Finance Glossary
Your cheat sheet for common financial terminology, no jargon.
Assets
Anything you own that has positive economic value and can be converted to cash.
Examples: Cash, Stocks, Real Estate, Business Inventory.
Liabilities
Financial debts or obligations you owe to other parties. Examples: Credit Card Debt,
Mortgages, Student Loans, Car Loans.
Net Worth
The ultimate measure of your financial health. Calculated simply as: Total Assets minus Total
Liabilities.
Emergency Fund
A cash reserve specifically set aside for unplanned expenses or financial emergencies (like medical
bills or job loss). Aim for 3-6 months of living expenses.
Inflation
The general increase in prices over time, which decreases the purchasing power of your money. If
inflation is 5%, your money is worth 5% less than it was last year.
ROI (Return on Investment)
A percentage measuring the profitability of an investment. (Net Profit / Cost of Investment) x
100. It helps you evaluate which investments are actually growing your wealth.