The concepts of opportunity cost and time value of money are integral components in financial decision-making. Opportunity cost is the value that is lost by making a choice. Time value of money is the concept that money has a value now and in the future. Understanding both of these concepts is critical for making sound financial decisions. Put simply, opportunity cost is the monetary value of an alternate choice not taken. Every time someone makes a decision, there are alternate courses of action that are not taken. The cost of not making the other choice ends up being the opportunity cost. For example, if someone chooses to not invest in a particular stock and instead put the funds into a savings account, the opportunity cost of the decision is the potential return from the investment. Time value of money refers to the idea that money’s value changes over time. The value of money now will be different from the value of money in the future. The main reason for the difference in value i...