Non-Security: What it is, How it Works, Valuation (2024)

What Is a Non-Security?

A non-security is an alternative investment that is not traded on a public exchange as stocks and bonds are. Assets such as art, rare coins, life insurance, gold, and diamonds all are non-securities.

Non-securities by definition are not liquid assets. That is, they cannot be easily bought or sold on demand as no exchange exists for trading them.

Non-securities also are known as real assets.

Understanding Non-Securities

Individual markets exist for non-securities, ranging from auctions to private listings. However, these are generally specialized sources. Non-securities cannot be purchased on a public exchange such as the NYSE or the NASDAQ.

Key Takeaways

  • Non-securities, also called real assets, are investments that are not available for purchase or sale on public exchanges.
  • They may, however, be a component of an investment that trades publicly, such as an ETF.
  • Diamonds and fine art are examples of non-security investments.

While they do not trade on public market exchanges, they may be components of packaged investment offerings that are traded on public exchanges, such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

High-net-worth investors may have comprehensive portfolios that include valuable non-security assets such as fine art, precious metals, and real estate. Investors may also buy funds that manage portfolios of real assets such as gold. These funds trade on public exchanges.

The SPDR Gold Shares ETF is one example. The portfolio is fully invested in gold bullion. This ETF lowers the barriers for investors who would like to hold gold real assets in their portfolio.

Some personal financial assets such as life insurance could be called non-securities.

However, non-security assets do not themselves undergo an institutionalized process for public trading on exchanges. This makes them highly illiquid investments, in contrast to securities such as stocks, mutual funds, and bonds.

Valuation of Non-Securities

The valuation process for non-securities also differs. Market experts in each type of non-security typically appraise them to estimate their valuations. In some cases, non-securities may require authentication and registrationto support their use and potential sale.

These assets, however, do not require the backing of an underwriter or bank and involve much less documentation and paperwork.

Personal Financial Assets as Non-Securities

Some personal financial assets such as life insurance and annuities could be considered non-securities.

Investors have the option to invest in these non-security assets through an insurance company. Life insurance and annuities are two types of non-security assets that are not publicly traded but rather contractual agreements made with a sponsoring company.

Life insurance and annuities require regular premium payments that help to build out a portfolio that offers a payout in the future. Life insurance plans can be used to provide for dependents following the death of a family member. Annuity plans may also offer provisions for life insurance. However, they are often used as vehicles for retirement savings with consistent annuity payouts scheduled to follow a targeted payout date.

That makes them assets, although they are not securities.

Non-Security: What it is, How it Works, Valuation (2024)

FAQs

Non-Security: What it is, How it Works, Valuation? ›

Key Takeaways. Non-securities, also called real assets, are investments that are not available for purchase or sale on public exchanges

public exchanges
A public exchange is a trading venues open to all interested parties (many sellers and many buyers) that use a common technology platform and that are usually run by third parties or industry consortia.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Public_exchange
. They may, however, be a component of an investment that trades publicly, such as an ETF. Diamonds and fine art are examples of non-security investments.

What are examples of non securities? ›

Some common non-marketable securities examples include shares held in private companies or limited partnerships, savings bonds, and money market deposit accounts (MMDAs). Non-marketable securities are the ones that cannot be bought or sold as they are not traded as often in any secondary markets.

How do you distinguish between security and non-security forms of investment? ›

A Security Investment is freely transferable and salable. It also includes the risk of loss in value. Security investments include mutual funds, stocks, government bonds etc. A Non-Security Investment is a kind of non-marketable security, wherein the ownership cannot be transferred.

What is the difference between securities market and non securities market? ›

The fundamental difference between marketable securities and non-marketable securities is the availability of a secondary market to trade marketable securities. Unlike marketable securities, non-marketable securities do not have an observable market value but have an intrinsic value and a book value.

Is a 401k considered a non-marketable security? ›

As mentioned earlier, bonds can be marketable, such as those issued by publicly traded companies. Marketable securities can also include the mutual funds you have in your 401(k). While these mutual funds may be marketable, the 401(k) is just a type of retirement account and is not a security at all.

Which of the following are not securities? ›

Derivative products are not a security. Security refers to any financial asset that can be traded between two parties in an open market. Company shares, government securities, and fixed deposit receipts are assets that can be given as security. Derivative products are trading instruments.

What is a non listed securities? ›

Unlisted security refers to a financial instrument, such as shares, bonds, or derivatives, that does not trade on a formal, organized exchange like the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq. These instruments derive their name because they do not meet specific listing requirements set forth by these exchanges.

How do you determine if an asset is a security? ›

In its judgment, the court derives the definition of a security based on four criteria—the existence of an investment contract, the formation of a common enterprise, a promise of profits by the issuer, and use of a third party to promote the offering.

What is a non equity security? ›

non-equity security means any security or property which is not (i) common stock; (ii) a security convertible or exchangeable into common stock or participating without limitation in earnings and dividends in parity with common stock; (iii) a warrant or option to purchase common stock; or (iv) listed or admitted to ...

What is the difference between financial and non financial security? ›

Non-financial assets, such as motor vehicles, equipment, and machinery, are valued by looking at their physical and tangible characteristics. On the other hand, financial assets are valued based on their contractual claim, and their value can be easily determined in the financial markets.

What are the four types of securities? ›

There are four main types of security: debt securities, equity securities, derivative securities, and hybrid securities, which are a combination of debt and equity.

What is the market where non listed securities can be traded? ›

Over-the-counter (OTC) market securities are traded without being listed on an exchange. Securities trade OTC through a dealer or broker specializing in OTC markets.

What is non-treasury security? ›

There are lots of non-treasury bonds in the market. Bonds that are guaranteed by the government are not considered as treasuries even they bear the same credit rating as a result of the guarantee. They may still have a very slight spread to treasuries due to reasons other than credit condition.

Are T bills non-marketable securities? ›

The United States Treasury offers five types of Treasury marketable securities: Treasury Bills, Treasury Notes, Treasury Bonds, Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS), and Floating Rate Notes (FRNs).

Why is gold not a security? ›

Unlike shares, bonds and government securities, gold is not a piece of paper whose value depends on the ability of those who issued it.

What are examples of non-marketable wealth? ›

Most non-marketable securities are government-issued debt instruments. Common examples of non-marketable securities include U.S. savings bonds, rural electrification certificates, private shares, state and local government securities, and federal government series bonds.

What are examples of unregistered securities? ›

The most common unregistered offerings to institutions in capital markets include: traditional private placements of debt or equity securities sold to a limited number of institutional investors under Section 4(a)(2) or Regulation D; Rule 144A offerings of eligible debt or equity securities to large institutional ...

What are examples of non reportable securities? ›

Non-Reportable Securities means and includes the following: (i) direct obligations of the Government of the United States; (ii) bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; (iii) shares issued by money market funds; ( ...

What are the examples of non SLR securities? ›

Act, 1949. As the name suggest, investment in Non-SLR bonds cannot be considered eligible for SLR requirement. These include PSU bonds, Corporate bonds and even certain Government securities like Oil Bonds, Food Bonds, Fertilizer Bonds, etc.

Is a 401k a security? ›

Your 401(k), and any other retirement accounts, are financial assets. These are portfolios in which you hold securities and investment products that have either realized or potential value. This makes your 401(k) portfolio an asset in your name as long as you own the account and as long as it has a positive balance.

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