The Finance Brief is intended as a concise overview of key points in the field of finance that business professionals, including employees, managers and students need to know. This short guide complies a wealth of information into an everyday reference with the most up to date figures found in current textbooks and online resources.  Also, providing quick access to definitions of key terms and explanations of fundamental principles supported by instructive examples and clarifying visuals. This overview of finance touches upon major areas: forms of business organization, principles of financial management, financial markets, stocks and bonds, financial statements (including income statement, balance sheet, statement of cash flows, statement of retained earnings), time value of money, financial ratios, risk and return, valuation of an asset, cost of capital, capital budgeting (including six commonly used capital budgeting criteria), and other special topics in the field of finance. Having at your fingertips for quick and easy reference, the numerous real-world examples of accounting and finance formulas as well as sample financial ratios is a major benefit of this Study Brief.  Study Briefs are concise and visual academic outlines that help students and professionals master key concepts quickly and accurately. Don’t spend your valuable time researching on multiple websites, paging through books or investigating reference sources. Our experts have done the research for you! Compiled in one convenient guide, you will find up-to-date and reliable sources presented in a visual and easy to follow format for everyday use. Choose from our ever-growing library of need-to-know topics in the following subject categories: Business, Math, Reference, Science, Language, History and Technology!