Final answer:
Financial managers primarily aim to increase profit, as it is the central goal of most businesses. Other metrics like sales and customer satisfaction contribute to achieving this primary objective. Long-term investments are made with the expectation of future profits and are financed through various capital sources.
Step-by-step explanation:
Decisions made by financial managers should primarily focus on increasing profit. This is because the foundational objective of most businesses is to make a profit, which is the difference between the cost to produce a good or service and the price received from selling it. While sales, market share, and customer satisfaction are important, they are often means to the end goal of increasing profit. A firm must consider the future profits when making decisions, such as purchasing machinery, building new plants, or funding research and development, as these actions involve spending capital with the expectation of future revenues. Firms raise the necessary financial capital through means such as early-stage investors, reinvesting profits, borrowing, or selling stock, and the choice of financing can influence company decisions.