Question

Decision #1: Which set of Cash Flows is worth more now?

Assume that your grandmother wants to give you generous gift. She wants you to choose which one of the following sets of cash flows you would like to receive:

Option A: Receive a one-time gift of $ 10,000 today.

Option B: Receive a $1400 gift each year for the next 10 years. The first $1400 would be received 1 year from today.

Option C: Receive a one-time gift of $17,000 10 years from today.

Compute the Present Value of each of these options if you expect the interest rate to be 3% annually for the next 10 years. Which of these options does financial theory suggest you should choose?

1. Option A would be worth $__________ today.

2. Option B would be worth $__________ today.

3. Option C would be worth $__________ today.

4. Financial theory supports choosing Option _______

Compute the Present Value of each of these options if you expect the interest rate to be 6% annually for the next 10 years. Which of these options does financial theory suggest you should choose?

5. Option A would be worth $__________ today.

6. Option B would be worth $__________ today.

7. Option C would be worth $__________ today.

8. Financial theory supports choosing Option _______

Compute the Present Value of each of these options if you expect to be able to earn 9% annually for the next 10 years. Which of these options does financial theory suggest you should choose?

9. Option A would be worth $__________ today.

10. Option B would be worth $__________ today.

11. Option C would be worth $__________ today.

12. Financial theory supports choosing Option _______

Answer 1

Option A: Receive a one-time gift of $ 10,000 today.

Option B: Receive a $1400 gift each year for the next 10 years. The first $1400 would be received 1 year from today.

Option C: Receive a one-time gift of $17,000 10 years from today.

Interest Rate = 3%

PV of Option A = $10,000

PV of Option B = $11,942.28

PV of Option C = 17000/(1.03)¹⁰ = $12,649.60

Financial theory supports choosing Option C as it has highest Present Value.

Interest Rate = 6%

PV of Option A = $10,000

PV of Option B = $10,304.12

PV of Option C = 17000/(1.06)¹⁰ = $9,492.71

Financial theory supports choosing Option B as it has highest Present Value.

Interest Rate = 9%

PV of Option A = $10,000

PV of Option B = $8,984.72

PV of Option C = 17000/(1.09)¹⁰ = $7,180.98

Financial theory supports choosing Option A as it has highest Present Value.