6 Principles of Finance You Must Know

Financing is the process of collecting funds to invest to ensure proper utilization. Proper financing is required to follow 6 core principles of finance to ensure the maximization of benefits. The person who is responsible for managing the fund is well known as a financial manager. Briefly, finance is the management of funds. Knowledge of how to run your finances is very important not only for your own life but also for your future or existing business. Doing a finance assignment can help you gain insights into economic trends and financial instruments as well as manage your funds effectively. In this article, we will briefly explain the principles of finance.

Principles of Finance

Principles act as a guideline for investment and financing decisions. Financial managers take operating, investment, and financing decisions. Some of this is related to the short term and some long term. The 6 Principles of Finance everyone should Know whether it is for individuals or organizations.

There are six principles of finance you must know

1. The Principle of Risk and Return
2. Time Value of Money Principle
3. Cash Flow Principle
4. The Principle of Profitability and liquidity
5. Principles of diversity and
6. The Hedging Principle of Finance

Risk and Return

The principle of Risk and Return indicates that investors have to be conscious of both risk and return, because the higher the risk higher the rates of return, and the lower the risk, the lower the rates of return. For business financing, we have to compare the return with risk. To ensure optimum rates of return investors need to measure risk and return by both direct measurement and relative measurement.

Time Value of Money

This principle is concerned with the value of money, that value of money is decreased when time passes. The value of $1 of the present time is more than the value of $1 after some time or years. So before investing or taking funds, we have to think about the inflation rate of the economy and the required rate of return must be more than the inflation rate so that the return can compensate for the loss incurred by the inflation.

Cash Flow

The cash flow principle mainly discusses the cash inflow and outflow, more cash inflow in the earlier period is preferable to later cash flow by the investors. This principle also follows the time value principle that’s why it prefers earlier benefits rather than later years benefits.

Profitability and Liquidity

The principle of profitability and liquidity is very important from the investor’s perspective because the investor has to ensure both profitability and liquidity. Liquidity indicates the marketability of the investment i.e. how easy to get cash by selling the investment. On the other hand, investors have to invest in a way that can ensure the maximization of profit with a moderate or lower level of risk. This is best overlooked by a qualified accountant to ensure all tax obligations are met.

Diversity

This principle helps to minimize the risk by building an optimum portfolio. The idea of a portfolio is, never to put all your eggs in the same basket because if it falls then all of your eggs will break, so put eggs separated in different baskets so that your risk can be minimized. To ensure this principle investors have to invest in risk-free investments and some risky investments so that ultimately risk can be lower. Diversification of investment ensures minimization of risk.

Hedging Principles

The hedging principle indicates that we have to take a loan from appropriate sources, for short-term fund requirements we have to finance from short-term sources, and for long-term fund requirements, we have to manage funds from long-term sources. For fixed asset financing is to be done from long-term sources.

Finally, if you have a basic understanding of finance and its principles then you will be able to take financial decisions effectively. And there is a higher possibility to become financially gainer.

Written by
Md. Nahian Mahmud Shaikat
Financial Analyst