Definition

Short for 'finance'—the management and science of handling money, assets, and resources. Whether personal or corporate, it's the art of making numbers go up instead of down.

Example Usage

The startup's fin. situation improved dramatically once they stopped ordering $400 office espresso machines.

Source: Merriam-Webster via Free Dictionary API

Related Terms

Beginner

lending

The practice of letting someone borrow money they probably can't pay back, then being shocked when they don't pay it back. Banks do this professionally and call it 'credit risk management'; friends do it and lose both the money and the friendship.

💰 Finance / Accounting
Intermediate

Fair Value

The price at which an asset would trade in an orderly transaction between willing parties, a theoretical concept that accountants somehow need to calculate. It's what something should be worth in an imaginary perfect market.

💰 Finance / Accounting
Beginner

tax-free

The mythical unicorn of financial transactions: money that the government has graciously decided not to touch. Income or purchases that escape taxation, usually because lawmakers needed to incentivize something or felt charitable that particular legislative session. The two most beautiful words in accounting, often followed by fine print and eligibility requirements.

💰 Finance / Accounting
Intermediate

underwriting

The mystical process where financial institutions assess risk and decide whether to give you money, usually involving algorithms, credit scores, and prayers to the profit gods. Investment banks use it to evaluate securities before offering them to investors, while insurance companies use it to determine if you're worth the gamble. It's essentially professional betting on whether you'll pay your bills or file a claim.

💰 Finance / Accounting
Advanced

Topside Entry

A journal entry made at the corporate level above the normal operational accounting system, often used for adjustments or consolidation. It's headquarters overriding local books, sometimes legitimately, sometimes suspiciously.

💰 Finance / Accounting
Beginner

Income Statement

A financial statement showing revenue, expenses, and profit over a period—the report card executives pray nobody reads closely.

💰 Finance / Accounting

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Beginner

baste

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