Syllabus

UNE Summer Session

BUFI 302: Personal Finance – 6 Weeks

Credits - 3

Description

A survey course providing an overview of the financial skills needed by individuals in managing their financial lives. Topics covered include money management, insurance, retirement planning and estate planning. 

Materials

TEXT

Personal Finance, 13th Edition, Kapoor, Dlabay, Hughes, Hart, McGraw-Hill, Inc., 2020. We will us E-book  , check the homework link below to get access to both HW and the E-Book

SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS

(Readings from The Wall Street Journal, Money, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine, and other personal finance and general business periodicals.)

PERSONAL FINANCE  WEBSITES

For current information, use the following websites:

www.consumer.gov

www.bankrate.com

www.money.com

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money

www.kiplinger.com

www.thebalance.com 

www.fool.com

www.ftc.gov

www.nerdwallet.com

www.mymoney.gov  

http://20somethingfinance.com/

www.wisebread.com

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Course Outcomes

 

An overview of personal and family financial planning with an emphasis on financial recordkeeping, planning your spending, tax planning, consumer credit, making buying decisions, purchasing insurance, selecting investments, and retirement and estate planning.

Units of study:

1.      Financial planning

2.      Career planning

3.      Financial recordkeeping and budgeting

4.      Tax planning

5.      Financial services and institutions

6.      Consumer credit

   7.  Consumer purchasing

   8.  Selecting housing

   9   Purchasing insurance

10   Investment alternatives

11.  Retirement planning

12.  Estate planning

Assignments

Homework using Connect:

 Homework is assigned to help you further process the concepts and develop your critical thinking skills. These assignments are designed to make you think and are more than just plugging numbers into equations. Homework assignments will be done online using the Connect system provided by McGraw–Hill, your textbook publisher. Use the following link to access HW.

 Use this link (Please copy and paste it into your browser)

Exams and E-book using Connect:

 The same link above will give you access to the E-book, which is a choice you will make when you register through the website (they will give you the option to get an E-book ) 

Video Media Library: You will find links in the syllabus that have a media library for each chapter to help you understand the topics of each chapter.

 Video Case Library: You will find links in the syllabus that have a Video Case library to help you understand the overall concepts.

 Necessary: Please use your UNE email address as your login name and password. More than two log names will result in the deletion of one of them and the loss of your work. You must attempt the assignment (even if you had to submit the job without working on it) to get a chance to review the project after it is due, which is very important for your success in class and exam preparation.

  • After the due date, detailed feedback for problems will be provided through

 Course Calendar: Please examine carefully the course calendar and plan accordingly. There is no make-up or change in dates because of the flexibility offered in the online format  the calendar shows you :

  • Topics covered every week
  • HW’s due date
  • Exams due date

Grade Scale

Grade Points Grade Point Average (GPA)
A 94 – 100% 4.00
A- 90 – 93% 3.75
B+ 87 – 89% 3.50
B 84 – 86% 3.00
B- 80 – 83% 2.75
C+ 77 – 79% 2.50
C 74 – 76% 2.00
C- 70 – 73% 1.75
D 64 – 69% 1.00
F 00 – 63% 0.00

Schedule

Week Chapter Topic Week Start Date Week End Date DUE Due Time (Week End Date) Readings
1 1 Personal Finance Basics and the Time Value of Money TBD TBD HW 11.59 Pm  PPT , Excel, and Media
1 2 Financial Aspects of Career Planning TBD TBD HW 11.59 Pm  PPT , Excel, and Media
1 3 Money Management Strategy: Financial Statements and Budgeting TBD TBD HW 11.59 Pm  PPT , Excel, and Media
      TBD TBD      
2 Exam 1 Exam 1 (Ch1-3) TBD TBD Exam 11.59 Pm  Work on Paper
      TBD TBD      
3 4 Planning Your Tax Strategy TBD TBD HW 11.59 Pm  PPT , Excel, and Media
3 5 Financial Services: Savings Plans and Payment Accounts TBD TBD HW 11.59 Pm  PPT , Excel, and Media
4 6 Introduction to Consumer Credit TBD TBD HW 11.59 Pm  PPT , Excel, and Media
4 7 Choosing A Source of Credit: The Costs of Credit Alternatives TBD TBD HW 11.59 Pm  PPT , Excel, and Media
      TBD TBD      
4 Exam 2 Exam 2 (Ch4-7) TBD TBD Exam 11.59 Pm   
      TBD TBD      
5 8 Consumer Purchasing Strategies and Legal Protection TBD TBD HW 11.59 Pm  PPT , Excel, and Media
5 9 The Housing Decision: Factors and Finance TBD TBD HW 11.59 Pm  PPT , Excel, and Media
5 10 Property and Motor Vehicle Insurance TBD TBD HW 11.59 Pm  PPT , Excel, and Media
      TBD TBD      
6 Exam 3 Exam 3 (Ch8-10) TBD TBD Exam 11.59 Pm   
               

Student Resources

Video Media Library

Chapter 1

TVM-Future Value-Annuity

TVM-Future Value-Single Amount

Goal-setting Guidelines

Personal Financial Planning Process

TVM-Present Value-Annuity

TVM-Present Value-Single Amount

The Financial System

Chapter 2

Career Planning Process

Career Trade-Offs

Effective Resumes

Tax-Equivalent Employee Benefits

Chapter 3

Ratios for Evaluating Financial Progress

Where to Keep Personal Financial Records

Creating a Personal Balance Sheet

Budget Variances

 

 

 

 

Chapter 4

Short Term vs. Long Term Capital Gains

Retirement and Education Plans

Tax Credit vs. Tax Deduction

Tax Planning Strategies

Minimum Monthly Payment Trap

Chapter 5

After-Tax Savings Rate of Return & APY

High-Cost Financial Services

Prepaid Debit Cards

Reconciling the Checking Account & APY

Chapter 6

Open-End vs. Closed-end Credit

Debt-to-Equity Ratio

Home Equity Loans

Identity Theft

Chapter 7

APR

Simple Interest

Simple Interest on Declining Method

 

 

 

Chapter 8

Buying vs. Leasing Automobiles

Consumer Complaint Process

Wise Online Buying Activities

Wise Purchasing Strategies

Chapter 9

Closing Costs

Housing Affordability Calculation

Comparing the Cost of Renting and Buying

Types of Mortgages

Chapter 10

Auto Insurance Cost Factors

Home Insurance Cost Factors

Motor Vehicle Bodily Injury

Types of Risks-Peril/Hazard/Pure/Speculative

 

Video Case Media

 
 

Get Your Dream Home

Acing a Phone Interview

Are you Financially Fit?

How to Avoid a Tax Audit

Find a Better Bank

How to Improve Your Credit Score

How to Pay Down Credit Card Debt

Buying Your Car Online – Cheap

Tips for Buying Your First Home

Home Inventory

Don’t Take Away My Medicare

There’s No Free Life Insurance

How to Start Investing

Is Stock Picking a Dead Art Form?

Small Risk Appetite? Try Bonds

Get the Most Out of ETFs

The Case for Gold

Enjoy Life and Save for Retirement

Walk a Loved One Through Your Affairs

Summer Session Online Student Support

Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.

Questions? Email: summersessiononline@une.edu.

Instructor and Support Contact Information

Check Brightspace for specific instructor and support specialist contact information.

UNE Libraries

Further Assistance

Your student support specialist monitors course progression and provides assistance or guidance when needed. They can assist questions regarding ordering course materials, University policies, billing, navigating the course in Brightspace, and more.

To request an accommodation a student needs to go through the process with our UNE office. If the student has a current/already established accommodation in place with UNE it is the responsibility of the student to notify the program at summersessiononline@une.edu to ensure it is applied properly.

If you need to inquire about a possible accommodation, please reach out to the Student Access Center by calling 207-221-4418 or send an email to pcstudentaccess@une.edu.

Policies

Course Management

 

Welcome, I’m your instructor for this semester. As you all know, the class is online, and we don’t meet face-to-face. Check the UNE website and the College of Business faculty to learn more about me. My contact information is on the syllabus, too.

Your task is to read the syllabus a few times and familiarize yourself with the due dates listed on it. We will strictly adhere to those dates. Also, educate yourself on how to access Connect. The Connect website is where you will do exams, homework, and practice problems. The link for the Connect website is in the syllabus.

I gave you plenty of time for the first assignment due date to allow you to explore and make yourself comfortable in setting up your calendar. As for the practice problems, you are not required to solve them, but they will help you understand the materials. Also, on the syllabus, there are links for video presentations on the concepts of each chapter to help you know more.

Since this class is remote and we are not meeting face to face, it is essential to follow the instructions on the syllabus and check your emails for updates. Also, check the Brightspace class website for announcements, postings, PPT, and other information.

The syllabus has my contact information and office hours. If you need to meet me, office hours are your best bet. If you want to meet but can’t come to the office, we can arrange Zoom meetings for questions. The Zoom link is posted on the syllabus, too.

You will undoubtedly have questions; email me those questions. I will answer every question; sometimes, I will compile the questions and send responses to the class.

Finally, this class is remote, and we don’t meet. The Connect website allows you to receive feedback on your homework by providing your grade and the correct answers after the due date. You will receive your grades for exams after you submit them. This course is self-study and depends on your ability to manage time. We don’t meet face to face, but you are encouraged to see me in my office or schedule Zoom as necessary. There will be no direct instruction like we have in an on-campus class, so be aware of that and plan accordingly.

I will keep in touch with you through emails and reminders. Let me know if you have questions.

 

Technology

This course will use web technology to disseminate course materials such as syllabi, handouts, and course notes. Web-based email is an additional means of communication between the instructor and students.

Summer Session & Academic Engagement Policy

Online students are required to submit a graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm EDT of the first week of the term. If a student does not submit a posting to the graded assignment/discussion by 11:59 pm EDT on Sunday of the first week, the student will be automatically dropped from the course for non-participation. Review the Student Summer Session Manual for full details.

Proctored Examinations

Your course may have proctored exams. Please see the course for the exact exam requirements, test-taker guidance, proctoring format, and allowances (such as calculators or whiteboards, as indicated in the course).

Information about exam attempts can be found in your course.

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Programs: Technical Requirements.

Course Length

A schedule of lectures and assignments is included in this syllabus.

Courses in the program are equivalent to one-semester courses designed to be completed in 6 or 12 weeks.

  1. Enrollment in the course begins the day your section opens which is listed in the Academic Calendar.
  2. Course due dates, start and end dates are in respect to Eastern Time.

Withdrawal and Refund Policies

Please review the policies in your confirmation email. Contact summersessiononline@une.edu with any questions.

Grade Policy

Students are expected to attempt and complete all graded assignments and proctored exams by the end date of the course.

Transcripts

Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, only the student may request official transcripts. This may be done online by going to the University of New England Registrar website and following the directions on the page.

Academic Integrity

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the College. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.