Summer 2008 FIN 3140 Personal Financial Management Fully Online Sections: RVCC & RVDC Class Numbers: 53262 & 53559 Instructor: Jim Keys Office: RB 207B, University Park Campus Office Phone: 305-348-3268 or 305-348-2680 Office Fax: 305-348-4245 E-mail: jim.keys@fiu.edu Office Hours: Call Office Class Location: Fully Online Syllabus Page URL: http://www.fiu.edu/~keysj/fin3140syl_ss08.html Other Resources URL: http://www.fiu.edu/~keysj/other_resources.htm Main Page URL: http://www.fiu.edu/~keysj Print Syllabus: http://www.fiu.edu/~keysj/fin_3140_syllabus_ss08.pdf Success in an online class requires strong self-discipline and time management skills. Carefully read the syllabus as well as all communications from the instructor including email and Discussion Board postings. Although the class is entirely online, it is not self-paced. Students are required to complete various assessments for each chapter on their own time schedule during the week subject to the submission deadlines. Personal issues or technology problems do not excuse you, so please plan accordingly. The course is hosted on FIU's servers utilizing Blackboard CE6 as the CMS: Blackboard CE6 Login Instructions Online Learning Course Login Portal In order to resolve any issues with your computer and online assessments, it is important that you take the "Online Learning Practice Quiz" from the computer you will be using. It is your responsibility to make sure your computer is compatible with Blackboard CE6: http://www.online.fiu.edu/ce6_troubleshooting.html and that it meets the minimum hardware requirements: http://online.fiu.edu/future_whats_required.html.
Textbook Index to Syllabus Required Materials Recommended Materials Recommended Reading Prerequisites Course Objectives & Course Competencies Major and Curriculum Objectives Targeted Teaching Metodology Undergraduate Policies Blackboard CE6 Quizzes, Assignments, and Financial Plan Academic Integrity Grade Access, Grade Determination, and Grading Scale Disability Resource Center Religious Holidays Schedule Personal Finance with Financial Planning Software, Jeff Madura, 3rd Edition, Addison-Wesley, 2007. ISBN10: 0321409965 ISBN13: 9780321409966 Required Materials Textbook: Personal Finance with Financial Planning Software, Jeff Madura, 3rd Edition, Addison-Wesley, 2007. Each part of the textbook presents balanced coverage of one of the key components of a financial plan budgeting and tax planning, managing liquidity, financing large purchases, insurance planning, investing, and retirement and estate planning. As students progress through the text, they develop each of these stages of their own financial plans. Financial Planning Software: Click on the Excel icon to download the abridged version of the Financial Planning Software. Internet Access: This is a fully online course. Students should have access to a properly configured computer and a reliable internet connection. Recommended Materials Financial Calculator: Here are some recommended models > HP 10bII, HP 12c, HP 17bII+, TI BA II Plus, TI BA II Plus Professional. Financial Calculator Tutorials and Guidebooks: Click here for access to additional resources for financial calculators. Financial Calculator Guide: Financial Analysis With An Electronic Calculator, Mark White, Sixth Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2007. ISBN: 073217093 ISBN13: 9780073217093 Recommended Reading Wall Street Journal Business Week Fortune Barron's Kiplinger's SmartMoney Subscribe Subscribe Subscribe Subscribe Subscribe Subscribe Prerequisites The catalog does not list any prerequisites for the course, but if you are completing the Minor in Business it would make sense to first
take ACG 3024 - Accounting for Managers and Investors, or, if your major is Business, ACG 2021 - Accounting for Decisions. Prerequisite Link: http://cbasys.fiu.edu/advising/prerequisites/prerequisites1.cfm. Course Objectives & Course Competencies This course is designed to introduce the student to the concepts, tools, and applications of personal finance and investments. We will use a variety of methods to enhance your learning experience, including web resources, spreadsheets, videos, and interactive financial planning software. Assessment in the course will be based upon chapter quizzes, homework problems/cases, and completion of a personal financial plan. At the end of this course, students should be able to: Set financial goals and develop a financial plan Understand the time value of money Prepare a personal budget Plan for their college education and career Choose a financial institution and types of accounts for personal needs Understand personal taxes and how to minimize them Manage cash and savings Use credit wisely Select appropriate types of insurance policies Plan for home ownership and understand types of mortgages Plan for big-ticket item purchases Develop an investment plan for the future Understand alternative types of financial assets in which to invest Develop a plan to save for retirement while minimizing taxes Understand estate planning and the need for a will Major & Curriculum Objectives Targeted Apply critical thinking skills to complex business problems including: Identifying and evaluating relevant issues and information; Generating and evaluating possible solutions to problems. Use quantitative analytical skills to: Identify and analyze material factors that are involved in business problems; Determine and apply appropriate problem-solving techniques to business problems. Use information technology as a tool to perform essential business tasks. Teaching Methodology Suggested Study Procedures: Before beginning, take the Learning Styles Quiz and view your results on the Learning Styles Chart. Read the assigned Chapter in the textbook, working through the Examples and visiting some of the Financial Planning Online* web sites as you cover the material. View the Powerpoint Slide Presentation* for the assigned chapter and work through an assortment of end-of-chapter exercises to reinforce your understanding of the material. Access the Other Resources page to find links to financial calculator guides and time value of money tools. View the Chapter Videos* for real world examples related to topics presented in the chapter.
Complete the Chapter Assignments in Blackboard CE6 prior to the deadline; extensions will not be granted. The Homework Assignments are based on the Financial Planning Problems at the end of each chapter. Use the practice quizzes available in the Online Study Guide* or through the Online Study Guide section of the Text Web Site to help you prepare for the graded chapter quizzes. Take the Chapter Quiz in Blackboard CE6 by the deadline; extensions will not be granted. Complete the appropriate section(s) of your Financial Plan on a weekly basis using the Financial Planning Software and print out each template as you progress. Post general questions on the Main Discussion Forum in Blackboard CE6 and review the forum for previously answered questions. Use Course Mail for personal communication with the Instructor. Investigate topics in more depth using Resources for Further Study* in Blackboard CE6. *Accessible through the Course Content section in Blackboard CE6. Undergraduate Policies and Procedures Undergraduate Policies & Procedures: The Undergraduate Policies and Procedures Manual outlines and explains the policies and procedures governing undergraduate study at FIU. The policies include those concerning: the Undergraduate Program, University and Department Admission Criteria, College Level Academic Skills (CLAST), Academic Advising, General Academic Policies, Award of Degrees and Commencement Exercises, Educational Support Services and Undergraduate Administration. A keyword index links the Undergraduate, Graduate and Academic Affairs Policies and Procedures Manuals. The Standards of Student Conduct summarize the position of the University concerning ethics and honesty. Instructions for Blackboard CE6 Chapter Quizzes, Blackboard CE6 Chapter Assignments, and Financial Plan Please read the Standards of Student Conduct and use it as your guide throughout the course. I take each and every instance of academic misconduct very seriously. Chapter Quizzes: Students will take one or two "Multiple Choice" quizzes a week through Blackboard CE6 on each chapter during the semester. There are 22 quizzes and you will be graded on the best 20 out of 22. Please review all instructions before taking the quiz; quizzes will not be reset if you miss the deadline or fail to follow instructions! Please be sure that your browser is properly configured and that it will accept pop-ups when you are in Blackboard CE6. The Quizzes are accessible through the "Quizzes & Assignments" link on the Course Menu in Blackboard CE6. Once you access a Chapter Quiz, the "clock" will start and you must finish and submit the quiz in the time allotted; you will not be able to access the same quiz more than once. You must submit the quiz when you are finished or Blackboard CE6 will not record your grade. The Chapter Quizzes are closed book and closed notes. You are allowed to use a calculator, scrap paper, and the Time Value of Money Interest Tables: (FV), (FVA), (PV), (PVA). Alternatively, you can use the Interest Tables in Appendix B of the text on pages 636-643. The use of any other resources or assistance during quizzes will be considered a violation of the Student Code of Conduct! The Schedule will list the Quiz deadlines. Chapter Assignments: There are assignments for each week consisting of selected exercises from the end-of-chapter Financial Planning Problems. There are 19 assignments. These open-book assignments are taken in Blackboard CE6 and during the availability period you may attempt the assignment as many times as you wish. If you want to retake an assignment, you must first submit your previous attempt. For grading purposes, the attempt with the highest score will be recorded in the grade book. Once the assignment is opened, you may work on it for up to twelve hours before you must submit it for grading. The assignments will not be reset if you miss the deadline or fail to follow instructions. The assignment questions are not in "Multiple Choice" format; you must enter the answer with the required accuracy in the specified format in the answer box. Please follow the directions carefully when answering the questions. For example, you may be instructed to "Round to two decimal places." In this case, your answer must be accurate and must be displayed to two decimal places or the item will be marked incorrect by the system. The Assignments are accessible through the "Quizzes & Assignments" link on the Course
Menu in Blackboard CE6. The Schedule will list the Assignment deadlines. Personal Financial Plan: The Excel-based software guides students in making key decisions concerning every aspect of their financial plan. All of the worksheets in the software are linked, and students are prompted to revise their goals, cash flow statement, and personal balance sheet to demonstrate their understanding of the interrelationships inherent in their financial decisions. Each new copy of the textbook is packaged with a CD containing templates designed to run in Excel 97, Excel 2000, and Excel XP. Click on the Excel icon to download the abridged version of the Financial Planning Software. You should complete and print out the appropriate section of your Plan on a weekly basis using the Excel worksheets provided. Your textbook includes a hard copy of the templates at the end of each chapter. You can use these sheets to gather and organize your information prior to entering the data into the worksheet. In many cases, the Excel template is set up to automatically calculate the results as well as transfer information to the summary spreadsheets. Each worksheet should be completed in its entirety in order to receive maximum credit for your Financial Plan. Some of the topics may not directly apply to you at this time, but you should still complete the worksheet to gain knowledge of the topic area for the future. For the areas that do not apply to you at this time, you should use estimated or forecasted information. Incomplete or blank areas of your Financial Plan will result in a loss of credit! The Financial Plan that you submit (in hard copy form) at the end of the semester should include all of the completed templates including the summary worksheets. This cover sheet should be attached to all Financial Plans. Your Financial Plan can be mailed as long as it arrives by the deadline. Use the following address: Jim Keys, Finance Department College of Business Administration, RB 207B Florida International University, University Park Campus 11200 S.W. 8th Street Miami, Florida 33199 The Schedule will list the due date for the Financial Plan. Academic Integrity Statement of Understanding between Professor and Student: Student Code of Academic Integrity Every student must respect the right of all to have an equitable opportunity to learn and honestly demonstrate the quality of their learning. Therefore, all students must adhere to a standard of academic conduct, demonstrating respect for themselves, their fellow students, and the educational mission of the University. As a student in the College of Business taking this class: I will not represent someone else's work as my own. I will not cheat, nor will I aid in another's cheating. I will be honest in my academic endeavors. I understand that if I am found responsible for academic misconduct, I will be subject to the academic misconduct procedures and sanctions as outlined in the Student Handbook. Failure to adhere to the guidelines stated above may result in one of the following: Expulsion: Permanent separation of the student from the University, preventing readmission to the institution. This sanction shall be recorded on the student's transcript. Suspension: Temporary separation of the student from the University for a specific period of time.
By taking this online course I promise to adhere to FIU's Student Code of Academic Integrity. For details on the policy and procedure go to the Academic Misconduct section of the Policies and Procedures manual. Grade Access, Grade Determination, and Grading Scale Course Grading: The final grade is based upon the Chapter Quizzes, Chapter Assignments, and the Personal Financial Plan. Chapter Quizzes (Best 20 out of 22) 40% Chapter Assignments (19) 35% Personal Financial Plan 25% Total 100% Grade Calculator: http://www.fiu.edu/~keysj/grade_calculator_fin3140_online.xls Grading Scale: The letter grade for the course is based upon the scale below. 95-100 A 80-83 B- 68-69 D+ 90-94 A- 75-79 C+ 64-67 D 88-89 B+ 70-74 C 60-63 D- 84-87 B 00-59 F Grade Access: All grades will posted on the internet under your personal code. Calculate your personal code by going to [http://cba.fiu.edu/cba/] and entering your Panther ID number. Access your grades at [http://www.fiu.edu/~keysj/fin_3140_web_grades.htm]. Disability Resource Center If a student has a disability and needs assistance, please notify the Instructor and/or contact the Disability Resource Center to make arrangements for the appropriate modification and/or assistance. Religious Holidays Any student may request to be excused from a scheduled exam to observe a religious holy day of their faith. The student must notify the Instructor and arrange to take the exam in advance of the regularly scheduled exam date. Schedule Topic Coverage Important Dates
Date Chapter (or week of) Coverage Topic(s) May 5 1,2 Overview of a Financial Plan --- Planning with Personal Financial Statements May 12 3 Applying Time Value Concepts May 19 4 Using Tax Concepts for Planning May 26 5, 6 Banking and Interest Rates --- Managing Your Money June 2 7, 8 Assessing and Securing Your Credit --- Managing Your Credit June 9 9, 10 Personal Loans --- Purchasing and Financing a Home June 16 11, 12 Auto and Homeowner's Insurance --- Health and Disability Insurance June 23 13 Life Insurance June 30 14, 15 Investing Fundamentals --- Stock Analysis and Valuation July 3 Drop Date Drop Date July 7 16 Investing in Stocks July 14 17, 18 Investing in Bonds --- Investing in Mutual Funds July 21 19, 20 Asset Allocation --- Retirement Planning July 28 21, 22 Estate Planning --- Integrating the Components of a Financial Plan August 4 Financial Plan Due no later than Wednesday, August 6, by 5:00 PM in RB 207B Chapter FIN 3140 Online Sections RVCC & RVDC - Summer 2008 Semester Schedule of Beginning & Ending Times for Chapter Quizzes and Assignments in Blackboard CE6 Quizzes Begin (5:00 AM) Quizzes End (11:00 PM) Time Allowed Assignments Assignments Time Allowed Begin (5:00 AM) End (11:00 PM) 1 May 5, 2008 May 20, 2008 45 minutes May 5, 2008 May 20, 2008 12 hours 2 May 5, 2008 May 20, 2008 " May 5, 2008 May 20, 2008 " 3 May 5, 2008 May 20, 2008 " May 5, 2008 May 20, 2008 " 4 May 5, 2008 May 27, 2008 " May 5, 2008 May 27, 2008 " 5 May 5, 2008 June 3, 2008 " May 5, 2008 June 3, 2008 " 6 May 5, 2008 June 3, 2008 " May 5, 2008 June 3, 2008 " 7 May 5, 2008 June 10, 2008 " No Assignment No Assignment " 8 May 5, 2008 June 10, 2008 " May 5, 2008 June 10, 2008 " 9 May 5, 2008 June 17, 2008 " May 5, 2008 June 17, 2008 " 10 May 5, 2008 June 17, 2008 " May 5, 2008 June 17, 2008 " 11 May 5, 2008 June 24, 2008 " May 5, 2008 June 24, 2008 " 12 May 5, 2008 June 24, 2008 " May 5, 2008 June 24, 2008 " 13 May 5, 2008 July 1, 2008 " May 5, 2008 July 1, 2008 " 14 May 5, 2008 July 8, 2008 " May 5, 2008 July 8, 2008 " 15 May 5, 2008 July 8, 2008 " May 5, 2008 July 8, 2008 " 16 May 5, 2008 July 15, 2008 " May 5, 2008 July 15, 2008 " 17 May 5, 2008 July 22, 2008 " May 5, 2008 July 22, 2008 " 18 May 5, 2008 July 22, 2008 " May 5, 2008 July 22, 2008 " 19 May 5, 2008 July 29, 2008 " May 5, 2008 July 29, 2008 " 20 May 5, 2008 July 29, 2008 " May 5, 2008 July 29, 2008 " 21 May 5, 2008 August 5, 2008 " No Assignment No Assignment " 22 May 5, 2008 August 5, 2008 " No Assignment No Assignment " Copyright 2008, James D. Keys. All rights reserved.