Managing the Firm’s Investment in Cash and
Marketable Securities
Before proceeding to our discussion of cash management, it will be helpful to distinguish
among several terms. Cash is the currency and coin the firm has on hand in petty cash drawers,
in cash registers, or in checking accounts (demand deposit accounts) at various commercial banks.
Marketable securities, also called near cash or near-cash assets, are security investments that
the firm can quickly convert into cash balances. Generally, firms hold marketable securities with
very short maturity periods—less than 1 year. Together, cash and marketable securities
constitute the most liquid assets of a firm.