Investopedia contributors come from a range of backgrounds, and over 25 years there have been thousands of expert writers and editors who have contributed. Andy Smith is a Certified Financial Planner ...

Discover how to easily calculate the payback period of investments using Excel, a crucial skill for evaluating financial projects and capital budgeting.

When reviewing cash flow data for your small business, knowing the standard deviation can help you determine if the numbers are out of whack. Calculating standard deviation manually can be ...

Imagine investing in a promising project, only to realize years later that it’s taking far longer than expected to recoup your initial outlay. Wouldn’t it have been invaluable to know upfront how long ...

Cash flow is a term you might hear when discussing business, but did you know it pertains to your personal finances, too? Business cash flow refers to incoming and outgoing money in a company, and its ...

Cash flow is a measurement of the money moving in and out of a business. It helps to determine financial health. Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners ...

The basic premise of finance is that money has time value -- a dollar in hand today is worth more than a dollar in the future. The study of finance seeks to make it possible to compare the value of a ...

Perhaps the best picture of a company's current finances, discretionary cash flow refers to the portion of revenue a company has left after all mandatory payments, such as wages, are paid, and all ...

Discretionary cash flow shows remaining funds after all obligations are met. It's calculated by adjusting pre-tax earnings with specific expenses and incomes. Understanding this can help buyers and ...