Book excerpt: Communication skills are a competitive advantage for today’s finance professionals. Savvy professionals know that employers want and need employees with excellent relationship building, writing, and presentation skills. The Essential Guide to Business Communication for Finance Professionals asks its readers to adopt the “communicate or die” philosophy in their approach to their careers. Two business professors with years of experience in finance and communication offer advice and tips for approaching some of the most common business communication situations faced by today’s finance professionals. Readers will walk away from this book with tools to manage their professional image and reputation.