William Lasher

Teaching Philosophy / Goals

I think of myself as blending practical experience with theoretical knowledge to create a package that students can readily understand and absorb. I came to Nichols after a long career as a financial executive in which I practiced what I now teach every day. That experience allows me to focus on the material that students will really need to know when they enter the workforce while skimming over the less important things that litter the landscape of virtually every field of study. I apply this philosophy or focus in teaching courses in both finance and business law.

 

Interests

My primary interest outside of teaching itself is creating textbooks that will help other professors across the country do exactly what I do in class. That is, present relevant material in a way that students can understand and appreciate. My most successful book is Practical Financial Management, the finance text we use here at Nichols College. It's also used at several hundred other schools nationwide and in Europe, and has been translated into Chinese. Keeping the book, now in its fifth edition, current and up to date in the constantly changing financial world is nearly a full time job!
I've also written The Perfect Business Plan Made Simple, which is a guide to help would-be entrepreneurs put together business plans. A well written business plan is the primary tool used to convince investors to contribute money toward getting a new business off the ground. About 75,000 people have used the book to look into starting or expanding their own businesses.
I'm also an attorney and advise a small number of clients on certain matters of civil law.

Courses I Teach

I teach the following courses in Finance
Principles of Finance
Corporate Finance
Investments
Personal Financial Planning
Problems in finance

And the following courses in Legal Studies:
Business Law I
Business Law II