jewelry and artwork, as well as hobby collections like stamps and baseball cards, may be hard to value and difficult to sell.

• Employee stock options. While employee stock options can be a valuable form of compensation, they may also be highly non-liquid. That’s because employees must typically remain with a company for years before their options vest, they exercise them, and they finally own the stock.

• Land and real estate. These investments often require negotiation and contracts that can tie up real estate transactions for weeks, if not months.

• Private equity. There are often strict restrictions about when you can sell shares if you’ve invested in private equity assets such as venture capital funds.

Liquid Assets in Business

If you’re running a business, accounts receivable — the money you’re owed from clients — are often considered to be a liquid asset, because you can typically expect to be paid within one or two months of billing.

Any inventory you have on hand, such as office furniture or a product you’re selling, can also be considered liquid, because you could sell them for cash if need be. The liquid assets on your company balance sheet usually list cash first, followed by other assets that are considered liquid, in order of liquidity.

Having more liquid assets is desirable because it indicates that a company can pay off debt more easily. When businesses need to determine how cash liquid they are, they often look at the amount of their net liquid assets. When all current debts and liabilities are paid off, whatever remains is considered their liquid assets.

Are Retirement Accounts like IRAs and 401(k)s Liquid Assets?

Retirement accounts, such as individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and 401(k)s are not really liquid until you’ve reached age 59 ½. Withdraw funds from your account before then, and you may face taxes and a 10% early withdrawal penalty.

What’s more, you can hold a variety of assets inside retirement accounts. For example, if you hold a money market fund inside your IRA, that is a liquid asset. But you could also hold real estate, which very much isn’t.

Reasons Why Liquid Assets Matter

Other than the most obvious reason, which is that cash gives you a great deal of flexibility and can be essential in a crisis, liquid assets serve a number of purposes.

• Calculating net worth: To calculate your net worth, subtract your liabilities (your debt) from your assets (what you own, which can include your liquid assets).

• Applying for loans: Lenders might look at your liquid assets when you apply for a mortgage, car loan, or home equity loan. If your liquid assets are high, you may get better terms or lower interest rates on your loans. Lenders want to know that if you were to lose your job and/or your income, you would be able to continue to pay back the loan using your liquid assets.

• Business interests: Having liquid assets on your balance sheet is a signal that your business is prepared for an emergency or a market shift that could require a cash infusion.

Are All Liquid Assets Taxable?

While income is money you earn or receive, an asset is something of value you possess that can be converted to cash at some point in the future. While owning an asset doesn’t make it taxable, converting it to actual cash would, in most cases.

The IRS, or Internal Revenue Service, has many rules around how the proceeds from the sale of assets can be taxed.

The IRS considers taxable income to include gains from stocks, interest from bonds, dividends, alimony, and more. Gains on the sale of a home might be taxed, depending on the amount of the gain and marital status. If you aren’t sure whether income from the sale of an asset is taxable, it might be wise to consult a tax professional.

Is It Smart to Keep Cashing In Liquid Assets?

The point of maintaining a portion of your assets in liquid investments is partly for flexibility and also for diversification. The more access to cash you have, the more prepared you are to navigate a sudden change in circumstances, whether an emergency expense or an investment opportunity.

Having a portion of your portfolio in cash or cash equivalents can also be a hedge against volatility.

Thus, it may be worth keeping a mix of both liquid and non-liquid assets to help you reach your short-term financial goals as well as longer-term ones. And while cashing in liquid assets might be necessary, it’s also prudent to keep some cash on hand in case you need it. You may want to focus on gathering at least three to six months’ worth of expenses in the form of liquid assets as an emergency fund.

How Liquid Are You?

To figure out how liquid you are, make a list of all your monthly expenses, from rent/mortgage on down, including even your streaming service subscription. Then, make a list of all your liquid assets and investments (being careful to pay attention to the definition of liquid assets vs. illiquid assets, as it can be confusing).

Then, total all your monthly expenses, and compare that sum to the liquid assets in your possession.

Does your total savings cover six months’ worth of monthly expenses? If so, congrats! If not, you’re not very liquid. Don’t despair, though. There are ways to build up more liquidity by growing your emergency fund.

Where to Start Building Liquid Assets

As you start to build your liquid assets, first consider saving a cash cushion in the form of an emergency fund, which should be enough to cover any unexpected expenses that might come along.

Envision what you might need in the event of a crisis (e.g., a job loss, divorce, health event, and so on). In terms of how much to save in an emergency fund, aim to accumulate three to six months’ worth of expenses to cover basic bills, repairs, insurance premiums and copays, as well as any other personal or medical expenses.

One good way to build liquidity is to set money aside every week or month. Or you might have a set savings amount auto-deducted from each paycheck. You could keep the funds in a high-yield savings account to help them grow.

From there, you may consider opening a retirement account or a taxable brokerage account where you can invest in potentially more lucrative (but risky) liquid investments, such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs.

The Takeaway

Liquid assets are assets that can be converted into cash relatively easily — typically with little or no loss in value. Liquid assets can include cash in a checking or savings account, money market accounts, or marketable securities like stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs.

Liquid investments can play a surprisingly important role in your financial wellbeing. Having ready access to cash can help you pay off debt, cover a crisis, or be able to invest in new opportunities.

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FAQ

What’s the definition of a liquid asset?

A liquid asset is an asset that is readily converted into cash, such as money in the bank, stocks, or a certificate of deposit (although you might owe a penalty when you liquidate it).

What does non-liquid asset mean?

Non-liquid assets are resources that can’t be quickly converted to cash, such as real estate, employee stock options, or collectibles (such as artwork or jewelry) that would have to be sold, which can take time and the price may fluctuate.

Is a 401(k) considered a liquid asset?

Retirement accounts, such as a 401(k) are not really considered liquid until you are over the age of 59 ½. Before that age, you would face a 10% early withdrawal penalty, as well as taxes, meaning you would take a loss on the value.

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Aug

2024

What Is Dividend Yield?

By AJ Smith | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing, Terminology | Comments Off

Dividend yield concerns how much an investor realizes from their investments over the course of a year as a result of dividends. Dividends, which are payouts to investors as a share of a company’s overall profit, can help investors generate bigger returns, and some investors even formulate entire strategies around maximizing dividends.

But it’s important to have a good understanding of dividends, dividend yields, and other related concepts before going too far into the weeds.

Key Points

• Dividend yield represents the annual dividend paid to shareholders relative to the stock price, expressed as a percentage, which helps investors assess potential returns.

• Investors can calculate dividend yield by dividing the annual dividend per share by the stock’s current price, providing insight into a company’s attractiveness as an investment.

• A higher dividend yield may signal an established company, but it can also indicate slower growth or potential financial troubles, requiring careful evaluation.

• Considering the history of dividend growth and the dividend payout ratio can provide additional insights into a company’s financial health and dividend sustainability.

• Understanding the difference between dividend yield and dividend rate is essential, as dividend yield is a ratio while dividend rate is expressed in dollar amounts.

What Is Dividend Yield?

A stock’s dividend yield is how much the company annually pays out in dividends to shareholders, relative to its stock price. The dividend yield is a financial ratio (dividend/price) expressed as a percentage, and is distinct from the dividend itself.

Dividend payments are expressed as a dollar amount, and supplement the return a stock produces over the course of a year. For an investor interested in total return, learning how to calculate dividend yield for different companies can help to decide which company may be a better investment.

But bear in mind that a stock’s dividend yield will tend to fluctuate because it’s based on the stock’s price, which rises and falls. That’s why a higher dividend yield may not be a sign of better value.

How Does Dividend Yield Differ From Dividends?

It’s important to really drive home the difference between dividend yield and dividends in general.

Dividends are a portion of a company’s earnings paid to investors and expressed as a dollar amount. Dividends are typically paid out each quarter (although semi-annual and monthly payouts are common). Not all companies pay dividends.

Dividend yield, on the other hand, refers to a stock’s annual dividend payments divided by the stock’s current price, and expressed as a percentage. Dividend yield is one way of assessing a company’s earning potential.

How to Calculate Dividend Yield

Calculating the dividend yield of an investment is useful for investors who want to compare companies and the dividends they pay. For investors looking for investments to help supplement their cash flow, or even to possibly live off dividend income, a higher dividend yield on a stock would be more attractive than a lower one.

What Is the Dividend Yield Formula?

The dividend yield formula is more of a basic calculation than a formula: Dividend yield is calculated by taking the annual dividend paid per share, and dividing it by the stock’s current price:

Annual dividend / stock price = Dividend yield (%)

How to Calculate Annual Dividends

Investors can calculate the annual dividend of a given company by looking at its annual report, or its quarterly report, finding the dividend payout per quarter, and multiplying that number by four. For a stock with fluctuating dividend payments, it may make sense to take the four most recent quarterly dividends to arrive at the trailing annual dividend.

It’s important to consider how often dividends are paid out. If dividends are paid monthly vs. quarterly, you want to add up the last 12 months of dividends.

This is especially important because some companies pay uneven dividends, with the higher payouts toward the end of the year, for example. So you wouldn’t want to simply add up the last few dividend payments without checking to make sure the total represents an accurate annual dividend amount.

Example of Dividend Yield

If Company A’s stock trades at $70 today, and the company’s annual dividend is $2 per share, the dividend yield is 2.85% ($2 / $70 = 0.0285).

Compare that to Company B, which is trading at $40, also with an annual dividend of $2 per share. The dividend yield of Company B would be 5% ($2 / $40 = 0.05).

In theory, the higher yield of Company B may look more appealing. But investors can’t determine a stock’s worth by yield alone.

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Dividend Yield: Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Can help with company valuation.	Dividend yield can indicate a more established, but slower-growing company.
May indicate how much income investors can expect.	Higher yield may mask deeper problems.
	Yield doesn’t tell investors the type of dividend (ordinary vs. qualified), which can impact taxes.

For investors, there are some advantages and disadvantages to using dividend yield as a metric that helps inform investment choices.

Pros

• From a valuation perspective, dividend yield can be a useful point of comparison. If a company’s dividend yield is substantially different from its industry peers, or from the company’s own typical levels, that can be an indicator of whether the company is trading at the right valuation.

• For many investors, the primary reason to invest in dividend stocks is for income. In that respect, dividend yield can be an important metric. But dividend yield can change as the underlying stock price changes. So when using dividend yield as a way to evaluate income, it’s important to be aware of company fundamentals that provide assurance as to company stability and consistency of the dividend payout.

Cons

• Sometimes a higher dividend yield can indicate slower growth. Companies with higher dividends are often larger, more established businesses. But that could also mean that dividend-generous companies are not growing very quickly because they’re not reinvesting their earnings.

Smaller companies with aggressive growth targets are less likely to offer dividends, but rather spend their excess capital on expansion. Thus, investors focused solely on dividend income could miss out on some faster-growing opportunities.

• A high dividend yield could indicate a troubled company. Because of how dividend yield is calculated, the yield is higher as the stock price falls, so it’s important to evaluate whether there has been a downward price trend. Often, when a company is in trouble, one of the first things it is likely to reduce or eliminate is that dividend.

• Investors need to look beyond yield to the type of dividend they might get. An investor might be getting high dividend payouts, but if they’re ordinary dividends vs. qualified dividends they’ll be taxed at a higher rate. Ordinary dividends are taxed as income; qualified dividends are taxed at the lower capital gains rate, which typically ranges from 0% to 20%. If you have tax questions about your investments, be sure to consult with a tax professional.

The Difference Between Dividend Yield and Dividend Rate

As noted earlier, a dividend is a way for a company to distribute some of its earnings among shareholders. Dividends can be paid monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or even annually (although quarterly payouts tend to be common in the U.S.). Dividends are expressed as dollar amounts. The dividend rate is the annual amount of the company’s dividend per share.

A company that pays $1 per share, quarterly, has an annual dividend rate of $4 per share.

The difference between this straight-up dollar amount and a company’s dividend yield is that the latter is a ratio. The dividend yield is the company’s annual dividend divided by the current stock price, and expressed as a percentage.

What Is a Good Dividend Yield?

dividend yield of sp500 vs dividend aristocrats

Two companies with the same high yields are not created equally. While dividend yield is an important number for investors to know when determining the annual cash flow they can expect from their investments, there are deeper indicators that investors may want to investigate to see if a dividend-paying stock will continue to pay in the future.

A History of Dividend Growth

When researching dividend stocks, one place to start is by asking if the stock has a history of dividend growth. A regularly increasing dividend is an indication of earnings growth and typically a good indicator of a company’s overall financial health.

The Dividend Aristocracy

There is a group of S&P 500 stocks called Dividend Aristocrats, which have increased the dividends they pay for at least 25 consecutive years. Every year the list changes, as companies raise and lower their dividends.

Currently, there are 65 companies that meet the basic criteria of increasing their dividend for a quarter century straight. They include big names in energy, industrial production, real estate, defense contractors, and more. For investors looking for steady dividends, this list may be a good place to start.

Dividend Payout Ratio (DPR)

Investors can calculate the dividend payout ratio by dividing the total dividends paid in a year by the company’s net income. By looking at this ratio over a period of years, investors can learn to differentiate among the dividend stocks in their portfolios.

A company with a relatively low DPR is paying dividends, while still investing heavily in the growth of its business. If a company’s DPR is rising, that’s a sign the company’s leadership likely sees more value in rewarding shareholders than in expanding. If its DPR is shrinking, it’s a sign that management sees an abundance of new opportunities abounding. In extreme cases, where a company’s DPR is 100% or higher, it’s unlikely that the company will be around for much longer.

Other Indicators of Company Health

Other factors to consider include the company’s debt load, credit rating, and the cash it keeps on hand to manage unexpected shocks. And as with every equity investment, it’s important to look at the company’s competitive position in its sector, the growth prospects of that sector as a whole, and how it fits into an investor’s overall plan. Those factors will ultimately determine the company’s ability to continue paying its dividend.

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The Takeaway

Dividend yield is a simple calculation: You divide the annual dividend paid per share by the stock’s current price. Dividend yield is expressed as a percentage, versus the dividend (or dividend rate) which is given as a dollar amount. The dividend yield formula can be a valuable tool for investors, and not just ones who are seeking cash flow from their investments.

Dividend yield can help assess a company’s valuation relative to its peers, but there are other factors to consider when researching stocks that pay out dividends. A history of dividend growth and a good dividend payout ratio (DPR), as well as the company’s debt load, cash on hand, and credit rating can help form an overall picture of a company’s health and probability of paying out higher dividends in the future.

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Aug

2024

Guide to Bank Account Balances

By Jacqueline DeMarco | money, Terminology | Comments Off

When you open your banking app or log into your account online, one of the first things you’ll see is your account balance. This reflects the amount of money in your savings or checking account that is available to spend. However, the balance shown may not factor in transactions you’ve authorized but have not yet been processed for payment, such as any outstanding checks or upcoming recurring payments.

Knowing how to read and interpret your bank account balance can help you avoid overdrafts, manage your spending, and make informed financial decisions. Here’s what you need to know about the balance in your bank account.

What Is a Bank Account Balance?

By definition, a bank account balance is the amount of funds you have available in a given financial account, such as a checking account. It represents the amount available after credits have been added and debits have been subtracted.

Your account balance can fluctuate from day to day as transactions are processed, such as deposits, withdrawals, cashed checks, and electronic payments. Checks you’ve written but have not yet been cashed and upcoming automatic payments and direct deposits aren’t generally reflected in your available balance, so you’ll need to keep that in mind when budgeting.

Bank statements will typically provide two account balances: your “starting balance,” which is how much was in the account at the beginning of the statement period; and your “ending balance,” which is how much was in your account as of the end of the statement period, after all credits and debits were calculated.

Understanding Your Bank Account Balance

Understanding how bank account balances work, and which transactions are factored into your balance, can help prevent you from running into issues like overdrafting your account or dipping below your bank’s required minimum balance to avoid monthly maintenance fees.

Pending Charges

Pending charges are transactions that have been authorized but not yet fully processed by the bank. A bank will temporarily hold funds in your account for these charges and reduce your available balance to prevent those funds from being otherwise spent. Common pending charges include debit card purchases, ATM withdrawals, and online bill payments. While these transactions have not yet been deducted from your account, they are still considered when calculating your available balance.

For example, let’s say you have $1,000 in your account and you make a $100 purchase with your debit card. Depending on the business that charged your account, there may be a delay in their banking system connecting with yours. In this case, your bank will factor that charge into your overall account balance, and will mark the payment as “pending” or “processing,” and give you an available balance of $900.

What Happens if Your Bank Account Balance Is Negative?

If you spend more money than you have in your bank account, you can end up with a negative account balance. This can happen if an automated payment goes through and you don’t have sufficient funds to cover it or you get hit with an unexpected bank fee. A negative balance can lead to several consequences:

• Overdraft fees: If you’ve opted into overdraft coverage, your bank may cover a transaction that overdrafts your account then charge you an overdraft fee. They may charge this fee for each transaction that causes a negative balance or only one overdraft fee per day.

• Nonsufficient (NSF) fees: If you don’t have overdraft coverage and a check or electronic payment is returned due to insufficient funds, your bank may charge you a nonsufficient funds (NSF) fee.

• Account closure: Repeatedly overdrawing your account can lead to your bank closing your account.

• Difficulty opening a bank account in the future: Information about your banking activity does not typically appear in credit reports from consumer credit bureaus or impact your credit scores. However, if ChexSystems, a reporting bureau for the banking industry, has a record on file reflecting negative account balances and an involuntary closure, it could make it more difficult to open a new bank account in the future.

Balancing a Checking Account

Balancing a checking account, also known as reconciling your account, involves comparing the transactions in your own records (such as a check register, accounting software, or personal finance app) to the ones on your bank statement to make sure the balances line up, and if they don’t, finding out why. Here’s how to do it.

• Gather records: Collect your bank statement, check register, and any receipts or transaction records.

• Compare transactions: Match each transaction in your check register (or other records) with those on your bank statement. Check off each item as you go.

• Identify discrepancies: Note any transactions that don’t match or are missing and investigate them further. Be sure to account for any checks or payments that may not have cleared yet.

• Contact your bank: If you find any unauthorized or incorrect transactions, contact your bank immediately to report the issue.

• Update your records: Adjust your check register or other records for any interest earned, fees, or other transactions not previously recorded.

Account Balance vs Available Credit on a Credit Card

With your credit card, your account balance means something different. It represents the total amount of money you owe to the credit card issuer at a given time. This includes all purchases, interest charges, fees, and any other transactions that have been posted to your account.

Your available credit refers to the amount of unused credit you have left on your credit card. It is calculated by subtracting your current account balance from your total credit limit. For example, if your credit limit is $5,000 and your account balance is $1,000, your available credit would be $4,000. Available credit indicates how much more you can spend on your card before reaching your credit limit.

Where to Check Your Bank Account Balance

Checking your bank account balance regularly helps you stay informed about your financial status, make key budgeting decisions, and avoid overdrafts. Here are some easy ways to do it.

• Online banking: Once you set up online banking, you can log in anytime to view your account balance, recent transactions, and other account details.

• Mobile app: If you download your bank’s mobile app, you’ll be able to get an up-to-date view of your account balance and recent transactions on the go.

• ATM: You can check your account balance at an ATM by inserting your ATM or debit card, entering your personal identification number (PIN), and selecting “balance inquiry” or something similar. You’ll see your account balance, along with any recent transactions.

• Text alert: Some banks also offer low-balance alerts via text or email to keep you informed if your account dips below a certain threshold.

• Over the phone: You can call the phone number listed on your debit/ATM card, then follow the prompts to check your account balance.

• Bank statement: Whether you get paper statements or e-statements, you can use them to see your account balance as of the end of the statement period.

• At a branch: You can also check your account balance in person with a teller. You’ll likely need to provide your debit/ATM card or account number and a photo ID to get your balance information.

The Takeaway

A bank account balance is the total amount of money available in your financial account after debits and credits have been calculated. Keeping tabs on your account balance and regularly reconciling your account can help you monitor your spending, avoid overdrafting fees, and maintain good financial health.

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FAQ

How do I check the balance on my bank account?

You can check your bank account balance by logging in to your bank’s online banking platform or mobile app, using an ATM with your ATM or debit card, calling your bank’s customer service number, or visiting a branch.

Does the “balance” mean I owe money?

With bank accounts, the “balance” typically refers to the amount of money you have available in the account, not what you owe. A positive balance means you have funds in your account, while a negative balance indicates you’ve overdrawn your account.

With credit accounts, such as credit cards, the “balance” refers to the amount you owe your lender.

What happens if my bank account balance is zero?

If your bank account balance is zero, you won’t have funds available for transactions. Any attempted withdrawals or payments may be declined or if you have overdraft coverage, they may go through but result in overdraft fees.

It’s important to monitor your account regularly to avoid a zero balance and ensure you have sufficient funds to cover your expenses. Some banks may also close accounts that remain at zero balance for an extended period.

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As an alternative to direct deposit, SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant. SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits are not eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

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Jul

2024

How Do Federal Reserve Banks Get Funded?

By Janet Siroto | money, Terminology | No Comments

The Federal Reserve, the country’s central bank, is self-funded: It mostly gets its operations covered via interest from securities that it owns as part of the Fed’s open market operations (OMO).

That said, the funding goes towards making sure these banks do their important work. This includes making sure the U.S. economy runs smoothly and serves the public interest. The Fed also manages short-term interest rates, which in turn affects the availability of credit and eventually things like consumer spending, investment, employment, and inflation.

The bank’s goals with these actions is to promote maximum employment, keep prices stable, and keep long-term interest rates moderate.

Who Owns the Federal Reserve Bank?

Even though parts of the Federal Reserve are structured like a private bank, the Fed is not owned by anyone. Congress created the Federal Reserve in 1913, and it remains an independent government agency. However, the board that oversees it — which is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate — still reports to Congress today.

Its leaders are required to testify in Congress and submit a lengthy report on its plans twice a year. The Federal Reserve actually consists of 12 Reserve Banks spread across different regions of the U.S. Although each one has a board of directors and is incorporated, it’s not actually a private entity and the banks aren’t in business to make a profit.

How Does the Federal Reserve Make Money?

The Federal Reserve does not “make” money exactly, in that it doesn’t print money — that’s the Treasury Department’s job. But it does serve as a bank for other banks and government agencies, allowing them to open accounts to hold their reserves, take out loans, issue government securities, and take other actions.

When it comes to other banks, the Fed is there to lend to them in case they have problems getting funding, either because of unexpected fluctuations in their loans and deposits or due to extreme events, such as the COVID-19 crisis.

The Fed lends at a higher rate than the market in order to ensure that it’s used as a last resort. The Federal Reserve does not lend money or provide bank accounts for individuals, as retail banks do.

In other words, your checking and savings accounts won’t be held at a Federal Reserve Bank.

While the Federal Reserve does not actually print money, it does put in orders with the U.S. Treasury for “Federal Reserve notes” based on the demand it expects both domestically and internationally.

Here’s more detail on how the Fed works and keeps our economy humming along.

Fractional Reserve Banking and the Money Multiplier

Fractional reserve banking describes the system in which only a fraction of the money on deposit is actually held as cash and available for withdrawals by customers. Here are a few aspects of this system to note:

• The Federal Reserve wants to ensure that banks keep enough money on hand so that when customers come in seeking cash, they aren’t turned away. To accomplish this, the Fed sets a reserve requirement (often 10% of all deposits) that banks must keep available. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this was lowered to 0% in an effort to stimulate the economy.

• The Fed buys treasuries to help create monetary reserves. It sends the funds to banks so they can make loans with it, up to that reserve requirement limit mentioned above.

• Another aspect of fractional reserve banking is what is known as the money multiplier. Financial analysts use a money multiplier equation to calculate the impact of the funds kept on reserve on the economy in general. It estimates how much money is created in the economy by the reserve system.

Here’s how the calculation looks: The amount on deposit is multiplied by one divided by the reserve requirement. So if a bank had $100 million on deposit, you would multiply that by one divided by 10% to get $1 billion. That $1 billion represents money potentially created by lending out the 90% not kept on reserve at the bank.

The Credit Market Funnel

Another way of looking at the Federal Reserve’s role in our nation’s economy is the credit market funnel, meaning that the Fed funnels funds to businesses to grow the economy. Say the U.S. Treasury printed $20 billion in new bills, and the Fed credited $80 billion in liquid accounts. You might think the American economy got an infusion of $100 billion. But it’s actually much more than that. Credit markets act as a funnel in terms of distributing funds. As new loans are issued, more money is created. That $100 billion could trigger a tenfold monetary increase to $1 trillion.

Determining the Money Supply

Here’s another facet of what the Federal Reserve does: It considers whether our country’s money supply should be boosted. This can impact the state of the American economy. A larger money supply can lower interest rates and get more cash to consumers, which typically stimulates spending. If the Fed does feel that the money supply needs to be increased, it will typically augment bank reserves. It might purchase Treasury bonds and distribute those to banks’ reserve funds. The banks can then use some of those funds for loans and other activities.

Money Creation Mechanism

As you’ve learned, the Federal Reserve plays a vital role in determining how and when to influence the money supply in the U.S. economy. It often boils down to the Fed buying securities and putting them in the reserves of commercial banks. Those banks can then augment the amount of money in circulation by lending funds to both businesses and consumers.

How Is the Federal Reserve Funded?

So where does the Fed get its money? Unlike other government agencies, the Federal Reserve doesn’t get its money from Congress as part of the usual budget process.

Instead, Federal Reserve funding comes mainly through interest on government securities that it bought on the open market.

These primarily include U.S. Treasury securities, mortgage-backed securities, and government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) securities.

How much money does the Federal Reserve have? As of May 2024, the Fed had nearly $7.4 trillion in assets on its balance sheet. Those have grown significantly compared to 2007 (before the financial crisis hit), when the Fed had just around $870 billion in assets.

The reason for this has to do with the Fed’s response to the Great Recession and the COVID-19 crisis, among other factors. But remember how the Federal Reserve isn’t in it for the profit? Once it pays its own overhead, the rest of its earnings go right into the country’s coffers in the U.S. Treasury.

How the Fed Affects Interest Rates

In its attempts to steer the ship of the U.S. economy on a solid course, one of the main things the Fed does is influence interest rates. The Fed can either raise or lower the federal funds rate, which is the rate at which financial institutions that hold deposits can borrow and lend funds they keep at Federal Reserve banks from each other.

The Federal Open Market Committee, which is made up of some members of the Fed’s Board of Governors and others, meets multiple times a year to determine what they want the federal fund rates to be.

These decisions then influence other longer-term interest rates, such as those on savings accounts, mortgages, and loans.

The Fed often cuts interest rates to energize the economy by making it less expensive for businesses and consumers to borrow money. It raises rates when inflation seems too high, as was the case a couple of years ago.

The rate had been cut to the 0.00% to 0.25% rate in March of 2020 due to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and its expected economic impacts. However, by September of 2022, with inflation surging to 40-year highs, the rate was raised to the 3.00% to 3.25% range. As of July 2024, the Fed’s interest rate is 5.25% to 5.50%, which is far below its peak of 20% in December 1980, when the Fed was reacting to runaway inflation.

The Takeaway

Understanding the role of the Federal Reserve in our economy and how it is funded can help explain how the Fed balances our money reserves, controls inflation, and stimulates the economy’s growth. Especially in the current economic climate, knowing how the Federal Reserve works can enhance your financial literacy. This in turn can help you better manage your own money.

Another way to boost your money management skills: Bank smarter with SoFi.

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FAQ

How does the Federal Reserve obtain money?

The Fed makes money mainly through interest on government securities — such as U.S. Treasury securities, mortgage-backed securities, and government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) securities — that it bought on the open market.

Who gives money to the Federal Reserve?

The Federal Reserve isn’t given money; it finances its operations via the interest made on the securities it owns.

Is the Federal Reserve self-funded?

Yes, the Federal Reserve is self-funded. It doesn’t get money via Congress but through the interest earned on the government securities that it buys.

Does the Federal Reserve print money out of thin air?

While the Federal Reserve has the power to print money, there’s a delicate balance at work. If the Fed just ordered the Treasury Department’s Bureau of Engraving and Printing to print more money without a commensurate increase in economic activity, it could trigger inflationary growth, which isn’t desirable.

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Jul

2024

What Is Stagflation & Will It Happen Again?

By Michael Flannelly | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing, Terminology | Comments Off

Stagflation is an economic term that is actually a combination of the words stagnation and inflation — and describes an economy that is both stagnant, and experiencing inflation. For investors, it’s worth being aware of what it means, because of the threat it poses to economies and markets.

Stagflation creates potentially disastrous conditions where people experiencing a decline in purchasing power also feel discouraged against investing. It can create a chain reaction of wealth-destroying events where unemployment climbs and economic output slows, contributing to a national economic malaise.

What Is Stagflation?

Stagflation is a term used to describe a situation when the economy is growing slowly (stagnation) and prices rise rapidly (inflation).

The term was coined by British Conservative Party politician Iain Norman Macleod in a 1965 speech to Parliament. At the time, the United Kingdom was in the midst of simultaneous high inflation and unemployment. In the speech to Parliament, Macleod said, “We now have the worst of both worlds – not just inflation on the one side or stagnation on the other, but both of them together. We have a sort of ‘stagflation’ situation and history in modern terms is indeed being made.”

Usually, economists and analysts will use the unemployment rate as a proxy for economic activity when discussing stagflation. So, a period of stagflation is when unemployment rises while inflation — as measured by the consumer price index (CPI) — accelerates above normally acceptable levels of price growth.

However, like many economic concepts, there is no standard definition of stagflation. Policymakers, elected officials, and investors will use the term stagflation in various economic scenarios.

Stagflation vs Inflation

Inflation is a general increase in the average prices of goods and services. In contrast, stagflation is a combination of stagnant economic growth and rising inflation.

Low levels of inflation are normal for an economy; there’s a reason why movie theater tickets cost more today than they did in the 1950s. Inflation doesn’t become an issue until prices get out of control and spiral upwards. Policymakers within the Federal Reserve like inflation to rise about 2% each year.

You can have inflation without stagflation, but you can’t have stagflation without inflation.

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Has Stagflation Ever Happened?

Before the 1970s, economists didn’t think stagflation — a period of rising unemployment and inflation — was possible. Theoretically, inflation should decrease when unemployment increases because workers have less bargaining power to get higher wages. So, the theory goes, stagflation shouldn’t happen.

However, stagflation did occur in the United States from the mid-1970s. During the 1973-1975 recession, the U.S. experienced five quarters where the gross domestic product (GDP) decreased. Inflation peaked at 12.2% in November 1974, and the unemployment rate rose to 9.0% in May 1975.

This stagflation cycle was part of a larger sequence of events called the Nixon Shock.

Responding to increasing inflation in 1971, President Richard Nixon imposed wage and price controls and surcharges on imports. This created a perfect-storm condition where, when the 1973 oil crisis hit, those surcharges on imports made prices at the gas pump — and across many U.S. industries — skyrocket to then-record prices. The rising prices helped lead to a wage-price spiral, where inflation led to workers asking for higher wages, which led to more inflation, and so on.

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates to combat the inflation of the early-70s, but this only created a recession and high unemployment without tamping down inflation. Thus, a prolonged economic stagnation accompanying inflation occurred — a stagflation situation.

While the economy recovered slightly in the late 1970s, inflation remained a problem for the rest of the decade. Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker eventually hiked interest rates to 20% by 1981, triggering a recession to get inflation under control.

Will Stagflation Happen Again?

There are debates about whether stagflation will or could occur again in the United States. There’s always a chance, but the circumstances need to be just right for it to happen.

Most recently, the economy was in a precarious situation in early 2022, with inflation running high after the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Federal Reserve raising interest rates at a historic pace to combat it. The Fed was trying to curb inflation with the hope of a soft landing, in which an economy slows enough that prices stop rising quickly but not so slowly that it sparks a recession.

As of July 2024, inflation has moderated, and the economy has not slipped into a recession – but things can always change. So, the economy has not, so far, seen widespread stagnation, and inflation has come down – it appears that stagflation has been avoided.

While no one can predict the future, it stands to reason that events that have happened in the past can happen again. Stagflation may occur again, but this doesn’t have to be a dire situation as long as you prepare your financial situation.

How Can Stagflation Impact Investors?

Economic stagnation can have several impacts on investors. Firstly, it can lead to lower returns on investment as companies are less likely to grow and expand in a stagnant economy. This can lead to investors becoming more risk-averse as they seek out investments that are more likely to provide stability and income.

Secondly, stagnation can also lead to higher levels of unemployment, which can, in turn, lead to social unrest and political instability. This can make it more difficult for companies to operate in a given country and lead to investors losing confidence in the economy.

A slowdown of economic activity lasting several months sounds like it can only be a bad thing. But a recession does not necessarily mean the death knell for your finances. For some investors, there are, perhaps surprisingly, compelling strategies to consider when the market is down. Volatility may allow investors to buy low and then make appreciable gains as the market corrects itself.

Recommended: How to Invest During Inflation

The Takeaway

Stagflation occurs when an economy experiences simultaneous high inflation and high unemployment. It’s a situation that often leads to decreased spending by consumers and businesses, which can further stall economic growth and investment returns.

Stagflation has occurred before in the U.S. — notably during the Nixon Shock of the early 1970s — and there is no reason to think it won’t happen again at some point.

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Guide to Bank Account Balances

What Is a Bank Account Balance?

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Understanding Your Bank Account Balance

Pending Charges

What Happens if Your Bank Account Balance Is Negative?

Balancing a Checking Account

Account Balance vs Available Credit on a Credit Card

Where to Check Your Bank Account Balance

The Takeaway

FAQ

How do I check the balance on my bank account?

Does the “balance” mean I owe money?

What happens if my bank account balance is zero?

How Do Federal Reserve Banks Get Funded?

Who Owns the Federal Reserve Bank?

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How Does the Federal Reserve Make Money?

Fractional Reserve Banking and the Money Multiplier

The Credit Market Funnel

Determining the Money Supply

Money Creation Mechanism

How Is the Federal Reserve Funded?

How the Fed Affects Interest Rates

The Takeaway

FAQ

How does the Federal Reserve obtain money?

Who gives money to the Federal Reserve?

Is the Federal Reserve self-funded?

Does the Federal Reserve print money out of thin air?

What Is Stagflation & Will It Happen Again?

What Is Stagflation?

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