Personal Financial Planning

Fin 3337 TGWA

MWF1:00-1:50

Fall 2010

Instructor: / Dr. Larry Fogelberg
Office: / 012 McCartha
Prerequisites: / None
Phone: / 334-670-3153
Email for class: / (Do not use troy.edu account)
Office Hours: / MWF 11-12, or 2-4 or by appointment
Textbook: / Personal Financial Planning, 11th ed., by Gitman and Joehnk
(Thomsom/South-Western) (2002).
You may purchase your text either in hard copy or eBook format at

Additional material:
Cengage NOW / We will also be using Cengage NOW. This is a service that allows you to take
chapter quizzes and to do homework assignments online. You may purchase
Cengage NOW at
Cost of Cengage NOW is $69.99
Financial calculator / You will also need a financial calculator for this class. Either a Texas
Instruments BAII Plus or a Hewlett Packard financial calculator is suitable for
this class.
Course Description: / Introduction and comprehensive overview of personal financial
planning. Topics: introduction to financial planning, managing basic
assets, credit, insurance, investments, retirement, estate planning, etc...
SorrellCollege of Business Vision Statement: / Sorrell College of Business will be the first choice for higher business education students in their quest to succeed in a dynamic and global economy. Sorrell College of Business will create the model for 21st century business education and community service.
SorrellCollege of Business Mission Statement: / Through operations that span the State of Alabama, the United States, and the world, Sorrell College of Business equips our students with the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies to become organizational and community leaders who make a difference in the global village and global economy. Through this endeavor, we serve students, employers, faculty, and TroyUniversity at large as well as the local and global communities.
Learning Objectives: / Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
1. Define and fully explain "personal financial planning" including its meaning, importance, and role in the life of the individual and family.
2. List and explain the essential steps in the personal financial planning process.
3. Identify the general and specific goals and objectives of personal financial planning.
4. Develop a complete personal financial plan for an individual and for a family.
5. Prepare and analyze a complete set of personal financial statements.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of personal taxes including how they are calculated and how they are to be incorporated into all personal financial planning decisions.
7. Explain cash management and cash budgeting and the computation of interest rates, APY, future values, etc.
8. Explain the important aspects of managing basic assets including houses and automobiles and other major asset purchases and/or investments including financing, leasing, the decision to buy v. lease, the calculation of payments on loans used to finance asset acquisitions, etc.
9. Demonstrate a knowledge of the management of basic liabilities including credit and loans, the proper v. improper uses of credit, the calculation of payments, interest rates, APR, etc., security interests, and the effect upon the individual credit record and credit score, etc.
10. Demonstrate a knowledge and appreciation of risk, risk management, and insurance as it relates to personal financial planning, including the risk management process and all relevant lines of insurance such as life, health, property, etc.
11. Manage basic investment decisions, including: definition and characteristics of an "investment," steps in the process of "investing," prerequisites to investing, major categories of investment alternatives, analysis of specific investment instruments, calculation of price and yield, portfolio management, fundamental analysis, technical analysis, and modern portfolio analysis, levels of analysis, etc.
12. Fully explain the important elements and steps in the process of "retirement planning" and "estate planning" and how each and both are incorporated into the overall process of "personal financial planning."
Grading structure: / Exam 1 – 20%
Exam 2 - 20%
Exam 3 - 20%
Homework and quizzes – 20%
Final - 20% / The grading scale is as follows:
85% - 100% = A
75% - 84.999% = B
65% - 74.999% = C
55% - 64.999% = D
Below 55% F
There will be four exams given throughout the semester, one the end of each week, including a final exam. The exams and the final will be given in a multiple-choice format. The final will be comprehensive.
Class Policy: / No makeup exams will be given. Neither will any of the exams or the
final be given earlier or later than scheduled. Students must take the
final to pass the course. If an exam is missed for a reasonable excuse
such as illness, death in the family, or other emergency, the remaining
quizzes and exams will count more heavily. In order to qualify for this
provision, the student must notify the instructor, in writing, of the
reason for missing the exam. This should be done before the exam or
within 2 days after the exam has been missed, otherwise, a zero will be
given for the missed exam. If more than one exam is missed, a zero will
be given for the other missed exams.
Each student is responsible for the text material assigned on the syllabus, as well as all lecture material.
Lecture attendance is required.
Academic Dishonesty: / Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this class. Any
student witnessed cheating on any quiz or exam, whether
receiving or giving information, will receive an 'F' in the class.
In that regard, the student’s honor code is included below:
Troy University Students’ Honor Code, “I will be honest in all of
my academic work and strive to maintain academic integrity.”
Americans With
Disabilities Act (ADA): / Any student whose disabilities fall within the ADA
must inform Dr. Fogelberg at the beginning of the term of any
special needs or equipment necessary to accomplish the
requirements for this course.
Students who have or may be dealing with a disability or learning difficulty should speak with the instructor, contact the Office of Adaptive Needs Program at 670–3221. Various accommodations are available through the Adaptive Needs Program.
Course schedule: / Basic Concepts in Personal Financial Planning
Chapters 1, 2, 3, lecture notes
Exam 1 – Wed. September 8
Personal Debt and Major Purchases (Home and Auto)
Chapters 4, 5, 6 & 7 & lecture notes
Exam 2 – Fri. October 1
Managing Insurance Needs
Chapters 8, 9, 10 & lecture notes
Exam 3 – Mon. October 25
Managing Investments
Chapters 11, 12, 13, 14 & lecture notes
Final exam – Fri. December 3 5-7:00 pm