How do illiquid assets compare to liquid assets?

Illiquid assets are characterized by their inability to be quickly converted into cash without facing significant costs, typically a reduction in their market value. This contrasts with liquid assets, which can be sold or exchanged swiftly and with less price volatility, often at or near their market value.

For example, real estate, fine art, and collectibles are seen as illiquid because finding a buyer might take time, and if an owner needs to sell quickly, they might have to accept a lower price than their asset's perceived worth. This situation underscores the nature of illiquid assets as they lack the market activity and immediate buyer interest typically present for liquid assets like stocks or cash equivalents.

The other choices reflect misunderstandings about the nature of illiquid assets: converting them readily to cash (option A) misrepresents their characteristics, claiming a higher inherent value (option B) does not define liquidity, and the notion of guaranteed returns (option D) is misleading as all investments carry risk and illiquidity itself does not offer a guarantee.