7.2 Time Value of Money (TVM) Basics

3 min readjune 18, 2024

The is a key concept in finance that explains why a dollar today is worth more than a dollar tomorrow. It's the foundation for understanding how investments grow over time and how to compare different financial options.

TVM calculations help us figure out the of investments and make smart financial decisions. We'll learn about , different compounding frequencies, and how to use formulas to calculate future values. This knowledge is crucial for personal finance and business decisions alike.

Time Value of Money (TVM) Basics

Future value in financial decisions

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  • represents the value of a current asset at a specified future date, taking into account the effect of compound interest
  • FV plays a crucial role in financial decision-making by enabling investors and managers to:
    • Project the growth of investments over a given time horizon
    • Evaluate and compare the anticipated returns of various investment opportunities
    • Develop strategies for achieving future financial objectives (retirement planning, major purchases)
  • Comprehending the concept of FV facilitates well-informed decisions regarding investing, saving, and budgeting

Calculation of single payment future value

  • The of a single payment can be determined using the compound interest formula:
    • [FV = PV(1 + r)^n](https://www.fiveableKeyTerm:FV_=_PV(1_+_r)^n)
      • FVFV = Future value
      • PVPV = (initial investment or payment)
      • rr = Annual interest rate (expressed as a decimal)
      • nn = Number of compounding periods
  • To calculate FV, the present value is multiplied by the compound interest factor, (1+r)n(1 + r)^n
  • Example: An investment of 1,000(1,000 (PV)ata5) at a 5% annual interest rate (r)for3years() for 3 years (n$) would yield a future value of:
    • FV=FV = 1,000(1 + 0.05)^3 = 1,157.631,157.63

Impact of compounding frequency

  • indicates how often interest is calculated and added to the principal amount within a year
  • Common compounding frequencies include:
    1. (once per year)
    2. (twice per year)
    3. (four times per year)
    4. (twelve times per year)
    5. (365 times per year)
  • More frequent compounding accelerates the growth of money over time because:
    • Interest is calculated and added to the principal more frequently
    • With each compounding period, interest is earned on the original principal plus the previously accumulated interest
  • To account for different compounding frequencies, the future value formula is modified:
    • FV=PV(1+rm)mnFV = PV(1 + \frac{r}{m})^{mn}
      • mm = Number of compounding periods per year
      • nn = Number of years
  • Example: $1,000 invested at a 5% annual interest rate for 3 years would grow to:
    • $1,157.63 with annual compounding
    • $1,160.75 with quarterly compounding
    • $1,161.83 with monthly compounding

Additional Time Value of Money Concepts

  • : The principle that money available now is worth more than the same amount in the future due to its potential earning capacity
  • : The process of determining the present value of a future cash flow
  • : A series of equal payments or receipts that occur at evenly spaced intervals
  • : An that continues indefinitely
  • Net present value: The difference between the present value of cash inflows and the present value of cash outflows over a period of time

Key Terms to Review (23)

Annual Compounding: Annual compounding refers to the process of calculating interest on an investment or loan where the interest earned is added to the principal amount at the end of each year, and the new, larger principal is used to calculate the interest for the following year. This compounding effect allows the investment or loan to grow exponentially over time.
Annuity: An annuity is a series of equal payments made at regular intervals over a specified period. These payments can be either incoming (received) or outgoing (paid).
Annuity: An annuity is a series of equal payments made at regular intervals, such as monthly, quarterly, or annually, over a specified period of time. It is a financial instrument that provides a stream of income or payments, and it is commonly used in retirement planning, insurance, and investment strategies.
Compound Interest: Compound interest is the interest earned on interest, where the interest accumulated on the principal balance of an investment or loan is added to the principal, and the resulting sum then earns additional interest. This process of earning interest on interest creates exponential growth over time, making compound interest a powerful concept in finance.
Compounding Frequency: Compounding frequency refers to the rate at which interest is calculated and added to the principal amount in an investment or loan. It determines how quickly the value of an investment or the balance of a loan grows over time due to the effects of compound interest.
Constant perpetuity: A constant perpetuity is a financial instrument that pays a fixed amount of money at regular intervals indefinitely. It is valued by discounting the perpetual series of cash flows back to their present value.
Daily Compounding: Daily compounding refers to the process of earning interest on interest, where interest is calculated and added to the principal balance on a daily basis. This concept is crucial in understanding the time value of money and the differences between stated and effective interest rates.
Discounting: Discounting is the process of determining the present value of a future cash flow or payment. It involves adjusting the value of a future amount to account for the time value of money, reflecting the idea that money has a higher value in the present than in the future due to factors such as inflation and opportunity cost.
Financial instrument: A financial instrument is a monetary contract between parties that can be traded and includes assets such as bonds, stocks, or loans. These instruments are crucial for allocating capital and managing risk in financial markets.
Future value: Future value is the amount of money an investment will grow to over a period of time at a given interest rate. It reflects the value of a current asset at a future date based on expected growth.
Future Value: Future value (FV) is the value of an asset or cash flow at a future date, based on a given rate of growth or interest rate. It represents the amount a sum of money will grow to over a certain period of time when compounded at a specific interest rate.
Future value (FV): Future value (FV) is the amount of money an investment will grow to over a period of time at a given interest rate. It reflects the potential growth of money considering compound interest.
FV = PV(1 + r)^n: FV = PV(1 + r)^n is a formula used to calculate the future value (FV) of an investment or asset, given the present value (PV), the interest rate (r), and the number of time periods (n). This formula is a fundamental concept in the time value of money (TVM) principles, which describe how the value of money changes over time due to factors such as interest and inflation.
FV = PV(1 + r/m)^(mn): FV = PV(1 + r/m)^(mn) is a formula used to calculate the future value (FV) of an investment or asset, given the present value (PV), the annual interest rate (r), the number of compounding periods per year (m), and the number of years (n). This formula is a key concept in the study of time value of money, which examines how the value of money changes over time due to factors such as interest, inflation, and opportunity cost.
Monthly Compounding: Monthly compounding refers to the process of calculating interest on a financial instrument, such as a loan or investment, where the interest is compounded or added to the principal on a monthly basis. This contrasts with other compounding periods like daily, quarterly, or annually.
Perpetuity: A perpetuity is an infinite stream of equal cash flows that continues forever. It is a financial concept that describes a situation where a series of payments or cash flows goes on indefinitely without end.
Present Value: Present value is a fundamental concept in finance that refers to the current worth of a future sum of money or stream of cash flows, discounted at an appropriate rate of interest. It is a crucial tool for evaluating the time value of money and making informed financial decisions across various topics in finance.
Present value (PV): Present Value (PV) is the current worth of a future sum of money or stream of cash flows given a specified rate of return. It accounts for the time value of money, ensuring future amounts are discounted to reflect their value today.
Quarterly Compounding: Quarterly compounding refers to the process of calculating interest on a principal amount where the interest is compounded four times per year, or once every quarter. This method of compounding interest more frequently than annually can lead to a higher overall return on the investment compared to simple interest or annual compounding.
Semi-annual Compounding: Semi-annual compounding refers to the process of calculating interest or investment growth where the compounding period is set to occur twice per year, or every six months. This compounding method impacts the overall rate of return and is an important concept within the broader field of Time Value of Money (TVM).
Time Value of Money: The time value of money is a fundamental concept in finance that recognizes the difference in value between a sum of money available today and the same sum available at a future point in time. It is based on the principle that money available at the present time is worth more than the identical sum in the future due to its potential to earn interest or be invested to generate a return.
Time value of money (TVM): Time Value of Money (TVM) is the concept that money available now is worth more than the same amount in the future due to its potential earning capacity. This principle underlines why receiving money today is preferable to receiving it later.
Treasury investments: Treasury investments are financial instruments issued by the government to finance its expenditures, typically considered low-risk assets. They include Treasury bills, notes, and bonds with varying maturities and interest rates.
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