- Time value of money is important for financial decisions like capital budgeting, capital structure, and dividends.
- Money has time value because people prefer current consumption to future consumption, money can be reinvested, and inflation decreases future purchasing power.
- Compounding allows money to earn interest on prior interest amounts over time, increasing the future value. Present value calculations discount future cash flows to determine their value today.
- Tables provide compound interest factors to simplify calculations of future and present values for single amounts, series of cash flows, and annuities received or paid periodically.