It stands for non-financial asset; an asset that has a physical presence and value such as real estate, plant and equipment. By nature, such assets, once acquired and owned by an entity, are not traded on the market (active market) in the same manner financial assets are. The value of non-financial assets is derived from the economic benefits that can be attained by deploying them for an entity’s use. These assets have an economic life that extends beyond the accounting period, subjecting them, mostly, to depreciation testing on an ongoing basis. Non-financial assets (also, tangible assets) may include other types of assets that are not classified as financial assets, including intellectual property, patents, and goodwill.

NFA may also denote other terms including net financial assets, net foreign assets, net fixed assets, etc.