Personal Finance & Investing 1

This course will focus on educating students to become financially responsible. Students will learn about pros and cons of credit, budgeting strategies, savings and checking accounts as well as investment options, and how to file an income tax form.. Successful completion of this course, along with Finance II, will qualify for 3 college credits through Southern New Hampshire University. This course will satisfy the finance graduation requirement.

School Competencies
  • Applied Mathematical Model (Problem Solving & Analysis - Foundational)
  • Critical Thinking (Problem Solving & Analysis - Foundational)
  • Financial Citizenship (Wellness - Foundational)
  • Innovation (Problem Solving & Analysis - Advanced)
Course Competencies
  • Banking:  Students will be able to analyze a variety of banking options.  Further, given a real world scenario, they will be able to categorize payments and deposits in a checkbook register.  After receiving a bank statement, students will analyze the information and reconcile the checking account.  Students will be able to calculate the future value of savings accounts with different compounding periods.  Students will be able to use the Rule of 72 to estimate future account balances.  
  • Credit:  Students will be able to analyze a variety of credit sources.  They should further be able to compare costs and risks associated with each.  Students will be able to analyze the pros and cons of credit.  Students will be able to calculate the time frame required to pay off debt at varying interest rates and minimum payment amounts.
  • Saving and Investing:  Students will be able to analyze a variety of saving and investment options.  They should further be able to compare risk and return with each and be able to predict the outcome of various options.  Students will be able to calculate the future value of an account that earns a fixed rate of interest.  Students will be able to calculate rates of return on stock investments as well as yield on bonds.  
  • Taxes:  Students should be able to explain why taxes exist and the methods by which they are collected in the U.S.  Given a real world scenario, students will analyze data and apply their knowledge of the tax code in order to complete federal income tax forms.  Students will be able to explain regressive, progressive and flat taxes and give real world examples of how they are used in our economy.
  • Budgeting:  Given a set of data, students will be able to design a budget that includes both fixed and variable expenses and would allow a person/family to live within their means.   Students will be able to explain salary versus hourly pay and how the calculation of each impacts the budget.  Students will be able to track their spending to create a budget that encompasses retirement savings.