Brooks uses a tools-based approach that presents the key concepts of finance (or "tools") early on in the text, followed by an application of those concepts to various finance problems. By introducing key finance concepts with personal and business-related finance examples, this text helps readers understand how the tools of finance can help them in any career or business situation.

This edition features strengthened material on financial statements, a discussion on yield curves, new and advanced spreadsheet problems, and updated material.