FIN 4140 Financial Planning Robin Wilber, Ph.D. (727) 341-3203 (727) 791-2441 EPI Center 2-416 Tues/Wed St Pete/Gibbs TE131C Thur Tues/Thurs 9AM - 4PM. Wed 10AM-3PM Tues/Thurs 9AM - 4PM. Wed 10AM-3PM wilber.robin@spcollege.edu Students are strongly encouraged to contact me via e-mail vs. using the telephone. You will find I am very prompt responding... and you should anticipate a response to MyCourses email well within 24 hours. If MyCourses is down or you are unable to upload your assignments, or if you have questions not related to this class, please send correspondence to main SPC email account above. Course grading is normally complete within 1 week from submission due date. Email availability 7 days/week. Required Textbook Personal Finance: Turning Money into Wealth (6th ed.) Arthur J. Keown; Pearson Prentice Hall; Copyright: 2013 (Book bundled with My Finance Lab) ISBN-13: 9780132963244 Course Description This is an advanced course in Finance. Principles and concepts addressed in prior courses are incorporated. This course examines the financial planning process throughout the individual s life cycle. It is intended to blend theory with appropriate application to create strategies for achieving successful personal financial plans based on individual goals and objectives. Characteristics, methods and tools for taxes, money management, insurance, investments, retirement, and estate planning will be addressed. 47 contact hours. Course Objectives 1. The student will explain the principles and disciplines of the personal financial planning process.
2. The student will evaluate the methods, instruments, and strategies for personal credit and money management. 3. The student will analyze the principles of personal risk management, measures to assess risk exposure, and the application of insurance-based strategies to reduce risk. 4. The student will identify the role of capital market investment in the personal financial plan. 5. The student will illustrate the principles, instruments, and strategies for retirement and estate planning. My Schedule Week Class Topics Assignments 1 The Financial Planning Process Readings Financial strategy principles Text Ch. 1, 2 Individual financial goals and objectives Basic steps in financial planning MFL Orientation Financial instruments Review (2 attempts) Measuring Your Financial Health and Making a Plan Quiz Ch 1 and Ch 2 Individual finance statements Homework Ch 1 and Ch 2 Financial methods, tools and techniques 2 Tax Planning and Strategies Readings Tax laws Text Ch. 4 Income tax preparation Text Ch. 3 Optional Review Tax minimization strategies TVM Quiz Ch 4 Homework Ch 4 3 Life and Health Insurance Readings Property and Liability Insurance Text Ch. 9, 10 Characteristics of major insurance types Insurance coverage Quiz Ch 9 and Ch 10 Insurance programs Homework Ch 9 and Ch 10 Degree of risk exposure Test #1 includes chapters 1,2,4,9, and 10 MyFinanceLab 4 Credit Cards and Open Credit Readings Sources, costs, and strategies to manage Text Ch. 6, 7, and 8 Consumer Loans Sources, costs, and strategies to manage Quiz Ch 6, Ch 7, and Ch 8 Debt control Homework Ch 6, Ch 7, and Ch 8 Home and Auto Purchase decisions 5 Cash and Liquid Asset Management Readings Cash management alternatives Text Ch. 5, 11, 15
Providers of cash management services Cash and liquid asset strategies Quiz Ch 5, Ch 11, and Ch 15 Money management decisions Homework Ch 5, Ch 11, and Ch 15 Investment Management Stocks, bonds, and mutual funds Investment strategies Investment risks, returns, and tax effects Mutual Funds Types of funds Personal investment strategies Test #2 includes chapters 5,6,7,8,11 and 15 MyFinanceLab 6 Retirement Planning Readings Levels of retirement planning Text Ch. 16 and 17 Sources and methods Retirement planning Quiz Ch 16 and Ch 17 Estate Planning Homework Ch 16 and Ch 17 Estate planning process Estate planning strategies Tax effects Estate plans 7 Pulling It All Together Readings Interrelate planning principles Text Ch. 18 Diversity Life cycle events and effects Quiz Ch 18 Complete plan Homework Ch 18 8 Pulling It All Together Readings MyFinanceLab Quizzes are 10 questions. 45 minute time limit. Two attempts. Review available after due date. Homeworks are problems and Be a Financial Planner cases. No time limit. Two attempts. Tests are 25 multiple choice questions. 2 hour time limit. All questions are worth 4 points. Course Requirements Students should have regular access to a computer that is connected to the Internet. It is strongly recommended that students have a broadband (high-speed) internet connection such as DSL or a cable modem. When viewing on-line videos and taking tests, students should have an internet connection that is stable and will not drop their connection. Students without a stable high-speed internet connection should consider making arrangements to use alternative means (i.e.at one of the St. Petersburg College libraries or a similar facility) where a stable high-speed internet connection is available. A standard file format has been devised to apply to all classes in the College of Business to support file compatibility, sharing, and commenting needs. Students are required to submit all assignments in Microsoft Office formats (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft formats). Students can get access to MS Office (FREE) through MySPC (see http://www.spcollege.edu/microsoft). Other formats
may have ANGEL compatibility issues or instructor feedback in comments may not be viewable by students. The College of Business provides full function student licenses of other Microsoft software too. Details regarding obtaining other Microsoft software licenses (FREE) are provided in the Student Commons in ANGEL under your Community Group area. Students also have their Live@edu accounts which offers MS Office (without needing MS Office on your computer), SkyDrive, and other resources (seehttp://www.spcollege.edu/pages/dynamic.aspx?id=1204) that may be helpful in classes. This is a quantitative class and you will need to use Microsoft Excel OR a financial calculator. "Time Commitment" This is a 3-credit course conducted over 8 weeks. In order to meet accreditation standards, on average, students should expect to spend between 12 to 15 hours per week on course activities and assignments. Spending less time would be insufficient for success in this course. Course Prerequisites Prerequisite(s): FIN3403 or permission of the Dean or instructor. To be successful students are expected to have completed ECO2013, ECO2023, MAC2233, STA2023. A working knowledge of Statistics is strongly encouraged. Grading Policy Reflecting the Policies of the College of Business - Students MUST submit all of the assignments for each week by the deadline or they will not receive credit for the assignment. There will be absolutely no exceptions without a written request with appropriate documentation. ANY missed assignment during week 1 or week 2 will result in being report absent for the week. There are 17 chapter homework assignments. Homework is worth 40 percent of your weighted average. There are 17 chapter quizzes. Quizzes are worth 30 percent of your weighted average. There are 3 tests. The 3 tests are worth 30 percent of your weighted average. Attendance Policy Attendance Policy Participation in the course is essential in order to avoid being withdrawn for nonattendance. Participation is defined as reading and preparing for weekly lessons (especially prior blended class meetings). As well as completing and submitting all assignments on time, plus taking part in all other course communications in a timely manner. The Assignments and Due Dates spreadsheet above and also please see copy in the Course Schedule Lessons provides a listing of all assignments and due dates for this course which are required for active participation in this course. Students should review the college-wide attendance and financial aid policies included in the syllabus addendum linked below in Student Support. Additionally students need to review the student expectations regarding silencing or turning off all electronic devices during blended class meetings.
Online students will be held to the same practices of courtesy and respect as outlined further on the guidelines posted in the syllabus addendum. Excused absences, of course, will not count against you. However students must contact the professor to make appropriate arrangements, along with provide them with supporting documentation accordingly. Advance notice should be given to the instructor whenever possible to arrange for alternatives. Lack of attendance can result in students being administratively withdrawn. Students are given a W in a course if two issues occur in Week 1 or 2, or are given a WF if issues occur at the 60% point (see last date to withdraw in the academic calendar to avoid this issue as it can result in serious financial aid and GPA consequences). If you are in your third attempt at completing a course, you will be given a WF grade at any point in the term if you fail to meet attendance requirements. Please see the student handbook and SPC policies further if needed. Academic Integrity Academic honesty and plagiarism falls under the Academic Honesty Policy of the college. The College of Technology and Management has always had a 0 tolerance policy for academic dishonesty and if the student is in violation, an F in the course can be applied. **Understand that not properly giving credit to the sources used in your work, even when paraphrasing, is considered plagiarism and can result in not only a "0" for that assignment, but an "F" in the course**. Disability Policy If you wish to receive special accommodations as a student with a documented disability, please make an appointment with the Learning Specialist on the Clearwater, Tarpon Springs, or St. Petersburg sites. If you have a documented hearing loss, please contact the Program for the Deaf at 791-2628 (V/TDD). For more information, contact the SPC Office of Services for Students with Disabilities and review further information at: http://www.spjc.edu/central/ossd/index.htm. Student Support Please click here to access the most up-to-date SPC policies and syllabus addendum: http://www.spcollege.edu/central/asa/addendum.htm For Campus Security and Emergency Information, see http://www.spcollege.edu/central/campussecurity/. For an escort to your car or to report an issue on any campus, call 727-791-2560. Students may also want to review Career Development Services (online) at: http://www.spcollege.edu/central/career/ocds/index.shtm