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Finance (FNCE) 322
Personal Finance (Revision 2)

Revision 2 closed, replaced by current version.

View previous syllabus.

Delivery mode: Individualized study online or
grouped study**

Credits: 3 - Applied Studies

Prerequisite: ACCT 253 or FNCE 234 or equivalents or professor’s approval.

Centre: School of Business

FNCE 322 has a Challenge for Credit option.

**Note: Students registering in grouped study, or grouped study international mode are advised that there may be some differences in the evaluation and course materials information indicated below. To obtain the most up-to-date information, contact the School of Business Call Centre at 1-800-468-6531.

Overview

FNCE 322 examines the knowledge required and the competencies needed to manage personal financial resources. It develops the principles upon which effective management is based. Emphasis is placed on the understanding, mathematical analysis, and evaluation of financial products and strategies. The perspective taken in this course is an active decision-making one as opposed to a passive information acquisition one. Students will be guided to not only learn the basics, but to implement them in a way that will improve their own personal financial situations, and to enhance their professional competencies and credibility if they work in the financial services industry. Topics include the time value of money, debt management, tax planning, risk management and insurance, investment management, retirement planning, and estate planning. Issues relating to the advisory process in the context of the financial services industry are also discussed.

Outline

Lesson 1: Introduction to Financial Planning

Lesson 2: Financial Statements—Construction and Analysis

Lesson 3: Time Value of Money

Lesson 4: The Canadian Personal Income Tax System

Lesson 5: Tax Planning Strategies

Lesson 6: Cash Management

Lesson 7: Consumer Credit—Open Credit and Credit Cards

Lesson 8: Personal Debt (Consumer Loans)

Lesson 9: Personal Debt (Automobile Financing)

Lesson 10: Personal Debt (Mortgages)

Lesson 11: Risk Management and Health and Disability Insurance

Lesson 12: Risk Management and Life Insurance

Lesson 13: Property and Liability Insurance

Lesson 14: Investment Basics

Lesson 15: Securities Markets

Lesson 16: Equity

Lesson 17: Fixed Income

Lesson 18: Mutual Funds

Lesson 19: Retirement Planning and Management

Lesson 20: Estate Planning

Lesson 21: Comprehensive Financial Planning

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Evaluation

To receive credit in FNCE 322, you must achieve a composite course grade of at least a “D” (50 percent) and a passing grade of “D” (50 percent) on the Final Examination. The weighting of the composite course grade is as follows:

Assign 1 Assign 2 Assign 3
(Case Analysis) 		Midterm Exam Final Exam Total
10% 10% 20% 20% 40% 100%

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbook

Keown, A., Gardner, E., Torabzadeh, K., & Dixon, G. (2003). Personal finance: Turning money into wealth (1st Can. ed.). Toronto: Prentice-Hall. ISBN 0-13-062014-0

Other materials

Students will access all other course materials online.

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