Final answer:
The primary goal of the financial manager is to maximize the value of the firm to its owners, which involves long-term investment strategies and efficient utilization of financial capital.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary goal of the financial manager is to maximize the value of the firm to its owners. This entails making decisions that will increase the firm's worth over the long term, such as investing in new machinery, plants, research and development, which are expected to generate future profits. In order to finance these investments, a firm can utilize various sources such as early-stage investors, reinvesting profits, borrowing, or selling stock. The financial manager must balance these options to optimize the firm's capital structure and ensure that it can fund its operations and growth efficiently while delivering value to shareholders.