Personal Finance: An Interactive Applications Approach / Edition 2

by Dan French, Megan Heffernon

Overview

Most individuals dream of financial independence, the ability to live the lifestyle of their choice. Personal financial planning is a critical step to efficiently obtaining that goal.

The new second edition of Personal Finance: An Interactive Applications Approach provides an easy to understand explanation of the key concepts, with examples for applying those concepts to financial decisions.

Personal Finance makes it personal through activities designed to help students create their own financial plan by answering thought provoking questions. These questions allow students to incorporate their own personal, moral, spiritual, and political values into their financial plan.

Completely updated to reflect the latest statistics and research, Personal Finance:

• Provides budgeting tips for readers to stretch their dollars or increase their earnings.
• Includes case studies on how individuals deal with finances. Case studies depict a new college student and new college graduate through major life events such as purchasing a home, financial planning, and more.
• An entire chapter dedicated to housing and decision-making. Readers must help a new college student and new college graduate to qualify for and select an appropriate mortgage; then select a home to purchase that fits both their budget and lifestyle.
• Includes access to Stock-Trak, a virtual stock market simulator.
• Features an Enhanced Online Learning Package designed for students and instructors. Seamlessly integrated within the book's pedagogy, it includes videos, PowerPoint presentations, interactive exercises, test questions, solutions, and more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781465242358
Publisher:	Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
Publication date:	03/19/2014
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	1
Product dimensions:	(w) x (h) x 2.95(d)

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 The Value of Money
Objectives
Key Terms
Interest, Rate of Return, and Inflation
Interest Calculations
Calculating Interest for Less Than One Year
Compound Interest Calculations
Simplifying the Task of Computing Compound Interest
Time Value of Money Equations
Time Value of Money Conventions
Calculating Time Value of Money
Future Value of a Single Deposit
How to Use Financial Tables
Compound Interest Tables Solution
Present Value of a Single Deposit
Future Value of a Series of Deposits (an Annuity)
Present Value of a Series of Payments (an Annuity)
Solutions with Excel
Problems Solved in Excel
Why Does Money Have a Time Value?
The Opportunity Cost of Money
Risks of Holding (or Not Holding) Money
Summary
Problems
Additional Help
Review Questions

Chapter 2 Financial Planning Overview
Objectives
Key Terms
Record Keeping
Creating a Financial Plan
Step 1: Create a List of Financial Goals
Step 2: Determine Your Current Financial Position
Step 3: Create a Budget
Step 4: Selecting the Right Savings Vehicle
Step 5: Measure the Performance of the Plan
Step 6: Make Changes and Adjustments to the Plan
Summary
Problems
Case Studies
Review Questions

Chapter 3 Housing
Objectives
Key Terms
Renting a Home
The Lease Agreement
Advantages and Drawbacks of Renting
Home Ownership
Pros and Cons of Home Ownership
How to Buy a Home
Financing a Home
Mortgage Interest Rates
Loan Maturity
Mortgage Payments
Preapproval Versus Prequalified
Lender Fees
Third Party Fees
Pre-Paid Items
Miscellaneous Fees
Summary
Problems
Case Studies
Review Questions

Chapter 4 Manage Your Credit
Objectives
Key Terms
Credit
Consumer Loans
Computing Loan Payments and Amortization
Revolving Credit
Credit Card Basics
How to Properly Use Credit Cards
Dealing with Credit Card Debt
Home Equity Loans
APR Versus Interest Rate
The Loan Contract
Insurance Agreement Clause
Sources for Consumer Loans
FICO Score
Summary
Problems
Case Studies
Review Questions

Chapter 5 Spending Wisely
Objectives
Key Terms
In the Grocery Store
Brands
Price
Label Information
Household Services
Television Providers
Internet Service Providers
Telephone Service
Bundling
Appliances
Buying a Vehicle
Choose the Right Car
Decide If You Want to Trade in a Car
Select the Best Way to Finance a Car
Negotiate the Price of the Car
Warranties
Written Warranties
Implied Warranties
Service Contracts
Summary
Problems
Case Studies
Review Questions

Chapter 6 Tax Planning
Objectives
Key Terms
Tax Overview
Social Security and Medicare Taxes
Non-Income-Based Taxes
Sales Taxes
Personal Property and Real Estate Taxes
Excise Taxes
Gift and Estate Taxes
Income Taxes
Personal Income Taxes
Federal Income Taxes
Income
Other Types of Income
A Comprehensive Income-Based Tax Example
Tax Planning Strategy
Simplified Tax Forms
Summary
Problems
Case Studies
Review Questions

Chapter 7 Property and Casualty Insurance
Objectives
Key Terms
Why People Buy Insurance
Property and Casualty Insurance
Automobile Insurance
Types of Automobile Insurance Coverage
No-Fault Insurance
Factors That Influence Your Auto Insurance Premium
Types of Coverage and Amounts
Deductibles
Type of Car
Personal Characteristics
Driving Record
Location
Discounts
Insurance Claims
Homeowners’ and Renters’ Insurance
Types of Homeowners’ Insurance Policies
Provisions in Homeowners’ Insurance Policies
Homeowners’ Insurance Premiums
Factors Affecting a Homeowners’ Insurance Policy
Summary
Problems
Case Studies
Review Questions

Chapter 8 Health and Disability Insurance
Objectives
Key Terms
Health Insurance
Private Health Insurance
Medical Insurance
Health Coverage under the Affordable Health Care Act
Changes Instituted by the Act
Medical Insurance and the Health Insurance Marketplace
Ways to Save Money on Health Insurance
High-Deductible Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts
Health Savings Accounts
Insurance Continuity
Government Medical Insurance
Medicaid
Medicare
Disability Insurance
Characteristics of Disability Insurance
Definition of Disability
Sources of Disability Insurance
Summary
Problems
Case Studies
Review Questions

Chapter 9 Life Insurance
Objectives
Key Terms
Life Insurance
Who Needs Life Insurance?
Life Insurers
Buy Direct or from a Sales Representative
How Much Life Insurance Coverage to Buy
Income Method
Budget Method
Forms of Life Insurance
Term Life Insurance
Permanent Life Insurance
Permanent Life Versus Term Life
Variations of Whole Life Insurance
Accidental Death Insurance
Ways of Receiving a Life Insurance Settlement
Lump-Sum Distribution
Installment Payments
Summary
Problems
Case Studies
Review Questions

Chapter 10 Entrepreneurship
Objectives
Key Terms
The Entrepreneurial Spirit
Passionate
Persistent
Adventurous and Positive
Self-Aware, Focused, and Flexible
Honest
Be the Entrepreneur of Your Life
Business Plans
Executive Summary
Description
Marketing
Competition
Development
Management
Finances
Corporate World
Lifestyle
Passions
Career Testing
Resumes and Cover Letters
Resumes
Cover Letters
Sponsorships
Summary
Case Studies
Review Questions

Chapter 11 Investing
Objectives
Key Terms
Saving and Successful Investment
Vehicles for Saving and Investing
Investing Through Financial Institutions
Investing Directly in a Business or Other Investment
Your Investment Program
Investment Advisors and Your Investment Program
Setting Goals
Identifying Strategies
Implementing Strategies
Monitoring Progress
Factors That Influence Your Investment Program
Risk
Expected Return
The Tradeoff between Risk and Return
Investment Decisions
Asset Allocation
Investment Selection
Managing Cash
The Need to Hold Cash
Earning a Return on Cash
Summary
Problems
Case Studies
Review Questions

Chapter 12 Stocks
Objectives
Key Terms
Investing in Marketable Securities
Stocks
Markets for Securities
Primary and Secondary Markets
Are Markets Important?
Stock Exchanges
NASDAQ OMX
OTC Markets Group
Market Indexes
Buying Securities
Services of Brokerage Firms
Placing an Order to Buy or Sell Securities
Buying Stocks of Foreign Companies Through ADRs
Investing in Stocks
Investment Analysis
Investment Information
Financial Statements
Analyzing Stocks
Stock Screening
Estimating a Stock’s Value
Summary
Problems
Case Studies
Review Questions

Chapter 13 Bonds
Objectives
Key Terms
Investing in Bonds
Government Bonds
Municipal Bonds
Corporate Bonds
Valuing Bonds
Investing in Preferred Stock
Summary
Problems
Case Studies
Review Questions

Chapter 14 Mutual Funds
Objectives
Key Terms
Managing Investment Risk
Sources of Risk
How Do Investors View Risk?
Measuring Risk of an Individual Investment
Diversification
Beta—Another Way to Measure Risk
Investment Companies and Mutual Funds
Types of Investment Companies
Benefits of Mutual Funds for Individual Investors
Taxation of Investment Companies
Investment Objectives of Mutual Funds
Regulation of Investing
Securities Exchange Act (1934)
Investment Company Act (1940)
Investment Advisors Act (1940)
Securities Investor Protection Act (1970)
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (2002)
Summary
Problems
Case Studies
Review Questions

Chapter 15 Real Estate
Objectives
Key Terms
Historical Real Estate Returns
Investing in Real Estate
Property Rights
Property Ownership Represents Income Potential
Property Values
Benefits of Investing in Real Estate
Risks of Investing in Real Estate
Real Estate Investment for Individuals
Investment in a Home
Real Estate Stocks
Real Estate Operating Companies
Investing in Local Rental Property
Summary
Problems
Case Studies
Review Questions

Chapter 16 Retirement Planning
Objectives
Key Terms
Starting Early with Retirement Planning
Federal Government Retirement Programs
Social Security
Railroad Retirement
Employer-Sponsored Retirement Programs
Defined Benefit Plans
Defined Contribution Plans
401(k) Plan
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
Traditional IRA
Roth IRA
Retirement Accounts for Self-Employed Individuals
Keogh Plan
Simplified Employee Pension Plan (SEP)
Retirement Planning: Investment Choices
Key Phases of the Financial Life Cycle
Investment Decisions during a Lifetime
Life Cycle Investing
Selecting an Asset Allocation
Using Life Cycle Mutual Funds
Estimating Retirement Fund Values
Calculating Your Retirement Fund Needs
Computing the Future Value of Investments
Summary
Problems
Case Studies
Review Questions

Chapter 17 Estate Planning
Objectives
Key Terms
Wills
Who Needs Estate Planning?
Estate Planning Overview
Create a Legal Will
Valuing the Estate
Minimizing Estate Taxes
Computing the Estate Tax
Other Aspects of Estate Planning
Location of Important Documents
Living Will
Power of Attorney
Summary
Problems
Case Studies
Review Questions