Personal Finance

Unit 1 – Careers

• Income 1. Identify components and sources of income.
• Income 2. Analyze how career choice, education, skills, and economic conditions affect income and goal attainment.

Unit 2 – Income Sources & Taxes

• Income 1. Identify components and sources of income.
• Income 3. Relate taxes, government transfer payments, and employee benefits to disposable income.

Unit 3 – Money Management

• Money Management 1. Explain how limited personal financial resources affect the choices people make.
• Money Management 2. Interpret the opportunity costs of financial decisions.
• Money Management 3. Evaluate the consequences of personal financial decisions.
• Money Management 4. Apply a decision-making process to personal financial choices.
• Money Management 5. Summarize how inflation affects spending and saving decisions.
• Money Management 7. Design a financial plan (budget) for earning, spending, saving, and investing.
• Money Management 9. Analyze the role of the Federal Reserve in controlling the money supply.
• Spending and Credit 1. Compare the benefits and costs of alternatives in spending decisions.

Unit 4 – Savings

• Money Management 8. Demonstrate how to use the services available from financial institutions.
• Saving & Investing 1. Compare consumer choices for saving and investing.
• Saving & Investing 2. Explain the relationship between saving and investing.
• Saving & Investing 3. Examine reasons for saving and investing, e.g., time value of money.

Unit 5 – Investing

• Saving & Investing 1. Compare consumer choices for saving and investing.
• Saving & Investing 2. Explain the relationship between saving and investing.
• Saving & Investing 3. Examine reasons for saving and investing, e.g., time value of money.
• Saving & Investing 4. Compare the risk, return, liquidity, manageability, and tax aspects of investment alternatives.
• Saving & Investing 5. Demonstrate how to buy and sell investments.
• Saving & Investing 6. Analyze factors affecting the rate of return on investments (e.g., Rule of 72, simple interest, compound interest).
• Saving & Investing 7. Evaluate sources of investment information.
• Saving & Investing 8. Examine how agencies that regulate financial markets protect investors.
• Saving & Investing 9. Demonstrate how to evaluate advisors’ credentials and how to select professional advisors and their services.

Unit 6 – Spending & Credit

• Spending & Credit 1. Compare the benefits and costs of alternatives in spending decisions.
• Spending & Credit 2. Evaluate information about products and services.
• Spending & Credit 3. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different payment methods.
• Spending & Credit 4. Analyze the benefits and cost of consumer credit.
• Spending & Credit 5. Compare sources of consumer credit (e.g., credit cards, consumer loans, auto loans, student loans).
• Spending & Credit 6. Evaluate the terms and conditions of credit cards and consumer loans.
• Spending & Credit 7. Evaluate factors that affect creditworthiness.
• Spending & Credit 8. Explain the purpose and components of credit records.
• Spending & Credit 9.Demonstrate awareness of consumer protection and information (e.g., identity theft, phishing, scams).
• Spending & Credit 10. Propose ways to avoid or correct credit problems.
• Spending & Credit 11. Describe the rights and responsibilities of buyers and sellers under consumer protection laws.

Unit 7 – Risk Management

• Money Management 6. Evaluate how insurance (e.g., auto, home, life, medical and long-term health) and other risk management strategies protect against financial loss.
• Spending & Credit 2. Evaluate information about products and services.

This course is offered as dual credit through Missouri State University.^*

* Course offerings are dependent on enrollment and instructor availability.

Download the Personal Finance - Dual Credit Information Sheet | Download the Personal Finance - Dual Credit Syllabus

Find out more information about dual credit or email [email protected] if you have questions.