Course Title:   Personal Finance                                  M,W,F (class) 9:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m./ Online

                                                                       

 

Course Number:  FIN 1100   

 

Instructor:      Kathy Blondell           

 

Contact Information: Phone: Office: in Orange Park, (904) 276-6823; in St. Augustine, (904) 808-7406

                        Office Room: A-21, Orange Park; J-133, St. Augustine

E-mail (Office):  kathyblondell@sjrcc.edu

 

Office Hours:

Monday: in Orange Park - 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.; 10:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.; 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday:  in St. Augustine - 8:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.; 10:45 a.m. – 12: 15 p.m.

Wednesday:  in Orange Park - 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.; 10:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Thursday:  in St. Augustine - 8:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m., 10:45 a.m. – 12: 15 p.m.

Required Text:           Personal Finance, 8e by Jack R. Kapoor, Lee R. Dlabay and Robert J. Hughes (Irwin McGraw-Hill Publishers)

SJRCC Catalog

Description:   This course is a study of budgeting, borrowing, financial institutions, family finance, home ownership, insurance, estate planning, and the buying and selling of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.  In addition, the correlation between education and income will be discussed.

 

Course Objectives:     Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.      Construct a personal financial plan, including a budget, income statement, and balance sheet. Include retirement and estate planning as part of the overall financial plan.

2.      Include financial expectations in career planning activities

3.      Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of various financing options for major purchases and choose the most appropriate option.

4.      Understand and use common legal, industry, and corporate protections available to consumers for purchase refunds, exchanges, complaints, and defect remedies.

5.      Understand the factors that contribute to consumer credit approval and lending rates, including credit scores and other credit worthiness measures.

6.      Differentiate between common investment securities such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, including their risk profiles and trading methods.

7.      Determine his or her risk profile and construct and manage an investment portfolio that matches it.

8.      Recognize the need for various types of personal insurance, including home, automobile, rental, health, life, and disability. Understand the advantages and disadvantages of policy options for each type.

9.      Articulate the basic process for calculating federal income taxes and identify typical deductions and exemptions that he or she may qualify for. Select the correct federal income tax form depending on his or her personal situation. Prepare simple federal income tax forms.

10.  Identify common non-securities investments such as Real Estate and Commodities. Determine the advantages, disadvantages, and risk profile of these investments, and their typical trading methods.

11.  Understand common financial services available to the consumer, how to utilize these services, and where to obtain them.

Identify common options for housing and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each. Understand and navigate the mortgage application and approval process.

 

Academic Integrity:   Students in this class must know, observe, and not compromise the principles of

academic integrity. It is not permissible to cheat, to fabricate or falsify information, to submit the same academic work in more than one course without prior permission, to plagiarize, to receive unfair advantage, or to otherwise abuse accepted practices for handling and documenting information. The grade for this course includes the judgment that the student’s work is free from academic dishonesty of any type. Violations or infractions will be reported to the Vice President for Student Affairs and may lead to failure of the course and other sanctions imposed by the College.

Homework: Homework will consist of reading assignments and problems assigned at the end of the chapters to be completed prior to attending the appropriate class.

  • This course provides knowledge that needs to be part of the understanding of the educated person.
  • Reading and homework assignments must be completed timely.
  • NOTE:  If you are not present in class on the days homework is discussed, you will receive a zero for homework credit unless I have received your homework prior to the class discussion.. Do not attempt to submit at any other time as no credit will be given!
  • NOTE: If taking online, you MUST follow the calendar for timely submission. All homework submitted after due date receives a ZERO.

 Stock Report: Periodic spreadsheets will be required of each student to represent gains or losses in the investment market for a minimum of 4 weeks. A final bar or line graph representing portfolio value/ gains and losses will also be required of each student.

  • Each student will manage a portfolio of stocks of his/her own investment choices.
  • Each student will report on his/her portfolio progress in a five-minute presentation to the class.
  • Online students will report presentations via the chat room or by invitation to an Elluminate live session (requires online access, speakers, and microphone) or Web CT chat room. Online students will be required to attend two sessions: 1) reporting and 2) listening. Sign up early
  • Stock Reports will be graded on the student’s ability to address the audience with eye contact (in-class only), interest, and enthusiasm. It is assumed questioning will follow presentations and be handled effectively.
  • Note:  This oral presentation is required to pass the course.
  • A score of “F” will be recorded for failure to present the  stock report.
  • Note:  This is a critical part of the semester’s grade. See below.

           

Grading:                     Grade ranges are: A=90-100; B=80-89; C=70-79; D=60-69; F=0-59

Grading Scale:                        Given regular class attendance and class preparation, grades will then be based on the following point scale:

  • Six Examinations: 60% of grade
  • Comprehensive Final: 10% of grade
  • Homework Problems: 10% of grade (5 points per chapter with final 10 points given to students submitting all homework timely)
  • Oral Presentation/Stock Report: 20% of grade (required to receive passing grade)

 

 

Below are the required homework problems per chapter and per page.:

Chapter

Financial Planning Problems

Page

Chapter

Financial Planning Problems

Page

Chapter 1

1; 2 a,b,c; 6 a,b,c,d

26

Chapter 11

2;5

366

Chapter 2

2;3;4;6

63

Chapter 12

1;2;3

401

Chapter 3

2;3;4;5

100

Chapter 13

Web Activity

 

Chapter 4

1;2;3;4;5

132

Chapter 14

1;2;3;6 a,b,c,;11 a,b,c; 12 a,b,c

475-476

Chapter 5

4;5;6;9

162

Chapter 15

Web Activity

 

Chapter 6

Web Activity

 

Chapter 16

1;4;5;6

539

Chapter 7

1;2;3;5;9;a,b,c,d

235

Chapter 17

1;2

563

Chapter 8

Web Activity

 

Chapter 18

5 a,b

606

Chapter 9

5 a,b,c

300

Chapter 19

No homework

 

Chapter 10

1;2;3;5; a,b,c;6

329

 

 

 

 

Absences:

            As stated in the student handbook you may receive an instructor warning when you have missed the equivalent of three 50-minute class periods regardless of the reason and may be withdrawn from the course by the instructor after the fourth 50-minute absence. Online students must attend class regularly as well. Online failure to sign on to class WebCT sight at least 3 times per week is the same as non-attendance.  It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw from class. Do not assume that the instructor will withdraw you. Do not stop coming to class without withdrawing officially – protect your GPA. Withdrawal forms are available from the Records Office on the Palatka Campus and from the Administration area of other campuses.

 If the student wishes to drop the course to avoid an unsatisfactory grade affecting the student’s overall GPA, the student must hand in the proper form to administration on or before March 26, 2008.

 

The instructor further holds the right to automatically drop your earned score by one letter grade for each block of three absences

Make-up Policy:

  • Note: schedule is tentative for campus class. Any changes made will be clearly stated during class time.
  • Any schedule changes will be announced during regular class hours. It is each student’s responsibility to stay informed.
  • Online schedule is not tentative and due dates will not change.
  • Any special announcement will be via the discussion board to online students.
  • No credit will be given for homework received after the class call.
  • No credit will be given to online students submitting homework after midnight of due date. That means a zero for late submissions.
  • All make up tests will be given during office hours on Monday, April 14, 2008.
  • (Prior registration with instructor is required).
  • Online students will be allowed to make up tests only upon special request from the student and due to special cases only.

 

Course Calendar:       See attached table