Richard James Wilders is Marie and Bernice Gantzert Professor in the Liberal Arts and Sciences and Professor of Mathematics at North Central College in Naperville, IL. He earned his B.S. from Carnegie Mellon University and his M.S. and Ph. D. from The Ohio State University. He has taught the Financial Mathematics course at North Central since creating it some 20 years ago and wrote this book based on his experiences with North Central students. Draft copies of the present work have been used by 100 or so students over the past few years many of whom have made useful suggestions. In addition to Financial Mathematics, Wilders teaches calculus, statistics, finite mathematics, abstract algebra, and the history of mathematics and of science. He is a member of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) and of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM).He and his wife enjoy the Chicago theater and dance scene and are avid Ohio State football fans.