Two Primers on Financial Statements

Balance Sheet. Income Statement. Statement of Cash Flows.

For most non-business people, these are about as easily understood as the Mongolian language (or your average politician).

The Motley Fool has made its name by breaking down financial information for the masses. Theitr latest article, "Cracking the Accounting Code" provides a very nice, relatively jargon-free guide to financial statements. It even describes what on a statement of cash flows.

If you want more information (or another perspective), IBM has put together a series of tutorials for their stockholders. Two that are worth reading are their guide to financial statements and guide to annual reports. -- both are written with the financial novice in mind.